Middle Orient

NABLUS, West Bank (Reuters) – Israeli forces killed two Palestinians, including an Islamic Jihad commander, in the West Bank city of Nablus on Tuesday in the first fatal raid since a ceasefire took hold in the Gaza Strip last week.

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) – Egypt told Israel on Tuesday it was trying to secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, held in Gaza for the past two years and not included in last week’s truce between Gaza and Israel.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Two Americans working for the U.S. government were killed in a bomb blast at a council office in the eastern Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City on Tuesday, an embassy spokeswoman said.

BERLIN (Reuters) – German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged a conference of international donors on Tuesday to provide funds to strengthen Palestinian police and legal institutions.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran said it is examining a timetable presented by world powers for starting talks on a package aimed at ending the five-year standoff over its nuclear program.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Jam Petrochemical Complex’s 10th olefin project will be officially inaugurated in Assaluyeh region in a ceremony to be attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian border security forces have arrested 30 Pakistanis on the two countries’ border at Quetta and handed them over to Taftan police authorities on Sunday evening.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran announced it is reviewing the launch of a joint development bank with Venezuela.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran is scheduled to hold its third annual Women’s Music Festival in an attempt to develop the musical potentials of Iranian women.

TEHRAN (FNA)- The United Arab Emirates’ Crescent Petroleum expects to start importing gas from Iran’s offshore Salman Field in three months, its chairman said.