Jewish settlers suspected in West Bank mosque attack

Israeli settlers in the West Bank are suspected to have vandalised a mosque by spraying slogans on its walls, Palestinian officials say.

Nearby olive trees were uprooted and cars burned in the attack that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to reports.

The Israeli Defence Forces confirmed the incident occurred and said it was being investigated. (more…)

Iran outraged over Swiss vote for banning minarets

An East-West clash over a Swiss referendum last week banning the construction of mosque minarets heated up today as Iran’s foreign minister warned of unspecified “consequences” if the ban were enforced.
Manouchehr Mottaki spoke on the phone with his Swiss counterpart Micheline Calmy-Rey. Switzerland and Iran generally have good relations. The Swiss serve as Washington’s representative in the Iranian capital in the absence of formal relations between America and the Islamic Republic, giving them exalted status in Tehran’s diplomatic circles.
But Mottaki had harsh words for Switzerland, saying enforcement of the ban on new minarets was “against the prestige of a country which claims to be an advocate of democracy and human rights” and would “damage Switzerland’s image as a pioneer of respecting human rights among Muslims’ public opinion,” according to a report by the official Islamic Republic News Agency, or IRNA. Source: LA Times

Suicide bombers kill 40 at Pakistan mosque

Three suicide bombers fired on worshipers then blew themselves up at a mosque near Pakistan’s military headquarters after Friday prayers, killing 40 people, including many army officials, police said. Source: Reuters