World powers condemn nuclear stepTEHRAN (AP) — Iran came under increasing international condemnation — including from allies Russia and China — after announcing it enriched uranium for the first time, but it insisted it will push ahead to dramatically expand the programme that the United Nations had demanded it scrap.

CAIRO (Reuters) — Iraq left its seat empty at a meeting of Arab foreign ministers on Iraq on Wednesday, carrying out its threat to boycott the Arab League event in protest at remarks by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Leaders fail to make progress towards forming unity gov’tBAGHDAD (Reuters) — A car bomb killed at least 26 people outside a Shiite mosque north of Baghdad on Wednesday as Iraqi leaders failed to make progress towards forming a national unity government they hope can avert sectarian civil war.