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Ministry: 90 Wounded in Cairo Electoral Clashes

More than 90 people were wounded in overnight clashes between Salafist protesters and residents of a Cairo neighborhood, the Egyptian health ministry said on Sunday.

Dozens of supporters of Hazem Abu Ismail on Saturday night marched towards the Abbassiya district to protest the electoral commission's decision to bar the popular hardline Islamist from contesting next month's presidential poll.

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Syrian Forces Kill 4 as Aleppo Blast Leaves 4 Troops Dead

At least eight people were killed in violence in Syria on Sunday, including four soldiers who died in a blast at a military center in the northern province of Aleppo, monitors said.

Two civilians were shot dead by snipers in the district of Juret al-Shayah of the city of Homs, the symbol of revolt in central Syria and where two U.N. observers are permanently based, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

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Syria Says West-Backed Qaida behind Bombings

State newspapers on Sunday charged that al-Qaida was operating in Syria and carrying out its trademark suicide bombings with the support of Washington and some Arab countries.

"The recent terrorist suicide bombings in several areas of Syria are not the first signs of al-Qaida's presence in Syria," but now there is "clear evidence" because of the methods and choice of targets, government daily Tishrin said.

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Al-Qaida in Yemen Frees 73 Captured Soldiers

Al-Qaida in Yemen said it released on Sunday 73 soldiers captured by its fighters during battles with government forces in the south of the country.

The terror network said in an emailed statement that the release of the soldiers followed mediation efforts by tribal elders and senior clerics. Relatives of some freed prisoners confirmed the release.

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U.N. Urges Respect for Syria Truce as Observers Visit Homs Neighborhood

U.N. observers said on Sunday that it was "extremely important" that all sides respect a promised ceasefire in Syria as a veteran peacekeeper flew in to take command.

A mission spokesman said that an advance party of truce observers had already set up base in the major trouble spots in the 13-month conflict.

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Syrian Observatory: 32 People Killed in Syria on Saturday

A full 32 people were killed in Syria on Saturday, more than two weeks into the ceasefire brokered by international peace envoy Kofi Annan, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Government troops killed at least 10 rebel fighters in the Damascus region, the Britain-based Observatory said.

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Kuwait Finance Minister Testifies over Graft Case

Kuwait's Finance Minister Mustafa al-Shamali has testified before a parliamentary committee probing corruption allegations against the former prime minister, the head of the panel said Sunday.

"The committee has informed Shamali it was not satisfied with the replies it has received (from the government) so far and demanded complete answers," Faisal al-Muslim said after the meeting that took place late on Saturday.

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Israel Looks to Possible Early Election

Israel was on Sunday buzzing with the possibility of an early election after a key partner in the ruling right-wing coalition threatened to pull out, and the opposition called for an autumn vote.

Fresh speculation about an early general election came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fought off sharp criticism from a former top security chief over his policies on Iran's nuclear program and on peace with the Palestinians.

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Saudi has 'No Suspicions' about Bin Laden Family

A Saudi spokesman said late on Saturday that his government has no suspicions about relatives of slain al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden who were deported from Pakistan last week, breaking an official news blackout over their admission to the kingdom.

"Saudi Arabia acted out of humanitarian considerations... in so far as there are no reports or evidence of any implication in criminal or illegal acts," the official Saudi Press Agency quoted the spokesman as saying.

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Abbas Discusses Palestinian Reconciliation in Tunisia

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday discussed Palestinian reconciliation with Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki at the start of an official visit.

The Palestinian leader was greeted with military honors at the airport by President Marzouki and president of the National Constituent Assembly Mustapha Ben Jaafar.

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