World News Australia - Middle East

Palestinians to set new date for vote

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:00:49 +1100

Palestinian officials say a new date for parliamentary and presidential elections will be set next month.

Scores injured by Afghan bombs

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:05:48 +1100

A day after Presdient Karzai was re-inaugurated, a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle blew himself up in a town in southwestern Afghanistan on Friday, killing 12 people and wounding dozens more, while another attacked a market place.

Iraqi MPs aim to end election deadlock

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:31:48 +1100

Iraqi MPs will vote on how to break a deadlock over a key election law after a vice president vetoed the legislation, threatening the January vote.

Karzai promises to deliver as world watches

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:15:46 +1100

Afghan president Hamid Karzai has been sworn in, pledging to learn from his mistakes, invite rival Abdullah Abdullah into government, and claiming his country will take over security in five years.

Iran rejects nuclear fuel deal

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:27:07 +1100

Iran has rejected plans to send most of its low-enriched uranium abroad, delivering a blow to UN-brokered efforts to allay concerns over its nuclear ambitions.

US 'disappointed' at Iraq election veto

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:24:54 +1100

The US has voiced disappointment with the veto of a law governing Iraq's January election and urged its leaders to clear up concerns in order for polls to go ahead.

Iraq poll in jeopardy as VP vetoes law

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:09:49 +1100

Iraq's general election planned for January, only the second since the fall of Saddam Hussein, has been thrown into jeopardy after Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi vetoed the polling law.

Iran protesters face death

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:05:29 +1100

Five people arrested after Iran's disputed presidential election have reportedly been condemned to death and another 81 jailed for up to 15 years.

Iran says UN has cleared nuclear program

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:30:02 +1100

Iran's nuclear envoy has denied that a UN inspection tour of its recently revealed uranium enrichment site has turned up evidence it is seeking nuclear weapons.

Schwarzenegger wows US troops in Iraq

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:24:45 +1100

Arnold Schwarzenegger has flown in to Iraq to visit US troops, drawing cheers from servicemen and women, some of whom were lucky enough to be gifted a cigar.

Yemen, rebels clash near Saudi border

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:07:51 +1100

Yemeni armed forces and Zaidi Shi'ite rebels fought a fierce battle on Monday near the border with Saudi Arabia, as the rebels appealed to the Arab League.

Yemen tribesmen kidnap Japanese engineer

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:03:55 +1100

Gunmen have kidnapped a Japanese engineer near the Yemeni capital and want to exchange him for an arrested fellow tribesman, a local official said.

Gunmen kill anti-Qaeda tribe in Iraq

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:46:22 +1100

Gunmen dressed in Iraqi army uniforms launched two attacks west of Baghdad, killing 13 members of a tribe who took up arms against al-Qaeda, an official said.

Iraqi VP threatens to veto election law

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:01:02 +1100

Iraq's Sunni Arab vice president has threatened to veto an election law unless changes are made giving Iraqis abroad more guaranteed seats in parliament.

Netanyahu warns on 'unilateral action'

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:07:35 +1100

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the Palestinian leadership against "unilateral action" after plans to seek UN recognition of their independence.

Intel under fire from Orthodox Jews

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:36:47 +1100

Intel's Jerusalem offices were confronted with extremists on Saturday due to their decision to operate on the Sabbath.

Two Saudi troops killed on Yemen border

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:35:41 +1100

Two Saudi soldiers have been killed and five wounded in fighting with Yemeni rebel "infiltrators" on the Saudi-Yemen border, the a newspaper reports.

Kurdish forces arrest al-Qaeda suspect

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:33:24 +1100

The security services of Iraq's Kurdish area said they have arrested a key al-Qaeda figure allegedly behind a string of bombing.

Brazil's Kaka says England are tough opponents

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:22:18 +1100

Brazilian midfielder Kaka expects a tough game against England in Qatar and sees manager Fabio Capello as key to their recent development into one of the strongest teams in next year's World Cup.

Palestinian polls 'should be delayed'

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:52:43 +1100

The acrimonious rivalry between Hamas and Fatah could throw the Palestinian Authority into a legal vacuum before January's elections.