‘Principalists will align against Khatami’

A Principalist party says that Iran’s Principalists will get aligned against former president Khatami if he contests the election.

“The Principalists would adopt a united policy against Khatami if he returns to politics, though his victory sounds a bit far-fetched,” Secretary General of the Islamic Coalition Party Mohammad-Nabi Habibi told reporters on Wednesday.

The party is one of the major members of the Principalist camp. Habibi claimed an unlikely victory and a decrease in votes for the Reformist cleric in the upcoming 2009 presidential elections compared to his first victory in June 1997.

Iraq, Turkey up anti-PKK cooperation

Iraq and Turkey agree to continue a joint effort against Kurdish Workers Party militants operating along their shared mountainous border.

“Iraq is in a serious fight with terrorism, as we are as well. Terrorism is a common issue for us,” said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan after meeting with his visiting Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki on Wednesday.

Erdogan an al-Maliki also agreed to hold regular meetings to discuss the latest developments in fighting Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) Insurgents.

Iran rejects Obama’s carrot-and-stick approach

Iran has rejected a “carrot-and-stick” approach from president-elect Barack Obama that would combine economic incentives and threats of sanctions to try to change Tehran’s plans for its nuclear program.

‘Israel to help India against Pakistan’

An Israeli website suggests that Tel Aviv might help India carry out covert operations inside Pakistan in retaliation for the Mumbai attacks.

India has asked for Israeli assistance in cross-border attacks against “Islamist terrorists” inside Pakistan, reported Debka which is believed to have ties with intelligence and military sources.