Eurasia Press & News
TEHRAN (FNA)- The European Union is responsible for its negative and pernicious decision to remove the name of the anti-Iran terrorist group, the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO), from its blacklist, Iran announced. The European Union decided Monday to remove the MKO from its blacklist, a move which angered Iranian people …
Read More »Violence threatens Gaza truce as Obama envoy visits
GAZA – Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli air strikes threatened on Thursday to undermine efforts by U.S. President Barack Obama’s Middle East envoy to reinforce a fragile Gaza ceasefire. Palestinian militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip launched one rocket into Israel late on Wednesday — the first since the January …
Read More »Iraqis vote in al Qaeda’s last stronghold
MOSUL, Iraq – In Iraq’s most violent province, where al Qaeda and a medley of insurgent groups are making a last stand, an election in two days could help bring peace or stoke fresh conflict between Arabs and Kurds. Iraqis vote on Saturday for the first time since 2005 in …
Read More »Iraq sends Syria first ambassador in decades
BAGHDAD – Iraq will send Syria its first ambassador since around the time Saddam Hussein became president in 1979, a government official said Wednesday. Alaa al-Jawadi would leave Wednesday to become Iraq’s new envoy in Damascus, Mohammed al-Haj Hamoud, Iraq’s deputy foreign minister, told Reuters. Last October Damascus posted its …
Read More »Israeli army censures officer over “no mercy” call
JERUSALEM – The Israeli military said on Wednesday it had reprimanded an officer behind the distribution of a booklet during the Gaza war that advised soldiers against showing any mercy to enemies. An Israeli rights group, Yesh Din, called Monday for the dismissal of the chief military rabbi, Brigadier-General Avichai …
Read More »Palestinians back to work on tunnels after bombing
RAFAH, Gaza Strip – Smugglers were back at work in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip Wednesday repairing tunnels running under the border with Egypt only hours after Israeli aircraft bombed the underground network. “They dropped two or three bombs. But look, everybody is still working,” said a 30-year-old digger who gave …
Read More »U.S. Mideast envoy says Gaza ceasefire critical
CAIRO – The U.S. Middle East envoy, dispatched by President Barack Obama with orders to “start by listening,” said on Wednesday it was critical to consolidate a Gaza ceasefire after Israel’s offensive. Former Senator George Mitchell met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during the first leg of his week-long tour as …
Read More »British say calm Iraq polls key to Basra investment
BASRA, Iraq – Iraq’s elections this week will be a crucial test of whether the oil-rich but dilapidated city of Basra is ready for the international investment it desperately needs, British officials said. Once overrun by gangs and militias vying for control of Iraq’s second biggest city, Basra is now …
Read More »Iraq Shi’ite parties vie for power in provinces
NAJAF, Iraq – After years of often bloody struggle, one party has risen to dominate much of Iraq’s Shi’ite Muslim south, but the party of the prime minister poses a stiff challenge in upcoming elections due to his rising popularity. Slick, well-organized and well-funded, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (ISCI) …
Read More »Larijani Warns UAE to Revise Approach to Iran
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Wednesday warned UAE to revise its attitude regarding fingerprinting of Iranian citizens. “UAE should know that the parliament’s demand about their attitude is serious,” Larijani said, adding that the Iranian lawmakers are angry to observe the UAE’s improper handling of Iranian incomers …
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