TEHRAN, Aug. 24--Some 20,000 development projects will become operational during the Government Week (August 24-30), said the government spokesman.
Gholamhossein Elham added that South Khorasan, with 1,115 plans, ranks first among the other provinces, IRNA reported.
Referring to political issues, Elham says attempts to agitate the neighboring states are part of the enemies’ psychological warfare.
Commenting on recent allegations concerning Iran’s activities in Iraq’s Kurdistan, Elham said, “Enemies have always sought to disrupt Iran’s good relations with its neighbors. This is why some states are waging psychological propaganda against Iran.“
The spokesman also said Iran sees no need to harm people by inciting hostile groups, which has been alleged by the US.
Noting that an occupying state is accountable for the security of the occupied territory, he said the US is making efforts to cover up its failures in Iraq by shifting the blame to others.
“The US is not creating the necessary conditions for the Iraqi government to assume responsibility for its own security. Therefore, it should not make such allegations, because this kind of approach will not resolve the problems of Iraq,“ he said.
Elham stressed that since the US is not accepting responsibility for Iraq’s security, it should withdraw its troops as soon as possible and allow Iraq to take charge of its own security.
In the meantime, Health Minister Kamran Baqeri Lankarani said 500 health schemes were launched on the first day of the Government Week.
The minister also told IRNA that the projects include emergency units, health houses and treatment centers.
“Three hospitals are also ready to go on stream,“ he said.
With regard to scientific and research achievements, Lankarani referred to the discovery of medicine for HIV treatment and achievements regarding stem cells.

Javad Vaeedi

TEHRAN, Aug. 24--A senior nuclear negotiator said on Friday Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency is within the specified modality framework and does not imply withdrawal from previous stances.
Javad Vaeedi, deputy head of Supreme National Security Council for international affairs, noted that Iran’s openness to talks is a goodwill gesture, ISNA reported.
Asked whether it is possible that IAEA Chief Mohamed ElBaradei will speak in a favorable manner, Vaeedi said it is possible.
Referring to statements of ElBaradei and EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana after the latest round of Iran-IAEA talks, he noted that both of them have expressed their satisfaction about the negotiations held over the past two months.
“We do not want to exaggerate this support or be optimistic about it; we only want to mention that two personalities concerned with Iran’s nuclear case have welcomed an initiative by Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, in resuming Iran-IAEA talks,“ he said.
Noting that Iran’s initiative for holding talks with IAEA has created problems for some countries, he pointed out that some countries are keen to prevent constructive talks between Iran and IAEA.
“We always try to avoid a critical situation or confront others,“ he added.
Asked whether Iran’s cooperation with IAEA signifies Iran’s withdrawal from its previous stances, Vaeedi responded that Iran has not withdrawn its nuclear stances.
He stressed that Iran will continue its peaceful nuclear activities as a powerful country.
“We are thinking about resolving problems of the region and establishment of peace,“ he said.
Vaeedi pointed out that Iran’s uranium enrichment program is in line with regional peace.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 24--The party of Pakistan’s exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif rejected any possibility of reconciliation with the country’s military ruler on Friday--a day after the Supreme Court said Sharif could return home for parliamentary elections.
Immediately after Pakistan’s highest court ruled he could return, Sharif said he would go home soon to lead his party’s campaign to oust President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who exiled Sharif eight years ago.
Speaking to The Associated Press in his London office on Thursday, Sharif, who once dominated Pakistani politics, confirmed he planned to run for a third term as prime minister.
Sharif and Benazir Bhutto--another banished former premier with strong popular support planning a comeback--insist Musharraf must let them compete in year-end parliamentary elections if the vote is to be considered democratic.
Musharraf, in political crisis since March when he made a failed attempt to fire the chief justice, has long vowed to prevent Sharif from coming back, AFP reported.
Local media welcomed the ruling, saying it shows an independent judiciary and will level a political playing field long dominated by the general.
Musharraf ousted Sharif in a 1999 coup but allowed him to leave for Saudi Arabia after he promised he would not return to Pakistan for 10 years.
On Friday, Sadique Al-Farooq, a senior leader of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N party, said “there is no chance for any reconciliation“ with Musharraf.
“It is out of question,“ he told The Associated Press.
“Democracy and dictatorship cannot go together.“
Meanwhile, around 250 Islamic militants and 60 troops have been killed in just over a month of fighting in Pakistan’s tribal belt, the army said Friday, following intense US pressure to pacify the area.
Two new suicide bombings rocked the rugged region on the border with Afghanistan on Friday, claiming the lives of another six Pakistani soldiers and six rebels, officials said, AFP reported.
The Pashtun-dominated tribal zone has been wracked by violence since a controversial peace pact between the Pakistani government and pro-Taliban rebels in the region broke down in mid-July.

WASHINGTON,
Aug. 24--US Senator John Warner, an influential Republican on military affairs, urged President George W. Bush on Thursday to start a limited withdrawal of US troops from Iraq by Christmas.
The move would send a signal to the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and regional nations that the US commitment to Iraq is not open-ended, said Warner, who returned recently from Iraq, AFP reported.
“I say to the president, respectfully, pick whatever number you wish,“ Warner told reporters.
Warner said he recognized that US forces “are gaining momentum“ in places like Baghdad and the western province of Anbar.
“You do not want to lose the momentum, but certainly in 160,000-plus, say, 5,000 could begin to redeploy and be home to their families and loved ones no later than Christmas of this year,“ he said.
There are currently some 162,000 US troops in Iraq, according to Pentagon figures.
Echoing what Bush said on January 10 when the president announced a ’surge’ of 30,000 extra US troops in Iraq, Warner said the US military presence was not an open-ended commitment.
Warner emphasized that he “is not in any way trying to pull the rug out from under the troops,“ and that he ’supports’ the goals that Bush has set in both Iraq and the region.

Nawaz Sharif

TEHRAN, Aug. 24--A senior Lebanese official said Hezbollah is seeking national unity and supports efforts in this direction.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Iran Daily, Sheikh Mohammad Yazbak, deputy head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, added that the Islamic resistance movement is making efforts to resolve the internal political problems of Lebanon.
“There have been efforts from Iran, Saudi Arabia and some other countries to break the political impasse in Lebanon. We support all such efforts and look forward to the future when we can see a national unity government in Lebanon,“ he said.
He noted that a national unity government can prepare the ground for presidential elections and if this does not materialize, Hezbollah will pursue its own plans.
“No one can become president without the support of a majority of political parties. Hezbollah supports the candidacy of Michel Aoun, leader of Free Patriotic Movement,“ he said.
Asked about the new situation promised by Hezbollah Leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah in his last speech, Yazbak pointed out that Nasrallah sent a message to the world saying Hezbollah is not seeking war with anyone but if enemies want to start a new aggression against Lebanese people, Hezbollah will defend the country.
“If our enemies want to launch another attack against Lebanon, Hezbollah will respond strongly. Our enemies might think it is a psychological warfare. Yes, it is but a real one,“ he said. The Hezbollah official further said Israel is suffering from the consequences of its defeat in the 33-day war, hence many analysts believe Israel cannot attack Hezbollah again in the near future.
“Israel is now aware of Hezbollah’s power and it’s unlikely that it would make another mistake in the near future,“ he said.
Asked about the role of Arab regimes in the 33-day war, Sheikh Yazbak said Arab regimes are separated from the Arab nations, noting that many regional regimes are close allies of the US and cannot decline the orders of American and Israeli officials.
Sheikh Yazbak noted that since Arab regimes lack public support in their own country, they latch on to the Western countries.
“In fact, Arab regimes did not support Hezbollah during the 33-day war. They were supporting the Israeli regime. However, Arab nations supported Hezbollah’s resistance and this means a lot to us,“ he said.

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 24--A bomb apparently dropped by an American fighter jet called in for air support killed three British soldiers in southern Afghanistan, officials said Friday. Two soldiers were seriously wounded.
The British unit was on patrol Thursday evening in Helmand province when it came under Taliban attack, the British Ministry of Defense said, AP reported.
“During the intense engagement that ensued, close air support was called in from two US F-15 aircraft to repel the enemy. One bomb was dropped and it is believed the explosion killed the three soldiers.“
They were the first British soldiers killed in friendly fire in Afghanistan, although joint operations between US and British forces in Iraq have been marred by “friendly fire“ deaths caused by the failure of equipment and personnel in correctly identifying allies.
Britain did not identify the soldiers, from 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment. It said an investigation was planned.
British troops have been battling militants for months in Kajaki, where repairs are taking place on a hydroelectric dam that will be able to supply close to 2 million Afghans with electricity.
“There are a handful of different reasons why this tragic incident has happened and we are not in a position at the moment and I don’t think we will be for some time to find out exactly what has happened,“ said a spokesman for British troops in Helmand, Lt. Colonel Charlie Mayo.
Mayo said both wounded soldiers were injured seriously.
The American Embassy in London said “the US expresses its deep condolences to the families and loved ones of the soldiers who died, and we wish those who were injured a speedy recovery“.
After an inquest into the death of British soldier Lance Cpl. Matty Hull, 25, killed in a friendly fire attack by two American pilots in Iraq in 2003, opposition legislators in Britain called for improvements in joint identification systems.
Britain last year threatened to end cooperation with the US on the new Joint Strike Fighter jet after 10 years of development, until the Pentagon resolved concerns it was not sharing enough information about the aircraft’s sensitive software with London.

TEHRAN, Aug. 24--The participation of 40 countries in an international seminar titled “Persian Gulf: Marine Silk Road“ will consolidate bonds between Iran and Persian Gulf littoral states, and help thwart any outside threat.
In a statement faxed to Iran Daily, secretary of the seminar, Mohammad Heidari, said the participation of so many countries is actually a kind of opposition to the move to boycott the seminar.
He noted that 450 Iranian dignitaries will also attend the seminar, which will be held on Kish Island during December 5-8.
“Officials from Majlis and different governmental sectors will also take part in the seminar,“ he said.
Heidari pointed out that since top officials have agreed to participate in the seminar, important business contracts will be concluded.
Companies active in oil, tourism, environment, banking and insurance fields from many countries, including China, Lebanon, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, Philippines, Italy, Greece, Russia, Oman, UAE, Pakistan, South Korea, Egypt, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, India, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Taiwan, will take part in the seminar.
Calligraphy, painting and photography exhibitions related to the Persian Gulf will also be held on the sidelines of the seminar.