Middle Orient

BAGHDAD (Reuters) — The United States formally handed over control of Iraq’s new military to Prime Minister Nuri Maliki’s government on Thursday just as rebels unleashed a fresh wave of deadly bomb attacks on Iraqi security forces.

BERLIN (Reuters) — Iran has failed to meet a UN Security Council demand that it suspend uranium enrichment, six world powers agreed on Thursday, but there was growing opposition to US calls for sanctions.

KHARTOUM (Reuters) — A sea of white-clothed mourners laid Sudanese editor Mohammad Taha to rest on Thursday after he was kidnapped and killed by unknown armed men, raising fears of a new brand of extreme violence in Sudan.

BEIRUT — Abu Abbas, a car dealer from south Lebanon, has ready answers to the litmus-test question which has traditionally split his country down the middle — whether it should opt out of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israeli President Moshe Katsav was being grilled by police Thursday for a fourth time over mounting allegations of sexual harassment in a spiralling scandal that threatens to end his career.

CAMP ADDER, Iraq — The US soldiers call themselves the Four Horsemen as they barrel down roads with nicknames like “The Widowmaker,” staying alert through the night on a mix of caffeine and adrenaline, hoping to find roadside bombs before the bombs find them.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Arab League’s call for a ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council this month to revive the Middle East peace process won support Thursday from many council members but not the United States.

BEIRUT (Reuters) — UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Monday he would appoint a secret negotiator to mediate between Israel and Hizbollah for the release of two Israeli soldiers captured in July. But Israeli officials said Annan’s role was to secure the release of the soldiers demanded by a …

BAGHDAD (Reuters) — The United States and Iraq hope to sign an agreement by next week to hand operational command of Iraq’s new army to Prime Minister Nuri Maliki, Iraq said on Monday, after wrangles on wording had held up the accord.

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert backed away Monday from the unilateral West Bank pullback plan that swept him to power in March, saying that Israel needs to pursue talks with the Palestinians.