5 nations may present new Iran offer in person

Senior envoys from five of the six nations bargaining with Iran over its disputed nuclear program may try to get talks moving by making a special face-to-face appeal, U.S. and European officials said Wednesday.

Diplomats could deliver a new offer as soon as this weekend. They want Iran to scale back a nuclear program that the West fears could lead to a bomb.

The officials said only the United States would sit out the diplomatic trip. It was not clear whether the envoys would travel to Tehran or deliver the offer elsewhere. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because plans are not set. Read more

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Iran: Britain, U.S. helped mosque bombers

“Not only they did not not take any measure against them but also they rather supported them”

Iran has once again switched its account of what caused a mosque explosion last month that killed 13 and wounded more than 200. via CNN

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Iran President’s Statements Draw Fire From Clerics

“We see his hand directing all the affairs of the country”

TEHRAN , Iran - Several leading Iranian clerics criticized President Ahmadinejad yesterday for saying that the last imam of Shiite Islam, a messianic figure whom Shiites believe was hidden by God 1,140 years … via New York Sun

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U.S. military judge threatens to suspend Khadr trial

“To get a trial date, I need to get discovery done.”

A U.S. military judge threatened to suspend the war-crimes trial of a Canadian detainee, scolding the government Thursday for failing to provide records of his confinement at Guantanamo. via Edmonton Sun

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Blast kills 2 soldiers of Afghan NATO-led force

An explosion killed two soldiers from the NATO-led force and a civilian in Afghanistan’s southeastern province of Khost on Wednesday, the force said. via Reuters

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Suicide blast in Kabul wounds 3 civilians; 6 Taliban killed in the western Afghanistan

A suicide bomber in a car blew himself up close to a convoy of foreign troops in Kabul on Thursday, but instead wounded three civilians, officials said. via StarTribune

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Israeli PM denies taking illicit donations from American

“I am looking at all of you in the eye, and I say I never took bribes, I never took a penny for myself”

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert denied fresh accusations that he illegally accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from a U.S. citizen, but said Thursday night that he will step down if he is indicted.

The latest investigation into corruption allegations involving Olmert has distracted Israel for nearly a week and has the potential to derail delicate peace talks with the Palestinians.

Olmert made his statement in a nationally televised speech from his official residence after a court lifted a gag order in the case. According to police suspicions, Olmert took hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit contributions from Jewish businessman Morris ‘Moshe’ Talansky. Read more

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Iraqi army says Iraqi al-Qaida leader arrested

“The commander of Ninevah military operations informed me that Iraqi troops captured Abu Hamza al-Muhajir the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq”

The leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, was arrested in the northern city of Mosul, the Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman said Thursday. via Topeka Capital-Journal

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Israel celebrates its 60th

On a beach front in Tel Aviv, Israeli Air Force jets performed during a demonstration marking the 60th anniversary of Israel. via Boston Globe

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Recent suicide bomber was ex-Gitmo inmate

“Whoever can join them and execute a suicide operation, let him do so. By God, it will be a mortal blow”

A former prisoner who complained of mistreatment at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was involved in a suicide bombing last month in Iraq, U.S. military officials said. via Political Gateway

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