Iranians worry about possibility of war

The deepening standoff between Tehran and the West over Iran’s nuclear program has Iranians chatting nervously in butcher shops, grocery aisles and money exchanges.

In a Tehran supermarket, Ali and his wife, a well-to-do couple in their 40s, were filling cart after cart with bags of groceries (more…)

US helicopter shot down in Afghanistan was on rescue mission

The US Navy Seals and other troops whose helicopter was shot down in eastern Afghanistan had rushed to the mountainous area to help a US army ranger unit that was under fire from insurgents, two US officials said Sunday. (more…)

Tensions rise between Lebanon and Israel over maritime borders

Speaker Nabih Berri told a U.N. diplomat that Lebanon is willing to use all the necessary means to “protect” the country from any Israeli attack. Meanwhile, an Israeli government spokesman accused Hizbullah of exploiting the issue of the maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel in order to wage a war against the Jewish state. (more…)

Obama sets course for exit from Afghanistan

President Barack Obama announced a plan on Wednesday to start withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan in a first step toward ending the long, costly war and returning America’s focus toward it’s own troubled economy. (more…)

Gaddafi’s forces defeated in western city of Zawiya

Libyan opposition forces say they have repelled an attack by government troops on Zawiya, a western city near the capital, Tripoli, where Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is trying to fight off an uprising against his 42-year rule. (more…)

Gaddafi continues to slaughter fellow Libyans, takes country closer to civil war

Moammar Gadhafi’s forces struck back at his opponents on three fronts Monday, with special operations forces, regular army troops and, rebels said, fighter jets, in an escalation of hostilities that brought Libya a step closer to civil war.

But the rebels dismissed the attacks as ineffectual, and Gadhafi faced a growing international campaign to force him from power, as the Obama administration announced it had seized $30 billion in Libyan assets and the European Union adopted an arms embargo and other sanctions. (more…)

Gaddafi forces targeting Facebook users, raiding houses in Tripoli

In an attempt to seek revenge on the protesters, Moammar Gadhafi’s regime has turned its fury on those it blames for stoking the anti-government uprising: Libyan youths who spread revolution on Facebook and Twitter.

A resident of Tripoli who spoke on the condition of anonymity said his neighbor was arrested because he had been posting messages on the popular social networking sites. (more…)

U.S. ready to provide “any kind of assistance” to Libyan opposition

The United States said it was prepared to offer “any kind of assistance” to Libyans seeking to overthrow the regime of strongman Muammar Gaddafi as they set up a transitional body.

As forces opposed to the longest-serving Arab leader took control of several western Libyan towns, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton echoed the calls of world leaders, including President Barack Obama, for him to quit. (more…)

Lebanese flee Libya, urge government to help evacuate fellow citizens

Eighteen Lebanese nationals arrived at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport from Libya, the National News Agency reported on Sunday, adding that they came through Jordan. The Lebanese urged Beirut authorities to facilitate the evacuation of other Lebanese citizens there. (more…)

Government formed in East Libya by former justice minister, prepare for elections

Libya’s former justice minister says he has formed a transitional government based in the country’s east, the focal point of an uprising against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Mustafa Abdel Jalil made the announcement in an interview with Qatar-based television network Al-Jazeera late Saturday.

Abdel Jalil says the transitional government is based in Libya’s second-largest city of Benghazi and includes military and civilian figures. He says it will lead for “no more than three months” to prepare for “fair elections” enabling the Libyan people to choose their leader. (more…)