Iraq Video: EA's Scott Lucas on Al Jazeera's Inside Story

On Saturday I discussed the latest political situation in Iraq with MP Mahmoud Othman of the Kurdistan Alliance and Muhannad al-Bayati of the Iraqqiya coalition.

There has been some further chatter since we filmed this almost 24 hours ago, but nothing to change my opinion that Iraq is still some ways from the "formation of a government", let alone political stability. I also note that Western media, including some well-respected analysts, continue to be distracted by tangential speculation of whether the US or Iran has "won" or "lost" in this episode: the matter is, first and foremost, one concerning Iraqi politicians.

Burma/Myanmar: Elections Begin Amidst Tight Security and Much Skepticism (Al Jazeera)

Polls have opened under tight security in Myanmar's first election in 20 years, but few expect it to bring any real change in power, with the military and its proxies likely to dominate parliament and senior positions.

In the commercial hub of Yangon on Sunday, armed riot police stood guard at near-empty polling booths or patrolled streets in convoys of military trucks, part of a clampdown that includes bans on foreign media and on outside election monitors.

The carefully choreographed end of direct army rule, marred by complex rules that stifled major pro-democracy forces, enters its final stage in a race largely between two powerful military-backed parties running virtually unopposed.

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Pakistan: More than 70 Killed in Friday's Mosque Bombing (Cole)

Juan Cole summarises the developments yesterday in Pakistan:

The Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan) bombed two mosques in Pakistan’s Pashtun northwest on Friday, killing over 70 persons and wounding many others. CSM argues that one of the bombings, in Dara Adam Khel, was a reprisal against the Akhurwal tribe for opposing the Taliban and allying with the Pakistani army. Dara Adam Khel is a picturesque village renowned for its’ blacksmiths’ ability to handcraft rifles and other weaponry.

The Tariq Afridi faction of the Pakistani Taliban had been pushed out of Dara Adam Khel by the Pakistani government, which the Akhurwal tribe supported in this endeavor. But they had only been pushed out to the mountainous environs of the city, and can clearly come back in and wreak havoc.

Aljazeera English has video.

Iraq Latest: At Least 63 Killed in Multiple Bombings (Al Jazeera)

Al Jazeera reports:

A series of explosions across Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, has killed at least 63 people and wounded 285 others, hospital and police officials say.

The bombings began at about 6:15pm local time on Tuesday and took place in at least 10 neighbourhoods, involving booby-trapped cars, roadside bombs and mortar strikes.

"Ten cars exploded with bombs inside them. There were also four roadside bombs and two sticky bombs," said Major General Qassim al-Moussawi, a Baghdad security spokesman.

The attacks appeared directed mostly at the city's majority Shia population, though some blasts occurred in Sunni neighbourhoods.

Rawya Rageh, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Baghdad, said most of the blasts happened near markets and banks and areas that are usually crowded at that time in the evening.

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Iraq Latest: At Least 52 Killed in Attack on Catholic Church (Al Jazeera)

An al-Qaeda-linked group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a Catholic church in the Iraqi capital, which resulted in the deaths of 52 people, including 25 hostages.

Attackers stormed the Our Lady of Salvation church in the Karrada neighbourhood of central Baghdad on Sunday night, taking more than 100 people hostage. The standoff was ended after police stormed the church two hours later.

At least seven members of the security forces and five gunmen were amongst those killed.

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Iran and Sanctions: EA's Scott Lucas on Al Jazeera English

I will be appearing today at 1730 GMT on Al Jazeera English's Inside Story, discussing sanctions and Iran. Professor Sadegh Zibakalam of Tehran University will also be commenting.