Obama, Gadhafi , Ahmadinejad Address UN General Assembly: Via Voice of America.

World leaders addressing the U.N. General Assembly underscored issues of domestic and international concern as the annual debate got underway Wednesday in New York.

President Barack Obama laid out his vision for U.S. foreign policy in a wide-ranging address.

He called for a "new era of engagement" among nations, saying the United States cannot solve the world's problems alone and urged other nations to share in the responsibility.

"But make no mistake. This cannot be solely America's endeavor. Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world's problems alone. We have sought in word and deed a new era of engagement with the world. And now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges," he said.
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Iran Prosecutes Top Reform Figures in Mass Trial: Via Voice of America.

Iranian judiciary officials have put several top reformers on trial, including a man considered to be a key leader of the pro-democracy movement.

An Iranian prosecutor Tuesday called for the maximum punishment for defendant and influential intellectual Saeed Hajjarian, who was left partially paralyzed by an assassination attempt in 2000. A defense statement read on Hajjarian's behalf said he apologized for his actions and announced he would resign from the opposition party that is accused of provoking unrest.    

Tuesday's mass trial is the fourth since protesters were rounded up and held for alleged involvement in turmoil following the disputed June 12 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  

Rights groups call the prosecutions "show trials." They say defendants have been forced to make false confessions.
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Iranian Clerics Question Nomination of Women Ministers: Via Voice of America.

A conservative Iranian lawmaker says some senior clerics want President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to reconsider his nomination of three women for his new cabinet.

Lawmaker Mohammad Taqi Rahbar heads the clerical faction in Iran's conservative-dominated parliament.

He said it is an innovative idea to choose women as ministers, but that there are what he called "religious uncertainties" about women when it comes to management.  He says the government should consider these.
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Iranian Police Clash With Protesters Over Banned Newspaper: Via Voice of America.

Iranian police clashed with protesters who gathered Monday outside the Tehran office of a reformist newspaper, which was recently banned by authorities.

Witnesses say police dispersed dozens of opposition supporters who shouted anti-government slogans outside the office of the National Trust (Etemad Melli), the newspaper of former presidential candidate Mehdi Karoubi. Some demonstrators were reportedly arrested.

Aides close to Karoubi say Iran's judiciary ordered a ban on the daily Sunday, after it printed his claims that some election protesters were raped while in custody.
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Clinton Urges Iran to Release Detained Americans: Via Voice of America.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Iran to release all Americans detained in the country, including three hikers arrested last month.

Clinton Saturday called on Iranian authorities to grant consular access to the three hikers, who were detained July 31.

Iranian television has described the three as spies who illegally entered the country.
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