Iran Nuclear: European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana says he hopes to revive negotiations with Iran on its disputed nuclear program.
Solana said today (Sunday) in Berlin that he plans to talk to top Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani to "find a route" to re-newed talks.
Solana also reaffirmed (late Saturday) the international community's "twin track" policy which offers Iran economic and security incentives in exchange for its cooperation, and imposes tougher sanctions for continued defiance.
The EU policy chief's comments come a day after United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to impose new economic sanctions against Iran for its refusal to stop enriching uranium.
Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says the Security Council resolution will not change Iranian policy.
Iran – Britain: An Iranian military commander has said 15 British Navy personnel in Iran's custody confessed to illegally entering Iranian waters.
In interviews Saturday with Iranian media, General Ali Reza Afshar said the British detainees offered, "confessions during interrogations." He said they agreed they were in Iranian territory when they were seized.
The general said interrogations are continuing in Tehran, and that the 15 Royal sailors and marines are in good health.
The European Union Saturday echoed Britain's demand for the immediate release of the 15.
Iran's navy detained the crew Friday after the British conducted a routine inspection of a merchant ship in the disputed Shatt al-Arab waterway between Iran and Iraq.
Iranian officials say there is proof that the crew knew it was in Iranian waters. Britain insists the sailors were conducting routine anti-smuggling operations in Iraqi waters.
Iraq: The U.S. military says Iraqi authorities have foiled a suicide chemical bomb attack in the western city of Ramadi.
A statement issued today (Sunday) says Iraqi police detained a suicide bomber Friday, before he could detonate two tons of explosives aboard his truck that was also loaded with nearly 20-thousand liters of chlorine.
U.S. officials say the truck was stopped near a police station about 150 meters from a water treatment plant in the predominantly Sunni city.
Insurgents have carried out seven chlorine bomb attacks in Iraq this year.
Meanwhile, Iraqi police said today (Sunday) gunmen attacked a Sunni mosque south of Baghdad. Officials say at least two people were wounded. Mosques are frequent targets of attack in Iraq were sectarian violence between Sunni and Shi'ite muslims has become commonplace.
Asia Quake: Japanese officials say a strong earthquake off the coast of central Japan has killed at least one person and injured 150 others.
The six-point-nine magnitude quake struck at 9:42 am local time today (Sunday) (0042 UTC) in the Sea of Japan, off the northern coast of Honshu island.
Most of the injured were in Ishikawa prefecture, where more than 20 buildings collapsed and roads were blocked by landslides.
A woman was killed by a falling stone lantern in the city of Wajima, which was hardest hit by the quake. Japanese authorities briefly issued a tsunami alert but canceled it when only small waves arrived on shore.
At around the same time, two strong earthquakes shook the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. There were no reports of injuries or damage there.
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