Two Egyptian peacekeepers have been shot by gunmen in South Darfur, the joint United Nations-African Union mission (Unamid) informs. It says three other Egyptian soldiers were wounded and later brought to a Unamid hospital.No movement has claimed responsibility for the attack. Unamid was deployed in Darfur in 2008. Since then more than 20 peacekeepers have been killed. A civil war has resulted in pushing of about three million people into refugee camps in D... Read more »

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has accused Jewish West Bank settlers of arsonning a mosque. The mosque in Lubban al-Sharqiya, near Nablus was probably set on fire on Monday. "The investigation showed in most probability that this was a case of arson," the spokesman for Israeli fire service in the West Bank Capt Jacky Binyamini was quoted as saying by bbc.co.uk. He added that the investigation had been carried out in full co-operation with the Palestinian ... Read more »

Egyptian writers have criticized a call by a group of Islamic lawyers to forbid classic book Arabian Nights because it is "obscene". The group calling themselves «Lawyers Without Shackles» complained with Egypt's prosecutor general after the folk work of literature was republished. They called for the new edition to be banned. Lawyers Without Shackles spokesman said he had been shocked at some phrases the book contained. In his words they "call to sin". Moh... Read more »

Normally arid Riyadh has been paralysed by flooding after heavy rains. Violent thunderstorms shook Saudi capital on Monday. According to accounts from residents and TV reports underpasses, stalling cars got flooded. No injuries were reported. But after the warning by meteorological officials of more storms Tuesday Riyadh region governor Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz ordered the suspension of schools.

middle-east-online.com.

Former staunch supporter of the Palestinian state Rabbi Moshe Hirsch died on Sunday at the age of 79 after a long illness. He was born in New York and was the son-in-law of Katzenel Bogen, the founder of the ultra-Orthodox and anti-Zionist movement Neturei Karta (Jewish for “Guardians of the City”).In 1995, Yasser Arafat appointed Hirsch the minister for Jewish affairs in the first Palestinian government. Hirsh was a devoted backer of the Palestinian cause ... Read more »

Arab nations have given the Palestinians the green light to resume indirect peace negotiations with Israel. Arab foreign ministers’ decision opens the way for the start of long-stalled talks. Palestinian official Saeb Erakat told reporters that a final decision on resuming indirect talks will be soon taken by the Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee. Preliminary Arab nations determined the deadline for negotiations as four months. The neg... Read more »

Iraq's PM criticized his main rival in last month's general election ex-premier Iyad Allawi. The reason for such angry words was Allawi’s calls for outside intervention. The Sunni-backed ex-premier’s bloc won a March 7 vote. But al-Maliki insisted on a recount of votes in Baghdad. The political contradictions left Iraq vulnerable to attacks by rebels. Incumbent premier added that intense international intervention would destabilized fragile political situat... Read more »

The US Administration has warned Syria and Iran that America's commitment to Israel’s security stays unshakable. In the speech to the American Jewish Committee, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Syrian transfers of longer-range missiles to rebels in southern Lebanon and Gaza could spark another conflict in the region. Experts considered the speech latest effort to convince Tel-Aviv that its ties to the United States remain strong despite contra... Read more »

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has strongly criticized the Egyptian courts for imprisoning men accused of working for the movement. The judgement by the Security Court in Cairo was "unjust and politicised", bbc.co.uk quotes Mr. Nasrallah as saying. The 26 men were sentenced for planning attacks on ships and resorts. Hezbollah says it was working to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip. According to its leader Muslims should consider it a "source of pride"... Read more »

President Omar al-Bashir has been claimed to be a re-elected president of Sudan in the country's first multiparty balloting in 24 years. According to election commission officials, al-Bashir garnered 68 percent of over 10 million valid ballots. The five-day poll earlier this month was marred by boycotts of opposition parties and allegations of fraud. Al-Bashir's victory was expected after his potential challengers pulled out of the race complaining of fraud... Read more »