IDF (Israel Defence Forces) killed 11 people and wounded about 220 others on Sunday as pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the Syrian side tried to cross the ceasefire line on the Golan Heights. Hundreds of protesters rushed towards the ceasefire line, attempting to cut through a line of barbed wire and head into the Golan Heights. Yesterday's protests, timed to coincide with the 44th anniversary of the Six-Day War when Israel annexed the Golan from Syria as w... Read more »

According to the United Nations refugee agency says some 150 bodies have been recovered from the wreck of a ship that capsized off Tunisia. The ship carried migrants from Africa and Asia fleeing the conflict in Libya. Adrian Edwards from the UNHCR said on Friday that at least 578 of the estimated 850 people on board survived the sinking. "We know that many women and children are among the 150," Aljazeera.net. quotes Mr Edwards as saying. He added that the s... Read more »

Yemeni authorities have denied President Ali Abdullah Saleh has escaped from the country, a day after he was injured in an attack on his residence in Sanaa. Bbc.co.uk earlier told that Mr Saleh had been flown to Saudi Arabia for hospital treatment. Mr Saleh broadcast an audio message on Friday saying health was good. But there still remains speculation over his condition. He blamed the attack on an "outlaw gang" of his tribal enemies- an accusation denied b... Read more »

Syrian government troops have heavily attacked Rastan, in the centre of the country, killing, according to activists, at least 15 people. More than 50 people have been killed in Rastan since a military operation there began at the weekend. The opposition groups, which comprise about 300 activists, are meeting in Antalya in neighbouring Turkey. They urged Mr Assad to hand power to one of his two vice-presidents, and hold free elections within a year. "The de... Read more »

Joint Gulf security forces deployed to Bahrain in mid-March to back up the kingdom's army will stay on despite the end of the state of emergency. "The Peninsula Shield force will remain (in Bahrain) until its presence is no longer necessary," Middle-east-online.com quotes Bahrain's military chief Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Khalifa. "The presence of this force, its numbers or a reduction in its numbers will be determined depending on the circumstances," he ... Read more »

NATO allies agreed Wednesday to extend the mission in Libya for another 90 days, prolonging its until late September. “NATO and partners have just decided to extend our mission for Libya for another 90 days,” Alarabiya.net quotes NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen as saying. “This decision sends a clear message to the Qaddafi regime: We are determined to continue our operation to protect the people of Libya,” he added after the North Atlantic Coun... Read more »

Saudi authorities made a decision on Monday to free on bail Manal al-Sharif. She was jailed for 10 days for breaking the ultra-conservative kingdom's ban on women driving. "We were informed today of the decision to free Manal on bail. The procedural steps towards her release are under way," Middle-east-online.com quotes the lawyer Adnan al-Saleh as saying. Sharif, a 32-year-old computer-security consultant, was detained on May 22 after posting on YouTube a ... Read more »

Fresh satellite images of Sudan’s flashpoint Abyei area provide evidence of war crimes committed by the northern government army, including "state-sponsored ethnic cleansing." The Satellite Sentinel Project, which received and analysed the images, said they revealed "extensive and wanton destruction and appropriation of property without the justification of military necessity."Northern troops overran the contested border region last week, causing condemnati... Read more »

Egypt has eased restrictions at its border with the Gaza Strip in Rafah checkpoint. First time in four years women, children and men over 40 are allowed to pass freely. Men aged between 18 and 40 will still require a permit. The decision strongly opposed by Israel comes some three months after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak step down. Egypt and Israel closed borders with the Gaza Strip when Hamas came to power in 2007. Tel-Aviv expresses concerns that wea... Read more »

A bomb has hit a UN convoy near the southern Lebanese city of Sidon. According Italian military spokesman Massimo Fogari , six Italian peacemakers were wounded, two of them were in a serious condition. A representative of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) told the bomb had been aimed at a logistics convoy. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini praised the Unifil mission, adding it made a "decisive contribution to the stability of one of the most s... Read more »