Two nations confirm bird flu

The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected for the first time in poultry in Myanmar and Cameroon, officials in the two nations said, in the latest sign of the disease’s expanding range in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Experts over the weekend confirmed cases in hundreds of dead chickens at a farm outside of Myanmar’s second largest city, Mandalay, an official said today.

Cameroon’s government announced its first avian case on Sunday. Minister of Livestock Aboubakary Sarki told reporters the infected duck was among 10 birds that died in Maroua from Feb. 12 to 26.

TEHRAN, Iran

Iran rules out Russian plan

Iran on Sunday ruled out a proposal to conduct uranium enrichment on Russian territory, drawing a harsh rebuke from a lawmaker in Moscow who said the move destroyed the only chance for a compromise in the standoff over Tehran’s suspect nuclear program.

The announcement came as the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council – the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France – were to meet this week to discuss a draft statement aimed at increasing the pressure on Iran to resolve questions about its nuclear activities.

“The Russian proposal is not on our agenda anymore,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said. “Circumstances have changed. We have to wait and see how things go with the five veto-holding countries (on the council).”

Asefi’s comments effectively mean the Russian proposal is dead. The nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency referred Iran to the council, which could impose sanctions.

CARACAS, Venezuela

Venezuela raises new flag

Venezuela’s president raised a new national flag Sunday with changes that he said pay tribute to the independence hero Simon Bolivar, drawing criticism from opponents who called it an egotistical political stunt.

The flag proposed by President Hugo Chavez features a white horse galloping left instead of right, an additional star, a bow and arrow representing Venezuela’s indigenous people and a machete to represent the labor of workers.

Chavez raised the new flag in a ceremony that was followed by a parade of thousands of soldiers and supporters, while his opponents held a smaller march to protest the new flag and coat of arms.

Critics call the changes a waste of money. The new flag and coat of arms will eventually be adopted in the currency, passports and government documents.

Compiled from wire reports