Middle Orient

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.

MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki sought safeguards on Sunday for Christians and other minorities who have complained that they have lost guaranteed seats in provincial councils under a new election law.

GAZA (Reuters) – Hamas security forces released 35 members of the rival Fatah movement from prison on Sunday as a goodwill gesture to mark a Muslim holiday and bolster Egyptian reconciliation efforts, a Hamas official said.

Hopes of a Mid-East peace deal before the end of the Bush administration appear to have been quietly put aside by certain parties involved in the process.

At least 12 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in two car bombings in a western district of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, police have said.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani will visit Tehran in the next few days to discuss bilateral cooperation with Iranian officials.