Afghanistan celebrated its independence from British rule yesterday with a military parade and a colorful display of the country’s national dresses, RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan reported.

Iraq’s embattled Nouri al-Maliki came to Syria on Monday on his first visit here as prime minister amid efforts to garner neighbors’ support for curbing violence at home.

Iraqi officials say a roadside bomb has killed the governor of the southern Shi’ite majority province of Muthanna.