Latest in Region Highlight
Latest in Region
Gunmen kidnap British national in Yemeni capital
AFP – Gunmen kidnapped a British oil-sector employee in the Yemeni capital on Monday, witnesses and an industry official told AFP, the second abduction of a foreigner in Yemen since Friday. “Gunmen in a car kidnapped the British man at around 9.00am near a grocery store in Hada,” a tightly-patrolled district in central Sanaa, the …
Bodies litter looted South Sudan town
The ruins of the town, in which hundreds of civilians were killed, in some cases shot in the back as they fled, are eerily silent.
Syria death toll tops 136,000, future talks uncertain
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the death toll at the end of January was at least 136,227.
Talks over, little sign of progress towards Syria peace
Opposition National Coalition Chief Ahmad Jarba said the regime had failed to show “serious commitment” during the negotiations.
Syria will not make ‘any concessions’ in Geneva talks: Minister
Several hundred demonstrators cheered, waving Syrian flags in all sizes and giant pictures of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, shouting “Bashar forever!”
Tunisia’s new government of independents sworn in
The formation of a new government comes after weeks of horse-trading and is the cornerstone of a roadmap to end a political crisis that has plagued Tunisia since the assassination of two opposition MPs in 2013.
20,000 people in Syria’s Yarmuk camp face starvation
Yarmuk soon became a war zone too, as Syrians taking up arms against President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime moved into the camp.
Tunisia parliament approves new cabinet line-up
The line-up was only agreed after weeks of horse-trading and will replace the government led by the Islamist Ennahda party, which accepted last year to step down as part of deal to end a crippling political crisis.
Tunisia’s leaders sign new charter 3 years after revolution
Tunisia’s dominant Islamist party Ennahda said it expected elections to take place in October.
Israel can withdraw within 3-year period: Abbas
Israel wants to maintain a long-term military presence in the Jordan Valley, where the West Bank borders Jordan, but the Palestinians insist Israeli troops withdraw completely, making way for an international force.
Reporter abuse-trading echoes Syria’s divide
The most recent international conferences of the so-called Friends of Syria countries only involved the opposition.
Tunisia leaders sign new constitution
Marzouki was the first to sign the charter which the national assembly adopted by an overwhelming majority in an overnight session.
Tunisia gets new constitution and caretaker cabinet
The prime minister named a caretaker cabinet tasked with organising fresh polls
South Sudan ceasefire falters as government accuses rebels of attack
The fighting has been marked by atrocities on both sides with some 700,000 people forced from their homes in the impoverished nation, according to the United Nations.
10 killed in days of clashes in Lebanon’s Tripoli: security
The deaths are the latest in multiple rounds of fighting between the Sunni neighbourhood of Bab al-Tebbaneh and the Alawite neighbourhood of Jabal Mohsen
Iraq executes 11 more ‘terrorism’ convicts: ministry
The total of those executed this week is 37, adding to 169 people executed last year
Pressure mounts on South Sudan to end brutal conflict
Thousands have been killed and half a million civilians forced to flee the fighting between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebels allied to his sacked deputy Riek Machar.
New Beirut car bombing against Hezbollah kills 4
The blast took place on busy Al-Arid Street in the Haret Hreik neighbourhood, targeted by a suicide car bombing earlier this month.
Peace hopes fade as Israel plans 381 more settler homes
The new construction will take place in Givat Zeev, a settlement which lies immediately south of the West Bank city of Ramallah
Iraq executes 26 men, including anti-Qaeda leader
Among those executed was Adel Mashhadani, who was arrested in March 2009 and sentenced to death in November of that year for killing a young girl in a revenge attack.
Iraq executes 26 men on terrorism charges: ministry
AFP – Iraq has executed 26 men convicted of “terrorism”, the justice ministry said in a statement on Tuesday, despite widespread international condemnation of Iraq’s extensive use of the death penalty. “The justice ministry carried out the executions of 26 (men) convicted of crimes related to terrorism on Sunday,” the statement said, adding that all …
Syria photos prove mass torture by Assad regime: report
Syria denies torturing detainees.
Saudi rejects Iran’s participation in Syria talks
Iran, a key backer of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and Saudi Arabia’s regional arch foe, said Monday that it will attend the peace talks but without preconditions.
Four dead in clashes in Lebanon’s Tripoli
AFP- Four people have been killed in fighting in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, where sectarian clashes linked to the Syrian conflict regularly break out, a security source said Monday. “Three people, a woman and two men, were killed in heavy clashes overnight in which heavy artillery and rockets were used,” the source told …
South Sudan army reclaims control of key oil town of Malakal
Rebel forces staged a fresh attack last Tuesday to seize the riverside town, which has changed hands three times since the conflict in South Sudan began last month.
Rape victim complains of new delay in Tunisia police trial
Three police officers have been held in custody in connection with the case, two of them, Chawki Ben Ammar and Walid Feriani, on rape charges and the third on charges of extortion.
US expects UN to withdraw Iran invite to Syria talks
AFP– Washington is in talks with the UN over the surprise invitation of Iran to Syria peace talks and expects the invite to be withdrawn, a US official said Sunday. Iran has “never endorsed the Geneva I communique” which calls for a transitional government in Syria and “we expect the invitation will be rescinded,” a …
Withdraw Iran invite or we snub talks: Syria opposition
AFP – Syria’s opposition National Coalition will not attend peace talks in Switzerland beginning Wednesday if an invitiation to Iran is not withdrawn by Monday night, a Coalition member told AFP. “By 1900 GMT, they have to confirm that Iran is not invited to the conference or we will not attend,” said Hadi AlBahra, insisting …
16 killed in Baghdad car bombs: officials
AFP – Five car bombs struck across several neighbourhoods in Baghdad on Monday killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 40 others, security and medical officials said. Two explosions went off in the predominantly Sunni south Baghdad neighbourhood of Dura, while at least three vehicles rigged with explosives were detonated in the mostly-Shiite …
West hails Syria opposition vote to join peace talks
The Syrian leader was quoted on Sunday as saying his departure is not up for discussion, in a Russian media report that his office quickly denied.