Eurasia Press & News

On a day when the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, said his country intended to strengthen its military presence in the NATO force in Afghanistan, a car bomb exploded at a crowded farmers’ market in southern Afghanistan, killing eight civilians and wounding 17, Afghan officials said.

LONDON (AFP) — President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday that France will boost its military presence in Afghanistan, a move welcomed by his allies in Britain and the United States.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran formally launched a bid Monday to join a central Asian security organization following a long tenure in an observer role, Iranian Foreign Minister said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The United States signed an agreement pledging civilian atomic energy cooperation with Bahrain after concerns that Iran’s preparedness to transfer nuclear technology to regional and Muslim states could enhance regional solidarity.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The site of Gourtan, the most important historical area of Isfahan in Iran, is to undergo a new series of excavations to verify a hypothesis that it may possibly move back the history of the city from 2000 to 6000 years ago.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraq has sealed a border crossing with Iran to block entry and exit of Iranian pilgrims through territory, a senior Iranian official said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranians will vote on April 25 in the second round of parliamentary elections to decide the final make-up of their new parliament, with conservatives set to retain control, officials said Monday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraq announced tenders for international oil companies to test two of its largest oil fields, develop a major natural gas field and build a pipeline to Iran.

KABUL: In one of the bloodiest attacks in months on a nongovernmental organization in Afghanistan, gunmen killed five members of a mine-clearing team and wounded seven more in a relatively peaceful northern province, officials said Monday.

 ANKARA, March 24 (Xinhua) — Turkish Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit said Monday that sending Turkish troops to Afghanistan was not the policy of Turkish Armed Forces, but a state policy, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.