Middle Orient

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s once formidable Mehdi Army appears to be bowing to orders to lay down arms, but it is yet unclear if Shi’ite fighters are preparing another offensive with Iranian help, a U.S. intelligence official said.

ANKARA (Reuters) – An explosion rocked a gunpowder factory in central Turkey on Friday, killing two people and injuring another 12, Turkish broadcasters reported.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet again with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.

Iraq’s influential Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, has indefinitely extended a ceasefire being observed by members of his Mehdi Army militia.

A Lebanese army helicopter hit by gunfire has had to make an emergency landing in the south of the country. 

Egypt has urged Israel to stop making threats against Lebanon, its foreign minister said on a visit to Beirut.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian and Turkish education ministers met here in Tehran on Wednesday in a bid to improve ties and enhance mutual cooperation in the field of culture and education.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized Israel for not pursuing peaceful dialogue to resolve regional disputes and said it only understands the language of gun.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Turkish energy minister’s trip to Iran to firm up energy deals between the two countries is expected to be delayed by two weeks until mid-September, an energy ministry source said on Thursday.

China’s state-owned oil firm CNPC has agreed a $3bn (£1.63bn) oil services contract with the government of Iraq.