Latest in Region Highlight
Latest in Region
Hundreds killed in Syria police academy battle: NGO
The UK-based group said at least 120 army troops were among those killed in the battle for one of the regime’s last remaining bastions in the west of Aleppo province. On Sunday alone, rebels had killed more than 34 troops at the facility.
Political impasse sparks alarm on Tunisian economy
Standard and Poor’s was the first credit ratings agency to respond to the crisis, cutting Tunisia’s sovereign rating from BB to BB- with a negative outlook, citing “the risk of seeing the political situation deteriorate further”.
HRW fears ‘mockery of justice’ in UAE Islamists trial
The judicial process “raises serious fair trial concerns, including limited access to lawyers and withholding of key documents concerning the charges and evidence against them
Tunisia renews state of emergency amid crisis
Tunisia is facing a grave political crisis after the February assassination of leftist politician Chokri Belaid
Well-armed jihadists raise fears of new war in Syria
Leaders of the rebel Free Syrian Army in the eastern oil hub of Deir Ezzor are in a quandary
Suspected Salafist killer of Tunisia politician identified
Alleged killer of Chokri Belaid is identified by his own father
Salafists fail to stop ‘Harlem Shake’ in Tunisia
A number of social media sites belonging to Salafists and other Islamist groups have denounced the “Harlem Shake” as indecent.
Western academician barred over Bahrain remarks: UAE
“Ulrichsen has consistently propagated views de-legitimising the Bahraini monarchy,” the ministry was quoted as saying by WAM state news agency.
Lavrov blasts Syria opposition ‘extremists’ before key talks
Kerry meets his Russian counterpart here later Tuesday in a bid to bridge differences between Moscow and Washington over Syria
Fatah-linked militants claim Gaza rocket after inmate death
It was the first time a Gaza rocket had struck southern Israel in more than three months
Salafists behind Belaid’s murder, 4 held: Tunisia minister
“The killer has been identified and is being chased,” Larayedh told a news conference.
30 jailed Omani activists end hunger strike: lawyer
The hunger strike was first launched by 17 cyber activists on 9 February as a protest at delays in hearing their appeals after they were jailed for between six to 18 months for “unlawful assembly and violating the cyber law”.
Syria opposition mulls attending Rome summit
The Coalition had announced on Saturday its intention to withdraw from an 11-nation meeting of the Friends of Syria in Rome on Thursday
Qatar cuts jail term for maverick poet to 15 years: lawyer
Mohammed al-Ajami was arrested after the publication of his “Jasmine poem”
Fatah militants vow to avenge Palestinian prisoner death
The armed wing of the Fatah movement, have vowed to avenge the death of Jaradat, who they say was tortured in an Israeli jail.
Hunger strikes and clashes after Palestinian prisoner dies
About 3,000 prisoners announced that they would refuse meals
Tunisia new PM starts work on forming government
Larayedh has until 8 March to present a new government to the head of state, Marzouki’s spokesman said, adding that the president urged him to do so “as quickly as possible because the country cannot wait any longer.”
Tunisia scrambles to find new PM, end political limbo
To pull itself out of a major political crisis two days after Hamadi Jebali had quit
Spotlight on Mossad after mystery prisoner death
Some reports suggested the man now identified as Ben Zygier may have been a loose-lipped braggart with psychological problems
Tunisia PM seeks ‘another solution’ after cabinet plan fails
Jebali first floated his initiative in the wake of public outrage over the killing in broad daylight of outspoken government critic Chokri Belaid
Four million in Syria in dire need of aid: UN
A graphic from Amos’s office showed how the need for humanitarian aid had spiralled from March last year
3 Lebanon Shi’as dead in Syria fighting: Hezbollah
The Shi’as party, Lebanon’s most powerful military force, occasionally announces the death of one of its fighters killed “carrying out his jihadist duty,” but without clarification.
Uncertainty in Tunisia ahead of political talks
Ennahda chief Rached Ghannouchi has strongly reiterated his party’s refusal to relinquish power in line with an initiative proposed by Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali
Brahimi calls for Syrian dialogue
The UN and Arab League special envoy said the Syrian government is ready to negotiate peaceful terms with the opposition
Islamists protest in Tunis to bolster ruling party
The mass rally was called to defend the right of Ennahda to continue at the head of the ruling coalition and oppose to form a government of technocrats.
‘Hundreds held’ in Syria tit-for-tat kidnappings
The resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said kidnappings between the rival villages are a regular occurrence and usually end in an exchange.
Bahrain police fire tear gas at protester’s funeral
After the burial, a crowd of protesters tried to march on “Pearl Square” in Manama, the focus of the February-March 2011 uprising.
Bahrain opposition rallies amid deadly unrest
Demonstrations on Thursday coinciding with the actual anniversary of the start of the uprising on February 14, 2011 turned deadly
Damascus blasts Turkey role in Syria conflict
The Syrian foreign ministry’s letter accuses Turkey of harbouring “terrorists from Al-Qaeda’s network
Protests continue in Iraq
Protests, which have been ongoing for nearly two months, have urged for the ouster of Prime Minister Nuri al-Malik