Middle Orient

Turks have been paying tribute to the founder of their republic on the 70th anniversary of his death. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk remains a revered figure for many and ceremonies have been taking place around the country.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Four Iranian nationals who were arrested three years ago in Iraq by US forces have been released and have returned to Iran, an official at Iran’s consulate in Iraq’s northeastern city of Sulaimaniyah said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian authorities Friday issued warnings urging citizens to avoid crossing the border with Iraq, saying border police were harassing pilgrims.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Democrat Senator Barack Obama has preferred to keep quiet as to what kind of policy towards Iran he might pursue in the capacity of the next president of the United States.

RAMALLAH, Nov. 7 – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denied on Friday that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is holding political prisoners in its prisons, contrary to what Islamic Hamas movement claims.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A senior Iraqi official on Thursday explicitly backed U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s plans to withdraw combat troops from the country by mid-2010, Baghdad’s clearest endorsement yet of Obama’s exit strategy.

LARNACA, Cyprus (Reuters) – Eleven European politicians sailed to Gaza from Cyprus Friday after saying attempts to get to the Palestinian territory via Egypt failed.

The Israeli military is investigating a video in which a Palestinian detainee appears to be humiliated by a group of Israeli soldiers.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Zionist regime urged Washington not to rule out military option in Iran, and showed much fearful of a peaceful US dialogue with Tehran.

SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria will withdraw its 155 troops from Iraq at the end of the year, the defense ministry said Thursday.