BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday she saw no need to change parliamentary mandates that set limits on the number of troops her government can send to Afghanistan despite mounting pressure from NATO allies.

MOSCOW – Chechen rebels fighting to secede from Russia hailed Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence, comparing Pristina’s fight against Serbia to their own struggle against Moscow.

TEHRAN (FNA) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and visiting UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum discussed bilateral ties, regional developments and other issues of mutual interest in a meeting here on Monday.