Eurasia

LANDIKOTAL, Pakistan (Reuters) – Ethnic Pashtun tribal elders in Pakistan have promised to ensure security for supplies trucked through the Khyber Pass bound for foreign forces in Afghanistan, a government official said on Tuesday.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani Taliban said on Tuesday they had kidnapped two Chinese telecommunications engineers and two Pakistanis and that abductions would continue until the government stopped attacking militants.

It has been described as a diplomatic slap on the wrist.The European Union has decided to freeze talks with Moscow on closer ties until Russian troops withdraw from Georgia. The extraordinary summit in Brussels was the first to be called since the outbreak of the war in Iraq in 2003.

Russia’s Ambassador to the EU has warned that the bloc will lose out by suspending long-delayed talks on a framework for new relations as retaliation for the military campaign in Georgia.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Spanta stressed that his country would continue economic, cultural, political and regional cooperation with Iran and Tajikistan.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Oil-rich Persian Gulf monarchies will sign an accord with Turkey aimed at boosting ties between the Arab bloc and Ankara, the chief of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) said on Sunday.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union will warn Russia on Monday that relations could suffer in future if Moscow does not uphold accords to end the Georgia conflict, according to a draft summit statement that shied away from sanctions.

PARIS (Reuters) – President Nicolas Sarkozy is ready to revisit Moscow and Tbilisi to help resolve the Russian-Georgian conflict, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Monday.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – EU leaders meet in an extraordinary session on Monday to try to unite behind a strong response to Russia’s actions in Georgia, but Moscow warned it would hit back at any threat to its interests at home or abroad.

CANBERRA (Reuters) – Australia said on Monday it was reconsidering a deal to sell nuclear fuel to Moscow after Russia’s military incursion into Georgia.