On February 14th, 2002 after a popular radio station in Los Angeles, Radio Sedaye Iran, briefly mentioned our site , we had an enormous amount of hits simultaneously downloading numerous files from our site. This caused an excessive resource consumption which caused an extreme spike in the server load. ... more

Tehran, March 1, IRNA -- A prominent cleric, Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi here Friday, said that Iran's proponents of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington had shamed themselves into retracting their calls in the wake of the US' recent anti-Iran rhetoric. ... more

In the weeks since U.S. President George W. Bush called Tehran part of an "axis of evil," Iranian conservatives have sought to portray reformists as dupes for ever suggesting there might be grounds for dialogue between the two countries. But now, reformists are counter-attacking by calling for an investigation into allegations that hard-liners tried to smuggle arms to the Palestinians and shelter members of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network -- actions they say give Washington a pretext for carrying out policies hostile to Iran. ... more

Tehran, March 1, IRNA -- Deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC), Brigadier Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, has denied threatening to attack Persian Gulf oil infrastructure in the event of a US attack on Iran, an MP said here Thursday. ... more

Shirana Shahbazi's humanising and powerful images of Iran won her the prestigious Citigroup private bank photography prize in London last night and £15,000 prize money. As the youngest shortlisted artist, Shahbazi, 27, originally from Tehran but now based in Zurich, was the surprise winner of the Guardian sponsored prize, which is in its sixth year. ... more

[Presenter] Olaylar news agency has reported that the ship which violated Azerbaijan's maritime borders in the Caspian Sea recently [25 February] belonged not to the Iranian Defence Ministry, but the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps [IRGC]. [ ... more

The US is embarking on a new chapter in its "war on terror", and Saddam Hussein is in its sights. International Editor Hamish McDonald looks at how the campaign will unfold, and its risks. Saddam Hussein has just under a year left in power, max, if the gathering consensus among Western military experts about the Bush Administration's thinking is right. ... more

WASHINGTON - In 1996, then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright outlined a plan to the Clinton White House for toppling America's longtime nemesis, Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein. It would take a quarter-of-a-million allied forces, Ms. Albright concluded, but it could be done. But the numbers and uncertainty over the operation's aftermath snuffed support for the proposal. ... more

The United States is considering building a radio transmitter in Iran or rebel-held territory in northeast Iraq to broadcast anti-Saddam propaganda into Iraq. The State Department said it has agreed in principle to fund the project, which is backed by the opposition Iraqi National Congress (INC). It comes amid increasing signs that America is planning to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Washington has previously resisted supporting INC activities in Iraq, considering them too risky or badly organised. ... more

Prime Minister Tony Blair has spoken of the importance of taking action against Iraq and other states which spread weapons of mass destruction. He stopped short of endorsing US President George W Bush's characterisation of Iran, Iraq and North Korea as an "axis of evil". But he praised the president's leadership since the terrorist attacks of 11 September, and said he was "absolutely right" to raise the weapons issue. During an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Mr Blair was asked whether he endorsed Mr Bush's "axis of evil" statement. ... more

JERUSALEM (March 1) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon sent a clear message to Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud yesterday that, without contact between Israel and Saudi Arabia, his peace deal is doomed to fail. Abdullah's initiative calls for Israel to withdraw to the pre-1967 lines in return for full diplomatic relations, normalized trade, and security guarantees from Arab countries. ... more

Despite a need to end a 17-month-long war between Israel and the Palestinians, it's difficult to take seriously a surprise peace plan from Saudi Arabia. The plan is vague and sketchy, and was only casually mentioned last month to a visiting American columnist, who was allowed a rare interview with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. The interview itself was part of a massive public-relations campaign by Saudi Arabia after Sept. 11, to clear its name in the United States. Osama bin Laden is from Saudi Arabia, as were 15 of the 19 hijackers. And a Saudi brand of Islam seems to breed anti-American militants. ... more

HAIFA (March 1) - The sound of Hizbullah anti-aircraft fire reverberated in Upper and Western Galilee yesterday afternoon, even though no IAF planes crossed into Lebanese air space. Fragments of shrapnel fell between Kibbutz Manara and Moshav Margaliyot and near Shlomi without causing casualties or damage. It was the ninth time in two months Hizbullah has fired anti-aircraft shells across the border on the pretext of defending Lebanon from IAF overflights. Military sources stressed there had not been any incursions by IAF planes into Lebanese air space yesterday, and certainly not at the time of the firing. ... more

SANAA (Reuters) - Yemen said on Friday U.S. troops were going to the Arab state to train Yemeni forces hunting remnants of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network. The confirmation by a senior Yemeni official came after the Wall Street Journal said the White House had approved a mission to send hundreds of troops to train and advise Yemeni forces. "In the framework of cooperation between Yemen and the United States, U.S. forces will arrive gradually to hold training courses," the official told Reuters. The official did not say when the troops would be in Yemen. He said the U.S. troops would arrive in separate groups at different times and that each group would leave once it finishes its part of the training. In December, Yemen launched a manhunt for two Yemenis and other suspected members of al Qaeda. The poor Arab state has been trying to shake off its image as a haven for Islamic militants. ... more