* Countdown to Israel's destruction has begun, says Ahmadinejad Iranian president says Israel's disappearance imminent, 'Zionist regime' will have to bow down to Palestinians.
* Putin threatens to target Europe In a threat not uttered since the Cold War, Vladimir Putin said that Russia intends to aim its missile systems - potentially nuclear weapons - at targets in Europe in retaliation for the U.S. decision to establish antimissile bases there.
* Iran and Egypt to hold talks on restoring full diplomatic ties Egypt and Iran will hold a round of talks in the coming days aimed at restoring full diplomatic relations.
* Spanish FM slams Ahmadinejad remarks Spain will summon Iran's ambassador to condemn the Iranian president's latest verbal attack on Israel, officials said Monday.
* New vow to spread Lebanon battle A commander of the Palestinian militant group battling Lebanese troops from a northern refugee camp has reportedly pledged to escalate the conflict.
* Putin calls himself the world's only 'absolute democrat' Russian President Vladimir Putin has described himself as an 'absolute democrat' whose credentials are so pure that he has no peer in the world, a top Russian newspaper reported on Monday.
* Netanyahu: As long as we stay in West Bank we're unbeatable 'Automatic assumption of withdrawal to 1967 borders is unjustified, immoral and very dangerous for the State of Israel,' opposition leader tells conference marking Six Day War's 40th anniversary.
* Extremists planned uprising in Lebanon Ð report Al-Hayat daily quotes Lebanese, Palestinian sources as saying Fatah el-Islam leader planned to establish ÔIslamic principalityÕ in Tripoli with the help of al-Qaeda members who fled Iraq.
* 'Coordinate confrontation against Israel' Syrian president quoted by Iranian news agency as calling for 'better coordination' between Damascus and Tehran against Israel.
* High-level group writes new-look EU constitution A small group of politicians from around the EU have published a repackaged treaty for the bloc, hoping to feed into the emerging consensus among member states that a "simplified treaty" has to be extracted from the ashes of the rejected EU constitution.