King Fahd of Saudi Arabia dies after long reignSAUDI ARABIA: King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, the kingdom's fifth monarch, died early yesterday and was succeeded by his half-brother…Tue Aug 02 2005 - 01:00
Lebanon, Syria try for better relationsMIDDLE EAST: Lebanese prime minister Fuad Siniora and Syrian president Bashar Assad have called for relations between their …Mon Aug 01 2005 - 01:00
Mubarak calls Arab summitEGYPT: Egypt's president, Hosni Mubarak, yesterday announced the convening of an Arab summit next week at the Red Sea resort…Fri Jul 29 2005 - 01:00
Former warlord freed in LebanonLEBANON: A former Lebanese Maronite Christian warlord was freed yesterday after serving 11 years in prison for crimes committed…Wed Jul 27 2005 - 01:00
Bombings linked to Taba attack last year, say policeEGYPT: The bombings in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula early on Saturday morning had considerable resonance in Egypt and the Arab world…Mon Jul 25 2005 - 01:00
Sunnis suspend talks on constitution after killingIRAQ : Sunni participation in the commission drafting a constitution for Iraq has been suspended, following the assassination…Thu Jul 21 2005 - 01:00
Is Iraq drifting towards a bloody civil war?IRAQ : Iraq's senior Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, has warned of "genocidal war" if the current high level of violence…Wed Jul 20 2005 - 01:00
Insurgents target Shia areas as death toll risesIRAQ: The increase in suicide bombings which killed at least 160 people and wounded 400 since last week came soon after US and…Mon Jul 18 2005 - 01:00
Car bomb in Beirut wounds ministerLEBANON: Lebanon's outgoing deputy premier and defence minister, Elias Murr, was wounded yesterday when a car bomb exploded …Wed Jul 13 2005 - 01:00
Arab world unites to express its revulsionArab reaction Media commentators across the Arab world echoed official spokesmen by expressing severe condemnation and revulsion…Sat Jul 09 2005 - 01:00
Syrian leader gives backing to AbbasMIDDLE EAST: Syrian president Bashar Assad yesterday reiterated his country's support for the struggle of the Palestinian people…Fri Jul 08 2005 - 01:00
Hamas refuses Fatah's offer to govern jointlyMIDDLE EAST: The Islamic movement Hamas yesterday turned down an offer from the ruling Fatah movement to form a national unity…Wed Jul 06 2005 - 01:00
From 'Arabia felix' Yemen has become impoverished cul-de -sacLetter from Sanaa: Only 20 people disembarked from the Syrian Airways flight at Sanaa and lined up to have their passports stamped…Tue Jun 28 2005 - 01:00
Syria separates party and stateSYRIA: The 10th congress of Syria's ruling Baath party concluded yesterday after adopting modest but significant reforms.Fri Jun 10 2005 - 01:00
Syrian vice-president to resign after criticising Lebanon policySYRIA: Vice-president Abdel Halim Khaddam, Syria's number two political figure, has declared his intention to resign from the…Wed Jun 08 2005 - 01:00
Palestinians mark 57th anniversary of their 'catastrophe'PALESTINE: Palestinians marked the 57th anniversary of the proclamation of the state of Israel yesterday by observing a two-…Mon May 16 2005 - 01:00
Problems for Iraq cabinet as post is rejectedIraq: Iraq's parliament approved six remaining cabinet appointments yesterday, but one nominee refused to accept his ministry…Mon May 09 2005 - 01:00
Exiled Aoun returns to LebanonLebanon: Former army chief Michel Aoun returned to Lebanon on Saturday to a hero's welcome from thousands of flag-waving supporters…Mon May 09 2005 - 01:00
Iraqi government sworn inIraq: Iraq's first elected government in nearly half a century took office yesterday at a ceremony in the fortified Green Zone…Wed May 04 2005 - 01:00
Abbas names new teamMIDDLE EAST: Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has reshuffled his security chiefs in an effort to change top personnel before…Mon Apr 25 2005 - 01:00
Mikati's new cabinet boosts hopes for an early electionLEBANON: Lebanon's prime minister designate Najib Mikati yesterday formed a cabinet of businessmen, politicians and technocrats…Wed Apr 20 2005 - 01:00
Palestinians still don't view US as honest brokerMIDDLE EAST: The Palestinian Authority yesterday expressed satisfaction at the US demand for a freeze on Israeli settlement …Wed Apr 13 2005 - 01:00
Huge rally presses for US withdrawal dateIraq: Demonstrations organised by dissident Shias in Baghdad on Saturday were designed to exert pressure on the new Iraqi government…Mon Apr 11 2005 - 01:00
Lebanese premier defers resignation until he meets pro-Syrian partiesLebanon: Lebanese prime minister Omar Karami yesterday postponed his previously announced resignation until he meets members…Thu Mar 31 2005 - 01:00
Arabs reject softer approachMiddle East: Arab foreign ministers meeting in Algiers on Saturday rejected a Jordanian proposal to soften the long-standing…Mon Mar 21 2005 - 00:00
Opponents fear giving too much to KurdsIRAQ: In the negotiations which are now under way in Baghdad, Iraq's Shias and other Arabs are prepared to accept the principle…Thu Mar 17 2005 - 00:00
Pro-Syrian government steps down in LebanonMIDDLE EAST: Lebanese prime minister Omar Karami announced his pro-Syrian government's resignation yesterday under pressure …Tue Mar 01 2005 - 00:00
Mubarak says he will allow democratic electionsEGYPT: In a dramatic reversal of policy Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has asked parliament to amend the constitution to provide…Mon Feb 28 2005 - 00:00
Shia group chooses Jaafari as choice for prime ministerIRAQ: After a week of intensive negotiations, the United Iraqi Alliance, the largest bloc in the new Iraqi parliament, yesterday…Wed Feb 23 2005 - 00:00
Leaders warn region could be destabilisedMIDDLE EAST: Arab leaders and commentators condemned Monday's assassination of the former Lebanese premier, Mr Rafiq Hariri, …Wed Feb 16 2005 - 00:00
Hariri was killed for ties with Saudi monarchy: tapeMIDDLE EAST: Of all the parties that might have been responsible for the death of Lebanon's former prime minister, an apparent…Tue Feb 15 2005 - 00:00
Abbas to press for active US peacemaking roleMIDDLE EAST: When they meet today, the Palestinian leader, Mr Mahmoud Abbas, is expected to press the US Secretary of State, …Mon Feb 07 2005 - 00:00
Shia clerics insist on the adoption of Islamic lawIRAQ: As the vote count indicated a landslide victory for the Shia religious party list in last Sunday's parliamentary poll, …Mon Feb 07 2005 - 00:00
Nation's 20th election since days of Ottoman empireIRAQ: Tomorrow's Iraqi election is the 20th national consultation since the country emerged from the Ottoman empire in the wake…Mon Jan 31 2005 - 00:00
Minding their own businessCurrent AffairsAnyone who wishes to understand why things are going wrong in Iraq must read this bookSat Jan 22 2005 - 00:00
Egypt criticises Israeli terms for talksMIDDLE EAST: The President of Egypt, Mr Husni Mubarak, warned yesterday that it is impossible to put a condition on negotiations…Mon Jan 17 2005 - 00:00
Palestinians decide amid slogans, flags and postersMIDDLE EAST: Some voters hoped for a more stable and certain future for their people, reports Michael JansenMon Jan 10 2005 - 00:00
Palestinians go to polls tomorrowPalestine: Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem will tomorrow vote in their second national electionSat Jan 08 2005 - 00:00
PLO's Abbas is front runner in elections to succeed ArafatMIDDLE EAST: As the Palestinian presidential candidates campaigned in West Bank cities and towns yesterday, the election commission…Mon Dec 27 2004 - 00:00
Iraqi elections under threat as insurgents step up campaignIRAQ: Insurgents stepped up attacks in Iraq over the weekend, killing more than 50 Iraqis and six US troops and putting at risk…Mon Dec 06 2004 - 00:00
As Arafat lingers, his final resting place is preparedMIDDLE EAST: The death watch at the battered presidential compound of Yasser Arafat continued throughout yesterday, with hundreds…Thu Nov 11 2004 - 00:00
POST-ARAFAT: the successionMiddle East: When Mr Yasser Arafat was flown to Paris, Palestinian leadership took the appropriate steps to effect a smooth …Wed Nov 10 2004 - 00:00
Shrine is sacred to both Shia and SunniIRAQ: The Shrine of Imam Ali, the adopted son and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, is known among Shias as Mashhad Gharwah…Fri Aug 20 2004 - 01:00
US blamed by Arab media for shrine violenceIRAQ: Arab media are generally blaming the US military for the ongoing violence near the Mausoleum of Ali, the world's most …Thu Aug 19 2004 - 01:00
Violence continues in Najaf as truce talks collapseIRAQ: Violent confrontations in the Shia holy city of Najaf resumed yesterday after truce talks broke down.Mon Aug 16 2004 - 01:00
Plans for Baghdad conference in turmoilIRAQ: Despite Najaf fighting, Iraqi officials insist meeting will go ahead, writes Michael JansenSat Aug 14 2004 - 01:00
Scientist jailed for telling truth about Iraqi weapons, say familyIRAQ: As Iraqis swelter without air conditioning, buy water from lorries, and queue for hours for petrol, the man who led the…Mon Aug 09 2004 - 01:00
Turkish Cypriot government survivesCYPRUS: The Turkish Cypriot coalition government narrowly survived a no confidence vote on Saturday by a vote of 25-25Mon Jul 19 2004 - 01:00
Olympic concerns mean no torch carried for pollsCountry profile - Greece: Greece, like several other veteran EU members, is apathetic about the EU Parliamentary electionsTue Jun 08 2004 - 01:00
Candidates are fighting hard for island's five seatsCountry profile: Malta Three Maltese political parties, the ruling Nationalists, the Labour party and the Green Alternativa …Sat Jun 05 2004 - 01:00
