Iraqi speaker arrives in Tehran after inital entry refusal
Submitted by William Kaelin on Tue, 10/07/2008 - 10:49.
Iraq's parliamentary speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani arrived in Tehran Tuesday for a two-day visit after his plane was intially refused permission to land the day before, Fars news agency reported.
The Sunni politician was to meet his Iranian counterpart Ali Larijani as well as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to discuss the latest developments in Iraq, including its security pact with the United States, Fars said.
Iran opposed the bilateral agreement between Washington and Baghdad, claiming the US presence would disturb regional stability.
Tehran stressed Monday's refusal of the plane's entry was due to technical problems.
The German car market is facing its worse downturn, the nation's auto industry association warned Wednesday as the deepening sense of economic gloom in the country leads to a shakeout in the industry and the prospects of big job cuts.
A comedy starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon as a couple trying to avoid their families at Christmas debuted in first place over the weekend at North American box offices, according to preliminary studio estimates issued Sunday.