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
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
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
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
Emerging anti-EU sentiment likely to colour Cypriot votesCountry profile: Cyprus Cyprus will hold its first European parliamentary poll on June 13thSat Jun 05 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
New cabinet reflects Iraq's political mixCommentary: The interim government is not made up of neutral technocrats as originally envisaged but is dominated by returned…Wed Jun 02 2004 - 01:00
UN envoy sidelined in US-backed coupIRAQ: Mr Brahimi's nominees to a caretaker government have been rejected, writes Michael JansenMon May 31 2004 - 01:00
Scientist tipped to be Iraqi premierIRAQ: The UN envoy to Iraq, Mr Lakhdar Brahimi, is expected to name on June 1st an Iraqi transitional administration consisting…Thu May 27 2004 - 01:00
President says revised Cyprus plan could boost unity hopesCYPRUS: The Cyprus President, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, said yesterday that the divided island could be reunified if amendments…Mon May 10 2004 - 01:00
Images of torture inflame anger of the Arab worldIRAQ: Photos of Iraqi prisoners being tormented and humiliated by US and British soldiers have enraged people across the Arab…Tue May 04 2004 - 01:00
Annan submits revised plan for unitary CyprusThe UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, yesterday formally handed over his revised proposal for the reunification of Cyprus …Tue Mar 30 2004 - 01:00
Newspapers condemn war and occupationIRAQ/In the press: Although popular protests on the first anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq were thin on the ground in …Mon Mar 22 2004 - 00:00
Hellenic unity on Cyprus issue reaffirmedCYPRUS/GREECE: President Tassos Papadopoulos of Cyprus yesterday congratulated the new Greek Prime Minister, Mr Costas Karamanlis…Tue Mar 09 2004 - 00:00
Talks resume on plan to reunite CyprusCYPRUS: If Greek and Turkish Cypriot negotiators agree to reunite Cyprus under the UN plan and it is approved in referendums…Sat Feb 21 2004 - 00:00
Clerical rulers face crisis 25 years after Islamic revolutionIRAN: Conservative and reformist forces are locked in bitter struggle in Iran. Michael Jansen examines the struggleThu Feb 12 2004 - 00:00
Cypriot leaders in New York for UN-hosted talksCYPRUS: The president of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, arrive in New York…Mon Feb 09 2004 - 00:00
Harmony across the great divideThe death of the Palestinian scholar, Edward Said this year was a great cultural lossMon Dec 29 2003 - 00:00
'Now they have Saddam, let them give us electricity and fuel,' echo IraqisIraq may be oil-rich, but a chronic petrol shortage means people have toqueue for hours or buy from the black marketTue Dec 16 2003 - 00:00
Saudis name 26 men linked to bombingsSaudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia has named 23 Saudis, two Moroccans and a Yemeni wanted in connection with terrorist attacks in the…Mon Dec 08 2003 - 00:00
Shia ayatollah in Iraq calls for assembly electionsIRAQ: Iraq's supreme Shia figure, Ayatollah Ali Sistani, has issued a ruling which could compel the US to rethink its plan for…Mon Dec 01 2003 - 00:00
A three-month festival of lights and a time for giving thanksLetter from Dubai: As the sun sets, the call to prayer sings out over the city and bounces back and forth between green, gold…Mon Nov 24 2003 - 00:00
War may affect generationsIRAQ: A report released yesterday by the British charity Medact says the people of Iraq may suffer poor health for generations…Wed Nov 12 2003 - 00:00
Aim is 'to make Americans feel unsafe'SAUDI ARABIA: The devastating strike on the Riyadh compound could be payback for Saudi Arabia's aggressive campaign to crush…Mon Nov 10 2003 - 00:00
