March, 2006

• 17 March

  Iraqi-US forces launch biggest post-war air assault

  BAGHDAD (AP) — US forces, joined by Iraqi troops, on Thursday launched the largest airborne assault in nearly three years, targeting insurgent strongholds north of the capital, the military said.The US military said the offensive dubbed Operation Swarmer was aimed at clearing “a suspected insurgent operating area” northeast of Samarra …

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• 14 March

  Russia scathing on Iran’s nuke diplomacy

  TEHRAN (Reuters) — Iran said on Monday it was still interested in a Russian compromise solution to its nuclear dispute with the West, but Russia’s foreign minister said the Iranians were fouling up Moscow’s diplomatic efforts.”We are extremely disappointed with the way Iran is behaving in the course of these …

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• 14 March

  Hamas to submit new draft gov’t plan

  RAMALLAH — Hamas is set to submit a new draft government programme after talks with Palestinian factions proved inconclusive Monday. Hamas officials, however, vowed that coalition talks would be concluded by the end of the week.

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• 14 March

  10% cut in UK Iraq troops

  BAGHDAD (Reuters) — Iraqi President Jalal Talabani warned political parties on Monday it was vital to accelerate efforts to form a broad government to stop any slide into civil war after bombs killed 52 people in a Shiite Baghdad slum.

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• 12 March

  Bush warns Tehran, Damascus

  WASHINGTON (AP) — Playing down predictions that Iraq is headed towards civil war, President George W. Bush said Saturday that he’s optimistic a new government will unify the nation. He denounced any moves by Iran or Syria to interfere in Iraq’s effort to build a democracy.

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• 12 March

  Russia proposing multilateral talks on Iran

  VIENNA (AP) — Russia has proposed that new talks on Iran’s nuclear programme take place March 20, preferably in Vienna, in what diplomats characterised Saturday as an effort to head off a showdown at the UN Security Council.A Western diplomat, who demanded anonymity in exchange for divulging confidential information, said …

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• 12 March

  EU faces tough choices on aid cutoff to PA

  SALZBURG — The European Union will face tough choices if it has to carry out its threat to cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority over the Hamas group’s refusal to recognise Israel’s right to exist. EU foreign ministers reaffirmed on Friday that Hamas, which won a landslide election victory …

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• 12 March

  MPs will be minority in new gov’t — Haniyeh

  RAMALLAH — Hamas yesterday set a two-day deadline for other Palestinian factions and independent members of the Palestinian Legislative Council to accept or reject positions in the future Palestinian government even as it appears the group will need the full five weeks to form a government. Palestinian prime minister-designate and …

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• 9 March

  Hamas, Fateh to resume coalition talks

  GAZA CITY (AFP) — The Islamist movement Hamas and defeated Fateh Party postponed until Thursday talks on forming a Palestinian government, amid slim prospects for success after slanging matches between the two sides in parliament. The talks between the chief of Fateh’s parliamentary bloc, Azzam Ahmed, and his Hamas counterpart, …

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• 9 March

  Iran threatens reprisals if punished in nuclear row

  VIENNA (AP) — Iran threatened the United States with “harm and pain” on Wednesday for its role in hauling Tehran before the UN Security Council over its nuclear programme.Washington in return warned that Tehran had enough nuclear material to make up to 10 atomic bombs,

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