Obama’s signal to Iran

By David Ignatius
President Obama has signaled Iran that the U.S. would accept an Iranian civilian nuclear program if Ayatollah Khamenei can back up his recent public claim that his nation “will never pursue nuclear weapons.”

Turkish PM: Iran insincere about nuclear talks venue

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Iran’s proposal to hold talks next week with six world powers on its disputed nuclear programme in Damascus or Baghdad instead of Istanbul was insincere.

“The offer going round at the moment, Damascus or Baghdad, is a waste of time, it means it won’t happen, because they know the other side won’t come to Damascus or Baghdad,” (more…)

Iraq demands that Qatar return fugitive Vice President

Iraq on Monday said Qatar’s welcoming of Baghdad’s fugitive Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi was “unacceptable” and called on Doha to hand him over.

“The state of Qatar receiving a wanted person is an unacceptable act and Qatar should back off from this stance, and return him to Iraq,” Deputy Prime Minister Hussein al-Shahristani told a news conference in Baghdad. (more…)

Iraq stands by Assad, rejects interjection in Syria

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime will not fall and attempts to overthrow it by force will aggravate the crisis in the region, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Sunday.

“It has been one year and the regime did not fall, and it will not fall, and why should it fall?” Maliki told a news conference in Baghdad. (more…)

Bomb blast as historic Arab League meeting opens

Arab leaders have begun talks on UN-backed peace plan for Syria at the first major international summit to be hosted by Iraq in decades. (more…)

Syria not interested in any ideas from Arab countries

Arab countries, divided over how to stop Syria’s bloodshed, plan to call for the Syrian regime to halt its crackdown on civilians, let in humanitarian groups and free detainees, according to recommendations Wednesday by foreign ministers preparing for a summit this week.

Even before Arab heads of state began their Thursday summit in the Iraqi capital, Syria sharply rejected any measures they take. A Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Jihad Makdessi, said Damascus would “not deal with any initiative” that might come out of the 22-member Arab League. (more…)

Iraqi mom beaten to death by racist in US

Shaima Alawadi, 32 and a mother of five, died after she was taken off life support Saturday at a hospital in San Diego County, CNN said.

Ms Alawadi had been on life support since Wednesday when her teenage daughter found her unconscious in the living room of their home. (more…)

Syrian refugees may soon have $84 million in aid

The United Nations and its humanitarian partners are today issuing an appeal for US$84 million to help Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Iraq. Over 16,000 refugees, including some 8,000 registered in the North, are currently receiving assistance in Lebanon. (more…)

Lebanon president wants Syria back in Arab League

Lebanon will demand that Syria be allowed back into the Arab League when the pan-Arab grouping holds its summit next month, President Michel Suleiman said on Tuesday.

“Lebanon is standing by its position that no Arab nation should be left out of this organization, (more…)

30 Kurdish Syrian soldiers defect to Iraq’s Kurdistan

Thirty Kurdish Syrian soldiers defected into the autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan over the past two days and have been granted refugee status, a regional deputy minister told AFP on Monday. (more…)