FRANCE accused Iran yesterday of pursuing a secret military nuclear programme, drawing a swift rebuke from Tehran ahead of talks next week on a Russian proposal for resolving the dispute.

RUSSIA and China began unprecedented joint military exercises involving air, sea and land forces yesterday, as commanders from both nations insisted the war games weren’t meant to intimidate other countries.

CHECHEN and Ingush militants who took part in last week’s deadly school siege in Russia were yesterday identified.

President Vladimir Putin sacked the military’s chief of general staff and other top brass today, in a move widely expected after a devastating assault by militants in southern Russia last month.

Russia successfully tested a prototype new weapon that can penetrate any prospective missile defences during this week’s military exercise, a senior general said today.

Ukraine denied today that some of its scientists had sold suitcase sized nuclear weapons to the al-Qaida terror group.

A top Russian general warned today that war with a Nato member was not out of the question and that such a conflict would be disastrous for Russia.

A senior Moscow official today confirmed that Russia would not take part in any US-led military operation against Iraq.

The question of whether to use military force against Iraq should only be decided after weapons inspectors have finished their work, Russia’s Defence Minister said last night.

Russian President Vladimir Putin today called the new Russia-Nato Council, to be inaugurated at a key summit, Russia’s latest contribution to international security.