MOSCOW – Russia has halted plans to deploy missiles near the Polish border, a Russian news agency quoted the military as saying on Wednesday, in what could be a sign Moscow is seeking better ties with the new U.S. president. But there was no official confirmation and a Kremlin official …
Read More »As Afghanistan hots up, private security moves in
LONDON – Private security companies are expanding operations in Afghanistan as the war there heats up, but industry experts say those that made fortunes in Iraq may find business much tougher in the new market. As Iraq has grown more stable, Afghanistan, where the Taliban insurgency is strong, has been …
Read More »Russian missile move a good step if confirmed: NATO
BRUSSELS – A reported Russian move to halt deployment of Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad would be a good step if confirmed, NATO said on Wednesday. “The earlier Russian announcement that they were going to deploy missiles into Kaliningrad and point them at NATO allies was unwelcome. If that decision has …
Read More »Violence falls under new leader in Russia’s Ingushetia
NAZRAN, Russia – A new president in Russia’s mainly Muslim Ingushetia region has taken the heat out of a simmering rebellion by restoring some trust in the regional authorities. Although violence still scars Ingushetia, residents say it has decreased since Yunus-Bek Yevkurov replaced former secret police officer Murat Zyazikov in …
Read More »Pakistan’s Zardari calls on U.S. to boost aid
WASHINGTON – Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari called on the United States on Wednesday to boost both military and non-military aid to his country to help it fight extremists. In an opinion piece in the Washington Post, Zardari said U.S. President Barack Obama should push Congress to pass legislation introduced …
Read More »Pakistan to release Mumbai attacks findings soon
DAVOS, Switzerland – Pakistan will release details of an investigation into the Mumbai attacks “very soon,” Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday. “We are investigating … anything substantive we will share with the world,” he told Reuters in an interview in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, where …
Read More »Pakistan says has no deal with U.S. on drone strikes
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan said Wednesday it wanted closer cooperation with the United States in the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban but had no understanding with Washington that allowed missile strikes on its territory. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday that Washington would continue with strikes by unmanned …
Read More »MP Stresses Trial of War Criminals
TEHRAN (FNA)- Chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi here Wednesday underlined the necessity for the trial of war criminals. “Trial of the war criminals plays a significant role in preventing crimes against humanity,” Boroujerdi said during a meeting with Georgian Ambassador to Tehran …
Read More »Iranians Condemn Delisting of MKO by EU
TEHRAN (FNA)- The European Union’s decision to take the anti-Iran terrorist group, the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) off its blacklist has caused angry reactions in the Iranian society. Iran’s Attorney General Ghorbanali Dorri Najaf Abadi condemned the EU action and called it an unjustifiable measure. Najaf Abadi said the action …
Read More »US Seeks Dialogue With Iran over Afghanistan
TEHRAN (FNA)- Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen said on Tuesday that US can hold dialogue with Iran over Afghanistan. Mullen underlined that the US can hold dialogue with Iran and find some mutual interests in Afghanistan and such talks “could be useful”. “With respect …
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