Eurasia

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Leaders of Pakistan’s ruling coalition held inconclusive talks on Monday to finalize strategy for the restoration of judges dismissed by President Pervez Musharraf when he imposed emergency rule last year.

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) – The Pakistan-based commander of the biggest Kashmiri guerrilla group derided on Monday a peace process between Pakistan and India and vowed to continue a “holy war” against India.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran is not considered a threat to the region, Russian Defense Attaché in Tehran Col. Viktor Lobanov said here on Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Ukraine told Russia on Tuesday it would press on with attempts to join NATO despite the former imperial master’s staunch opposition to the plan, but also assured Moscow this would pose no threat to its security.

ROME (Reuters) – Silvio Berlusconi, who has won a third term as prime minister in Italy’s parliamentary election, will hold talks with outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, a Kremlin spokesman said on Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to lead Russia’s biggest political party, a move that will bolster his power after he steps down as Kremlin leader next month.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed confidence on Tuesday that use of armed force in a bid to crush Iran’s nuclear capabilities would make the Middle East conflict impossible to settle

Russia wants its military officers to be present at all times at the planned US missile sites in Poland and the Czech Republic to make sure Russia is not a target, the Russian foreign minister said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s leading businessmen appealed to president-elect Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday to respect their property rights and protect them from arbitrary state interference.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Heading Russia’s biggest political party would be a logical step for Vladimir Putin when he steps down as president, the head of Russia’s most powerful business lobby said on Tuesday.