Kofi Annan, the U.N. Secretary General, has accused Sudan of not meeting its obligations to disarm militias operating in several of its cities. Sudan agreed in July to make an effort to put an end to the militias and to attacks on civilians. The Sudanese government agreed to the effort as part of a U.N. Security Council resolution. Several Arab militias have been involved in the killing of Sudanese civilians and refugees.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that Iran is taking steps toward instituting a uranium enrichment program. The IAEA report indicates that Iran is looking to obtain 40 tons of uranium, which would then be processed and enriched. Iran insists it is only working on a nuclear power program, while the U.S. has accused Iran of running a nuclear weapons program.
Israel alleges that Syria is involved in the most recent suicide bombings in Israel. The militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for the two attacks, which killed 16 people. The Israeli leadership believes that Hamas has been operating out of the Syrian capitol of Damascus, and indicated that operating from Syria would not prevent retaliation. In response to the attack, Israel sealed off the Gaza Strip and destroyed the home of the one of the bombers.
The new interim government in Iraq met for the first time on Wednesday, September 1. Members of the Parliament were sworn in until the first general election in January. The meeting was not without problems, however, as mortar shots were fired in what is believed to have been an assassination attempt on prominent Iraqi politician Ahmed Chalabi. Chalabi emerged unharmed, but says that several of his bodyguards were injured or killed.
A rebel group seized control of a Russian school and took nearly 400 children hostage on Wednesday, September 1. The Russian government believes the situation is the work of Chechen rebels, though the major Chechen separatist group has denied responsibility. The attackers are demanding the release of several prisoners and the withdrawal of Russians forced from Chechnya. The rebel group has threatened to kill hostages if any attackers are killed or injured.