AP: In a dramatic reversal, Iraq’s prime minister ordered a nationwide freeze Friday on Iraqi raids against Shiite militants, bowing to demands by anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr only one day after promising to expand the crackdown to Baghdad.
Iraq PM reverses course, freezes raids
Iraqi leader freezes assault on militias
CNN: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Friday ordered his security forces to stop raids on suspected Shiite militia members to “give time to those who are repentant” to lay down their weapons.
US defence chief in Oman for talks with sultan
AFP: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Oman on Friday for talks with Sultan Qaboos, the ruler of this key Gulf state which faces Iran across the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Iran vows to reject deal to suspend uranium enrichment
Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Apr. 04 – Iran’s hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Friday that Tehran would reject any new incentives offered to it by world powers in return for it to suspend uranium enrichment, a key demand of the United Nations Security Council.
Iran vows to reject deal to suspend uranium enrichment
Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Apr. 04 – Iran’s hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Friday that Tehran would reject any new incentives offered to it by world powers in return for it to suspend uranium enrichment, a key demand of the United Nations Security Council.
6.4 Richter-scale quake jolts southern Iran island
Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Apr. 01 – An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale jolted an island on Iran’s southern shores early on Friday.
6.4 Richter-scale quake jolts southern Iran island
Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Apr. 01 – An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale jolted an island on Iran’s southern shores early on Friday.
Intelligence officials downplay Iran report
Washington Times: The contested U.S. intelligence conclusion that Iran stopped work on its nuclear weapons program in 2003 is now being downplayed by the same officials who wrote the much-publicized report in November.
Iran assembles more advanced centrifuges
AP: Diplomats say Iran has assembled hundreds of advanced centrifuges for uranium enrichment, a step meant to speed up the process that can produce both fuel and the fissile core of nuclear warheads.
Iran installs advanced centrifuges in main atom plant
Reuters: Iran has begun installing advanced centrifuges in its main uranium enrichment plant, accelerating activity that could give it the means to make atom bombs in future if it chooses, diplomats said on Thursday.
