IRAQ
Parliament approves much-awaited electoral law
Iraq's parliament finally approved a critical election law needed to hold a national election slated for January 2010 after an evening voting session Sunday following intense backroom negotiations.
LEBANON
Hariri set to form new government with opposition
Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri is set to announce a new national unity government with Lebanon's opposition, including Iranian-backed Hezbollah, politicians say.
SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi forces claim to regain control of area seized by Yemen rebels
Saudi Arabia says it has regained control of Jabal Dukhan, an area they say was seized by Yemeni Shi'ite rebels who reportedly crossed into Saudi territory last week.
AFP
Peres urges Abbas to stay on
Israeli President Shimon Peres on Saturday used a speech honouring slain premier Yitzhak Rabin to urge Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas to stay in power despite frustrations over the peace process."We both signed the Oslo accords and I address myself
IRAN
AFP confirms release of its reporter in Tehran
AFP journalist and FRANCE 24 contributor Farhad Pouladi was freed Saturday, the AFP confirmed. Pouladi was detained in Tehran earlier this week as he headed to cover rallies outside the former US Embassy.
AFP
Egypt's first envoy to Iraq since 2005 arrives
Egypt's new ambassador to Iraq has arrived in Baghdad, a diplomatic source said on Saturday of Cairo's first diplomatic representative in the country since its charge d'affaires was killed in 2005.Sharif Kamal Shahin, a diplomat with 27 years' ...
AFP
Iraq MPs to vote electoral law: panel chief
Iraqi MPs are to vote on Saturday on a controversial electoral bill after a compromise text was agreed, a senior lawmaker said, raising hope that a poll can go ahead as planned in January."We reached a deal (Thursday) on the electoral law in the ...
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Mideast leaders 'urge' Abbas to remain in office
Arab leaders and Israeli officials have urged the head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas (photo), to reconsider his decision not to stand for re-election in a January poll, reports say.
MIDEAST
UN assembly calls for probes into Gaza war crimes allegations
The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved an Arab-sponsored resolution calling on Israel and the Palestinians to probe war crimes allegedly committed in Gaza nearly a year ago.
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THE OBSERVERS
Buy back your honour for just 10 euros
Question: What are these thin strips of plastic encapsulating a reddish liquid, and why have they prompted such outrage in Egypt? Answer: an artificial hymen, made in China and complete with fake blood.
EGYPT
ElBaradei considers running for 2011 Egyptian presidency, with conditions
Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and outgoing head of the UN nuclear watchdog, has said in a television interview he would not rule out running for the presidency of his native Egypt.
LEBANON
Hezbollah denies link to arms seized by Israeli navy
Lebanon's Hezbollah has denied claims it was the intended recipient of a shipment of arms seized on Wednesday by naval commandos. Israeli officials say the weapons, including missiles and rockets, had been supplied by Iran.
Syndicate contentIRANIAN NUCLEAR CRISIS
AFP
Exxon follows China lead in clinching Iraq oil deal
US major Exxon Mobil has won a contract to develop West Qurna 1 field, the oil ministry said on Thursday, as the foreign role in Iraq's oil industry widens with China leading the way."Today we will sign with the consortium of Exxon Mobil and Shell ...
IRAN
Clashes mar anniversary of US embassy takeover
Iranian police have fired teargas during clashes with opposition supporters trying to stage a demonstration in central Tehran on the 30th anniversary of the storming of the US embassy.
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THE OBSERVERS
Amateur images of Tehran clashes
The Web has been flooded with amateur images of the clashes in Tehran. Here are some of the videos.
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