BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Sunnis and Shi’ites made an emotional reach across the sectarian divide on Tuesday, reopening a Baghdad bridge between the two communities closed since a 2005 stampede, the deadliest incident of the war.

DAMASCUS (Reuters) – Syria prevented a World Food Programme vessel carrying rice for Iraqi refugees from unloading at the country’s main port on Tuesday because, the government said, its cargo failed tests.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has submitted to parliament a draft law on extending the presidential term of office, a Kremlin spokeswoman said on Tuesday.