US President George Bush called the offensive of the Iraqi government forces in the positions of militants in the Basra "a decisive moment in the history of free Iraq," the Air Force reports. According to Bush, the actions of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Malika show that he is the same about Shiites and Sunnis, who violate the law. Maliki himself is Shiite. Earlier, the Iraqi government for 10 days extended the term of the ultimatum nominated by the Shiite militarized groups in the Basra.

The collapse of the mining mines of precious stones occurred in the north of Tanzania, 75 miners were missing and probably died, the Air Force television and radio corporation reports on Saturday with reference to the representative of the Tanzani government. The pouring rains on the eve provoked the collapse of the mine, which is located 40 kilometers from the city of Arusha. Rescuers pulled seven people on the surface of the body.

The EU is ready to offer Serbia the perspective of a visa -free regime in order to support pro -European forces in this country. This was stated on Friday by the European Commissioner for the expansion of Ollie REN following the results of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in the town of BRDDO in Slovenia, ITAR-TASS reports. "I expect that we can prepare a" road map "to provide a visa -free regime for the Serbs by the end of April," he said.

The North Atlantic Union urged Russia to terminate a one -sided moratorium on an agreement on ordinary armed forces in Europe (DOVS) and begin joint work on the "Agreement on a package of parallel actions", which is designed to resolve disagreements. On the eve of the Bucharest summit, Russia-NATO, on the night of Saturday the Alliance made a statement on this topic.

By order of the head of the Investigative Committee at the prosecutor's office (SCP) of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bastrykin, an official audit was launched against the head of the Main Investigation Department (GSU) of the SCP of the Russian Federation Dmitry Dovgia and a number of administration investigators, the official representative of the SCP of the Russian Federation Vladimir Markin told Interfax.

In France, at the age of 86, the former president of the International Motorsport Federation (FIA) Jean-Marie Balister passed away. It was he who concluded with Bernie Ecclestone the first agreement of consent, which determined the development of Formula 1 for years to come. The balister for many years, from 1979 to 1991, headed the International Automobile Sports Federation (FISA), as well as until 1993 - FIA.

From the next Grand Prix in Bahrain, FIA will change the rules of the third qualification segment in the championship. Amendments are prepared for the current regulations in order to avoid repetition of incidents similar to what happened in qualifications in Malaysia with two McLaren pilots. Under the current rules, riders are forced to save fuel in the final round of qualification, since it is forbidden to add it to the race (unlike last season).

Most Russians feel themselves in general happy people, and the happiest, as sociologists found out, are supporters of United Russia. Over the past ten years, the share of happy people in Russia has increased from 60% to 77%, and unlucky ones decreased from 25% to 15%, the VTsIOMS was told by Interfax according to the results of the All -Russian survey.

South Korea and Liechtenstein became the next states that recognized the independence of Kosovo from Serbia, Belgrade media reported on Saturday. The Kosovo parliament adopted a unilaterally declaration of independence on February 17. The new status of the Southern Serbian Territory has currently been recognized by more than 30 states. Russia, like Serbia, is categorically against recognition, since this step leads to a gross violation of international law.

The military prosecutor’s office in the United States closed the case of a marine infantryman who was accused of involvement in the murder of 24 peaceful Iraqis in the city of El Hadita in 2005. The corresponding decision was made by the prosecutor’s office on Friday, when the jury was to begin to meet the military tribunal over the 26-year-old junior corporal Stephen Tatum. The process was planned to be carried out at the Camp Pendleton military base (California).

The International Water Sports Federation (FINA) may prohibit the use of the latest swimming suit in the Beijing Olympic Games developed by the British company Speedo. This decision can be made during the World Championship in short water, which will be held in Manchester from April 9 to 14. Since February 13, 2008, Speedo has presented its new LZR RACER swimming suit, using its swimmers beat 17 world records.

Representatives of the Union of Entrepreneurs of Yugoslavia in Russia, Citizens of Serbia and Muscovites gathered on Saturday on Triumphal Square in Moscow at a rally in support of the territorial integrity of Serbia.

Eleven people belonging to the same family died, and another 16 people were injured as a result of a large traffic accident in Egypt, Mena reports. The disaster occurred at the Cairo -Alexandria high -speed highway. A taxi in which the Egyptian family rode at a huge speed flew into the oncoming lane, where it collided with two trucks. According to the agency, 16 victims were hospitalized in serious condition.

Going out on the field in the T -shirt of the England national team, striker Wayne Rooney, unlike teammates, does not sing the English anthem, because, as the British newspaper The Sun suggests, he does not know his words. In this regard, the patriotic organization "Royal Society of St. George" subjects a football player sharply criticism, because he believes that Rooney is a bad example for young people who consider him his idol.

Representatives of the Russian investigating authorities will take part with Tajik detectives in the establishment and detention of persons suspected of killing the report of the first television channel Ilyas Shurpaev. This fact was confirmed today by ITAR-TASS, chief of staff of the Tajik Ministry of Internal Affairs, police colonel Khaidar Makhmadiev. He said that a group of operational workers arrived in Dushanbe with a night flight from Moscow.