Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has been holding talks with senior Lebanese officials in Beirut at the start of a two-day visit.

Egypt has opened its border crossing with the Gaza Strip at Rafah for two days, allowing hundreds of Palestinians to cross into and out of the territory.

The new chief of the Lebanese army, Jean Kahwaji, has been promoted to general in a ceremony attended by his predecessor, President Michel Suleiman.

Lebanon has indicted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi over the disappearance of a prominent Shia Muslim cleric during a visit to Libya 30 years ago.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced he will visit Syria on 3-4 September as part of efforts to improve ties between the two countries.

TEHRAN (FNA)- A delegation from a Russian nuclear power construction company Atomstroyexport will discuss the completion of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran on September 1, a company spokesman said on Friday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran is ready to share its nuclear technology with Nigeria to help the energy-starved west African powerhouse boost electricity generation, a senior Iranian official said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Pakistan’s Balochistan has demanded its share in the transit fee for the part of the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline to be passed through the province, sources in Pakistan Petroleum Ministry said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Bolivia’s President Evo Morales left Friday on a trip to Libya and Iran to reinforce new diplomatic ties made with those two countries, officials said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday blamed foreign interference for the crisis in Georgia and called on regional powers to come to a peaceful resolution.