Iraq: Iraqi police say a suicide truck bomber has killed at least 15 people and wounded more than 20 at a police station in northern Iraq.
Police say the attack took place today (Sunday) in the mainly Sunni town of Adwar, 20 kilometers south of Tikrit. They say the bomber rammed a truck loaded with hay through the gate of a police station and triggered the blast outside the building.
The explosion severely damaged the building, killing and wounding policemen, prisoners and civilians. Officials say the death toll could rise as emergency workers search through the rubble.
Elsewhere, police say gunmen killed eight border guard recruits today as they were riding a minibus (near the town of Rabiyaa) in northwestern Iraq, near the Syrian frontier.
In another development, the U.S. military says an American soldier was killed today in a gun battle with insurgents in Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad.
US – Russia: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has urged NATO nations to work with Russia on security matters, saying, "One Cold War was quite enough."
Speaking today (Sunday) at an annual security conference in Munich, Germany, Gates dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin's contention that the United States has overstepped its national borders and is fostering a new global arms race.
Speaking to the conference Saturday Mr. Putin also had criticized the expansion of NATO, saying the alliance is placing military forces on Russia's doorstep, which reduces the level of mutual trust.
The White House said it was surprised and disappointed over the remarks and called Mr. Putin's accusations wrong.
Gates urged NATO nations to boost defense spending and commit more troops and money to Afghanistan.
Russia – Mideast: Russian President Vladimir Putin will be in Saudi Arabia today (Sunday) to start a Middle East tour that also will take him to Qatar and Jordan.
Mr. Putin will be the first Russian president to visit the three Arab countries, which are traditional allies of the United States.
Mr. Putin's meetings with Arab leaders are expected to focus on trade and counter-terrorism issues. Moscow also is hoping to sell Russian-made weapons to Arab states that usually buy their arms from the U.S.
Mr. Putin is to meet Saudi King Abdullah in Riyadh today.
NoKor – Talks: Japan's envoy to talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program says Pyongyang is making excessive demands for energy assistance.
Kenichiro Sasae said in Beijing today (Sunday) it will be difficult to reach an agreement unless Pyongyang reconsiders its demands.
Envoys from North and South Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States have been negotiating in Beijing since Thursday to try to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for economic aid and security guarantees.
South Korean negotiator Chun Yung-woo says the primary dispute is over how and when to compensate North Korea. He said it would be "unreasonable" to expect a breakthrough today (Sunday).
The chief U.S. envoy, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, agreed today (Sunday) that North Korean demands are what is holding up a deal.
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