TEHRAN (FNA) – Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir affirmed his country’s eagerness to strengthen economic and political relations with Iran.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iran’s business community is launching its own campaign to counter western economic pressure on Tehran, arguing that European companies are missing big new opportunities.

BELGRADE – Serbs voted on Sunday in a knife-edge presidential election that could decide whether their country turns its back on the West in response to the imminent loss of the breakaway province of Kosovo.

BELGRADE – Turnout in Serbia’s presidential election on Sunday was expected to reach 67 percent, compared to 61 percent in the first round two weeks ago, monitors said.

TUNCELI, Turkey – Ten separatist Kurdish guerrillas were killed in clashes with the Turkish troops in Bingol province on Sunday, army officials said.

SOCHI, Russia – Vladimir Putin’s chosen candidate for next month’s presidential election seized the opportunity to emphasize the continuity of power at an event on Sunday in Russia’s future Winter Olympics capital.

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s presidency council said on Sunday a measure that would give thousands of former members of Saddam Hussein’s Baath party their old jobs back had become law, finalizing a key piece of legislation sought by Washington.

RIYADH – The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which comprises 57 Muslim countries, said on Sunday it would step up action at the United Nations to stop Israel’s blockade of Palestinians in Gaza.

ANKARA – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has accused opponents of the Islamic-style headscarf for women of trying to sow division in secular but predominantly Muslim Turkey.

RAFAH, Gaza Strip – Egyptian forces began closing the border with the Gaza Strip on Sunday, stemming the flow of Palestinians across a frontier blown open 11 days ago by Hamas Islamists in defiance of an Israeli-led blockade.