SANAA (AFP) — Italy’s ambassador to Yemen on Tuesday blocked an assault by security forces to release five Italians amid fears for the hostages lives, a top local official told AFP. “After a number of tribal leaders failed (in the mediation efforts), the Yemeni authorities seriously considered to launch a …

RIYADH (AP) — Egyptian and Saudi Arabia leaders discussed on Tuesday the standoff between Syria and the United Nations over the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah did not speak to reporters after their talks in the port city of Jeddah, …

In 1996, Palestinians rioted after Israel opened an archaeological tunnel by the compound OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AP) — The top Muslim cleric in the holy land on Tuesday called on Israel to halt work on an archaeological project near a disputed holy site, saying continuing the dig would inflame tensions in …