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WASHINGTON: U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday that North Korea's nuclear and missile tests were a "matter of grave concern to all nations" and warranted action by the international community. Obama, in a statement after Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test and reportedly fired a short-range missile, said: "North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community. North Korea's behavior increases tensions and undermines stability in Northeast Asia.

TEHRAN: Iran and Pakistan are close to signing a deal to export gas from the Islamic republic to its eastern neighbour through a multi-billion dollar pipeline, top Iranian officials said on Monday.The date for completion of the much-delayed pipeline has not yet been announced but Iranian officials said the supply of gas to Pakistan could begin in three to four years. "The final contract between National Iranian Gas Export Company and the Interstate Gas System will be signed in three weeks," Reza Kasaizadeh, chief executive officer of National Iranian Gas, told. The pipeline project, when initially mooted in 1994, had proposed to carry gas from Iran to Pakistan and India. But India withdrew last year from the talks over repeated disputes on prices and transit fees.Iran and Pakistan appear to have reached a broad agreement on the deal on Sunday during a visit by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to Tehran for a three-way summit with his counterparts from Iran and Afghanistan.

CHANDIGARH: India's prime minister appealed for calm Monday as riots spread to several northern Indian cities to protest a deadly shooting at a Sikh temple in Austria. Hundreds defied a curfew and army patrols, attacking police stations and torching the car of a senior officer and several trains. In two places police opened fire on mobs, wounding at least four people, said senior police officer Khubi Ram. The violence centered on the north Indian city of Jalandhar, a stronghold of the Dera Sach Khand, a Sikh sect comprised of mainly``untouchables,'' or Dalits. A leader of the sect was killed and another preacher wounded Sunday when Sikhs wielding knives and a handgun attacked the two in Vienna. At least 15 other people were wounded, Austrian police said. Witnesses said the perpetrators were fundamentalist Sikhs from a higher caste, who accused one or both of the preachers of being disrespectful of the Holy Book.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, India's first leader of the

COPENHAGEN: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Monday he was "deeply disturbed" by North Korea's nuclear test and was closely following events. "I'm deeply disturbed by reports of a nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," Ban Ki-moon told reporters during a visit to Copenhagen. "I'm closely following the situation in the region as well as consultations in the United Nations Security Council, which is to meet in an emergency meeting today in New York," he said.

VIENNA: A Sikh preacher died Monday after being wounded in an attack on his temple by a group of fundamentalist Sikhs armed with knives and a handgun, police said.India's prime minister appealed for calm as riots protesting the deadly shooting spread to several northern Indian cities.Witnesses said the Vienna temple attended by lower-caste Sikhs had been attacked by Sikhs from a higher caste who accused one or both of the preachers of being disrespectful of the religion's Holy Book.The attack set off a brawl that wounded 16. It was not clear whether some of the weapons used were kirpans — ceremonial daggers that may legally be worn by Sikhs in Austria.Two preachers — identified by Indian diplomats as Niranjan Das and Sant Rama Nand — underwent operations for gunshot wounds, but Nand died early Monday, according to a police official who declined to identify himself on the telephone, in line with Austrian custom.Hundreds in India defied a curfew and army patrols, attacking police