KABUL (Reuters) – Scores of prisoners rioted in a high-security Kabul jail and at least nine people were wounded in an exchange of gunfire as Afghan police tried to restore order, sources in two foreign aid agencies said on Wednesday.

ATHENS (Reuters) – Serbia appealed to nations on Wednesday not to recognize the month-old republic of Kosovo, saying the breakaway state was part of its territory.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Police in a central Russian region have advised priests to apply for firearms licenses so they can defend their churches from marauding thieves who have been stealing religious icons at gunpoint.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s presidential council paved the way for provincial elections on Wednesday when it signed a law seen by Washington as crucial to helping reconcile the nation’s factions.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran reported it will sign a final agreement to export natural gas via pipeline to Pakistan in April.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The outcome of the regular parliament elections in Iran will not affect the foreign policy of the government, regarding the nuclear plans, a political analyst said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s budget for the new Iranian year, which starts on 21 March, will be 20 per cent bigger than last year, at $304bn compared with $253bn.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Similar to other years, Iranians all across the country celebrated the ancient Persian tradition of Last-Wednesday-of-the-Year Fireworks (Chaharshanbeh Souri) as a prelude to Nowruz (the start of the new year).

TEHRAN (FNA)- Switzerland and Iran signed a huge deal on Monday for the supply of Iranian natural gas to Europe, sparking harsh criticism from the United States.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) — NATO war planes killed a dozen Taliban rebels in southern Afghanistan after bombing the vehicle in which they were travelling, the alliance said Tuesday, rejecting claims several civilians were killed.