LISBON (Reuters) – Condoleezza Rice hailed as “historic” her trip to Libya later on Friday, the first by a U.S. secretary of state to the former pariah nation in 55 years and a visit aimed at erasing decades of enmity.

HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Two civilians were among eight people killed in a U.S.-led coalition operation in western Afghanistan on Friday, the U.S. military said, the latest in a mounting toll of civilian deaths that has outraged Afghans.

KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s top anti-drug judge had received phone calls and text messages before he was murdered warning him to acquit a suspected drug dealer or face death, a spokesman for the anti-drugs tribunal said on Friday.

The leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon has acknowledged that his group was responsible for the shooting down last week of a Lebanese army helicopter.

The United Nations has launched an initiative to have the marshlands of southern Iraq listed as a world heritage site.

A third US naval ship has been delivering humanitarian aid to Georgia. However, unlike the two other American vessels, the USS Mount Whitney was offloading supplies at the Russian-patrolled port of Poti. Earlier US shipments steered clear of a potential showdown with the Russians by diverting to Batumi.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Defense Ministry is suing a Baltimore warehousing company in federal court, claiming a floor collapse three years ago damaged $50 million worth of military equipment that has been held in limbo by the US government since the late 1970s.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran is seeking to use gas processing facilities in Oman to export its vast gas reserves.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Foreign investment in Iran’s industries and mining sector has increased 900% from 2005 to 2007, a ministry official said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Philippines is raising its level of diplomatic ties with the oil-rich Islamic Republic, as the Department of Foreign Affairs seeks to finalize various agreements on terrorism, transnational crimes, as well as the extradition of criminals and the transfer of sentenced persons.