Middle Orient

Egyptian state security prosecutors are questioning 35 men police accuse of plotting to overthrow the government and having contacts with al-Qaeda, a lawyer for the men and a security source said on Saturday.

The Turkish Armed Forces have begun to recruit “professional commandos” as part of a new plan to combat the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The military expects to recruit around 10,000 soldiers, who will be given special training to fight terrorists in mountainous areas.

France hosts talks at the weekend between Lebanon’s fractious leaders to try to ease a political deadlock that has plunged the nation into its worst crisis since the end of the civil war.

Insurgents fired more than two dozen mortar shells at government targets in the Somali capital overnight, including the president’s residence, in an apparent attempt to disrupt reconciliation talks planned for the weekend.

It still looks like an oasis in the desert, but Baghdad’s smart set does not drive out to play beside the pristine lake at Habbaniyah any more.

The United States has taken another step in restoring normal diplomatic relations with Libya, as President George W. Bush nominated a US ambassador to the once-outcast nation.

Syria has signalled to the UN’s Middle East envoy a willingness to change its relationship with Iran, Hizbollah and Hamas if progress were made towards a peace deal with Israel.

A thick blanket of smoke covered a Palestinian refugee camp Thursday as the army unleashed one of its heaviest bombardments against Al Qaeda-inspired gunmen holed up inside.

US President George W. Bush said Thursday he was sending his diplomatic and defence chiefs to the Middle East next month to shore up support for Iraq’s besieged government.

US President George W. Bush acknowledged on Thursday his Iraq strategy had made only limited progress but put off considering a change of course in the unpopular war until a crucial September report.