Iraq Calls for Regional Conference Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Tuesday that Iraq will call for a regional conference on ending the rampant violence in his country.

‘US won’t order preemptive Iran strike’ Predicting Iran will obtain nuclear weapons by the end of the decade, the defense establishment’s new and updated assessment for 2007 does not foresee the United States undertaking a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear installations.

Shia leader stresses Iraq’s role One of Iraq’s most powerful Shia leaders has said he is opposed to any foreign move to solve Iraq’s problems that bypasses the Baghdad government.

Our World: Olmert’s Saudi friends The world has gone mad. As Lebanon teeters on the brink of Iranian and Syrian instigated collapse.

Beirut funeral stokes tension Lebanon’s Hezbollah-led opposition is holding a funeral in Beirut for a protester killed in a shooting that has heightened political and sectarian tension.

Rice to return to shore up cease-fire US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will return to the region soon for additional talks with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

US diplomat calls for Iran action A senior US diplomat has hit out at Iran and called on members of the UN Security Council to agree on economic sanctions against Tehran.

Cyprus issue hits Turkey-EU talks The European Union presidency has backed a proposal to partially suspend EU membership talks with Turkey.

US plans permanent base on Moon US space agency Nasa has said it plans to start work on a permanently-occupied base on the Moon after astronauts begin flying back there in 2020.

Somalia slips ever closer to war Somalia’s government on Tuesday ruled out peace talks with the country’s powerful Islamic movement.