Thousands of Yemenis flee battle with Al-Qaeda
SAN'A: Thousands of people have fled a village in southern Yemen where security forces are laying siege to Al-Qaeda militants, a security official said, signaling an escalation in the government's…
Gul backs Mideast nuclear-free zone
UNITED NATIONS: Turkish President Abdullah Gul said he will call for a Middle East totally free of nuclear weapons when he addresses the U.N. General Assembly later this week. "We…
US hails Iran sanctions, but experts doubt results
WASHINGTON: The Obama administration says the latest round of sanctions appears to have succeeded in bringing additional pressure against Iran's nuclear program. But private experts question whether the penalties will…
Clinton did not ask for regime change in Iran, says spokesman
NEW YORK: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did not call for regime change in Tehran when she asked at the weekend for "responsible" leaders to assert control in Iran,…
US shares Israel’s concern on Russian missile sales to Syria
WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Robert Gates assured his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak Monday that the United States shared Israeli concern about Moscow's sale of cruise missiles to Syria. "In today's…
Ending child marriage
LONDON: Ahead of the United Nations’ summit to review progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals, much of the focus has rightly been on those areas where gains have been…
Obama to deliver ‘forceful message’ at UN Sudan talks
WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama will deliver a "forceful" message that two referenda in Sudan must go ahead on time, at a United Nations meeting this week on votes which…
US dismisses Ahmadinejad prisoner swap
WASHINGTON: The United States dismissed on Monday a suggestion by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to free Iranians in exchange for two detained hikers as Washington kept up pressure on the Islamic…
Israel faces renewed calls to extend moratorium
NEW YORK: Israel on Monday faced a new surge of calls to extend a freeze on Jewish settlements on the eve of a meeting of four key diplomatic players trying…
For Middle East peace, revisit the process
WASHINGTON, DC: As the United States re-launches Israeli-Palestinian talks it sorely needs to reassess the negotiation process. Previous talks have suffered from lack of both transparency and inclusiveness: for most…