Iran’s supreme leader Monday reversed a decision by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and ordered him to implement a law supplying natural gas to remote villages amid rising dissatisfaction with the president’s performance.

Women in Saudi Arabia can now stay in a hotel or a furnished apartment without a male guardian, according to a government decision that comes as the country faces increasing criticism for its severe restrictions on women.

The U.N. Security Council’s five permanent members and Germany are expected to agree Tuesday on a new resolution to pressure Iran over its nuclear program, a French diplomat said.

FALLUJA, Iraq – A suicide bomber killed six people in Iraq’s Anbar province on Sunday, mounting the second deadly bombing in as many days in a region where violence has plunged since local tribes rebelled against al Qaeda.

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s political leaders have so far lacked the will to fight the “cancer” of corruption and should start by declaring how much money they earn, the country’s new anti-graft chief said.

BELGRADE – Serbs face a choice between a nationalist who leans towards Russia and a liberal favoring the West in a presidential election run-off next month.

MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin and his favored successor Dmitry Medvedev could take turns to run Russia for another quarter of a century, a senior Kremlin ally said in an interview published on Monday.

KABUL – Afghanistan’s government, largely reliant on foreign help for its security and economy, has called for the launch of another donors’ meeting to garner more international aid.

KABUL – Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said British politician Paddy Ashdown cannot become U.N. envoy to Afghanistan unless the world body clarifies his role, state newspapers said on Monday.

TEHRAN (FNA) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani condemned Israeli crimes in Gaza, and underlined the need for serious measures to help the oppressed people of Palestine against the Zionist regime.