CAIRO (AP) — Reconciliation and national unity in Iraq are necessary for the success of US President George W. Bush’s new strategy for the war-torn country, Egypt and Saudi Arabia warned.
Read More »US says will hold Maliki to his promises
BAGHDAD (Reuters) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Washington would hold Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri Maliki to his promises to reduce sectarian violence and that it was now time to see results.
Read More »Bush defends new Iraq strategy against strong opposition
WASHINGTON (AP) — President George W. Bush on Saturday challenged lawmakers sceptical of his new Iraq plan to propose their own strategy for stopping the violence in Baghdad.
Read More »Significant progress in talks between Hamas, Fateh
RAMALLAH (AP) — Significant progress has been made in secret coalition talks between the supreme Hamas leader and envoys of moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, officials from both sides said Saturday, signalling a sudden shift in atmosphere after several weeks of deadly internal fighting.
Read More »Hashemi says majority of Iraqis killed Sunnis
BAGHDAD (Reuters) — Iraqi Vice President Tariq Hashemi said his fellow Sunni Arabs account for the majority of the thousands of Iraqis killed last year and are the victims of ethnic “cleansing” by gunmen driving them from Baghdad.
Read More »Bush team grilled by hostile Democrats over Iraq plan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Democrats and some moderate Republicans on Thursday hammered President George W. Bush’s plan to send more US troops to Iraq, leaving the White House increasingly isolated in its decision to deepen American involvement in the unpopular war.
Read More »Arabs see little hope
CAIRO (Reuters) — US President George W. Bush’s plan to send 21,500 more troops will fail to bring peace to Iraq and could aggravate a conflict in which tens of thousands of people have already died, Arab analysts said on Thursday.
Read More »Fateh rally show of strength in power struggle with Hamas
RAMALLAH (AP) — At a rally meant as a show of strength of his Fateh movement, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday called on rival forces to halt their armed clashes and replace bloodshed with respect.
Read More »Spain calls for new Mideast conference
MADRID (AFP) — Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa on Thursday threw his weight behind Spanish and European calls for an international conference on the Middle East.
Read More »US arrests 5 in Iran consulate raid in Iraq
ERBIL (AFP) — US troops raided an Iranian consulate in Iraq on Thursday and arrested five employees, officials said, as Washington vowed to act against Iranian meddling in the war-torn country.
Read More »