TEHRAN (AP) — Iran said Thursday it was prepared to talk directly with the United States about Iraq, a major shift for a country that has long avoided negotiations with what it calls the “Great Satan.” The offer appears to reflect the desire by at least some top Iranian officials …

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The Palestinian economy risks implosion from an Israeli crackdown and threatened cuts in foreign aid following the election victory of Hamas, the World Bank warned Thursday.

BAGHDAD (AP) — US forces, joined by Iraqi troops, on Thursday launched the largest airborne assault in nearly three years, targeting insurgent strongholds north of the capital, the military said.The US military said the offensive dubbed Operation Swarmer was aimed at clearing “a suspected insurgent operating area” northeast of Samarra …

TEHRAN (Reuters) — Iran said on Monday it was still interested in a Russian compromise solution to its nuclear dispute with the West, but Russia’s foreign minister said the Iranians were fouling up Moscow’s diplomatic efforts.”We are extremely disappointed with the way Iran is behaving in the course of these …

RAMALLAH — Hamas is set to submit a new draft government programme after talks with Palestinian factions proved inconclusive Monday. Hamas officials, however, vowed that coalition talks would be concluded by the end of the week.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) — Iraqi President Jalal Talabani warned political parties on Monday it was vital to accelerate efforts to form a broad government to stop any slide into civil war after bombs killed 52 people in a Shiite Baghdad slum.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Playing down predictions that Iraq is headed towards civil war, President George W. Bush said Saturday that he’s optimistic a new government will unify the nation. He denounced any moves by Iran or Syria to interfere in Iraq’s effort to build a democracy.

VIENNA (AP) — Russia has proposed that new talks on Iran’s nuclear programme take place March 20, preferably in Vienna, in what diplomats characterised Saturday as an effort to head off a showdown at the UN Security Council.A Western diplomat, who demanded anonymity in exchange for divulging confidential information, said …

SALZBURG — The European Union will face tough choices if it has to carry out its threat to cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority over the Hamas group’s refusal to recognise Israel’s right to exist. EU foreign ministers reaffirmed on Friday that Hamas, which won a landslide election victory …

RAMALLAH — Hamas yesterday set a two-day deadline for other Palestinian factions and independent members of the Palestinian Legislative Council to accept or reject positions in the future Palestinian government even as it appears the group will need the full five weeks to form a government. Palestinian prime minister-designate and …