Afghan Violence: U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan killed several militants in an airstrike targeting a weapons supplier in Helmand province, where Afghan and NATO forces are trying to recapture a Taliban-held town.
A coalition statement today (Monday) says the raid was aimed at a Taliban weapons supplier in Musa Qala district.
Afghan defense officials say Afghan and NATO troops are battling Taliban fighters within a kilometer of Musa Qala.
More than six-thousand Afghan and NATO soldiers are involved in the operation.
A NATO spokesman (Major Charles Anthony) said (Sunday) the operation is expected to last several days. He said its goal is to restore civilian government to the town, which is the only major Taliban-held population center.
Taliban sources say insurgents have taken up positions in Musa Qala, preparing for a coalition assault.
Taliban militants overran Musa Qala in February after British troops withdrew and handed over security responsibilities to local elders.
Iraq: Iraqi officials say mortar shells have struck a government-run prison in Baghdad, killing seven prisoners.
Officials say at least 23 people were wounded in this (Monday) morning's attack, including policemen.
In another incident today, officials say a rocket or mortar hit an oil refinery in Baghdad, sparking a large fire. There were no reports of casualties from the attack on the Doura refinery in southern Baghdad.
In another development, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said today that U.S. and Iranian experts will hold another round of talks on Iraq's security situation on December 18th.
Iran Nuclear: Reports from Tehran say a team of U.N. experts is expected to meet with government officials today (Monday), seeking answers to more questions about Iran's nuclear activities.
Iranian news agencies say the International Atomic Energy Agency delegation (which arrived Sunday) intends to ask about uranium contamination that U.N. inspectors found at the Technical University in Tehran (during a previous visit to Iran).
The IAEA and Iran agreed four months ago on a timetable for Iran to answer outstanding questions about its nuclear activities, such as the Technical University uranium incident.
A U.S. intelligence report made public last week concluded that Iran stopped its work on nuclear weapons in 2003, but Israel contends that Tehran still is operating a secret weapons development program.
Libya – France: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is beginning a five-day visit to France where he is expected to meet with President Nicolas Sarkozy and sign several business deals.
Mr. Gadhafi plans to pitch his Bedouin-style tent in the gardens of the presidential palace in Paris today (Monday) on his first trip to France since 1973.
During his trip, the Libyan leader is expected to approve deals to purchase Airbus airplanes, a nuclear reactor, and possibly defense equipment.
French Human Rights Minister Rama Yade harshly criticized the visit. A French newspaper ("La Parisien") quotes Yade as saying France should not just sign deals with Mr. Gadhafi, but should also pressure him to improve human rights in his country.
SoKor Oil Spill: The South Korean government says it plans to declare a long stretch of its western coastline a disaster zone after it was hit by a huge oil spill last week.
South Korea's Prime Minister Han Duck-soo says the government is ready to compensate those victimized by the accident. South Korean law allows for state subsidies and relief payments once a region is designated a disaster area.
South Korean officials say more than 10-thousand tons of crude oil coat a 45-kilometer stretch of its coast after a barge accidentally punched holes in a giant oil tanker Friday.
The economic and environmental costs of the spill are expected to soar. The owners of several hundred shellfish farms in the area say their entire stocks have been wiped out by the spill.
Afghan Viollence: NATO-led coalition forces in Afghanistan say they have entered the town of Musa Qala in Helmand Province, in an operation to recapture it from Taliban insurgents.
The coalition today (Monday) said it has entered Musa Qala, the only remaining Taliban-held population center
Earlier, NATO officials said forces killed several militants in an airstrike targeting a Taliban weapons supplier in the district.
More than six-thousand Afghan and NATO soldiers are involved in the operation.
Listen to our World News for details.