A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
US may cite Iranian Guard as terrorists
WASHINGTON -The United States may soon name Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a foreign terrorist group, according to US officials, reflecting frustration over Tehran's nuclear programme and its suspected role in Iraqi violence.
The designation would enable Washington to target the Iranian group's finances. - (Reuters)
Major US, Afghan push at Tora Bora
KABUL -US and Afghan forces have launched a major operation against al-Qaeda fighters based in mountains bordering Pakistan, the US army has said, after a bomb killed three German police officers near Kabul.
The US and Afghan offensive was in the Tora Bora mountains where al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was once thought to be hiding. - (Reuters)
Tymoshenko can contest election
KIEV -Yulia Tymoshenko, a key figure in the Orange Revolution and an ally of Ukraine's president, has been given the go-ahead to run in a parliamentary election on September 30th, four days after being barred on a technicality. - (Reuters)
Student charged over violent video
MOSCOW -Russian prosecutors have charged a university student with inciting racial hatred by circulating an internet video which appeared to show neo- Nazis beheading one non- Slav migrant and shooting another in the head.
The video has highlighted racist violence in Russia, which is usually directed against dark-skinned migrants from the country's south or former Soviet republics. - (Reuters)
McConnell quits as Scottish LP leader
LONDON -Jack McConnell has resigned as leader of the Scottish Labour Party, leaving his party struggling to rebuild its support base after nationalists ended 50 years of Labour dominance in Scotland in May.
Mr McConnell governed Scotland as first minister until the pro-independence Scottish National Party became the largest party in parliament after May's elections. - (Reuters)