Iran

Nuclear experts to examine military site

Iran will allow U.N. nuclear experts to take environmental samples at a military site the United States links to an alleged nuclear weapons program but won’t allow them to inspect military equipment, the foreign ministry spokesman said Sunday.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, said last week that Iran had agreed to grant access to the site at Parchin, just southeast of Tehran, and that his inspectors could arrive soon. The IAEA had pressed Tehran for months to be allowed to inspect the military complex, long used to research, develop and produce ammunition, missiles and high explosives.

“The discussion is not about visiting military installations,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters Sunday.

Iran has repeatedly denied U.S. and other allegations it has a secret nuclear weapons programs, saying it wants nuclear technology only for peaceful energy purposes.

In leaks to media last year, U.S. intelligence officials said that a specially secured site at Parchin may be used in research on making high-explosive components for use in nuclear weapons.

Sweden

Flooding hits parts of northern Europe

Powerful winds and heavy rain swept across northern Europe over the weekend, leaving at least 13 dead and two missing and disrupting air and sea transport.

The storm was one of the worst to hit Scandinavia in years, with winds clocked in some areas at more than 75 mph, meteorologists said.

At least six people died in Sweden, including two whose cars were hit by falling tree branches, police and rescue officials said. One motorist died in Denmark when a tree crashed onto his car in Odense, and three others were killed by debris and falling trees.

In England, the northwestern city of Carlisle was cut off by the swollen River Eden on Saturday and three people were reported dead in the city.

Cuba

Upgrades planned for U.S. prison camp

The U.S. prison camp for terror suspects is taking on a look of permanence as the mission marks its third year Tuesday, with plans for a new $25 million prison facility, $1.7 million psychiatric wing and a permanent guard force.

Most of the 550 prisoners from 42 countries no longer are considered of significant intelligence value, but many swept up in the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan aren’t expected to be freed anytime soon.

Right now, about 50 detainees are held in a maximum security prison that has room for 100 prisoners of high intelligence value. There are plans for a similar facility with a capacity for 200 at a cost of $25 million, Army Brig. Gen. Jay Hood said.

Also planned are a $1.7 million psychiatric wing — there have been 34 reported suicide attempts since the prison opened — and a $4 million security fence that could reduce the need for some 300 infantry troops.

A full-time, 324-member Military Police Internment and Resettlement Battalion will also replace the temporary, mostly reserve force at Guantanamo.