Iraq: Iraq's Interior Ministry says a suicide bomber blew himself up in a Baghdad bus, killing at least 12 people and injuring eight others.
Officials say the attack occurred in the capital's mostly Shi'ite district (Kadhimiya) -- a frequent target of attacks by Sunni Arab insurgents intent on plunging Iraq into a sectarian strife.
Shortly before the attack, the American ambassador to Iraq warned that Washington will not accept sectarianism or militias in a new Iraqi government or in its security forces.
Addressing a news conference in Baghdad, Zalmay Khalilzad urged Iraq's political leaders to work toward a unity government. He said top officials in the ministries of interior, defense and intelligence, as well as the national security adviser, must be non-sectarian and must work for all Iraqis.
Iran Nuclear: Senior Iranian and Russian officials meet in Moscow today (Monday) to discuss a Russian proposal to resolve Iran's nuclear stand-off with the West.
Moscow is offering to allow Iran to conduct its uranium enrichment activity on Russian soil - an arrangement designed to ensure no uranium is diverted for nuclear weapons.
Iran's news agency says official delegations are planning to visit member states of the United Nations Security Council, except the United States, for talks on Tehran's nuclear program.
The Council is due to hear on March sixth Western charges that Iran is in violation of a key nuclear treaty and that Tehran is aiming to develop atomic weapons.
Cartoon Protests: A hardline Islamist political coalition in Pakistan is calling for more protests against cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Officials from Pakistan's main Islamist alliance (Majlis-i-Amal) said today (Monday) a new wave of protests will start on Friday.
The announcement follows the release of the alliance's leader (Qazi Hussain Ahmed) from house arrest in Lahore.
The leader (Ahmed) was one of hundreds of Islamic hard-liners arrested before a banned protest on Sunday in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.
At least 17 Iraqis have been killed today (Monday) in bombing attacks in Baghdad and the northern city of Mosul. In Baghdad, 12 people died and eight others were wounded when a uicide bomber set off explosives in a bus in mostly Shi'ite district (Kadhimiya)
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