US accuses Iran of smuggling missiles into Iraq

After the US military arrested on of its citizens in Sulaimaniyah and accused him of weapon smuggling, Iran responded by closed its main border crossing with northern Iraq. The new tensions coincide with the arrival of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the USA, where he will address the UN General Assembly.

Currently, Iraqi and Iranian officials state that the arrested man was in Iraq legally and on official business, but the US military is claiming that he is a part of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. He is also accused of smuggling missiles, and although it wasn’t specified to whom, the US frequently pointed out that Shiite groups, especially the Mahdi Army, have strong ties with Tehran.

Recent weeks have seen a rise in tension between the USA and Iran, and with the possibility of war looming in the air, many analysts fear that some king of similar incident could spark of the conflict.

The last potential flash point was the seizure of 15 British sailors by the Revolutionary Guard in March this year, and that crisis was solved by diplomatic means.

Bin Laden calls for a holy war in Pakistan

The leader of Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden called the Muslim in Pakistan to rise up against Gen. President Musharraf and his government. In his audio message he also referred to the storming of the Red Mosque in Islamabad, and said the army operation made Gen. Musharraf an infidel.

Another parliament member killed in Lebanon

Antoine Ghanem, a parliament member and a representative of the Christian community in Lebanon, was killed today in a Beirut.
He died when a bomb ripped through his vehicle, killing him and another 7 people instantly.

Accusations are already falling on Syria and its security agencies, although Damascus steadfastly denied any involvement in Lebanon's internal affairs.

Read the full story in the BBC article.

Two casualties in the Nablus raid

One Israeli soldier and a Palestinian gunman have been killed in an IDF raid on a refugee camp in the city of Nablus. Witnesses have reported that heavy fighting went on inside the camp, with Israeli gunship showering over the area.

It's not clear how the Israeli soldier died - PFLP and Islamic Jihad are claming that he was killed in an explosion, but the IDF sources are attributing his death to small-arms fire.

Also, Al Jazeera is reporting about the incident in which IDF soldiers allegedly used a Palestinian civilian as human shield during the same raid.

Read more about the raid and human shield accusations in the Al Jazeera article.

Outrage in Iran over French Foreign Minister statement

Bernard Kouchner, the French Foreign Minister, while criticizing the Iranian nuclear program in an interview, stated that the world should prepare for a possible war with Tehran.
Although he added that diplomatic solution should be pursued, the statement was, not surprisingly, badly received in Iranian media and political circles.

The statement is widely seen as another part of President Sarkozy new foreign policy initiative, intended to reassert France as one of the mayor players in the arena of international politics.

Al Qaeda steps up attacks in Iraq

Just as it announced on Saturday, it's becoming clear that Al Qaeda in Iraq is intensifying it's offensive.
Around 30 people have been killed today in several different attacks around the country. 14 people have been shot and 12 shops burnt down in the Sunni town of Muqdadiyi. 6 died in a Baghdad suicide bombing, and another 7 were shot in 3 separate attacks in the capital.

President Musharraf will get another mandate

Ruling party in Pakistan has announced that Gen. Pervez Musharraf will get another five-year Presidential mandate. The vote will probably take place in early October.

Read more in the AP article.