Middle Orient

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.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraq’s prime minister slammed America’s top military commander in the country in remarks aired Friday, saying he “risked his position” when he said Iran sought to bribe lawmakers to vote against a US-Iraq security agreement.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran welcomed on Friday Syria and Lebanon’s establishment of diplomatic ties.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani slams the US over the policies it pursues in the Middle East, warning that the region is very volatile.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraq criticized as “inappropriate” on Wednesday comments by US commander General Raymond Odierno accusing Iran of trying to bribe Iraqi MPs to derail a planned military pact with Washington.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Washington and Baghdad have reached a final agreement after months of negotiation on a landmark pact to allow U.S. troops to stay in Iraq until the end of 2011, U.S. and Iraqi officials said on Wednesday.