M.E. officials attack Russia, China, urge cutting ties with Syria

ARAB leaders and officials have attacked the UN after Russia and China blocked a resolution condemning the Damascus regime, as Tunisia urged the world to cut diplomatic ties with Syria.

Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali said Moscow and Beijing’s actions showed the veto system of the Security Council was flawed (more…)

Reaction to the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering

Lebanese Forces bloc MP Antoine Zahra praised the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering and said it is the “best” solution for easing sectarian tensions in the country.

The electoral law proposal by the Orthodox Gathering, calls for each sect to elects its own lawmakers to ensure fair representation at the parliament . (more…)

Egypt’s Vote Exposes an Islamist Divide on Religious Rule

To Sheik Abdel Moneim el-Shahat, the Muslim Brotherhood’s call to apply only the broad principles of Islamic law allows too much freedom.

Sheik Shahat is a leader of the ultraconservative Islamists known as Salafis, (more…)

Saudi Arabia: 4 killed 6 wounded in Qatif

The Saudi Arabian ministry of Interior announced that 4 Saudi citizens were killed and another six were wounded in the Shiite Qatif region of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. (more…)

Eid al-Adha starts Nov 6

Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani announced on Friday that the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday and festival starts on Sunday November 6, National News Agency reported. (more…)

Egyptian cabinet to meet over violence that kills 24

Christians clashed with military police, leaving at least 24 people dead in Cairo, and the cabinet called an emergency meeting for Monday, vowing the violence would not derail Egypt’s first election since Hosni Mubarak was toppled. (more…)

Fearing change, many Christians in Lebanon, Syria back Assad

Abu Elias sat beneath the towering stairs leading from the Convent of Our Lady of Saydnaya, a church high up in the mountains outside Damascus, where Christians have worshiped for 1,400 years. “We are all scared of what will come next,” he said, turning to a man seated beside him, Robert, an Iraqi refugee who escaped the sectarian strife in his homeland. (more…)

“Mixed bag” for U.S. Muslims since Sept. 11

“Yes, it’s easy to be a Muslim in America as far as religious freedom, but there’s a sense of being under greater scrutiny.”

Man held after blind Lebanese imam found dead in London mosque

Detectives are searching for the motive that led to the killing of a blind Lebanese imam inside a mosque in north London.

Maimoun Zarzour, 39, an imam at Muslim Welfare House in Finsbury Park, north London, was found dead in his office at the mosque on Friday morning . (more…)

Patriarch Rai praises the “roots of faith” in the Chouf region

Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai stressed on Monday during his visit to the Chouf  region of Mt Lebanon  the need for coexistence between Christians, Muslims and Druze, and urged Christians to hold onto their land. Rai’s visit coincided with the commemoration of the August 7, 2001 events following the historical Mountain reconciliation. (more…)