PALESTINIANS
Jailed activist Barghouti calls for Palestinian unity and diplomatic action
Jailed Palestinian activist Marwan Barghouti has said in an interview from his prison cell that there is no justification for the Palestinian divisions he blames for the breakdown in the diplomatic campaign for statehood.
LEBANON
Hassan Nasrallah is re-elected head of Hezbollah
Hassan Nasrallah was re-elected head of Hezbollah on Thursday following a congress that also adopted a new manifesto, which is to be revealed in coming days, the militant Shiite party announced.
IRAQ
Lawmakers contest VP veto on electoral reform
The Iraqi parliament is set to meet on Saturday to try pass an electoral law vetoed by Vice-President Tarek al-Hashemi, amid fears the veto risks delaying January's general election.
ISRAEL
US and UN chief deplore new east Jerusalem settlement plan
The US and Britain joined UN chief Ban Ki-moon in strong rebukes to Israel’s decision to build 900 new homes in east Jerusalem, a move they say will further derail efforts to revive peace talks.
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PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Kouchner says Abbas 'indispensable' to peace
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (photo) called for the creation of a democratic Palestinian state on Tuesday during a visit to Jordan and said that Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is "indispensable" for the Middle East peace process.
IRAN
UN report voices concern over belated nuclear site revelation
The UN nuclear watchdog agency says “more clarification” is needed on the purpose of a nuclear site near the Iranian city of Qom and warns that the site's belated revelation poses the spectre of other such sites, according to a report.
The Observers
Video: Angry Algerian football fans vandalise Egyptian property
After last weekend’s tense World Cup qualification football game pitting Egypt’s Pharaohs against Algeria’s Fennecs (the Pharaohs won 2-0), irate Algerian football fans vandalised several Egyptian businesses in Algiers.
DIPLOMACY
Sarkozy says Mideast peace deadlock emboldens extremists
French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Saudi Arabia for a state visit on Tuesday, a Saudi daily quoted him as saying that the current deadlock in the Middle East peace process plays into the hands of extremists.
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The Observers
In Saudi Arabia, buy your bribe online
"Visas for sale. Attractive prices". On Saudi classified advertising website 'mstaml', hundreds of ads blatantly advertise under the table deals and bureaucratic bribery. Jobs, visas, marriage loans, diplomas...
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
US opposes unilateral Palestinian statehood bid
A US State Department spokesman reiterated US commitment to a future Palestinian state but poured cold water on an initiative to ask the United Nations Security Council to recognise a state unilaterally.
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IRAN
Frenchwoman charged with provoking unrest appears in court
Clotilde Reiss, charged with provoking unrest following Iran's disputed elections, briefly appeared in court Tuesday before returning to the French embassy.
AFP
Yemen tribesmen kidnap Japanese engineer: official
Gunmen have kidnapped a Japanese engineer near the Yemeni capital and want to exchange him for an arrested fellow tribesman, a local official said on Monday.The official in Arhab, a region northeast of Sanaa, told AFP that the Japanese man was ...
AFP
Palestinians to ask UN to recognise state
The Palestinians said Sunday they plan to ask for UN recognition of their independence, amid mounting frustration over the stalled peace process as Israel warned against any unilateral moves."We have reached a decision...
IRAN
Russian-built nuclear plant in Iran facing delays
A controversial nuclear power plant that Russia is building in Iran will not be operational by the end of 2009 as previously announced due to technical issues, a top Russian official has said.
AFP
Internet to 'speak Arabic'
Egyptian Minister of Communication Tarek Kamel announced on Sunday the introduction of the first Arabic domain, in a step that would ease Internet access to millions of Arabic speakers around the world.Starting midnight (2200 GMT) on Sunday, the ...
DIPLOMACY
Syria's President Assad refuses direct peace talks with Israel
Syria's President Basher al-Assad has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of not being serious about peace, and rejected Israeli offers of direct peace talks after meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris.
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