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The EU foreign policy head will visit Iran in the next 48 hours in the latest diplomatic effort to persuade Iran to halt nuclear research, Tehran says. Javier Solana will present proposals agreed by six world powers in Vienna on Thursday, Iran's foreign minister said. Manouchehr Mottaki said a breakthrough was possible but added Iran would not halt uranium enrichment - a condition set by the powers for talks to start. He said Iran would look at the plans before giving a formal response. The  ...

Police have pledged to trace the assets of the leader of a 21-strong drugs gang jailed for a total of more than 70 years at Newport Crown Court. Seven forces were involved in Operation Reptile which tracked a "sophisticated" gang before seizing drugs worth £2.5m. Michael Martin was jailed for nine years and others in the gang were handed sentences of up to 10 years. Martin was described as the organiser/controller of the crime gang which made "vast profits". Det Insp Steve Webber said:  ...

Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey's initiative to reach out to loyalists will produce results, PUP leader David Ervine has predicted. The UVF is refusing to give its response to the IRA's decision to end its armed campaign until after the deadline for devolution of 24 November. However, Mr Ervine, whose party is linked to the UVF, insisted that the UUP initiative should prove positive. "It will work, if Reg Empey can be left alone to do the job," he said. "I am convinced that Reg Empey  ...

A US military investigation has found there was no misconduct by US troops over Iraqi civilian deaths in the town of Ishaqi, a spokesman says. Maj Gen William Caldwell said reports that troops "executed" a family during a raid on a house in March and tried to cover it up were "absolutely false". Questions over the 11 deaths in Ishaqi come amid a Pentagon inquiry into a bigger alleged massacre in Haditha. The US has announced extra training in moral and ethical values for troops. Iraqi Prim ...

KABUL (Reuters) - U.S.-led coalition and Afghan troops recaptured a district occupied by the Taliban, killing at least 15 militants, an Afghan official said on Saturday. The troops took control of the Chora district of the southern Uruzgan province late on Friday, days after the Taliban had captured the area, the defence ministry spokesman said. "Fifteen bodies of the enemies of Afghanistan lie  ...

By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - Anti-terrorist police are hunting for a "dirty" chemical bomb that could be used in an attack in Britain after a major raid failed to uncover a device they believe exists, newspapers reported on Saturday. More than 250 officers, some wearing chemical, biological and radiological protection suits, shot one man and arrested another during a dawn raid on an east London house on Friday. Police made no official comment on the reports but said nothing suspicious ...

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has accused some countries of putting their "heads in the sand" in failing to spell out the truth about Aids. He told the BBC he was disappointed a declaration at a UN Aids conference did not specify homosexuals, prostitutes and drug addicts were at risk. But Mr Annan still said the declaration was better than he had expected. The declaration commits countries to work towards universal access to Aids care by 2010. It also recognises the fight against the disea ...

Student leaders in Chile have rejected a government proposal aimed at ending the largest student protests in years. The news was confirmed by the Chilean Education Minister, Martin Zilic, following a meeting with a group of student leaders in Santiago. Mr Zilic said the students objected to the government's refusal of their demand that all students be granted free public transport. The students are planning a national strike for Monday. Last week saw two days of violent protests. As well  ...

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Tehran will not abandon its right to nuclear technology under Western pressure, local media say. His statement comes a day after six world powers agreed proposals in Vienna to persuade Iran to halt its research. But US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she still hoped to meet ministers from Iran if it suspended its nuclear programme and agreed to talks. Ex-President Jimmy Carter said the US should enter talks without conditions. "To say ' ...

MONTREAL (Reuters) - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said on Friday that it arrested a number of individuals in the Toronto area for "terrorism-related offences." "The operation is on-going," said Corporal Michele Paradis, spokeswoman for the Mounties. Paradis declined to offer details on the nature of charges or provide a specific number of those detained in the police operation, which was co ...