10 Afghans killed in suicide attack on market

Ten Afghan civilians were killed and seven others were wounded in a suicide attack Sunday in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province, a provincial spokesman said.

Dawoud Ahmadi said the attack was targeting an Afghan National Army vehicle, but the bomber missed it and hit a bazaar, or market, in the Gereshk district instead. (more…)

Israeli PM: No concession on Jewish settlements

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out any concession on the building of settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, despite international pressure.

Mr Netanyahu said he had written to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to remove any doubt about the issue.

He made the remarks hours before he left for Washington to address the influential pro-Israeli group, Aipac.

He has been invited to meet President Barack Obama on Tuesday, indicating a possible thaw in relations. (more…)

Sfeir defends the president and presidency

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir issued a statement on Sunday which stated that “maintaining the presidency and President Michel Suleiman is essential to preserving Lebanon’s independence and strengthening the state.”

Sfeir’s comment came in response to Wiam Wahab’s attack against the president .

Former minister Wahab a staunch ally of Syria attacked last Wednesday President Michel Suleiman and called on him to resign for allegedly failing to govern the country. (more…)

Libya again fails to deliver properly the summit invitation

Arab League Secretary General Moussa said today that Libya delivered the official invitation to Lebanon’s Arab League representative to attend Arab summit.

Lebanon is bound to reject the invitation again because it was not delivered properly to the the right authorities .

The protocol dictates that the invitation should be personally delivered to the president of the Republic  of Lebanon , Michel Suleiman (more…)

Volcano erupts in Iceland, hundreds flee

A volcano erupted in the south of Iceland overnight, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate the area and diverting flights after authorities declared a state of emergency, officials said on Sunday. (more…)

UN Chief Blames Israeli Blockade for Suffering in Gaza

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has made a visit to the Gaza Strip and repeated his condemnation of the blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt. Meanwhile, international efforts to get Israelis and Palestinians back to negotiations are stepping up.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon came the region to press Israelis and Palestinians to return to negotiations. On Sunday, while visiting the Gaza Strip, he condemned Israel for the blockade it and Egypt have on the enclave.

“I have repeatedly made it quite clear to Israel’s leaders that the Israeli policy of closure is not sustainable and that it is wrong,” Mr. Bn said. “It poses unacceptable suffering of human beings. This policy is also counterproductive. It undercuts moderates and empowers extremists.” (more…)

Iraq election commission rejects calls for vote recount

Iraq’s election commission has rejected calls from the president and prime minister for a recount of votes cast in the general election on 7 March.

An election official said a recount of all votes would be impossible and was unnecessary because of checks on fraud. (more…)

Neither Hezbollah nor STL comment on Wahab’s statement

Former minister Wiam Wahab has created a new commotion in the country after saying that the committee investigating former PM Rafik Hariri’s murder has summoned Hezbollah members for questioning.
However, Wahab’s statement was neither confirmed by Special Tribunal for Lebanon prosecutor’s office nor by Hezbollah. (more…)

Two Palestinians killed by Israeli troops

Israeli troops today shot dead two Palestinians who tried to stab a soldier, the Israeli army said.

The deaths increased to four the number of Palestinians killed in violence in the West Bank over the weekend. (more…)

Bin Laden’s daughter is in Damascus

By: Tariq Alhomayed
Finally, Iman Bin Laden is back with her mother who accompanied her daughter to Damascus after many difficult years spent in Iran where Iman lived in a residential compound in Tehran under tight security until she was able to escape and seek refuge in the Saudi embassy in Tehran in search of help. A new life has been ordained for Iman. (more…)