TEHRAN (Reuters) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday derided foes of Iran’s nuclear work as mentally disturbed, ignoring a fresh plea by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for all sides in the dispute to calm their rhetoric. Pursuing a diplomatic effort, European nations want to offer Iran security guarantees …

ROME (AP) — Premier Romano Prodi said Thursday the war in Iraq was a grave mistake but that Italy would remain on the front lines in the war against terror.

BEIRUT  — The UN Security Council’s call for Syria to establish diplomatic ties with Lebanon was expected to stiffen Damascus’ resolve against formal links to its tiny neighbour, a move it has steadfastly rejected for six decades. Three factors, at least, are at work against Syria heeding the UN resolution …