AP – Afghan and coalition forces clashed with Taliban militants Saturday in separate incidents in the east and south, killing 21 insurgents, officials said. The police and Taliban engaged in a one-hour gun battle in the Alishar district of Khost province, said Wazir Padshah, a spokesman for the provincial police. …

By ALISA TANG, Associated Press The Afghan government said it was investigating Taliban claims Saturday that the militants have released a French aid worker who was kidnapped early this month along with another French citizen and three Afghan colleagues. Purported Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said that the French woman …

AFP – President Hamid Karzai reiterated his calls for Taliban fighters to put down their arms at a military parade Saturday that showed off Afghanistan’s newly-acquired weaponry and growing army. The president and his cabinet were among scores of dignitaries at a march-past of soldiers and equipment, much of it …

A prominent Iranian lawmaker called on the US to release the five Iranian diplomats to pave the ground for Iran’s active presence in Iraq’s security talks in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Proposed by foreign minister and approved by president Ahmadinejad, Seyed Javad Ghavam Shahidi was assigned as Iran’s ambassador to Hanoi.

Iran’s Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar is due to pay a visit to Tajikistan at the head of a high-ranking delegation in the near future.

Director of Iran’s Aviation Organization Khanlari in a meeting with Thailand’s Transportation Minister Thira Haocharoen voiced Tehran’s inclination for using Bangkok’s experiences in airport services.

Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, in a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki on Friday, welcomed bolstering of economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said the United States seeks to keep the region insecure and under critical conditions through sowing discord between Iran and Arab states and forging a fear from Iran.

The top EU foreign policy official urged the United States to engage Iran in direct negotiations about its nuclear program and other issues to try to stabilize the Middle East.