Israeli army Thursday morning exchanged fire with gunmen near the border with the Gaza Strip, local daily Ha'aretz reported on its website. Gunmen opened fire on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops near the security fence on the border, said the report, adding that the IDF soldiers returned fire at the gunmen but were unable to confirm if anyone were hit. (Israel- Palestinians-Gunbattle) BAGHDAD -- Iraqi authorities have released three of five U.S. contractors, taken into custody for murder charge, due to insufficient evidence, the government spokesman said on Thursday. 'We have five U.S. detainees, three of them have been released for lack of evidence against them over murder charge, while the other two are still in custody for other crimes,' Ali al-Dabbagh told reporters. (Iraq-US-Contractors) CAIRO -- Visiting U.S. peace envoy George Mitchell reiterated Thursday a prompt resumption and early conclusion of Middle East peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis. 'We all share an obligation to help create the conditions for prompt resumption and early conclusion of negotiations to achieve a two-sate solution,' Mitchell said. (Egypt-US-Envoy) TEHRAN -- In a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran's presidential hopeful Mir-Hossein Mousavi sought for 'healthy election,' the local satellite Press TV reported on Thursday. Mousavi, as the main challenger to the incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, requested the Leader to take measures aimed at protecting the vote, ensuring a healthy election and also to intervene and advise all officials to remain impartial in the Friday election, the report said. (Iran-Mousavi-Ahmadinejad) AMMAN -- Jordan on Thursday hailed the new U.S. stances on Mideast that President Barack Obama released in his speech at Cairo University last week as positive and significant. 'President Obama's stance has created a positive environment that requires from all the concerned parties to work with him and save no efforts to reach a comprehensive and durable solution to the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis,' King Abdullah II said in a royal statement. (Jordan-US-Mideast Peace) 