A late goal from Javad Nekounam earned Iran a 1-1 draw in Saudi Arabia on Saturday in the opening night of the final round of qualification for the 2010 World Cup.

With North Korea winning 2-1 in UAE earlier, the Saudis and Iranians sit in second and third place in Group B.

Pakistani Officials Say Coalition Forces Strike in South Waziristan - Afghani Army say 32 Taliban Fighters Killed in in South Waziristan, Pakistan.

Authorities in Afghanistan say Afghan and foreign troops have clashed with Taliban fighters in two southern provinces, leaving more than 30 insurgents dead.

Iraqi officials say U.S. forces Wednesday killed six Iraqi security personnel in what the U.S. describes as a case of "mistaken fire".

Iran has sentenced four women's rights activists to six months in jail, including one who was awarded a $75,000 human rights prize in Sweden this year, campaigners said on Wednesday.

It was the latest sign of a clampdown on activists working to change legislation which they say discriminates against women in the Islamic Republic. Iran rejects accusations of bias.

Dozens of activists have been detained over the last two years and several have received mostly suspended prison terms.

TEHRAN (FNA)- A Russian delegation is scheduled to visit Iran to discuss the completion of Iran's first nuclear power plant in Bushehr, Russian officials said.

The delegation from Atomstroyexport - Russia's nuclear plant construction company - will arrive in Iran on 31 August to hold talks with Iranian officials on 1 September, a company spokesman said on Friday.

One of Iran's top military commanders warns any attack against Iran would start a new world war.

Iranian state media reported the comments by Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri Saturday.

General Jazayeri says unrestrained greed of the United States and Zionism are pushing the world to "the edge of a precipice."

He warned, in the case of an attack, "fake and artificial regimes" would be the first to be eliminated.

Iran: Amnesty International condemns the execution of juvenile offender Reza Hejazi

Amnesty International unreservedly condemns the execution today 19 August 2008, at 11am of Reza Hejazi, for a crime he committed when he was below 18 years old.

Reza Hejazi was hanged in Esfahan central prison following his conviction for the murder, then aged about 15. His lawyer was not informed that his execution was to be carried out, though under Iranian law a 48 hour notification period is required.

Amnesty International calls for the Iranian Judiciary to halt all executions of juvenile offenders and the Iranian government to ban all such executions in line with international law.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of orchestrating the Georgian crisis to benefit one of the presidential candidates, a claim the White House calls "patently false."

In an interview with the television network CNN, Mr. Putin said Russian defense officials told him the United States encouraged Georgia to attack the breakaway region of South Ossetia.  The Russian prime minister did not identify which presidential candidate he was referring to, and he offered no proof of his accusation.