Middle Orient

TEHRAN (FNA)- An influential Iraqi cleric living in Iran has issued a fatwa – or a religious decree – against a US-Iraqi security pact that would keep American troops in Iraq for three more years.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Turkish National Security Council on Tuesday decided to form a new structure in order to strengthen the coordination in the fight against terrorism.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli police have arrested nine Jews suspected of recent assaults against Arabs in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, including several firebombings that set some homes ablaze, a spokesman said Monday.

SILIVRI, Turkey (Reuters) – A shadowy right-wing group went on trial in Turkey on Monday on charges of trying to topple Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s government.

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – One protester died of gunshot wounds on Monday after clashes with police in eastern Turkey at a demonstration in support of jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, hospital sources said.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has condemned violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians harvesting their olives as a “dangerous escalation”.

A shadowy right-wing group has gone on trial in Istanbul, accused of trying to topple Turkey’s elected government. Spme 86 people, including retired army officers, politicians, lawyers and journalists are charged with membership of a group called Ergenekon, whose aim is said to be to foment unrest to force the …

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Saturday it was time for the leaders of Iraq and the United States to make up their minds on a draft agreement on the future of US troops in the country.

Supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr have staged a mass demonstration in Baghdad in protest against plans to extend the US mandate in Iraq.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Reza Sheybani denied reports that Tehran had appointed an Iranian successor to slain Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh, who was killed by a car bombing in Damascus last February.