Reuters: A strong earthquake has hit southeast Iran, killing almost 400 people, injuring hundreds and destroying villages, a local official has told Reuters. Tuesday’s quake, which measured 6.4 on the Richter scale, was centred on the town 
AFP: At least 126 people were killed and hundreds more injured when a powerful earthquake hit southeastern Iran early Tuesday, officials said, amid fears that the toll could rise sharply. The quake, which struck 14 months after the Bam disaster, was reported to have devastated several villages, and at least one other settlement could not be reached because of blocked roads. 
Bloomberg: DaimlerChrysler AG, the world’s largest truckmaker, is being investigated by German authorities after a Saudi affiliate delivered 270 Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles worth $22 million to Iran without government approval. 
Reuters: President Bush insisted on Monday that Iran cut off support for terrorism and disavow nuclear weapons — and stressed that no response could ever be ruled out. “In safeguarding the security of free nations no option can be taken permanently off the table,” Bush said in a speech on his first trip to Europe since his re-inauguration last month. 
Iran Focus: Tehran, Feb. 21 Heavy clashes between Iranian Kurds and security agents erupted on Friday in three towns in western Iran, leaving dozens injured and hundreds arrested. Clashes broke out after State Security Forces agents used force to disperse demonstrations taking place simultaneously in the towns of Sardasht, Saqqez, and Baneh in protest against severe fuel shortages in the area, eye-witnesses reported. Iran Focus: Tehran, Feb. 21 Heavy clashes between Iranian Kurds and security agents erupted on Friday in three towns in western Iran, leaving dozens injured and hundreds arrested. Clashes broke out after State Security Forces agents used force to disperse demonstrations taking place simultaneously in the towns of Sardasht, Saqqez, and Baneh in protest against severe fuel shortages in the area, eye-witnesses reported. 
AFP: Iran has rejected an EU call for Tehran draw up a compromise formula on uranium enrichment, saying it will not “sell out” its nuclear capabilities, a top negotiators said on Monday. “The Europeans want to get from Iran a total halt to enrichment, but in the face of our strong opposition they insisted in the negotiations that Iran propose an alternative which also covers enrichment,” Sirus Nasseri told the state news agency IRNA. 
Reuters: Iran has reiterated that it will not bow to U.S. and European demands that it abandon uranium enrichment, stressing that its nuclear capability is “not for sale”. Tehran stood defiant on the nuclear issue as U.S. President George 
BBC: Iran is becoming an increasingly dangerous place to keep an online diary. Web logs have become a popular forum for dissent. And the Iranian government has responded by arresting dozens of bloggers. Some of those detained are reportedly being held in solitary confinement and tortured. 
AP: Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Ukraine are likely to dominate this week’s summit between President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Slovakia’s prime minister said. Bush arrives in Slovakia late Wednesday after visiting Belgium and Germany. He will meet with Slovak officials on Thursday before his talks with Putin – Bush’s first meeting with the Russian leader since he began his second term. 
