KUALA LUMPUR — Less than two weeks to the snap general elections, the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) is playing the religion card to woo voters in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

A bomb blast in southern Baghdad has killed at least three Shi’ite pilgrims, one day after a suicide bomber killed 40 pilgrims south of the Iraqi capital.

Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf announced on Monday that despite some security problems Iranian companies will soon start implementing infrastructure projects in Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said on Tuesday that Armenia backs Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities.Armenian foreign minister made the remarks in a meeting with Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia Ali Saghaeian.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei here on Tuesday said the Iranian nation’s courage, steadfastness and constant presence on the scene accounted for the glory of the system, the country’s progress in various spheres and its great success in the nuclear field.

Chairman of Experts Assembly Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Sunday underscored the need for safeguarding the national solidarity.

The Culture Minister of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Sultan Rayev laid emphasis on extending cultural ties with Iran during a meeting with the director of the National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI) Ali-Akbar Asha’ri on February 26.

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s historic trip to Iraq will be a landmark in the two countries’ relations, Iraqi ambassador to Tehran Mohammad Majid Al-Shaikh said here on Tuesday.

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Monday night in a meeting with representatives of Leadership Experts Assembly, “Building a model society and introducing Islamic Revolution are our nation’s missions.”

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa traveled to Beirut on Sunday for talks with Lebanese officials in a bid to help resolve Lebanon’s prolonged presidential crisis.