Middle Orient

 Military strategy has to be combined with political and development strategy in Afghanistan’s violence-torn south and south-eastern provinces, the top United Nations peacekeeping official said today. “It is essential to combine the three,” Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno told a news conference in Kabul, the capital, at the end …

The speaker of the lower house of Afghanistan‘s parliament defended his country’s newly passed amnesty bill on Monday, saying it was misinterpreted in the West. “Unfortunately certain elements have embarked on propaganda against it,” Mohammad Yunus Qanooni told reporters after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer …

A prominent Iranian MP described Bushehr nuclear power plant as a symbol of Iran-Russia cooperation, warning that any delay in the construction and launch of operation of the plant serves the interests of those opposing expansion of Tehran-Moscow ties.

Iranian Judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi stressed that Iraq is in need of an Islamic coalition which could stretch a protection umbrella over the heads of all Iraqi groups and forces.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said Iran enjoys excellent conditions and is stepping on the path of a giant movement and progress.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a meeting with Singapore’s Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong here in Tehran on Monday said that paying attention to human values, dialogue and interaction set the only way to resolve world problems.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad voiced Tehran’s preparedness to cooperate with European countries to establish peace, justice and human affinity.

Tehran and Damascus Monday took a further step in expanding and deepening their defense ties by endorsing a new protocol on defense cooperation.

Head of Iran’s Judiciary Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi stressed the need for enhanced judicial cooperation and exchanges among Islamic countries.

Iran on Monday postponed inauguration of the back up systems of its nuclear power plant in Bushehr to an unspecified future date.