Oliver August
Iraq’s Shia Muslim parties have formed a parliamentary alliance that will keep the country’s Sunni minority out of power and could spark a new round of sectarian violence.

Two months after landmark elections, the State of Law party of Nouri al-Maliki, the Prime Minister, and the Iraqi National Alliance (INA), which is dominated by Moqtadr al-Sadr, the radical cleric, announced that they would jointly form a new government.

By Alain Jean-Robert
BRUSSELS (AFP) — US Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday warned that Iran's nuclear drive threatens a Middle East arms race as he sought to reassure Europe of its importance as a US ally.

With increasing Western pressure for new sanctions against Iran, Biden warned Iran to scrap its nuclear programme or face "further consequences"

By Louis Charbonneau
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister held a rare meeting with the United States and other Security Council members on Thursday as Tehran faces the possibility of new U.N. sanctions over its nuclear program.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration accused Iran on Wednesday of trying to buy time by accepting Brazil's offer to mediate in its nuclear standoff and said the United States would be undeterred in its push for new U.N. sanctions.

 Thursday, 06 May 2010 
The chief U.N. nuclear official said Wednesday he is launching a new effort to resolve questions about alleged atomic weapons research by Iranian scientists, hinting at a firmer stance by the U.N. watchdog agency in seeking answers from Iran about its nuclear intentions, reported Washington Post Thursday.

Thursday, 06 May 2010 
In an appeal on April 30, 2010, Amnesty International called for action to end stoning to death as a method of execution in Iran. The statement by AI notes that at least 11 individuals are currently at risk of execution by stoning.

Ali Anjam, a member of the Gilan Office for Consolidating Unity was barred from teaching on orders of the Personnel Committee of the Ministry of Education after his release from prison.

Amnesty International has issued an urgent statement about the imminent execution of Jafar Kazemi in the next few days:
"The danger of imminent execution in Iran"
An Iranian, Jafar Kazemi, is in imminent danger of execution for participating in anti-government demonstrations. He has also been accused of collaborating with the MKO (Mujahedeen Khalgh Organization).

  Wednesday, 05 May 2010 
The state of health of Mr. Mohammad Ali Haj Aqai, a 62-year-old married political prisoner, has deteriorated. He was arrested on September 18 uprising in Tehran and later sentenced to death as mohareb (enemy of God).
He had spent seven years in prison in 1980s for supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). He is now on the death row for the same reason. His sentence has been reinstated without observing the clerical regime’s own rules and procedures and without being referred to the High Court. The regime has refused to hand over a copy of his file to his attorney.

Iran announced new naval war games on Tuesday and revealed that one of its military aircraft had photographed a U.S. aircraft carrier, a day after Washington said Tehran was challenging its sea power in the Middle East.

The plane flew over the carrier in the Sea of Oman and took pictures of it, a senior Iranian commander was quoted as saying on Tuesday. Navy commander Habibollah Sayari did not say when the incident took place, but suggested that the U.S. ship's crew had objected to the Iranian action.

A top US Republican lawmaker on Tuesday made a sweeping election-year attack on President Barack Obama's foreign policy, blasting a landmark nuclear cuts treaty with Russia and efforts to engage Iran.

With six months before November mid-term elections, Representative Eric Cantor urged US voters to back Republicans at "a pivotal time for America to restore its credibility by pursuing peace through strength."

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday denied recent press reports that Osama bin Laden is in Tehran and insisted that the Al-Qaeda leader is, in fact, in the US capital of Washington.

"Rest assured that he's in Washington. I think there's a high chance he's there," the Iranian leader told ABC television in an interview.