Iraqi political leaders protest U.S. siege of Sadr City
BAGHDAD, Iraq — About 50 leaders representing a variety of Iraqi political blocs took to Baghdad’s Sadr City on Sunday, a stronghold of fiery religious leader Muqtada al Sadr, to protest the U.S.-led siege of that area.

American, Iraqi troops kill 38 militants in Baghdad
BAGHDAD – American and Iraqi troops killed 38 militants in the fiercest clashes with militants in weeks in Baghdad, including 22 who attacked a military checkpoint in a Shiite militia stronghold, the U.S. military said Monday.

Baghdad Green Zone blasted under cover of storm
Militants bombarded Baghdad’s Green Zone with rockets on Sunday, taking advantage of the cover of a blinding dust storm to launch the heavy strike. Reuters correspondents heard the missiles whistling overhead and exploding inside the heavily fortified government and diplomatic compound on the west side of the Tigris River. Iraqi police said eight missiles or mortars had hit the Green Zone and another 14 fell in other parts of the Iraqi capital, killing two people and wounding 20.

Mosul hit by multiple suicide bombs
Three suicide bombers and a car bomb have struck the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, killing at least nine people and wounding 31 others, police said.

Iraqi museum celebrates return of stolen artifacts
BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Iraqi National Museum on Sunday celebrated the return of some 700 artifacts that were looted following the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and surfaced recently in neighboring Syria.

Israeli strike kills 7 Palestinians
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – An Israeli tank shell slammed into a tiny Gaza Strip home Monday during a skirmish with gunmen, killing a Palestinian woman and four of her children as they prepared to sit down for breakfast, officials and relatives said.

‘Worried’ Egypt PM appeals for help to ease price hikes
CAIRO (AFP) – Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif has urged anyone who can resolve the nationwide problem of price rises to come forward with ideas, the official MENA news agency reported on Monday.

Syria: CIA fabricated ‘reactor’ pictures
Syria’s ambassador to the United States said Friday that the CIA fabricated pictures allegedly taken inside a secret Syrian nuclear reactor and predicted that in coming weeks the US story about the site would “implode from within.” “The photos presented to me yesterday were ludicrous, laughable,” Ambassador Imad Moustapha told reporters at his Washington residence.

Iran demands Russian nuclear shipment
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran demanded Sunday that Azerbaijan deliver a Russian shipment of nuclear equipment blocked at its border with Iran for the past three weeks.

Iran discusses package of nuclear proposals with Russia
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran and Russia on Monday discussed the outlines of “serious proposals” aimed at assuring the international community that Tehran’s nuclear program is peaceful, state media reported.

Iran says Iraq situation makes U.S. attack unlikely
Iran said on Sunday a “disastrous situation” facing the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan coupled with Washington’s domestic issues made any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic unlikely.

Karzai survives assassination attempt during military parade
President Hamid Karzai survived an assassination attempt yesterday when Taliban militants fired gunshots and rockets at a military parade in central Kabul. Three people, including an MP, were killed. Cabinet ministers, generals and foreign diplomats ducked for cover after shots rang out at the heavily guarded ceremony near the presidential palace. Bodyguards bundled Karzai into one of a convoy of vehicles that sped away.

China says Dalai Lama manipulating foreign opinion
BEIJING (Reuters) – China lashed out at the Dalai Lama again on Monday, accusing Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader of manipulating opinion and governments in the West, just days after offering talks with his aides.

Vietnam to end adoption program with US after report
HANOI, Vietnam – Vietnam is ending a child adoption agreement with the United States after being accused of allowing baby-selling and corruption, officials said Monday.

East Timor rebel leader preparing to surrender: U.N.
DILI (Reuters) – The leader of a group of East Timor rebels accused of trying to assassinate President Jose Ramos-Horta in February is preparing to surrender and may give himself up early this week, a U.N. spokeswoman said on Sunday.

Did Colombia’s president help plan ’97 massacre?
MIAMI – A jailed paramilitary fighter claims Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and his brother helped plan a 1997 massacre in a village suspected of harboring leftist guerrillas, according to sworn testimony given to the nation’s prosecutor general and obtained by El Nuevo Herald.

Chavez confirms he will work for release of US hostages
CARACAS, Venezuela – President Hugo Chavez said Sunday he will try to facilitate the release of three Americans held captive by Colombia’s largest rebel group — even though he has lost contact with the guerrillas.

Indicted PR governor will seek 2nd term
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila’s party swiftly approved his candidacy for re-election on Sunday despite a federal indictment on charges of illegally raising money to pay off campaign debts.

Zimbabwe defies Western pressure over election results
HARARE (AFP) – Lawyers in Zimbabwe appealed for the release of some 200 jailed opposition activists on Monday as officials defied pressure from the West to release the results of last month’s presidential election.

Zimbabwe lawyers bid to free opposition activists
HARARE (AFP) – Lawyers for Zimbabwe’s opposition were to launch an appeal in the high court Monday for the release of around 200 activists rounded up in a raid on the party’s offices in Harare.

The New Economics of Hunger
A brutal convergence of events has hit an unprepared global market, and grain prices are sky high. The world’s poor suffer most.

Food crisis: UN to reveal battle plan
GENEVA (AFP) – United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was set Monday to lead a concerted effort by 27 key UN agencies to tackle the growing crisis caused by a worldwide sharp rise in basic foodstuff prices.