MOSCOW – Russia agreed on Monday to write off most of Iraq’s $12.9 billion debt in a deal that opens up Iraq for $4 billion in investment from Russian firms, including oil major LUKOIL.

BAGHDAD – Two car bombs exploded in southern Baghdad on Monday, killing 11 people during a visit to the city by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Iraqi police said.

BROD, Serbia – The man introduced himself as the village historian, reaching into his jacket and producing a notebook scrawled with figures for Kosovo’s Gorani population.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – The governor of Afghanistan’s most important southern province escaped unscathed from a roadside bomb on Monday, but three civilians were wounded in the attack, his office said in a statement.

ISLAMABAD – Seventy-five percent of Pakistanis want President Pervez Musharraf to quit, according to a survey released by the U.S.-based International Republican Institute on Monday.

QUETTA, Pakistan – Pakistani security forces wounded and captured a prominent Taliban commander on Monday near the border area with Afghanistan, Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz said.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Millions of Iranians in Tehran and other cities poured to the streets to show their unconditional support for the Islamic Republic through staging massive rallies on February 11th, marking the 29th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Today, Iran celebrated the 29th anniversary of its Islamic Revolution, a day that marks an annual occasion to highlight the most important achievements and successes of the revolution, especially with regard to the people.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Talks between Pakistan and Iran on gas pipeline projects are underway and there are progress on many issues, Iran’s counsel general to Lahore said adding that few legal and technical issues are left and once ironed out, work on the project would start hopefully in the near …

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iran is ready to cooperate with Brunei Darussalam in the development of the petrochemical industry to provide a solid base for sustainable progress of the country, Iran’s Ambassador to Brunei Abolfazl Khazaee said.