TEHRAN (FNA) Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday held out the prospect of a better relationship with Iran, a day after her country brokered a draft UN resolution against Tehran.

WASHINGTON, Jan 23 – A senior U.S. military commander said on Wednesday he did not expect the Taliban to mount a major offensive in eastern Afghanistan this spring, but experts warned of rising violence and a stronger insurgency.

A British soldier was killed and five were injured by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan yesterday, the Ministry of Defence revealed today.