Middle Orient

TEHRAN (FNA)- The United States is putting pressure on Iraqis to accept a security pact that outlines deployment of US troops in Iraq, an influential Iranian cleric said on Friday, after Baghdad called for changes to the draft.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov voiced his country’s support for the idea of allowing the US troops to stay in Iraq under an extended United Nations mandate.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani lashed out on Wednesday at the security deal being negotiated between Baghdad and Washington, saying it impinged on Iraqi sovereignty.

More than 500 Palestinian security reinforcements deployed in the flashpoint West Bank town of Hebron on Saturday as part of a widening crackdown in the occupied territory, officials said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries have decided to cut production by 1.5m barrels a day from November in a bid to stem a collapse in prices.

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.