TEHRAN (FNA)- An Iranian Industries and Mines Ministry official here on Sunday put the proven mineral reserves of the country at 37 billion tons, while rating the likely mineral reserves at 1.5 times this figure.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that extremism supported by certain Western states is a dangerous threat to the region.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Deputy Interior Minister Ali-Reza Afshar announced on Sunday that the date for Iran’s presidential election has been fixed for June 12, 2009.

Mubarak on Sunday headed the funeral services of former Defense Minister Mohammad Abdullah Abdulhalim Abu Ghazala who passed away at the age of 75 after a long fight against a chronic disease.

RAMALLAH, Fatah movement’s spokesman in the West Bank Ahmed Abdel Rahman said on Sunday that it’s still premature to talk about bringing Arab forces to the Gaza Strip that is ruled by Hamas movement.

RAMALLAH, A Palestinian official on Sunday warned the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) from accepting an American offer to create a Palestinian statehood on provisional borders.

Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held talks on Sunday in an effort to push forward the peace process and negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.

The European Union has moved to curb Russia’s influence over its border states after officials called for better relations with Belarus, a nation long seen as one of Moscow’s most enthusiastic supporters.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) – U.S.-led soldiers, backed by air support, and Afghan police killed more than 20 Taliban fighters in two separate clashes, officials said on Sunday.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Two suicide bombers detonated explosives inside the headquarters of the main police station in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Sunday, killing two policemen and wounding 29 people, police said.