In Brief
Experts warn Barack Obama of 'hornet's nest' in Middle East
Iran poses the greatest foreign policy challenge to Barack Obama, the
President-elect, with Tehran on course to produce a nuclear bomb in the
first year of an Obama administration, a coalition of top think-tanks
gave warning yesterday.
Mr Obama must keep his promises of direct talks with Tehran and
engage the Middle East region as a whole if he is to halt a looming
crisis that could be revisited on the US, the experts said.
"Diplomacy is not guaranteed to work," Richard Hass, one of the
authors said. "But the other options - military action or living with an
Iranian weapon are sufficiently unattractive for it to warrant serious
commitment."
-Times,UK
Iraq approves US security pact amid noisy debate
The Iraqi Parliament approved a security pact with Washington
yesterday, setting a timetable for US forces to leave Iraq in three
years - but the vote was marred by chants of "no agreement" from MPs who
want them out sooner.
Baghdad will now turn its attention to London, with time fast running
out to seal a similar deal with the British Government before a United
Nations mandate authorising the presence of British forces on Iraqi soil
expires at the end of 2008.
After delays and last-minute bargaining, 149 out of 198 MPs present
voted for the US-Iraqi Status of Forces agreement and a wider strategic
framework, which covers bilateral ties in areas such as science and
education.
-Times,UK
Nato 'to resume ties with Russia'
Nato has agreed to a "conditional and graduated re-engagement" with
Russia, the alliance's secretary general says.
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said talks with Moscow, which were frozen over
its war with Georgia in August, would resume.
The Nato-Russia Council is not being restored, but the Nato chief
said lower-level talks would take place.
Foreign ministers meeting in Brussels also reiterated their support
for eventual Nato membership for Georgia and Ukraine.
But Nato is deeply divided on the subject, and did not offer the
countries their desired membership action plan (MAP).
-BBC
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