Middle East
Dubai's police chief yesterday directly accused Israel's Mossad spy agency of the hit-squad slaying of a Hamas commander in a luxury hotel room on 20 January. Lieutenant-General Dahi Khalfan Tamim said he was "99 per cent, if not 100 per cent" cer...
West 'pushing for new UN sanctions against Iran'
The US is circulating a discussion paper on possible further UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, says a Western diplomat at the UN.
Hamas Gives U.N. Response to Gaza War Crimes Report
The Islamist group Hamas on Wednesday formally rejected allegations it had committed war crimes during last year's fighting in Gaza, charges made in a United Nations report.
Bomb kills 20 Shi'ite pilgrims in Iraq, election ban lifted
A bomb killed at least 20 Shi'ite pilgrims on Wednesday as they poured into Iraq's holy city of Kerbala, triggering criticism of security forces and politicians before a potentially bloody March election.
Mideast peace talks will resume in 'coming weeks': Israeli PM
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday he expects peace talks with the Palestinians to resume in the coming weeks, nudged on by the United States, after being stalled for more than a year.
Iran opposition's Karroubi calls for calm anniversary
TEHRAN — Iranian opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi called on his supporters on Wednesday to peacefully participate in next week's rally marking the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution, as authorities threatened to crack down on any protests.
Hillary Clinton rejects US-Iran prisoner swap proposal
The US has rejected Iran's suggestion of a prisoner swap for several Iranians jailed in the US for the three American hikers currently being held in Iran.
Senior Fatah official in rare visit to Hamas-run Gaza
GAZA CITY — A senior member of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas' Fatah party made a rare visit to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip on Wednesday in a bid to encourage stalled reconciliation efforts.
Ahmadinejad: Iran Ready to Send Enriched Uranium Abroad
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his country is ready to send uranium abroad for further enrichment, in accordance with a U.N.-backed plan.
Iran Slams US Defense Missile Deployment in Gulf
Iran's parliament speaker Ali Larijani lashed out at U.S. plans to deploy defensive missiles in the Gulf, branding the decision a "political ploy" aimed at increasing its military strength in the region.
Iran to execute nine dissidents ahead of Feb 11 anniversary
Iran will execute nine dissidents "soon", an official said on Tuesday, as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stepped up a campaign to crush the country's opposition movement.
Israel Searches for Explosive Barrels in Sea
TEL AVIV—Israel closed a stretch of beaches north of the Gaza Strip after two explosive-laden barrels washed ashore and Palestinian militants promised more, in revenge for what some in Hamas said was Israeli's assassination of a top Hamas leader l...
Seized weapons plane in Thailand not heading for Iran: official
TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran denied on Tuesday claims by Thailand that a planeload of North Korean weapons seized there in December was headed to Iran.
Female Suicide Bomber Kills 41 Shiite Pilgrims in Baghdad
A female suicide bomber on Monday killed at least 41 Shiite pilgrims in northern Baghdad who were making an annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Karbala.
Israel Rebukes 2 Officers for U.N. Gaza Compound Shelling
JERUSALEM — The Israeli military confirmed Monday that it had reprimanded two senior officers, a brigadier general and a colonel, for the firing of artillery shells that hit a United Nations compound during the Gaza war last winter. It was a rare ...
Iran top judge rejects "political" hanging pressure
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's top judge said on Monday he would not succumb to political pressure from hardliners to carry out more executions against anti-government protesters, saying any such decision would be based on the law.
Israel set to respond to UN demand on Gaza war
JERUSALEM — Israel was to give UN chief Ban Ki-moon a letter on Friday in response to a UN demand that it probe alleged war crimes in its Gaza offensive which the Jewish state previously rejected, officials said.
Iran executes two dissidents and sentences to death nine more
Iran delivered a chilling message of intent to the country's reform movement yesterday when it hanged two men accused of participating in protests following last year's disputed presidential election and sentenced to death nine more.
US Senate OKs sanctions on Iran's fuel suppliers
The Senate on Thursday approved legislation that would let President Barack Obama impose sanctions on Iran's gasoline suppliers and penalize some of Tehran's elites, a move aimed at pressuring Tehran to give up its nuclear program.
Iran Continues Focus on Outside Provocateurs, Now Blaming Germany
CAIRO — Iranian officials continued to cast blame for the nation’s recent political crisis on foreign interference on Wednesday, focusing their ire for the first time on Germany, one of the country’s closest trading partners, with an accusation th...