Middle Orient

Saudi king holds historic talks with pope

Pope Benedict XVI raised the issue of Christians living in Saudi Arabia in a historic meeting Tuesday with King Abdullah, the first monarch of the conservative Muslim kingdom to visit the Vatican. During their talks, which also touched on conflicts in the Middle East, the pope

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Lebanese may have to wait a little more for new president

Speaker Nabih Berri declared on Tuesday that the upcoming parliamentary session to elect the next head of state would likely be postponed, as senior Arab League official Hisham Youssef arrived in Beirut for two days of consultations with rival leaders. “As we near the deadline for a new president, it …

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Hope grows for Mideast peace

Israel’s foreign minister said Tuesday that an upcoming peace conference in the United States offers a crucial opportunity for progress, amid growing optimism that this time — just maybe — momentum for peace is real and sustainable.

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Turkish soldiers freed by PKK

The United States Sunday praised the Iraqi government for helping to secure the release of eight Turkish soldiers abducted by Kurdish rebels two weeks ago during a battle that heightened tensions along the Iraq-Turkey border.

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