March, 2006

• 26 March

  Iraq, Mideast conflict top Arab summit agenda

  KHARTOUM (AFP) — Arab leaders meet in Khartoum for their annual summit Tuesday under pressure to take a more active role in Iraq and find a common stance on dealing with a Hamas-led Palestinian government.

  Read More »
• 26 March

  Stark problems await Hamas-led PA

  LONDON — Battered, bloated and broke, the Palestinian Authority faces an uncertain future under a new Hamas leadership at odds with the PLO, Israel and the West.

  Read More »
• 26 March

  US-Iran talks may prove dialogue of deaf

  TEHRAN — US-Iranian talks to discuss Iraq could open a valuable channel of communication between the two foes, but analysts say a history of missed opportunities dampens hopes of any broader dialogue developing.

  Read More »
• 26 March

  56 Iraqis die in violence

  Troops rescue Western hostagesBAGHDAD (AP) — The American military spokesman said on Thursday that major violence in Iraq was confined to just three of Iraq’s 18 provinces, but the fighting raged on with at least 56 more Iraqis reported killed in shadowy execution-style slayings, bombings and gunbattles.

  Read More »
• 23 March

  Muslim scholars gather to defend prophet after cartoon row

  MANAMA (AFP) — Some 300 Muslim religious figures opened a two-day conference in Bahrain Wednesday in support of the Prophet Mohammad following the row over his depiction in cartoons in European papers.

  Read More »
• 23 March

  Some Arab countries warily eye Iran’s nuclear programme

  KUWAIT CITY — This tiny Gulf country is increasingly nervous — as are some of its neighbours — about Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, right across the water. But heading into a key summit, Arab leaders overall are divided, and publicly squabbling, over how to defuse a crisis that has caused …

  Read More »
• 23 March

  Violence surges in southern Sudan, Darfur

  UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) — Violence is surging in Sudan’s south as well as its western Darfur region, fuelled by government inaction even after years of global attention, UN envoy Jan Pronk told the Security Council on Tuesday.

  Read More »
• 23 March

  Iraqi Shiite pilgrims ambushed

  BAGHDAD (Reuters) — Gunmen wounded dozens of Shiite pilgrims and killed two in Baghdad on Wednesday, raking their vehicles with machinegun fire in the latest outbreak of sectarian violence that is threatening Iraq with civil war.

  Read More »
• 23 March

  Vote on Hamas gov’t Monday

  RAMALLAH — Hamas yesterday said it had reached agreement with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to convene the Palestinian parliament Monday for a vote of confidence in the new Hamas-led Palestinian government. “We received an application from [prime minister- designate] Ismail Haniyeh for the session to be on Saturday but we …

  Read More »
• 21 March

  Bush defends Iraq war strategy

  CLEVELAND, Ohio (AFP) — US President George W. Bush defended his Iraq war strategy Monday, as the conflict entered its fourth year amid mounting sectarian strife and lower-than-ever support in the United States.

  Read More »