According to the officials, twin suicide attacks shook the city of Taji north of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least 35 people. "Thirty-five people were killed and 28 wounded when a car bomb and an improvised bomb exploded simultaneously outside a government office where national identification cards are issued, and the provincial council offices," Middle-east-online.com quotes the official as saying. He added that the mayor of Taji and security officials ... Read more »

Syrian army is raiding houses and arresting residents in the central city of Hama, as a result massive anti-government protests there on Friday. Locals had set tyres on fire and blocked roads to delay the movement of troops, who were arriving in busloads and "firing randomly". Meanwhile, tanks that were surrounding the town have moved towards northern villages causing fears of clashes there. Two protesters were perorted to be killed in Damascus on Sunday. B... Read more »

The Middle East diplomatic Quartet, representing the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, has discouraged new flotillas from sailing to Gaza to provide humanitarian aid. "The Quartet recognizes that Israel has legitimate security concerns that must continue to be safeguarded," Middle-east-online.com quotes the group as saying. "Members of the Quartet are committed to working with Israel, Egypt and the international community to ... Read more »

Yemen’s army has lost at least four in clashes with armed opposition tribesmen in the city of Taez, 200km south of the capital city of Sanaa. The clashes broke out yesterday as security forces tried to attack a central square where tens of thousands of anti-government protesters have camped out for over five months. Four troops of the elite division called Republican Guards and four tribesmen, who consider themselves 'defenders of the revolution', were said... Read more »

A new constitution of Morocco defended by King Mohammed VI was approved by 98 percent of voters in a referendum Friday, with 94 percent of polling stations reporting. The new law of the country was proposed after protests for greater freedoms. Interior Minister Taib Cherkaoui said that turnout had been 72.65 percent in the 94 percent of stations reporting from the referendum. “The referendum went ahead in a normal atmosphere, and showed the degree of intera... Read more »

Four arrest warrants have been issued by the UN-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Hariri's son, Saad, welcomed the move and described it as a "historic moment" for the country. According to local reports the warrants name senior members of the Shia militant and political group Hezbollah who in their turn denounced the tribunal and vowed to retaliate. Divisions over the Special Tribunal for ... Read more »

The Bahrain’s ruler has announced an independent probe into weeks of protest that hit the Gulf island kingdom earlier this year. The decision by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa was made ahead of a national dialogue, due to begin on Saturday. At least 31 people died when Bahrain's Sunni authorities put down pro-democracy protests led by the Shia majority. Opposition groups have not said if they will take part in the talks while their leaders remain detained. B... Read more »

Egyptian security forces using tear gas clashed with more than 5,000 rock-throwing protesters in central Cairo yesterday, leaving dozens injured. of them family members of the more than 850 people killed during the revolution that led to ousting Egypt’s longtime ruler, Hosni Mubarak. The relatives are frustrated with what they consider as the slow prosecution of security officers believed to be responsible for the deaths of some 850 protesters during the 18... Read more »

The International Criminal Court based in the Hague has issued an arrest warrant for Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi. He’s been accused of crimes against humanity. Prosecutors have grounds to believe Gaddafi had ordered attacks on civilians during Libya's four-month conflict. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed during the uprising. The court also issued warrants for two of Col Gaddafi's top confidants - his son Saif al-Islam and intellige... Read more »

The Mauritanian troops have launched an attack on an al-Qaeda training camp in neighbouring state of Mali and "completely destroyed" it, a Mauritanian security source said. The assault involved air strikes, added the source, and the "terrorists" struck back with "heavy arms". "The definitive toll on the enemy side will only be known at dawn but it will be heavy. The tents of the camp and three vehicles have been destroyed" Aljazeera.net quotes the source as... Read more »