U.S., Israel made flame virus to thwart Iran: report
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
The United States and Israel collaborated to create the Flame computer virus as part of an effort to slow Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons drive, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. The newspaper, citing “Western officials with knowledge of the effort,” said the sophisticated malware was designed to spy on ... Read More
Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak clinically dead: state media
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Egypt's ousted presdent Hosni Mubarak was declared clinically dead after he was transferred to hospital from prison on Tuesday, state media reported, after his heart stopped beating. “Hosni Mubarak is clinically dead,” the official MENA news agency reported. “Medical sources told MENA his heart had stopped ... Read More
Islamic militant group claims attack on Egyptian-Israeli border
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
A group calling itself the “Shura Council of the Mujahideen of Jerusalem” claimed responsibility on Tuesday for a deadly ambush that killed an Israeli construction worker on the Egyptian border. In a video posted on the internet, a group of masked and armed men claimed Monday’s attack and announced the formation of the ... Read More
Egypt claims seizure of 101 surface-to-surface missiles amid fears of violence
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
The Egyptian authorities have seized 101 surface-to-surface missiles in the Beheira governorate, the state TV reported on Tuesday, amid fears of a political deadlock that could trigger an armed confrontation between Islamist groups and a military establishment reluctant to relinquish power. The state television said Egypt’s ... Read More
Understanding Egypt’s supplementary constitutional declaration
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Egyptian national security affairs expert General Sameh Seif al-Yazal said the supplementary constitutional declaration, which stirred a lot of controversy owing to the powers it gives to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), was issued after a lot of deliberation with experts. “SCAF consulted with the members of ... Read More
‘I voted for Mursi despite reservations:’ Egyptian activist Wael Ghonim
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Egyptian activist Wael Ghoneim, known for the part he played in the January 25 Revolution, said he has several reservations on Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate Mohammed Mursi even though he voted for him. “I voted for Mursi, but am not really happy that he won and I will be a member of the opposition and criticize ... Read More
Egyptian analysts claim Muslim Brotherhood made critical mistakes
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
The Muslim Brotherhood has committed several grave mistakes since the regime was toppled in 2011, said professor of law Hossam Eissa. “When the referendum on the constitutional amendments was drawing near, they disappeared from the scene and switched off their cell phones,” he told Al Arabiya’s Presidential Candidate. “They ... Read More
Sheffield film festival shines spotlight on Middle East
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
A large collection of films from the Middle East were showcased at the Sheffield Doc/Fest, one of the world’s leading non-fiction film and television events. Films from Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Egypt and the Palestinian territories were just some of the participants at the five-day event in Britain which ended on Sunday. ... Read More
Syria faces ire over fresh Russia arms shipment
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
A cargo ship now moving off the north-west coast of Scotland is believed to be carrying Russian weaponry to Syria, according to an insurer which says it has withdrawn coverage for the vessel. Britain said it was aware of a consignment of refurbished Russian-made attack helicopters heading for Syria, but did not say if it was ... Read More
U.N. concerned by delays in peace bid for Sudan, S.Sudan
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
The U.N. Security Council on Monday warned Sudan and South Sudan to take steps to end their deadly rivalry in line with a resolution which threatened sanctions. After consultations on tensions between the African neighbors, the 15-nation council expressed “strong concern” over delays in carrying out demands ... Read More
Free Syrian Army calls on Kurdish brothers to join fight as clashes erupt
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
The Free Syrian Army Tuesday called on their “Kurdish brothers” to join rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, while promising an end to injustices against Kurds in a future democratic Syria as fighting erupted between Syrian forces and the armed opposition. “The Joint Command of the Free Syrian ... Read More
Somali rebels bruised, but may dodge knockout blow
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Expelled from a string of strategic towns, cut off from revenue sources and struggling for its survival, Somalia’s Islamist militant group al-Shabaab is steeling for an anticipated assault on its last bastion by Western-backed African forces. But while the capture of the southern port and militant stronghold of Kismayu ... Read More
Egypt’s rival presidential candidates claim victory in historic race
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Both of Egypt’s rival presidential candidates, Mohamed Mursi and Ahmad Shafiq, have claimed victory in an apparent media battle to influence public opinion ahead of official Read More
Syria’s sectarian spoils of war at bargain prices in Homs
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
(This story is based on the observations of a visitor to Syria, known to Reuters. His identity has been withheld for safety reasons.) They call it the “Sunni market” - a comic term with a dark undertone. As rockets and gunfire crackle in the central city of Homs, hardline loyalists from President Bashar al-Assad’s ... Read More
Hamas militants fire rockets at Israel after strike kills 6
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
The armed wing of Gaza’s ruling Hamas movement on Tuesday said it fired 10 Grad rockets at Israel in a rare show of force after three Israeli air strikes killed six Palestinians. The claim came shortly after Israel Tuesday afternoon staged another air strike over Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, injuring two men ... Read More
Eighteen killed as Turkish troops clash with PKK
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Deadly clashes in southeast Turkey on Tuesday claimed the lives of eight Turkish soldiers and 10 Kurdish rebels, the local governor’s office said. Eight Turkish soldiers were killed and 16 wounded when members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) attacked an army post at Yesiltas, near the border with ... Read More
Syrian Kurds find refuge in Iraqi Kurdistan
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Syrian Kurds of all persuasions, from soldiers who did not want to kill their own countrymen to those seeking to escape the violence, have found refuge across the border in Kurdistan in north Iraq. Most had to be smuggled across the border, avoiding Syrian security forces, after facing what they said was ... Read More
Lebanon diesel import leap points to Syria smuggling
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Lebanon’s private sector imports of diesel jumped in April and May, data obtained by Reuters shows, and industry analysts say Lebanese factions are smuggling the fuel into Syria where supplies are desperately tight due to Western sanctions. The data shows a three-fold increase since last year to 106,000 tons in April, ... Read More
Hamas jubilant over Mursi’s Egyptian presidential victory claim
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Hamas leaders and supporters in Gaza Strip celebrated Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood presidential victory, according to preliminary results announced on Monday. The Islamist bloc’s candidate Mohammed Mursi claimed he had won the election over former prime minister Ahmed Shafiq in the early hours of Monday, in line with primary ... Read More
Apology could free Libyan-held ICC team: Australia
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
An International Criminal Court team held in Libya could be freed if the ICC apologizes to Tripoli over “inadequate consultation,” Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said on Tuesday. Carr travelled to Libya on Monday to meet top officials over the case of Australian Melinda Taylor, one of four ICC staff held ... Read More