Wall Street Journal Europe – REVIEW & OUTLOOK EUROPE: For most Americans, the Iranian hostage crisis that began in 1979 and carried on for 444 days ended the day Ronald Reagan was inaugurated. For the families of Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and even Sarah Shourd, who on Tuesday was released from Iran on a $500,000 bail, that nightmare is far from over.
An Iranian ransom
Allawi: “Maliki must understand … no one stays in power forever”
Asharq Al-Awsat: Dr. Iyad Allawi, leader of the Iraqiya Coalition and the first Prime Minister of the new Iraqi governmental era, after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime, confirmed that it would be impossible to replace that dictatorial regime with another one. He added that his rival, outgoing Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, was wrong in his insistence to stay in power.
US woman who was held in Iran says she’s not a spy
AP: An American woman who was held in Iran for more than 13 months and accused of espionage said Sunday she and two men detained with her never spied or committed any crime, calling their arrest “a huge misunderstanding.”
Iran leader shrugs off effect of Western sanctions
AFP: Iran’s economy is feeling no ill effects from the toughest Western sanctions yet and is in fact benefiting from them, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told American television on Sunday.
Colin Powell says no Iran strike likely
AP: Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell says neither the U.S. nor Israel is likely to launch a military strike on Iran anytime soon.
Iran denies report on US arrests
BBC: Iran’s state owned TV has denied a report from the semi-official Fars news agency that Iranian forces had detained seven US troops trying to enter the country.
Clinton urges Iran to reject military expansion
AP: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is urging the people of Iran to reject what she says is an expansion of the Iranian military’s role and power.
Algerian Culture Minister welcomes Iran’s First Lady
Iran Focus: London, Sep. 19 – The following picture ran on the front page of the London-based Arabic daily Asharq al-Awsat on Sunday.
Iranian, Algerian presidents meet for talks in Algiers
AFP: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held two hours of talks with his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika Saturday during a stopover in Algiers on route to New York for the UN General Assembly.
US hiker freed by Iran is on her way home
AFP: The American hiker freed by Iran left for home on Saturday from the Gulf state of Oman which mediated in her release, asking people to pray for her two colleagues still being held by the Islamic republic.
