BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr says the next step is “open war”. The U.S.-backed government shows no sign of backing down.

KABUL (Reuters) – Poor security and the lack of good governance are the biggest challenges facing Afghanistan, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Monday.

KABUL (Reuters) – Half of Afghan children are still not going to school and the biggest group missing out on an education are girls, the United Nations said on Monday.