RABAT — The first of more than a dozen new towns designed to relieve overcrowding in Moroccan cities and empty the country’s slums will be ready for inhabitants this year, Housing Minister Ahmed Taoufiq Hejira told Reuters.

RAMALLAH — One year after his election, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas faces an increasingly uncertain future with the demise of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and a spiralling security crisis.

TEHRAN (AP) — Iran announced on Sunday that inspectors from the UN nuclear watchdog agency were in the country and preparing to remove seals from nuclear research facilities no later than Monday, allowing Tehran to move forward with its vow to resume nuclear fuel research.

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — When Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stunned the world by handing Gaza back to the Palestinians last year his critics feared this was the prelude to many more concessions.

JEDDAH (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad made surprise journeys to Saudi Arabia and Egypt Sunday, seeking support from Arab leaders as he faces an unprecedented challenge from a defecting ex-vice president and alleged Syrian involvement in the assassination of a former Lebanese leader.

BAGHDAD (AP) — A US army Black Hawk helicopter crashed and killed all 12 Americans believed to be aboard, while five Marines died in weekend attacks. The mounting death toll, about two-hundred Iraqis were killed

TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran has vowed that its decision to resume nuclear fuel research is not negotiable, causing EU negotiators to cast doubt on the prospect of fresh talks aimed at convincing Tehran to halt enrichment activities.

MARIB — The government dispatched more helicopter-born troops on Wednesday to encircle a rugged mountain hideout and cut off water deliveries to the region where a reneged tribe is holding five Italian tourists hostage.

KUWAIT CITY (AP) — Kuwait’s newly-enfranchised women have been added to the voter rolls for the first time, and the country now has more women voters than men, the interior ministry said on Wednesday.

Sharon had been investigated in a series of corruption scandals OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israeli police are to access computer data which they believe will show Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s family received an alleged $3 million bribe, public radio reported on Wednesday.