Eurasia Press & News

BAGHDAD (Reuters) — The United States and Iraq hope to sign an agreement by next week to hand operational command of Iraq’s new army to Prime Minister Nuri Maliki, Iraq said on Monday, after wrangles on wording had held up the accord.

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert backed away Monday from the unilateral West Bank pullback plan that swept him to power in March, saying that Israel needs to pursue talks with the Palestinians.

TEHRAN (AP) — UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday urged more talks to resolve Iran’s nuclear standoff with the West even as Tehran’s hardline leadership said it was pleased with his visit and recent European overtures and accused the United States of sabotaging diplomatic efforts.

September 05, 2006 Visiting Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh and his accompanying delegation met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Tuesday, September 5.

BEIRUT (AP) — Italian soldiers moved into southern Lebanon with trucks and armoured vehicles Sunday in the first big wave of a UN troops to monitor a ceasefire between Israel and Hizbollah fighters. Lebanese officials scoffed at an Israeli call for peace talks.

BAGHDAD (AP) — Authorities on Sunday announced the capture of Al Qaeda in Iraq’s No. 2 leader, who they blame for “brutal and merciless” terror operations, including the bombing of a Shiite shrine last winter that touched off months of sectarian bloodletting and pushed Iraq towards civil war.

TEHRAN (AP) — UN Secretary General Kofi Annan found little satisfaction at the close of a two-day visit to Iran on Sunday, snubbed by the country’s leader over international demands for Tehran stop enriching uranium and ignored in warnings not to use questions about the Holocaust to incite hatred.

GAZA CITY (AFP) — Efforts to free an Israeli soldier captured by fighters in the Gaza Strip appeared to gain speed Sunday with reports that Israel might release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the man.

ERBIL (AFP) — The president of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region launched a scathing attack on Iraqi Arab leaders Sunday over their opposition to his order banning the national flag from public buildings.

QANA — Qana residents whose village was targeted in a devastating air strike in July suspect the true aims of the strengthened UN force being assembled in south Lebanon are to protect Israel and further US goals in the Middle East.