World in brief: Bomber targets Saudi prince

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – A suicide bomber lightly wounded a senior prince largely credited for Saudi Arabia’s anti-terrorism campaign when he blew himself up just before going into a gathering of well-wishers for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the state news agency said today.

It was the first known assassination attempt against a member of the royal family since Saudi Arabia began its crackdown on al-Qaida affiliated militants eight years ago following the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States.

Khamenei doubts foreign influence

Tehran – In a move seen as an attempt to woo disenchanted moderates and reformists back into the political establishment, Iran’s supreme leader said in comments published Thursday that he was not convinced that leaders of recent unrest were acting on behalf of foreign interests.

The comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s top political and religious authority, distanced him from assertions made by hard-liners.

However, he also asserted that the days of protest that followed the disputed June 12 re-election were part of a planned conspiracy to undermine the Islamic Republic.

Security officers killed at border

Peshawar, Pakistan – A suicide bomber attacked the main border crossing for convoys ferrying supplies to U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan on Thursday, killing at least 19 security officers, officials said.

The strike will raise fears the Pakistani Taliban are regrouping and making good on their word to carry out revenge attacks following the slaying of their leader, Baitullah Mehsud, in a CIA missile strike earlier this month.