Eurasia Press & News

OXFORD – Mistakes made in Iraq and Afghanistan should not deter Britain from exercising its moral duty to spread democracy, by military means where necessary, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Tuesday.

Iraq’s parliament is deadlocked over passing key legislation, including the 2008 budget. At the same time, the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is under mounting pressure to take advantage of better security to improve the delivery of basic services and speed up reconciliation by pushing through important laws.

SARAJEVO – Police in Bosnia’s Serb Republic, an ally of Serbia, are on alert in case of unrest over the proclamation of Kosovo’s independence this week, local media reported on Tuesday.

MOSCOW – Russia expressed surprise on Tuesday that the United States had scrambled fighter jets at the weekend to intercept strategic Russian bombers, one of which flew over a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Pacific.

TARMIYA, Iraq – Six months ago, the Iraqi town of Tarmiya near Baghdad was a lawless al Qaeda lair, a springboard for launching attacks on the capital.

KABUL – Nearly 150 students and teachers have been killed and nearly 100 schools burnt down in Afghanistan in the last 10 months, the education ministry said on Tuesday, but more children than ever are attending classes.

TEHRAN (FNA) – The 26th Fajr Film Festival ended work here in Tehran on Thursday.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iranians from different parts of the country congregated in the northwestern city of Zanjan to stage their artistic talent in making snowmen.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Tuesday said talks between Iran and the United States on the future of Iraq were expected “in the next few days.”

TEHRAN (FNA) – The International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei will submit its long-awaited report on Iran’s nuclear program to the Board of Governors on March 3rd, IAEA sources said.