By NOOR KHAN, Associated Press A purported Taliban statement demanded the release of a number of the group’s fighters and the withdrawal of French troops from Afghanistan in exchange for the freedom of two kidnapped French aid workers. Separately, suspected Taliban militants ambushed a police patrol in eastern Afghanistan in …

Deputy Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) Ahmad Fayyaz-Bakhsh left Tehran for Moscow at the head of a delegation to finalize issues pertaining to the delivery of nuclear fuel to Iran’s first nuclear power plant in the southern province of Bushehr.

Mauritania’s President described Iran’s position as outstanding among all Muslim states, saying that Iran treats devilish acts with benevolence and benediction.

Mauritanian Foreign Minister Ahmed Ould Sid Ahmed voiced his country’s preparedness to develop ties with the Islamic Republic and use Iran’s experiences in different areas.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stressed in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Caracas on Friday that his country would spare no efforts to help boost Iran’s presence in Latin America.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that the multi-billion-dollar pipeline which will take Iran’s natural gas to Pakistan and India plays a crucial role in his country’s political stability, and further stressed Islamabad’s adherence to the project.

Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca Cespedes is due to pay a visit to Iran in the near future.

Venezuelan parliament speaker voiced his country’s full support for Iran’s right to access civilian nuclear technology.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro Moros, in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki in Caracas on Friday, described Iran as a trustworthy partner and friend, and voiced preparedness of Latin American states to develop ties with Iran.

3,000 centrifuges have started operation in the last few days and the number of Iran’s operative centrifuges will increase to 50,000 in the next two years, an Iranian MP said on Thursday.