Senior diplomats from Britain and other leading world powers will meet Iran’s chief negotiator today in a fresh attempt to persuade the Tehran regime to come clean about it nuclear programme.

EUROPEAN governments have denied claims by Libyan organisers that they are to send top leaders to celebrations in Tripoli for the 40th anniversary of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Micháel Martin has condemned today's decision by Russia to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.