Middle Orient News

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The Roman Catholic Church hopes a year dedicated to Saint Paul, born two millennia ago in Tarsus in today’s southern Turkey, will bring signs of more religious tolerance in the mostly Muslim but secularist country.

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon’s parliament elected army chief Michel Suleiman as head of state on Sunday, reviving paralyzed state institutions after an 18-month standoff between a U.S.-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition.

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanese President Michel Suleiman will appoint a prime minister on Wednesday to head a new cabinet that will be formed as part of an agreement to end 18 months of political conflict.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko described his country’s relations with Iran as smooth and transparent.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Majid Al Futtaim Group, developer of Sky Dubai and malls throughout the region, is due to construct its first hotel in Iran.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran voiced enthusiasm for enhancing economic relations with Bangladesh, particularly in the field of energy, education and trade, saying that expansion of ties between the two states serves the interests of both nations.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) sent a delegation to visit Iran on Friday to help improve relations between the Iranian people and the UK’s two million Muslim community.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s deputy oil minister said on Thursday that his country will boost its oil output to 4.3 million barrels per day by the end of the current Iranian year.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang reaffirmed Thursday that Beijing advocates a peaceful solution to Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic means.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The deputy head of Iran’s National Security Council says Tehran’s proposal package provides solutions on the country’s nuclear dispute.