Georgians have begun voting in snap presidential elections seen as a test of the democratic credentials of Mikhail Saakashvili, the country’s pro-western president.

Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili appeared poised for re-election Sunday, but his chief opponent rejected early results and called a street protest, threatening the ex-Soviet republic with turmoil.

Mikhail Saakashvili, the Georgian president, has claimed victory in the country’s presidential elections, but the opposition cried foul and called for mass protests.

Alkavkaz website with the reference to the HQ of Shali sector (Commander Amir Hussein) of the Eastern Front of Armed Forces of the Caucasus Emirate reported about successful sabotage operations which have been carried out by the recruits Mujahideen.

TEHRAN (FNA) Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said Iran has always experienced sensitive conditions ever since the Islamic Revolution in 1797, but meantime, reiterated that the country is not dominated by critical conditions at present.

TEHRAN (FNA) Some of the heaviest snowfalls in years caused severe transport disruptions in Iran on Sunday, forcing the cancellation of most flights and the closure of many roads.

TEHRAN (FNA) Iranian ambassador to Islamabad Mashallah Shakeri said that Iran and Pakistan are set to finalize an agreement on the multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline project by January 25 this year.

TEHRAN (FNA) Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki discussed recent crimes and brutalities of the Zionist regime in phone talks with secretary generals of the Untied Nations, Organization of the Islamic Conference and Arab League.

TEHRAN (FNA) Hamid Ameli, a renowned radio host and father of Iran’s storytelling, died of lung cancer at the age of 66 here on Sunday.

WASHINGTON — As the Bush administration struggles for a way to close the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, a similar effort to scale down a larger and more secretive American detention center in Afghanistan has been troubled by political, legal and security problems, officials say.