US pastor cancels Quran burning.

NEW YORK, September 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Florida pastor Rev. Terry Jones
cancelled plans to burn Quran on the ninth anniversary of September 11
attacks following international outrage and intense pressure from U.S.
officials.
"We are, of course, now against any other group burning Qurans," Jones
told a news conference in Florida on Thursday.
"We would right now ask no one to burn Qurans. We are absolutely
strong on that. It is not the time to do it."
The pastor said he cancelled his plans as a deal has been reached to
move the location of a controversial mosque from the site of the 2001
terrorist attack in New York. Jones said if the site of the mosque was
moved, it would be a sign from God to call off the Quran burning.
Jones announced his decision standing outside his small church
alongside Imam Muhammad Musri, the president of the Islamic Society of
Central Florida.

.US pastor says Quran burning postponed, not cancelled.

NEW YORK, September 10 (Itar-Tass) -- U.S. pastor Terry Jones said on
Thursday he was lied to and is reconsidering his decision to cancel Quran
burning.
Earlier in the day Jones backed off the threat after he was promised a
planned mosque will be moved away from ground zero in New York.
However Muslim leaders denied the Quran-mosque deal and the pastor
said imam "lied to us".
He said Quran burning was not cancelled, but postponed.

.Prokhorov to bring Nets to Russia.

NEW YORK, September 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian billionaire Mikhail
Prokhorov who bought New Jersey Nets will bring the N.B.A team to Moscow
next month to hold an open practice and a basketball clinic for 3000
children, the club told Tass on Thursday confirming a New York Times
report.
The newspaper said the Nets plan a brief stopover in the Russian
capital before heading to China for two exhibition games in October.
The report coincided with N.B.A announcement of opening an office in
Moscow and the newspaper said basketball is the third-most popular team
sport in Russia following ice hockey and soccer.
Prokhorov expressed interest in establishing a link between the Nets
and Russia before he bought a majority stake in the organization in May.
The Nets' visit and the new N.B.A. office are part of the league's efforts
to expand its international profile, the New York Times said.

.Irish president visits St. Petersburg.

ST. PETERSBURG, September 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Irish President Mary
McAleese will discuss economic and humanitarian cooperation in the second
biggest Russian city of St. Petersburg on Friday.
She will meet Governor Valentina Matviyenko and will visit St.
Petersburg State University of Economy and Finance to meet students and
lecturers.
McAleese will also visit the Hermitage Museum where Irish pianist
Michael O'Rourke will perform.
On Saturday the president of Ireland will complete her Russian visit
by touring Tsarskoe Selo summer residence of Russian tsars which marked
tercentenary this year.

.Kirgizia begins election campaign on Friday.

BISHKEK, September 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Kirgizia begins election campaign
on Friday with 29 political parties competing for 120 seats in parliament
which will take over some presidential powers following two revolutions in
the past five years that ousted national presidents.
The Central Election Commission said the campaign will end one day
before the election scheduled for October 10.
President Roza Otunbayeva said "the people expect peaceful and open
election" and warned state and municipal authorities against interfering.
Kirgizia held a nationwide referendum in summer which introduced the
parliamentary form of governance. Otunbayeva said it will help the Central
Asian republic prevent new revolutions and will promote democratic
development.

. Youzhny advances to US Open semifinals.

NEW YORK, September 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Mikhail Youzhny of Russia beat
Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 3-6, 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday
and advanced to U.S. Open semifinals for the second time in his career.
Youzhny will face either Rafael Nadal or Fernando Verdasco in the
semifinal.
Youzhny made the semifinals at the U.S. Open for the first time in
2006.
Youzhny made the semifinals at the U.S. Open for the first time in
2006.
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