Following increased tensions between Tehran and London over the detention of 15 British marines who entered Iranian waters illegally and likely gatherings by protestors in front of the embassy compound, the police increased security measures and arrangements around the embassy here in Tehran on Friday.

I do apologize to the Iranian people for entering Iranian waters illegally and without any permission, Thomas Summers, one of the 15 British marines who were arrested after trespassing Iran’s territorial waters said here on Friday.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a phone conversation with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, stressed that Britain should apologize to Iran for having trespassed the territorial waters of Iran.

As sectarian violence in Iraq continues to flare up despite a massive Bush-ordered military escalation, The Independent is reporting that British government officials have described as “sound” the methods used to estimate that more than 600,000 Iraqis have been killed since the invasion.

President Bush sought to shore up the GOP minority in Congress for a showdown with Democrats over Iraq, surrounding himself with Republican allies at the White House on Thursday to bolster his veto threat on anti-war legislation.

Looking more like a rock star than an accused terrorist, Ahmed Jamal arrived home in Australia yesterday morning, his Iraqi ordeal finally over.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told a House committee Thursday the fractious debate about Iraq has had at least one positive effect in Iraq.

Jordan’s powerful professional unions are demanding the resignation of a lawmaker for inviting the Israeli ambassador to Parliament earlier this week.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Larijani warned that in case Britain continues uttering arrogant words against Iran, Tehran will refrain from releasing a female British marine arrested along with 14 other comrades after trespassing Iranian borders.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met with the head and prime minister of the Palestinian Self-Rule Authority, Mahmoud Abbas and Ismayil Hanyeh in Riyadh on Thursday.