Middle Orient

From a tour of duty in Iraq, to a tour of duty in Afghanistan… The US president has announced changes in American troop deployments in both countries.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraqis snap up Iranian goods because they are cheaper than imported counterparts, Baghdad traders said.

Interior Sheikh Rashid Bin Abdullah al-Khalifa arrived here on Monday for talks with senior Lebanese officials on bilateral relations and latest developments in region.

RAMALLAH, A source from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ office said Monday that the Palestinian leadership hopes the coming Israeli prime minister would be moderate.

CAIRO, Arab foreign ministers are expected to discuss means of healing the current inter-Palestinian rift during a meeting of Arab League (AL) Council set to open later on Monday.

RAMALLAH, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Monday welcomed the position of European Parliament about the Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

A Palestinian official says Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will hold talks with US President Bush on Sept. 26 at the White House.

About 30 Palestinians living in a refugee camp in the desert region along the Iraqi-Syrian border are due to leave for resettlement in Iceland.

TEHRAN (FNA)- As France endeavors to pry Syria away from Iran, Tehran says warm relations between the two countries do not threaten the Islamic Republic.

RAMALLAH, Fatah movement’s spokesman in the West Bank Ahmed Abdel Rahman said on Sunday that it’s still premature to talk about bringing Arab forces to the Gaza Strip that is ruled by Hamas movement.