BELGRADE (Reuters) – An independent Kosovo would be a “puppet” of the United States and NATO, Serb Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said on Thursday, vowing that Serbia would never give up its breakaway province.

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday he did not oppose dialogue with rival Hamas Islamists but reiterated the group must first relinquish control of the Gaza Strip.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin will not, at least for now, take up the seat in parliament he won in last weekend’s election, Interfax news agency quoted an official of his party as saying on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Thousands of Russian youths marched by the red stone walls of the Kremlin on Thursday in the latest organized show of support for President Vladimir Putin, who wants to stay in politics after his term ends.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia could build up military forces near its western borders after suspending its participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty on December 12, a senior member of parliament said on Thursday.

MINGORA, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistani forces have cleared militants from two towns in a northwestern valley, and the Islamists trying to impose Taliban-style rule there have fled, the military said on Thursday.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iran’s nuclear case should be withdrawn from the UN Security Council and returned to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Tehran’s ambassador to Paris said in the wake of a report by the US intelligence officials underlying the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programs.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency7)- The United States should drop sanctions imposed on Iran following a US intelligence report that Tehran was not seeking nuclear weapons, Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Hussain Nozari said on Wednesday.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iran needs $150-$160 billion investment in its oil and gas sector to boost output capacity over the next seven years, Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari said on Wednesday.

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Hungry for acquiring more oil and gas assets abroad, India’s ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) is set to ink an understanding with the Hinduja Group for jointly exploring the possibilities of acquiring acreages overseas.