Iranians bemoan sanctions hardship as vote approaches Iranian villagers walk through ruins after an earthquake at the Zeynabi village in the Iranian Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008. A strong earthquake rocked southern Iran on Wednesday, sending tremors across the Persian Gulf and shaking the skyscrapers of Dubai. Iranian state television reported that five people were killed and 26 others were injured.... IranPhotosSanctionsUSWikipedia: U.S. sanctions against Iran
Mass slaughter in Syria: UN holds urgent vote - but Russia and China veto it ... Syrian policeman, left, and army soldier, right, look inside the burned court building that was set on fire by Syrian anti-government protesters, in the southern city of Daraa, Syria, Monday March 21, 2011. Mourners chanting "No more fear!" have marched through a Syrian city where anti-government protesters had deadly confrontations with security forces in recent days. The violence in Daraa, a city of about 300,000 near the border with Jordan, was fast becoming a major challenge for President Bashar Assad, who tried to contain the situation by freeing detainees and promising to fire officials responsible for the violence.... ChinaPhotosRussiaSyriaWikipedia: 20112012 Syrian uprising
Iran raid likely to drag in US, hurt global economy 110211-A-xxxxW-003 U.S. Army soldiers fire a 60 mm mortar round during Cobra Gold on Pulon Range, Thailand, on Feb. 11, 2011. Cobra Gold is a joint forces, multinational exercise designed to ensure regional peace and stability. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew E. Winstead, U.S. Army. (Released)... IranMilitaryPhotosRaidWikipedia: Iran
Moscow support for Assad well-calculated FILE In this Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006 file photo Vladimir Putin, then Russian President, right, and his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad smile as they shake hands in Moscow's Kremlin. Russia defied international efforts to end a crackdown on civilians by Assad regime, shielding it from the United Nations sanctions and providing it with weapons. (AP photo/RIA Novosti, Mikhail Klimentyev, Presidential Press service, file)... AssadMoscowPhotosSyriaWikipedia: Bashar al-Assad
Egypt clashes rage into fourth day Egyptian anti-government activists throw stones at riot police during clashes in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011. Egyptian anti-government activists clashed with police for a second day Wednesday in defiance of an official ban on any protests but beefed up police forces on the streets quickly moved in and used tear gas and beatings to disperse demonstrations.... EgyptPhotosPoliceProtestersWikipedia: 2011 Egyptian revolution
