SSNP lawmaker criticizes speeches of March 14 leaders

Syrian Social Nationalist Party MP Marwan Fares criticized Monday speeches of March 14 leaders during the commemoration that marked the 6th anniversary of the assassination of Lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri : (more…)

Israel closes 4 embassies in face of terror threats

Israel has closed all or part of four foreign missions in the face of terror threats, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

“Our assessment at this point is that these sites are under threat, and this is being taken care of,” the ministry said in a statement. (more…)

Iran lawmakers urge death for opposition leaders

Iranian lawmakers called for the death penalty on Tuesday for opposition leaders they accused of fomenting unrest after a rally in which a least one person was killed and dozens were wounded, state media said. (more…)

Second Man Dies in Bahrain Skirmishes

Clashes between opposition protesters and security forces here spilled into Tuesday, with the government confirming a second death in skirmishes that have flared since late Sunday.

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, in a TV address, offered condolences for the deaths, pledging an investigation into the killings, (more…)

Mubarak’s health is deteriorating, report

The health of former Egyptian ruler Hosni Mubarak is deteriorating and he is refusing medical treatment, the Saudi-owned daily Asharq al-Awsat said on Tuesday. The report could not immediately be confirmed. (more…)

US: Hezbollah hijacked Lebanon’s democracy

U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said Monday during an interview with ‘Al Hurra’ television in response to a question about the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) on the occasion marking the 6th anniversary of the assassination of Lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri that the the United States believes strongly in the work of the tribunal (more…)

Berlusconi to stand trial in sex case

The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, is to face trial on charges of sex with a 17-year-old girl – and the case will be heard by three female judges, a court has ordered.
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Iran, Egypt Caught in the Churning of a Mideast Democracy Wave

The aftershocks of last week’s overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak continued to reverberate Monday, not only in Egypt but all the way across the Middle East to Iran. (more…)

Pro-reform Saudi activists launch political party

Saudi Islamists and opposition activists have launched a political party in a rare challenge to the absolute monarchy, asking King Abdullah for a voice in the Gulf Arab state’s governance, its organizers said Thursday. (more…)

Clinton: U.S. stands with Iran protesters

The United States stands with Iranian opposition supporters who sought to protest on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, calling on Tehran to grant its citizens the same freedoms that were recently won by protests in Egypt. (more…)