Middle Orient

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The number of civilians killed in Iraq last month more than halved to 359 compared to a year ago, Iraqi government figures showed, and the number of U.S. troops killed in action also fell dramatically.

The US defence department says the fundamental character of the conflict in Iraq remains unchanged, despite dramatic security improvements there.

TEL AVIV (Reuters) – Israel has cut purchases of U.S.-made cluster bombs, defense officials said Tuesday, stocking up on supplies from a state-owned Israeli company rather than heeding calls for an outright ban.

ASIRA AL-KIBLIYA, West Bank (Reuters) – Armed with guns, slingshots, knives and stun grenades, Jewish settlers pelted the house of Palestinian Nahla Makhlouf with stones, uprooted young trees and painted the Star of David on her walls.

The Lebanese parliament has approved a new election law as part of a reconciliation process begun in May.

The Iraqi government says it will allow doctors to carry guns for self-defence. The decision follows complaints by medical workers and other professionals that they have been repeatedly targeted by criminals and militants.

TEHRAN (FNA)- 10 members of the notorious Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) were arrested in France and Switzerland last week on charges of money laundering, judicial sources said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The UN nuclear watchdog’s annual conference started Monday with the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Islamic countries railing against Israel’s nuclear program.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Syrian security forces were hunting Sunday for the culprits behind a car bombing that killed 17 people in the capital city of Damascus.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Four bombs killed at least 32 people and wounded scores in busy districts of Baghdad on Sunday as Iraqis shopped and broke their fast for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, police said.