A senior official of the Iraq government was killed in Baghdad. According to the police, an employee of the Ministry of Transport Zobaa Yassin and his driver were shot in the car when they were heading to work. Over the past days, hundreds of people have been killed in Iraq as a result of the explosions and attacks of the rebels.

In Russia, the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War began. Central events today - arrival at the Belorussky Station from Brest "Echelon of Victory" and a solemn procession along Tverskaya Street "Golden Road of Glory". In the procession, as expected, more than one and a half thousand people will take part, including about 150 veterans. The main celebrations are scheduled for tomorrow - May 9.

Pakistan expressed concern in connection with the facts of the desecration of the Qur'an - a science -sacred book for Muslims - in a prison at the US military base in Guantanamo. The Ministry of Pakistan called on the American authorities to conduct an investigation. The facts of the defiles of the Qur'an on the basis in Guantanamo, which contain hundreds of suspects of terrorism from Afghanistan and Pakistan, said Newsouke magazine.

[Radio Liberty: Our guests: face to face] [08-05-05] What does the Great Patriotic War mean for the young generation of Russians?

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili confirmed that he would not come to Moscow to celebrate Victory Day. Speaking on Saturday on Georgian television, Saakashvili said that he could not go to Moscow when there is no decision to withdraw Russian military bases from Georgia. These bases are the legacy of Soviet imperialism and do not contribute to the execution of relations between Georgia and Russia, ”he emphasized.

In Romania, as a result of the next flood, one person died. Hundreds of houses were destroyed. Blocked traffic on large highways. According to the authorities, the central, eastern and southern parts of the country were injured, including the capital - Bucharest. In Romania, this is already a second flood over the past two weeks.

In Berlin, on the night of May 8, thousands of people took part in the protest against Nazism and the right extremism. Participants in the manifestation, holding lit candles in their hands, lined up in a live chain in the center of Germany.

Turkish President Akhmet Sezer calls on to start negotiations on his country's entry into the European Union at the appointed time - in early October. According to Seser, integration into Europe is the priority of the foreign policy of Turkey, and Ankara is ready to discuss all issues. According to experts, negotiations with Turkey on possible join to the EU can take up to 10 years.

The fire at the Sickle and Hammer Metallurgical Plant in Moscow is extinguished. There are no victims and victims. The fire area was more than five thousand square meters. Almost 400 square meters of roof collapsed partially. The struggle with fire was carried out by more than 50 fire payments and four fire helicopters. The operation was led by the Minister of Emergency Situations Sergey Shoigu.

[Radio Liberty: Our guests: "All free"] [08-05-05] In the studio Yuri Afanasyev Presenter: Victor Shenderovich Victor Shenderovich: Today we meet with Professor Afanasyev. This meeting takes place on the eve of Victory Day. That is a wonderful case when the surname does not need to transfer titles. Nevertheless, several main "crystallization points" by which you were remembered.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon postponed the release of 400 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons - since the authorities still have not stopped the activities of extremist groups. The agreement on this was reached three months ago at a meeting of Sharon with the head of the Palestinian autonomy Mahmoud Abbas.

In many European countries today they celebrate the day of the Second World War in Europe. Solemn ceremonies are held in London and Paris. In the Netherlands, US President George Bush will visit the military cemetery, where 8 thousand American soldiers who died in battles with the Nazis are buried. The ceremonies are held in Berlin, where last night a protest against Nazism and right extremism took place last night.

In many European countries today they celebrate the day of the Second World War in Europe. The solemn ceremonies were Paris, London, in the Netherlands in the military cemetery, where 8 thousand American soldiers who died in battles with the Nazis were buried. The ceremonies are held in Berlin. Last night in the capital of Germany, a protest was held against Nazism and right extremism.

David Tribble, one of the authors of the peace settlement plan in Northern Ireland, the Nobel Laureate of the World, left the post of leader of the Protestant Unionist Party Olster. For 80 years, the Unionist party dominated the political arena of Northern Ireland, but on Thursday suffered a crushing defeat in the elections, losing 5 of 6 parliamentary places.

The World Health Organization (WHO) urged Islamic countries to increase its contribution to the global campaign to combat polio. The representative of the WHO Linda Müller said in Subbbot in Geneva that $ 4 billion has already been spent on the campaign, while the organization of the Islamic conference allocated only 3 million for these purposes. In Indonesia and Yemen - until recently considered countries that defeated polio - several cases of poliomyelitis have been registered since 2003.