Middle Orient

SALZBURG — The European Union will face tough choices if it has to carry out its threat to cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority over the Hamas group’s refusal to recognise Israel’s right to exist. EU foreign ministers reaffirmed on Friday that Hamas, which won a landslide election victory …

RAMALLAH — Hamas yesterday set a two-day deadline for other Palestinian factions and independent members of the Palestinian Legislative Council to accept or reject positions in the future Palestinian government even as it appears the group will need the full five weeks to form a government. Palestinian prime minister-designate and …

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld accused Iran Tuesday of sending Revolutionary Guard forces into Iraq to make trouble, and warned Tehran it was “an error in judgement.””They are currently putting people into Iraq to do things that are harmful to the future of Iraq, and we know …

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli army has increased the number of roadblocks and barriers in the West Bank by 25 per cent since last summer, tightening travel restrictions for Palestinians and making it harder for them to reach properties, markets and medical services, according to a new United Nations …

KHARTOUM (Reuters) — Shouting “Down, Down USA,” thousands of Sudanese protested in Khartoum on Wednesday against any deployment of UN troops to the western Darfur region.”Get out all foreigners, we don’t want you here,” shouted 21-year-old student Zeinab Kheir Al Sir.

KUWAIT CITY — In early March last year, women rights activist Maasuma Al Mubarak was leading a rally outside parliament to press MPs to pass a law enfranchising Kuwaiti women. Three months later, the US-educated liberal academic became Kuwait’s first woman minister, scoring the second coup in as many months …

BAGHDAD (AFP) — Iraqi President Jalal Talabani announced Saturday that parliament will soon hold its first session since December elections in a bid to form a unity government and foil extremist efforts to trigger a civil war.His comments followed a meeting with the head of regional US Central Command, General …

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s rival leaders on Thursday overcame differences relating to the consequences of the assassination of former premier Rafiq Hariri as they sat together for the first time to resolve divisions that still remain following the end of Syrian domination.The leaders — Muslim and Christian, pro- and anti-Syrian …

BAGHDAD (AP) — Gunmen attacked the disabled car of Iraq’s top Sunni politician on Thursday, killing one bodyguard and wounding five after the Sunni leader sped away in another vehicle. Thirty-five other people died in a new round of violence.

MOGADISHU (AFP) — At least 15 people were killed and 23 wounded Tuesday in fighting between gunmen loyal to warlords controlling the Somali capital and Islamic court security militia, witnesses and medical sources said.This brings the death toll to 33 and dozens wounded since the clashes erupted on Saturday, pitting …