Western Iraqi city has been hit by car bomb and a suicide blast aimed at government offices leaving seven killed and wounded more than 50 others. Police spokesman Rahim Zabin said that Monday's attack in the city of Ramadi, 100km west of Baghdad. It came a day after a new police chief for the province took up his post. "A car bomb exploded near the Anbar provincial government offices around 9:30 am (0630 GMT) followed about 15 minutes later by a suicide bom... Read more »

Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak has addressed the annual conference of the ruling National Democratic Party which had clinched control of four-fifths of the new parliament. He demonstrated his willingness to stay in charge of both party and government. "Within this context, I set out the missions and exact functions incumbent upon the party, the government and the parliamentary bloc of the NPD" Alarabiya.net. quotes Mubarak as saying. In 2011 Egypt holds pr... Read more »

One protester was shot dead in the central Tunisian town of Menzel Bouzaiene after national guard agents opened fire during violent clashes. The officers opened fire after coming under attack with fire bombs thrown by the crowd. The demonstration was reportedly gripped by tensions over youth joblessness. Several members of the security services also suffered - they got severe burns. "This incident led to one death and two injured among the attackers. Severa... Read more »

The confessions of an Egyptian 37-year-old Tareq Abdul Razzak accused of spying for Israel has led to three espionage cells being busted in Lebanon and Syria. Razzak is accused of having spied for Tel-Aviv together with two wanted Israelis. Egypt, which has a 1979 peace treaty with Israel, informed Lebanon and Syria of his activities in recruiting spy agents after Abdul Razzak's arrest in May. According to Egyptian Al-Shuruk daily newspaper Abdul Razzak has... Read more »

The inquiry initiated by US Congress inquiry into the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbasset al-Megrahi has revealed there had been strong political pressure on the Scottish government to free him. The investigation report states that officials working under former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown continually pressured Scottish government to issue Megrahi. The Scottish authorities released Megrahi in August 2009 on compassionate grounds ... Read more »

The world footballers' union supposes the 2022 World Cup in Qatar should be held in January instead of June or July. The president of Fifa, Sepp Blatter, backed a possible switch to the winter 2022. He "does not foresee any insurmountable problems in this regard", bbc.co.uk quotes Blatter as saying. In the vote in Zurich on 2 December, Qatar beat Australia, Japan, South Korea and the United States to host the World Cup, which is traditionally held in summer... Read more »

Iraqi Prime Minister has not named his new ministers. Nouri Maliki had been expected to announce his new cabinet on Monday but failed amid ongoing disputes among Iraq's rival factions. According to officials, about a half the ministerial posts were undecided, as party leaders wrangled over candidates. Mr Maliki had been expected on Monday to unveil the entire cabinet, except for three sensitive posts linked to national security, but parliament was adjourned... Read more »

According to UNAMID peacekeepers near 12,000 people have fled following fresh clashes between army and Darfur rebels in Sudan. They headed towards already overcrowded refugee camps and settlements in the war-torn region. "The Mission has noticed that approximately 12,000 people fled the area and are moving towards the Shangil Tobaya and Zam Zam internally displaced persons camp, near El Fasher in North Darfur," Aljazeera.net quotes peacekeepers’ statement a... Read more »

The Gaza Strip has been hit by an Israeli air strike killing five. According to Israeli authorities, the attack targeted "a squad of terror operatives who were preparing to launch rockets towards Israeli territory ". Palestinian sources later identified the five killed as members of a small militant group, Ansar al-Sunna. In the past year and a half one person in Israel, a Thai farm worker, has been shot by a rocket launched from Gaza. According to ... Read more »

Mauritania authorities have arrested seven anti-slavery activists after a violent protest to highlight the destiny of two young girls. Detained included the leader of the Mauritanian anti-slavery body the Initiative for the Resurgence of Abolitionism Movement Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid. "Seven of our comrades have been handed over to the legal authorities," middle-east-online.com quotes Mohamed Ould Mahmoud of the group as saying. The activists demanding the... Read more »