World Briefs

BAGHDAD – Iraq's prime minister says America's top military commander in Iraq "risked his position" when he said Iran is trying to bribe lawmakers to vote against a security agreement between Iraq and the United States.

Nouri al-Maliki says Gen. Ray Odierno also "complicated relations" when he made the comments in a Washington Post interview published Monday. Al-Maliki's surprisingly strong worded criticism Friday underlines the touchiness of the issue of relations between Iraqi politicians and Iran.

The United States accuses Iran of meddling in Iraq's affairs, including the arming, training and financing of Shiite militants.

SAO PAULO, Brazil – Latin American stocks inched higher in early trading Friday, following gains in oil prices that drove up emerging market indices in Asia and Europe.

Brazil's Ibovespa stock index rose 1.4 percent to 36,953 around noon in Sao Paulo, as Brazil's currency, the real, saw little change and traded at 2.2 to the U.S. dollar.

Brazil's central bank planned to sell foreign currency reserves for the ninth straight business day Friday to boost the sagging real, which has lost 41 percent of its value since Aug. 1.

Mexico's benchmark IPC index meanwhile rose 0.9 percent to 20,642 in morning trading. The peso slipped only slightly to 12.8 to the U.S. dollar as the central bank moved to hold its benchmark interest rate at 8.25 percent.

Argentina's Merval index climbed 1.8 percent to 1,207 while Chile's IPSA gained 1.4 percent to 2,430.

Latin American equities dropped sharply in volatile trading this week after gains on Monday and Tuesday. The sell-off has driven down local currencies, causing companies in Mexico and Brazil to declare big losses on highly leveraged currency derivatives.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Afghan authorities are investigating the deaths of at least 17 civilians during a clash between NATO forces and militants in southern Afghanistan, an official said Friday.

Villagers and a senior police official claimed Thursday that a NATO airstrike killed the civilians, including women and children, in Nad Ali district of the Helmand province.

The NATO-led force in Afghanistan confirmed that it carried out an airstrike in the area on Thursday — but not that it resulted in any civilian casualties.

NATO spokesman Capt. Mark Windsor said Friday the force was seeking more information and declined further comment.

Daud Ahmadi, spokesman for Helmand's governor, said Friday that authorities were investigating whether the airstrike or "insurgent action" caused the collapse of the house in which the civilians died.