Kavkaz

YEREVAN – Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in Armenia’s capital for a second day on Thursday and said they would not leave until the victory of Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan in a presidential election is overturned.

ANKARA – Turkey’s president said on Thursday he hoped the victory of Serzh Sarksyan in Armenia’s presidential election would lead to a normalization of relations between their estranged countries.

TEHRAN (FNA) – A senior Iranian lawmaker said here Wednesday that Russia would have priority in future tenders for the construction of new nuclear power plants in the Islamic Republic.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Ankara on Wednesday that Russia and Turkey share close stances on such international issues as Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, Iraq and the Middle East.

TEHRAN (FNA) – The international community must increase its diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview aired Monday.

BRUSSELS – The European Union must end internal divisions over Russia and act together to strengthen its hand in talks on energy and other issues, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote in an article published on Monday.

BAKU – Ex-Soviet Azerbaijan said on Monday it did not recognize Kosovo’s declaration of independence.

MOSCOW – Chechen rebels fighting to secede from Russia hailed Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence, comparing Pristina’s fight against Serbia to their own struggle against Moscow.

Photo: Eliminated ringleader of Chechen murtadin Akhmad Kadyrov   The ringleader of Chechen murtadin (apostates) Kadyrov, in widely advertised Internet-conference once more declared that Mujahideen allegedly suffered “total defeat”. Kadyrov reiterated his thesis that “total of 50-60 militants” are remaining in Chechnya’s mountains.

Observers say violence in Ingushetia’s main town shows republic is spiralling out of control. A growing confrontation between the authorities in Ingushetia and a new opposition movement is turning violent and making this autonomous republic the most volatile region in the North Caucasus.