08 December 2004 Wednesday 25 Shawwal 1425 8 soldiers sue Pentagon over extended Iraq duty WASHINGTON, Dec 7: Eight US soldiers on Monday sued the Pentagon, claiming the military had extended their tours of duty in Iraq although their contracts had expired, their attorneys said. ... Situation in Iraq getting worse: CIA NEW YORK, Dec 7: The situation in Iraq is deteriorating and unlikely to improve any time soon, according to a classified cable and briefings from the Central Intelligence Agency, the New York Times said on Tuesday. ... Putin sceptical over Iraq poll MOSCOW, Dec 7: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday expressed deep scepticism over plans to hold an elections in Iraq while foreign troops were still there. ... Russia, US clash over Ukraine at OSCE meet SOFIA, Dec 7: Russia and the United States on Tuesday clashed over efforts to win influence in Ukraine and other former Soviet republics, with Moscow warning the West against interference and Washington rejecting the charge. ... Ukraine poses fresh questions to Putin MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin may not like what he sees in Ukraine, but he can be confident a "people power" revolution is unlikely to spread to Russia despite political similarities with its neighbour, analysts say. ... Interrogators abused Guantanamo inmates: FBI's letter to US Army WASHINGTON, Dec 7: Agents of the US Federal Bureau of Investigations saw military interrogators use abusive tactics on prisoners at the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, officials said on Monday. ... Al Qaeda men tried secretly in Iran TEHRAN, Dec 7: Iran confirmed on Tuesday that it has tried and sentenced fugitive members of Al Qaeda detained on its soil, but maintained tight secrecy over which members of Osama bin Laden's network were in the Islamic republic. ... Tehran probing four over N-espionage TEHRAN, Dec 7: Iran's judiciary said on Tuesday it was investigating four people suspected of spying on the country's nuclear programme, contradicting reports that their trial had already begun. ... Juveniles await death sentences in Iran TEHRAN: Instead of celebrating his 18th birthday at home with friends and family this month, Ali Torabi will be wondering if it will be his last. ... Asian languages to make debut in US exams WASHINGTON, Dec 7: Asian languages will be included for the first time in a key pre-university US examination, a change that could lure more American students to study Japanese or Chinese instead of long time ... US consulate was 'scoped out' before attack: envoy JEDDAH, Dec 7: The gunmen who stormed the United States consulate in Jeddah on Monday had "scoped out" the building before their carefully planned attack, according to the U.S. envoy to Saudi Arabia. ... Zapatero, Chirac support Annan ZARAGOZA, Dec 7: French President Jacques Chirac and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero backed UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Tuesday in the face of criticism over the UN oil-for-food scandal in Iraq. ... Lankan monks march against Indian concert COLOMBO, Dec 7: Dozens of Buddhist monks led a protest march to the Indian diplomatic mission in Colombo on Tuesday to stop Bollywood stars staging a concert this weekend on the death anniversary of a revered monk. ... Russia for a new deal with India NEW DELHI: The fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin equally divided his three-day visit to India, that ended on Sunday, between political and business leaders speaks ... Poor countries seek compensation for climatic disasters BUENOS AIRES: "For our countries, climate change is more catastrophic than terrorism." This was how the delegate from Tanzania summed up the stance of the world's 48 least developed countries ... Arabs cool to US role: poll WASHINGTON: Arabs rate improving quality of life issues as more important than political reform in their countries and are mostly cool to US involvement in their internal affairs, according to a new poll released on Monday. ...

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