China's anger at this rebuff has contributed greatly to the worsening of relations between the two sides.

ECONOMIST: Foreign policy

Despite the vitriol that characterises relations between the two sides, they may be closer than they let on.

ECONOMIST: Iran

The sudden improvement in relations between the two sides started last month when the local OPM commander agreed to release a group of Indonesian hostages and he sent three couriers to start discussions with the military.

BBC: Truce agreed in Irian Jaya

In 1955, after talks between the Soviet Union and West Germany, the two sides agreed to establish diplomatic relations.

CNN: Saturday,

Relations between the two countries have been strained over their support for opposing sides in Afghanistan.

BBC: Musharraf on goodwill mission

Relations between Pakistan and Iran have been strained, with the two supporting opposing sides in Afghanistan.

BBC: Pakistan and Iran agree Afghan effort

But better relations with Europe are still hostage to an underlying clash of ideas between the two sides, above all the fatwa issued by the late Ayatollah Khomeini authorising the assassination of a British writer, Salman Rushdie.

ECONOMIST: Iran

But the move in Wyre Forest could strain relations with Labour - although party leader Charles Kennedy has insisted there are no 'backroom' deals between the two sides.

BBC: Lib Dems bow out of key seat

Mr. BENITO FERRERO-WALDNER (European Union Commissioner for External Relations): We are ready to do as much as we can to try to facilitate the movement and access between the two sides, stop the violence that is there.

NPR: Rice Set to Make a Swing Through Middle East