Middle Orient

The Lebanese army on Thursday tightened the noose around Islamists at a refugee camp in a bid to end a near 10-week standoff that has cost the lives of 120 soldiers.

A parked car bomb killed 25 people and wounded 115 when it exploded near an intersection in central Baghdad on Thursday and police said the toll could rise as many bodies were believed still buried under rubble.

Palestinian security chief Mohammad Dahlan resigned on Thursday after weeks of criticism over the defeat of his forces by Hamas members in the Gaza Strip in June, senior Palestinian officials said.

King Abdullah on Thursday reiterated Jordan’s support for all efforts meant to preserve the stability and unity of Iraq and bring an end to the violence and chaos plaguing the neighbouring country.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, his wife Cecilia Sarkozy and EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner became “honourable citizens of Sofia” on Tuesday (July 24th) , following an extraordinary session of Sofia’s Municipal Council.

The United States on Wednesday played down the prospect of higher-level talks with Iran after Iran’s foreign minister was quoted as saying his government was open to moving negotiations to a more senior level.

Top French diplomat Jean-Claude Cousseran wrapped up a three-day mission to Lebanon Wednesday without making much headway in breaking an eight-month deadlock among the country’s feuding political parties.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised to boost relations with Libya as he met with the country’s leader Muammar Qadhafi on Wednesday as a reward for the release of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor.

Lebanese troops advanced towards fortified positions of Islamist gunmen at a Palestinian refugee camp on Wednesday in what political sources said was the start of a final assault to root out the gunmen.

Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib and his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Wednesday held intensive talks here over the Arab peace plan and called for a rapid timetable for talks with the Palestinians over statehood.