Morales met Ahmadinejad at the airport in La Paz, Bolivia’s capital, where the controversial Iranian leader received a bouquet of roses from a young girl and military honors from the Presidential Red Battalion.

The two leaders then retired to the government palace, where they met privately. A large crowd gathered in the central Plaza Murillo, some of them holding up signs with Ahmadinejad’s photograph.

Ten years ago, extremists in Dagestan declared a holy war against the Russian government. Fighters in the northern Caucasian republic sought to establish an Islamic state.

Over the past decade, their struggle has continued, drawing in Islamist fighters from across the region. Russia has been accused of a heavy-handed response to the insurgency.

Neave Barker of Al Jazeera English reports on the low-level rebellion from Dagestan.

Tehran, Iran (CNN) — Iran plans to launch a large aerial military exercise Sunday to prepare for any possible attack, state media said.

The five-day exercise was to cover a vast area in the country’s northwest, west, south and southwest, Press TV said, citing Brig. Gen. Ahmad Miqani.

SEOUL, South Korea — Showing impatience with Iranian foot-dragging, President Barack Obama said Thursday that the U.S. and its allies are discussing possible new penalties to bring fresh pressure on Iran for defying international attempts to halt its contested nuclear program.

NCRI – Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, described the barbaric hanging of the 21-year-old Behnoud Shojaei, who was under 17 at the time of his arrest, on the day after the World Day Against Death Penalty, as a display of brutality and barbarism by the mullahs’ regime.