Concerning your article "Putin confirms his visit to Iran for Caspian summit-1" I think it is a bad idea for Mr. Putin to visit Iran right now. This could prove very interesting. If those in Iran want to cause an international incident, and if the U.S. Navy were to be attacked in the Gulf by Iran while Putin is in Iran, will the U.S. retaliate when Putin is there? Or, what would happen if would-be homicide bombers in Iran succeed in killing Putin, will it be blamed on the U.S. and touch off a war? I think it is a bad idea that Putin goes to Iran right now in light of the high volatile tensions that exist over there right now. If he does go, I hope he stays safe.

// Oct. 16, 2007 - 04:29 GMT

MOSCOW, October 16 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has asked the Moscow City Court to release a senior drugs official accused of abuse of office, the business daily Kommersant said Tuesday.

// Oct. 16, 2007 - 06:02 GMT

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATKA, October 16 (RIA Novosti) – Rescuers have found a fifth body suspected to be from a Mi-2 helicopter which ditched into the sea two days ago near the western coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia's Far East.

// Oct. 16, 2007 - 06:04 GMT

MOSCOW, October 16 (RIA Novosti) – Russia's investment index will open Tuesday at 870.97 points, up 0.43% following Monday evening's sessions on major world trading floors.

// Oct. 16, 2007 - 06:14 GMT

(Recasts lead, adds details, background in paras 3–5)

// Oct. 16, 2007 - 06:51 GMT

TEHRAN, October 16 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Tehran on a two-day official visit to Iran despite an alleged assassination plot against him.

// Oct. 16, 2007 - 06:56 GMT

MOSCOW, October 16 (RIA Novosti) – Credit institutions' balances on correspondent accounts with the Russian Central Bank totaled 475.8 billion rubles ($19.1 billion at the current exchange rates) at the beginning of the business day, down 3.3% from Monday, the CBR said Tuesday.

// Oct. 16, 2007 - 07:02 GMT

TEHRAN, October 16 (RIA Novosti) – A second summit of Caspian nations has opened in Tehran and is expected to bring closer an agreement on dividing the resources of the sea between its five littoral states.

// Oct. 16, 2007 - 07:10 GMT

// Oct. 16, 2007 - 07:27 GMT

YEKATERINBURG, October 16 (RIA Novosti) – Police in the Urals have launched administrative proceedings against a father whose son accidentally shot another boy, local prosecutors said Tuesday.

// Oct. 16, 2007 - 07:32 GMT