Middle Orient

GENEVA (Reuters) – The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan drove up the number of world refugees for a second straight year in 2007, the United Nations said on Tuesday. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said there were 11.4 million refugees under its responsibility at the end of 2007, …

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon will soon form a national unity government in line with a Doha agreement to end the country’s political crisis, Arab League chief Amr Moussa said on Sunday.

(Reuters) – Iraq has sent army and police reinforcements to the southern city of Amara to prepare for a crackdown on Shi’ite militias. The operation will be the latest in a series of offensives by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki that are intended to stamp the government’s authority over areas once …

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The movement of Iraqi Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will not compete in local elections under its own name but join with other groups and ask its followers to vote for those candidates, Sadr officials said on Sunday.

(Reuters) – A U.S. soldier was killed on Thursday in the Kadhimiya district of northwestern Baghdad, when his vehicle was struck by a bomb, the U.S. military reported.

AMARA, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraq’s government beefed up army and police units in the southern city of Amara on Sunday for a new crackdown on Shi’ite militias, a Reuters reporter said.

(Reuters) – Reuters cameraman Fadel Shana was killed by Israeli troops two months ago on Monday, while filming in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army says it is investigating but has yet to explain its actions. Following are key facts established by Reuters with the aid of independent British investigators:

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday refused to back down over his country’s nuclear program, stressing that Tehran may not give up even an iota of its rights.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian police and the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday denied claims by Iraq’s ambassador to Tehran that a bomb was found at his residence.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Indonesia has asked Iran to reduce import duties on commodities such as crude palm oil, rubber, fiber and paper by 50 percent.