KHAN YOUNIS — Dirt-poor but proud, the people of this southern Gaza town are caught up in a fierce battle for their votes between the Palestinian ruling party Fateh and the Islamist movement Hamas.

RAMALLAH (AFP) — Europe will have to re-evaluate its links with the Palestinians in the event of a Hamas victory in next week’s legislative elections, Spain’s Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said Monday.

Agencies A US HELICOPTER came down near Baghdad on Monday in what appeared to be the second shooting down of an aircraft in three days, with rebel violence expected to escalate as Iraq’s election results are confirmed.

TEHRAN (AP) — Iran’s president stood fast Saturday behind his decision to conduct uranium enrichment research, shrugging off threats of international sanctions, while his foreign ministry invited Europe and the UN nuclear watchdog back to the negotiating table. In a ringing defence of Iran’s resumption Tuesday of research at its …

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi and US officials said Saturday they were working to free a female American journalist kidnapped off a Baghdad street one week ago but had not yet made contact with her captors. Jill Caroll, a 28-year-old freelance reporter, has not been heard from since she was kidnapped …

BAGHDAD (Reuters) — The judge trying Saddam Hussein has tendered his resignation, a source said on Saturday, making a protest at political interference and casting new doubt on the US-backed Iraqi government’s ability to ensure a fair trial. High tribunal officials were trying to talk Kurdish judge Rizgar Amin out …

TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran said it would resume nuclear fuel research on Monday, triggering fresh Western warnings that Tehran could face sanctions and wreck dialogue to end a dispute over its controversial nuclear programme. “The possibility of… sanctions continues to exist. But… this should be a last resort,” said Austrian …

KHARTOUM (AFP) — Sudan pledged to implement a historic north-south peace deal on its first anniversary, but aid agencies said there was little to celebrate as peace dividends were slow to come for many Sudanese. “Sudan and its national government renews its steadfast determination to implement all the articles of …

CAIRO (AP) — An Internet statement in the name of the Al Qaeda in Iraq terror group has rebuked Sunnis for taking part in last month’s Iraqi elections, saying that by voting the Sunnis had “thrown a rope” to save US policy in the country. The statement by the group’s …

MOSUL — Three sewing machines in a dingy apartment were all Munna Abdul Adeem Ahmed could scrape together when she set up a tailoring co-op for poor widows. She soon realised it was not enough. More than 1,000 women from the northern city of Mosul turned up looking for work …