Radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has addressed his followers in Iraq. It was his first speech since returning to Najaf after three years of self-imposed exile in Iran. Sadr called to give the country's new government a chance. His movement will join the new government with seven ministries as well as occupy 39 seats in parliament. Sadr is famous for his strong anti-US ideas. His militia, the Mehdi Army, clashed several times with US and Iraqi troops after t... Read more »

Egypt’s Muslims have formed human shields near Orthodox churches as Copts celebrate their Christmas. Egypt’s authorities had to tighten security after a New Year's Day bombing had killed 21. On Christmas Eve drivers were banned from parking in front of churches. Blocks near temples were being monitored by explosives detection teams and policemen. Copts use Julian calendar according to which Christmas Day falls on January 7. At least 70,000 officers and cons... Read more »

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives Thursday in Egypt for talks with President Hosni Mubarak. The two leaders will try to break the impasse in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The meeting will take place in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. "On the agenda for the talks is the advancement of the political process, regional issues and other subjects of interest to the two countries," Alarabiya.net quotes Netanyahu's o... Read more »

Morocco has arrested 27 people, including a member of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), for planning terror attacks in the country. The network was led by "a Moroccan national who is a member of AQIM and who wanted to create a rear base in the country for terror attacks," Alarabiya.net quotes interior ministry statement as saying. The authorities didn’t name those arrested but said they "planned to commit terrorist acts with explosive-laden belts and ... Read more »

Yemen's opposition called people to struggle after lawmakers dismissed its objections to constitutional amendments that could allow President Ali Abdullah Saleh to rule for life. The oppositional movement Common Forum urged for "mobilizing the people's struggle" and "instantly organizing protests... to mark the New Year (2011) as the year of peaceful struggle until achieving ultimate victory."The calls came after some 170 members of Saleh's General People's... Read more »

Sudan's president has vowed peace and safety over a possible outbreak of violence as tensions rise ahead the south's self-determination referendum scheduled for January 9. Omar al-Bashir promised to accept the vote's outcome whatever it may be. "For the southerners and also the people of the north we promise that we will guarantee and fulfil their safety and the safety of the whole people," Aljazeera.net quotes al-Bashir’s speech in Khartoum as saying. Many... Read more »

The blast at a church killed at least 21 worshippers and left 43 people wounded in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. It happened as worshippers were leaving a new year's service at the Orthodox al-Qidiseen church. The authorities blamed a suicide bomber with foreign links for the attack. Soon after the explosion Coptic Christians and Muslims clashed but police used tear gas to restore order. Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak urged compatriots to unite against ... Read more »

Two people have been died and 18 others wounded in a series of blasts hit the homes of minority Christians in different blocks of Baghdad. According to Aljazeera.net, the attacks were "not simultaneous but clearly appeared to be coordinated". The explosions come a few days after al-Qaeda had threatened Iraq's small Christian community during this holiday period. The deadliest attack occured in the central Baghdad district of Al-Ghadir, where a homemade bomb... Read more »

Yemen's ruling General People's Congress (GPC) proposed constitutional amendment that stipulates ability for president to be elected more than for two consecutive terms, a lawmaker with the ruling party said yesterday. If it is approved by the GPC-dominated parliament incumbent Ali Abdullah Saleh could become president for life. According to another GPC member , the proposed amendment will be submitted to a poll, which will be held simultaneously with parli... Read more »

According to France's DGSE foreign intelligence service they have received "proof of life" of one of its officers held hostage by rebels in Somalia since July 2009. Denis Allex was seized on July 14, 2009, as was another French agent who was held by different rebels and released one month after. A DGSE source said the service had received from the captors "a reply to a personal question" to which Denis Allex, was able to respond, proving he was still alive.... Read more »