COUNTRY REVIEW

South Asia

Pakistan

• Pakistan political parties express solidarity with the governments position in the wake of Mumbai attacks; US urges Pakistan to cooperate with India on terror attack probe; Zardari: India and Pakistan should sign an agreement to counter terror

Nepal

• Army integration process suffers from lack of cooperation among political parties; Chinese military delegation assures help in integration process

Bangladesh

• CEC: State of emergency to be lifted at a suitable time before the December 29 elections; AL and the JP enter into an electoral alliance; CA urges measures to hold free and transparent national elections

East and SouthEast Asia

Japan

• Aso rejects call to dissolve lower house of parliament; Japan reiterates its commitments to help India fight terrorism; China-Japan tension over islands in East China Sea

West Asia

Iran

• Mottaki: Iran has entailed heavy costs over the last years on account of Iraq; Ahmadinejad: Relations between people in an Islamic system were based on religious beliefs

Iraq

• Suicide bomber Killed 36 Iraqis; Saddam Hussein's cousin gets second death sentence; Iraq-Iran parliamentary friendship come closer