Middle Orient

The Taliban has a permanent presence in most of Afghanistan and the country is in serious danger of falling into the group’s hands, according to a report from an international think tank.

Lebanese Finance Minister Jihad Azour said on Monday that the current government made progress in the past two years but stressed that reforms should continue.

An international forum held in Istanbul ended with the release of a declaration reiterating support for the Arab, Muslim and Christian heritage of the

President George W. Bush issued formal invitations on Tuesday to the Middle East peace conference in Annapolis next week, Palestinian and Israeli officials said. The November 27 conference in

Parliamentary majority leader MP Saad Hariri headed for Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after holding a meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin and urging his host

Arab League chief Amr Moussa expressed frustration Tuesday as the continuing failure of Lebanese leaders to agree on a consensus president to replace the outgoing

A majority of Iranians will participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, results of a recent opinion poll suggested.

Norway’s foreign minister voiced pleasure in Iran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and stressed the need for the two sides to continue the present course of interaction.

Visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki here on Tuesday described the two countries’ continued consultations about bilateral ties and regional issues as “constructive and fruitful”.

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani stressed that the world of Islam should have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council.