Algeria’s opposition parties have demanded that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika dissolve the cabinet, and appoint an new prime minister and interim government of technocrats to ensure a parliamentary election later this year is held without fraud. Algeria is the only country in North Africa mainly untouched by the “Arab Spring” events, but the election, scheduled for this May, could be a catalyst for uprisings which would destabilize the oil and gas exporter... Read more »

Four people have been killed and at least five wounded in a gufight which erupted earlier in the centre of Tripoli. The clash centred on an old intelligence building ealier bombed by Nato in the uprising against ex-leader Muammar Gaddafi. A brigade from the city of Misrata tried to release prisoners held inside, leading to a clash with another armed group from Tripoli. The casualties were from both sides. The firefight broke out near the building between Za... Read more »

The trial of Egypt’s former leader Hosni Mubarak, his two sons Gamal and Alaa, former interior minister Habib al-Adly and six top police officers, will be restarted today at a Cairo court. Mubarak and his associates are accused of ordering the killing of demonstrators during the Jan. 25 revolution. If sentenced, Mubarak could face the death penalty. The trial was resumed on Wednesday last week after a three-month break that saw the ousted strongman’s fate e... Read more »

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas warned in a Sunday interview that the international peacemaking Quartet will have “failed” if it cannot start negotiations by January 26. “If the Quartet can't get the Israeli and Palestinian sides to the table by January 26, it means they have failed and the Palestinian leadership will study its position and act accordingly,” Alarabiya.net quotes Mr Abbas as saying. January 26 is the deadline set by the international peacema... Read more »

According to activists at least 32 people have been killed during fresh mass protests against the Syrian authorities, as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators flooded streets across the country. The deaths came on Friday as protesters, inspired by the presence of Arab League observers in the country, took to the streets after noon prayers. Human rights activists said more than half a million people turned out for the largest demonstrations in months. Prote... Read more »

Egyptian military and police have raided the offices of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Cairo. At least 17 US-based and local foreign funded groups were targeted. Accorsinfg to officials said at least one of the US-based groups was operating without proper permits. The US State department said it was "very concerned" and urged Egyptian authorities to halt the "harassment" of NGO staff, Bbc.co.uk reported.

The Jerusalem municipal authorities have approved the building of 130 new homes in illegal settlements in the east of the city. The housing units are to be built in Gilo neighbourhood on land captured from Jordan in the war 34 years ago. Israel sees West Jerusalem and occupied East Jerusalem as part of one united city. Housing applications there are approved on municipal level, usually without any government intervention. The international community regards... Read more »

Saudi Arabia has freed seven Shiites arrested after protests in the oil-rich Eastern Province earlier this year. The men attended a "guidance session" by a Shiite cleric before leaving prison. They were detained during demonstrations supporting mass pro-democracy rallies led by the Shiite majority in neighbouring Bahrain, and denouncing the intervention of Saudi troops there. The demonstrations shook the kingdom's Eastern Province from March, with a total o... Read more »

Sudan's military announced killing a key rebel leader from the western Darfur Khalil Ibrahim along with 30 of his armymen. The government on Sunday was touting his death as a key victory over the Justice and Equality Movement , which had rejected a peace deal. "The Sudanese army announce that they killed Khalil Ibrahim in fighting today west of Wad Banda in North Kordofan," Aljazeera.com quotes the official Sudan News Agency as saying.

Turkey's foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday urged wanted Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, to stay in Iraq but added Turkey would not turn him away if he requested asylum. "What would be appropriate for us is that Mr Hashemi should stay within the Iraqi territory," Middle-east-online.com quotes Mr. Davutoglu as saying. Hashemi, a member of Iraq' Sunni Arab minority who has escaped to the autonomous Irag’s Kurdish region, is the subject of an ... Read more »