Middle Orient News

KING ABDULLAH AND Saudi King Abdullah on Sunday strongly condemned Israel’s “ugly” massacre in the Lebanese village of Qana as the deadliest attack on Lebanon so far drew torrents of rage across the world. At a Jeddah meeting, the two leaders said the “grievous crime flagrantly breached” humanitarian principles and …

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israel’s bombing of a Lebanese village on Sunday will make it harder for US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to continue to justify Washington’s refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire.

GAZA (Reuters) — Thousands of Palestinians protested on Sunday after an Israeli air strike killed 57 people in a Lebanese town and Palestinian groups vowed revenge attacks on the Jewish state. Sympathy runs strong among Palestinians for fellow Arabs in Lebanon, caught in Israel’s offensive against Hizbollah fighters.

BEIRUT — A sister of Hizbollah fighter Mustafa Zalzali wears mourning black for her brother, but his death in battle with Israel elicits more pride than grief. “We thank God almighty for making us the family of a martyr,” she said.

TYRE  — Nine-year-old Hussein Mahdi writhes in pain on a Beirut hospital bed, trying not to lie on burned parts of his body. His doctors say the severe burns on his chest, face, hands, legs and back were caused by phosphorous incendiary bombs dropped by the Israelis on civilian areas …

BAGHDAD (AP) — Four US Marines were killed in a Sunni Arab rebel stronghold west of Baghdad as pressure mounted Sunday in parliament to replace the country’s interior minister because of the security crisis in the capital. Also Sunday, a US F-16 jet dropped two precision-guided bombs on a building …

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (Reuters) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice started talks in Israel on Saturday to seek a deal on an international force to end fighting in Lebanon but Hizbollah charged her trip would only serve Israeli interests.

BAGHDAD (AP) — The US command announced it was sending 3,700 troops to Baghdad to try to quell sectarian violence sweeping the capital, and a US official said more American soldiers would follow as the military gears up to take the streets back from gunmen.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday his government has no intention of teaming up with Shiite group Hizbollah on negotiating the release of Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.

HAIFA — Johnny Mansour drops his cigarette and rushes indoors. His wife, Lilian, and two sons, Elias, 14, and Adey, 10, are well ahead of him as the family rushes to the safe room of the house, which doubles as Adey’s bedroom.