Middle Orient

TEHRAN (FNA)- Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani stressed that Iraq’s security must not be undermined to ensure protection for the occupying forces.

Visiting EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Thursday expressed hope that some progress could be achieved in the peace track between Syria and Israel as it is basic in the overall Middle East peace process.

GENEVA (Reuters) – More than half of the Christians living in Mosul have fled the northern Iraqi city in the past two weeks, some going to Syria, after receiving death threats, the United Nations refugee agency said on Friday.

Turkey’s prime minister was involved in anti-secular activities, the country’s Constitutional Court has said.The court was explaining why it it imposed financial sanctions on the governing AK Party in July.

Iraqi forces have been handed control of security in the province of Babil by the US military.

A suicide car bomber has killed nine people in a convoy carrying an Iraqi government minister in central Baghdad. At least 20 others were injured after the bomber slammed his car into the escort. Iraq’s Labour Minister Mahmoud Jawad Radhi escaped unhurt, officials say.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The leader of Iraq’s Kurdish regional administration, Massoud Barzani, arrived in Tehran leading a high-profile delegation on an official visit to Iran.

MAZRA AL-GHARBIYEH, West Bank (Reuters) – Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad joined West Bank farmers to pick olives Wednesday and slammed assaults by Jewish settlers on the harvesters as “terrorism.”

PARIS (Reuters) – Palestinians hope Israeli calls for the revival of a Saudi peace initiative could lead to progress on a diplomatic track that has been dormant for years, their chief negotiator with Israel said Wednesday.

Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood movement says 32 members have been detained for joining protests aimed at breaking the Gaza Strip blockade.