Middle East
Latest stories
New Libya Government within 10 Days, Says NTC

A new transitional government will be formed in Libya within 10 days, the deputy chief of the National Transitional Council told reporters on Sunday.

"A new government will be formed within one week to ten days," said Mahmoud Jibril, who serves as the "prime minister" of the NTC, the political wing of the rebellion that overthrew strongman Moammar Gadhafi.

W140 Full Story
Gadhafi's Son Al-Saadi Arrives in Niger

One of deposed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s sons, Al-Saadi Gadhafi, arrived Sunday in Niger, a government spokesman said.

"Today, September 11, a patrol of the Nigerien armed forces intercepted a convoy in which was found one of Gadhafi’s sons," Marou Amadou said.

W140 Full Story
Clashes Flare as NTC Fighters Mass at Gadhafi Strongholds

Former rebel fighters clashed on Sunday with pro-Moammar Gadhafi forces at the oasis town of Bani Walid and were closing in on Sirte, poised for all-out assaults on the fallen leader's remaining strongholds.

Medics said at least two fighters were killed and 12 wounded in the skirmishes on the outskirts of Bani Walid, near to where forces loyal to Libya's new rulers were massed, waiting for the final signal to storm the town.

W140 Full Story
Al-Jazeera Egypt Says Hit by Broadcasting Ban

The satellite channel Al-Jazeera Egypt said on Sunday the authorities had prevented it from broadcasting, after entering its offices and confiscating transmission equipment.

Ahmed Zain, the channel's chief in Cairo, told Agence France Presse that police, officers from the culture ministry and representatives of Egypt's public broadcaster had also seized materials and that one technician was arrested.

W140 Full Story
Iraq's Sadr Says No Anti-U.S. Attacks before Pullout

Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his followers not to launch any attacks on U.S. troops before a year-end deadline for their withdrawal from the country, in a statement seen on Sunday.

Sadr's remarks came just days after he backtracked on a call for popular anti-government rallies. American forces have accused militias linked to the cleric of largely being behind attacks on its soldiers.

W140 Full Story
12 Die as Rival Anti-Gadhafi Fighters Turn on Each Other

At least 12 people were killed and 16 wounded when two groups of fighters opposed to Moammar Gadhafi turned on each other in Libya's west, two officials said on Sunday.

The fighting, which has its roots in ancient rivalries and pitted combatants from the towns of Gharyan and Kikla on the one side and from Asabah on the other, broke out on Saturday, according to the chief of the Gharyan council and confirmed by the head of the military council of Asabah.

W140 Full Story
Testimony of Egypt Military Ruler at Mubarak Trial Postponed

The testimony of Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, Egypt's military ruler, as a witness at the trial of former president Hosni Mubarak has been postponed to September 24, judicial sources said Sunday.

Tantawi, who is the de facto head of state since the fall of Mubarak to a popular uprising in February, faced a last minute difficulty which made him unavailable to testify as scheduled on Sunday, the sources said.

W140 Full Story
Two Killed as Top Syrian Activist 'Severely' Beaten‎

A woman was shot dead in eastern Syria on Sunday and a teenager died of wounds suffered at a funeral in the capital Damascus on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"A 40-year-old woman was killed at noon on Sunday by a stray bullet as security forces were tracking wanted people in the town of Bukamal," the Britain-based rights group cited an activist in Deir al-Zour province as saying.

W140 Full Story
Kuwait Youth Group Calls for Deep Reforms

Kuwaiti youth activists called on Sunday for major reforms to turn the oil-rich emirate into a constitutional monarchy, including the appointment of a premier from outside the Al-Sabah ruling family.

The previously unknown September 16 Youths group also called for the dismissal of the current government, the dissolution of parliament and the holding of fresh elections.

W140 Full Story
Abbas Says Palestinians to Go to U.N. Despite U.S. Threats

President Mahmud Abbas said in remarks published on Sunday that Palestinians will seek U.N. membership despite U.S. "threats" to stop financial aid.

"We will go to the United Nations to obtain an international recognition to the state of Palestine, despite the obstacles and dangers, including U.S. threats to halt 470 million dollars in annual assistance," Abbas told Jordan's government-owned al-Rai newspaper in an interview.

W140 Full Story