ISRAELI TROOPS KILLED eight Palestinian fighters in clashes in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, including seven from the Hamas group, amid a surge in violence in the coastal territory. In the past three days, 21 Palestinians have been killed in fighting in Gaza, the majority of them fighters, and two …

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s Shiite-dominated interior ministry, whose police forces have been accused of complicity in the sectarian attacks wracking the country, will change top commanders and has already fired 3,000 employees accused of corruption or rights abuses, a spokesman said Saturday. Thousands have died this year in the cycle …

KHARTOUM (AP) — The Sudanese government signed a peace deal Saturday in Eritera with a group of rebels from the mountains of eastern Sudan ending a deadly strife that has been overshadowed by the conflict in Darfur. “I tell you that we will abide by this agreement,” Sudanese President Omar …

CAIRO — In almost three years as supreme guide of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Mehdi Akef has changed the face of the underground movement into an openly active player on the political scene. “He is definitely the most audacious leader,” Diaa Rashwan, senior researcher at the Ahram Centre for Strategic …

Speaking to FNA on Saturday, assistant mayor of Mashhad for planning Mansour Mahdizadegan said that the decision was made during a visit to the Malaysian capital by a high-ranking delegation from Mashhad’s municipality. He said the 6-day visit was aimed at discussing potentials and appropriate opportunities for the two sides’ …

According to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry’s Information and Press Bureau, Mottaki made the remarks in a meeting with ECO’s new Secretary-General here on Saturday. During the meeting, the minister further stressed Iran’s resolve for the strengthening of all-out regional cooperation.

Stephen Austen, managing director for the Middle East and North Africa for Standard Bank, said there was significant investor interest in Iranian shares despite the threat of US sanctions. “They are certainly the cheapest market in the region and probably one of the cheapest anywhere in the world, trading at …

The Bush administration has notified Congress that the United States would export parts for US-origin aircraft to Iran. Officials said State and Commerce have designated a company for the aircraft spare parts export license.

Addressing a large fervent congregation of worshipers in the second sermon of Tehran’s this week Friday prayers at Tehran University Campus here on Friday, Ayatollah Khamenei elaborated on the plots and policies of the United States and international Zionism for transferring the realities of the region and for fomenting unrest …

According to a Presidential Press Office statement, Ahmadinejad made the remarks in a meeting with the Palestinian Interior Minister Sa’eed Seyam here on Thursday. During the meeting, the President stressed that the said victories have served as a challenge to the forged Zionist regime, putting the so-called Israeli entity under …