BAGHDAD — Troubled with the daily car bombs and threats of violence, Iraq‘s top-notched students want to escape the chaotic future of their war-ravaged nation.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said in an interview that Israeli warplanes attacked what he said was an “unused military building” in Syria last month, and that his country reserves the right to retaliate.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he believes Iraq can assume responsibility for security in southern Basra province from British forces within two months.