iran, iraq, and brazil

iranian forces have bombed PKK (Kurdistan Worker's Party) positions in iraq in an effort to gain the support of turkey, with which the PKK has been fighting for independance in the largley kurdish majority region of south eastern turkey. iran wants the support of turkey against the united states and other western countries over iran's growing nuclear program. the PKK has threatened to retaliate against iran with hit and run attacks using kalashnikovs, rocket propelled grenades, machine guns, and mortars because they can't afford to face the islamic republic in open battle. kurdish authorities in the iraqi government have warned the PKK against launching attacks on iranian and turkish forces from iraqi soil.

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the latest scandal to plague the british armed forces in iraq involve the alleged drowning of a 15 year old iraqi boy. british troops arrested three thiefs trying to steal from a garage. according to the surviving thief, after they were arrested the soldiers stopped their vehicle, made their prisoners get out and untied their hands. they then told the iraqi men to take a swim in the shatt al-basra canal, one of the men could not swim and was soon overcome by the strong current, in a last effort he raised his arms above his head before disappearing below the surface. while this alleged incident was taking place the british soldiers were also apparently throwing bricks at all the men in the water. one of the british soldiers appeared to have wanted to help the drowning man, but when he began taking off his clothes to jump in the water to save the man, the other soldiers stopped him and pushed him towards their vehicle. the four soldiers involved are on trial at a court martial in colchester essex.

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brazil has the joined the group of countries with the capability to enrich uranium as a source of energy after lengthy negotiations with the IAEA (international atomic energy association). prior to this brazil had to ship its uranium ore abroad for enrichment, brazil also has some of the largest reserves of uranium in the world. negotiations were tense with the IAEA because of the simultaneous pressure being put on iran to cooperate with the international community in regards to its nuclear program. in the end safeguards were set up to ensure that brazils facilities would not be used for a weapons program.