Mousavi, left, and Karroubi have both said the Iranian riot police have used tear gas and batons to disperse hundreds of people who gathered to mourn protesters killed in unrest after a disputed presidential election, witnesses said.[singlepic id=39 w=320 h=240 float=right]
A number of protesters were reportedly arrested as they gathered outside the cemetery south of Tehran, the Iranian capital, on Thursday to mark 40 days since the deaths.

The Israeli government has said that its war on the Gaza Strip earlier this year, that left up to 1,417 Palestinians dead, was “necessary and proportionate”.[singlepic id=41 w=320 h=240 float=right]

The government also said on Thursday that it was investigating about 100 complaints of misconduct by its forces during the three week war that began on December 27.

On the eve of Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi’s visit to the United States for talks on Iran’s nuclear program, his American counterpart, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen, warned last Thursday that an Israeli attack on Iran might lead to escalation, undermine the region’s stability and endanger the lives of Americans in the Persian Gulf “who are under the threat envelope right now.”

Even the new president of America, who has come to power with slogans about changing Bush’s policies, is defending state terrorism by talking about unconditional commitment to Israel’s security,” Khamenei said.

Khamenei, speaking at a conference on the Palestinian issue in Tehran, said Obama was following the same “wrong path” of his predecessor in the White House.

Clinton began her first West Bank trip as secretary of state by meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. She arrived under heavy security, with Palestinian police with assault rifles lining access roads.

Asked at the start of the talks about her position on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, she said: “I’ve told everyone, we’re committed [to it].”