SANAA (AFP) — Italy’s ambassador to Yemen on Tuesday blocked an assault by security forces to release five Italians amid fears for the hostages lives, a top local official told AFP. “After a number of tribal leaders failed (in the mediation efforts), the Yemeni authorities seriously considered to launch a …

RIYADH (AP) — Egyptian and Saudi Arabia leaders discussed on Tuesday the standoff between Syria and the United Nations over the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah did not speak to reporters after their talks in the port city of Jeddah, …

In 1996, Palestinians rioted after Israel opened an archaeological tunnel by the compound OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AP) — The top Muslim cleric in the holy land on Tuesday called on Israel to halt work on an archaeological project near a disputed holy site, saying continuing the dig would inflame tensions in …

BAIJI, Iraq (Reuters) — A US air strike on a house in northern Iraq killed six members of an Iraqi family, prompting anger on Tuesday among minority Sunni Arab political leaders and the local police chief. The US military said aircraft bombed the building in the northern oil refining town …

The German family are being held as bargaining chips for the release of five brothers imprisoned by Yemeni authorities SANAA (AFP) — Yemeni tribesmen holding hostage a German family of five, including a retired senior diplomat, will not release them until their demand for the release of jailed fellow tribesmen …

BANI MAZAR (AFP) — Ten mutilated bodies were found early on Thursday in a southern Egyptian village, some of them missing their vital organs and laying in pools of blood, police sources said. The bodies of 10 Egyptians — four men, two women and four children — were found in …

BEIRUT — When psychics and astrologers jostle for air time on Dec. 31 to tell TV viewers what to expect in 2006, sceptics may be tempted to switch channels. But, after last year’s predictions, many will think twice.

PARIS — He has not issued any public statement all year. Speculation has grown over his influence, health and even possible death. Where is the Western world’s most wanted man, Osama Ben Laden?

BAGHDAD — Baghdad is getting only around six hours of electricity a day, down from 11 in October, and attacks on Iraqis working on US-backed reconstruction projects are at a record, the US military said on Wednesday.

Greek patriarch boycotts Israeli Christmas party OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (Reuters) — The Greek Orthodox Patriarch in Jerusalem boycotted an annual Israeli Christmas party on Thursday because the invitation failed to recognise him as the church’s new leader, a church official said. A clergyman sacked by the church over an alleged land …