KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. and Afghan troops killed or wounded more than two dozen Taliban fighters during a 21-hour battle in eastern Afghanistan that ended Saturday, military officials said.

TEHRAN (FNA) Iran had made progress in the explanation of certain questions concerning its nuclear program, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohammed ElBaradei said in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia on Friday.

TEHRAN (FNA) Tehran’s interim Friday Prayers leader Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani termed the visit to the Middle-East by US President George Bush as unsuccessful and a great failure for Washington, stating that Americans failed in attaining either one of their premeditated goals.

TEHRAN (FNA) The National Iranian Central Oil Co. said the company set a new gas output record in 2007, producing 300 million cubic meters of natural gas.

TEHRAN (FNA) Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem praised Iran’s role in the establishment of peace and security in the region.

TEHRAN (FNA) ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), a unit of India’s largest exploration company Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), and Iranian oil major Petropars have approached National Iranian Oil Co (NIOC) about taking a stake in the USD 30bln Kish gas block in Iran.

According to KC’s source in the command of the Armed Forces of the Caucasus Emirate, 9 Muḥarram 1429 in the afternoon (17 January 2008), a spetsnaz (special force) team of invaders was attacked

Commander of the Kabarda-Balkar sector of the Caucasus Front, Amir Sayfullah (Anzor Astamirov), tells about details of the preparation for the declaration of the Emirate of Caucasus. The commentary recorded in Shawwal 1428.

According to sources in the Wilayah of Ghalghaycho (Ingushetia) of the Caucasus Emirate, 9 Muharram 1429 late in the evening (17 January 2008), around 10:10 pm local time, a fierce firefight with the use of assault rifles, machine guns and grenade launchers erupted in downtown Nazran.

The British side has frozen ties with the FSB (Russian Federal Security Service) for the so-called “anti- terrorist cooperation”, British Ambassador to Russia Anthony Brenton said.