Middle Orient

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraq’s prime minister slammed America’s top military commander in the country in remarks aired Friday, saying he “risked his position” when he said Iran sought to bribe lawmakers to vote against a US-Iraq security agreement.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran welcomed on Friday Syria and Lebanon’s establishment of diplomatic ties.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani slams the US over the policies it pursues in the Middle East, warning that the region is very volatile.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraq criticized as “inappropriate” on Wednesday comments by US commander General Raymond Odierno accusing Iran of trying to bribe Iraqi MPs to derail a planned military pact with Washington.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Washington and Baghdad have reached a final agreement after months of negotiation on a landmark pact to allow U.S. troops to stay in Iraq until the end of 2011, U.S. and Iraqi officials said on Wednesday.

BALIKESIR, Turkey (Reuters) – Turkey’s powerful generals rejected on Wednesday any blame for the deaths of 17 soldiers in a raid by Kurdish rebels, as rare public criticism of the army mounted following a series of attacks.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The Iraqi government criticized the top U.S. commander in Iraq on Wednesday for accusing Iran of trying to bribe Iraqi politicians.

Israeli troops have shot dead a Palestinian teenager in the West Bank.The military says the youth had been preparing to throw petrol bombs at the cars of Jewish settlers.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Russia has walked out of negotiations being held in Geneva on two breakaway Georgian regions, Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili said on Wednesday.

KERBALA, Iraq (Reuters) – Police have discovered the decomposing bodies of 22 men dumped in a mass grave in southern Iraq, police and hospital sources said on Wednesday.