Middle Orient

KERBALA, Iraq – Iraqi officials said on Thursday they had defused three car bombs aimed at some of the 7 million pilgrims visiting Kerbala for one of Shi’ite Islam’s most important rituals.

CAIRO – Egypt will send a team to assess security in Baghdad with a view to upgrading its diplomatic representation, reduced after the 2005 killing of an Egyptian diplomat, Egypt’s foreign minister was quoted as saying.

Following are security developments in Iraq at 9:30 a.m. EST on Thursday.AMARA – Gunmen in two cars kidnapped a senior official of Iraq’s electricity ministry after he left work in Amara, 365 km (230 miles) southeast of Baghdad, police said. The official was identified as Mutar Thamer, director of electricity …

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iran’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Hamid Reza Asefi said on Wednesday that the new report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was very clear and proved that Tehran has never diverted from the peaceful path of its nuclear program.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Morocco’s Foreign Trade Minister Abdelatif Maazoz discussed further expansion of ties and cooperation in a meeting here in Tehran on Tuesday.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Tehran’s public security police squad shows strong resolve to enhance citizens’ security as it continues to arrest drug dealers and street gangs in the Iranian capital.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iran’s Reds delight their millions of fans across the world these days as they still show firm determination in practice sessions even after a FIFA ruling for a six point deduction changed their top position with a third place in Iran’s pro league.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iran’s Energy Minister Parviz Fattah said that Iran is holding top record on dam construction in the world, mentioning that Iranian companies are implementing 90 dam projects concurrently.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Indonesia has opposed a third resolution imposing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, a day after Libya, another non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, expressed its opposition to the measure.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iran’s senior presidential advisor Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi said that ratification of a new resolution by the UN Security Council against Tehran over its peaceful nuclear activities will be ridiculous.