World

President Dmitry Medvedev warned on Monday that Russia could sever all ties with NATO amid a standoff over Russia's response to Georgia's offensive in breakaway South Ossetia.

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Monday the world must increase pressure on Iran to rein in its nuclear program and avoid a situation where Israel feels cornered.

U.S. President George W. Bush has urged Russia not to recognize Georgia's two breakaway regions as independent, and has sent his deputy Dick Cheney to Georgia in a show of U.S. support.

President Hamid Karzai's government has demanded a review of the presence of U.S. and NATO troops in the country amid allegations that large numbers of civilians have died in raids and airstrikes by foreign forces in recent weeks.

The State Duma is expected to back a request to recognize the independence of Georgia's breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia at a session of the country's lower house of parliament on Monday.

Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's envoy to NATO, will discuss the future for Russian-NATO cooperation with the country's leadership on Monday, a day later than scheduled.

Afghanistan's Interior Ministry says its troops have confiscated 1.3 tons of opium in southern Afghanistan.

The withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia is going according to schedule, with the process due to be completed within the next 10 days, the Russian Ground Forces commander said on Thursday.

A truck overturned in southern Iran early on Thursday, killing at least 30 immigrants from Afghanistan and wounding 83 others, the Fars news agency reported.

The UN Security Council took no decision on Thursday regarding Russia-submitted resolution on Georgia, however Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the document can be voted any time after 24 hours.