Turkish and US commanders on Saturday discussed measures against Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq, while Turkey’s prime minister said the struggle against the separatists was at a “critical stage”.

Hamas will step up attacks against Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank after a US-hosted peace conference next week, an official said in a statement on its website Saturday.

Ivory Coast’s foreign minister is scheduled to arrive here in Tehran Sunday night to attend the first meeting of the two countries’ joint economic commission.

 Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa is due to pay a visit to Iran on Monday.

55.5% of Iranians believe that the present parliament with a conservative majority has been more successful in solving people’s problems than the reformist parliament acting at the time of former President Khatami, results of a recent opinion poll suggested.

Iran does not support any special candidate in Lebanon and it stresses the need for a comprehensive agreement and consensus among Lebanese groups, tribes and figures, foreign ministry spokesman said.

Iran believes there is enough oil in the global market but is capable of pumping more into it if the figures warrant and if there is agreement by OPEC to do so, Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari said.

Foreign Minister and Chief EU Negotiator Ali Babacan reiterated Turkey’s determination to enter the European Union on Thursday, just a day after Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission meeting at the Turkish Parliament, where he promised Turkey will certainly meet EU acquis and accomplish required reforms.  

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Taliban militants beheaded seven policemen Friday after overrunning their checkpoints in southern Afghanistan, officials said, while in a separate clash, an Australian soldier and three civilians were killed.

Lebanon’s outgoing President Emile Lahoud asked the army to take control of the country’s security on Friday, after rival leaders failed to agree on his successor, creating a vacuum in the presidency from midnight.