Middle East News

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran believes the United States is holding a former deputy defense minister who disappeared in 2007 and 10 other Iranian nationals, according to a list carried by the semi-official Mehr news agency on Wednesday. Full Story »

AMMAN (AFP) - Jordan's King Abdullah II named former royal court minister Samir Rifai as new prime minister in a royal decree on Wednesday following the resignation of Nader Dahabi's government, around two weeks after the monarch dissolved parliament. Full Story »

JERUSALEM (AFP) - A US-born Jewish settler suspected of having murdered two Palestinians and carrying out a string of hate attacks against missionaries and gays went on trial Wednesday. Full Story »

TEHRAN (AFP) - Protesters clashed with supporters of the Iranian regime for a second straight day Tuesday even as the chief prosecutor threatened to try the main opposition leader and vigilantes briefly besieged his office. Full Story »

BEIRUT (AFP) - A Syrian court has asked 25 Lebanese figures, including the police chief and top prosecutor, to appear for questioning over the murder of their country's ex-premier, a Lebanese official said on Wednesday. Full Story »

TEHRAN (AFP) - Tehran Tuesday accused the United States of abducting an Iranian nuclear scientist who went missing in Saudi Arabia during a minor Muslim pilgrimage, and said Riyadh must also be held accountable. Full Story »

RAFAH, Egypt (AFP) - Egyptian engineers were carrying out major excavation work at the Gaza border on Wednesday as an Israeli daily reported that an anti-smuggling barrier was under construction, an AFP reporter said. Full Story »

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran's chief prosecutor indicated Tuesday that Mir Hossein Mousavi and other opposition figures could be hauled before court, as dozens of people on motorcycles surrounded the office of the ex-premier. Full Story »

JERUSALEM (AFP) - A top Israeli official was headed to the Vatican on Wednesday for a new round of talks on long-standing disputes over Church property in the Holy Land and other issues that have marred ties. Full Story »

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Officials say Iraq's parliament elections set for March 6 after delay Full Story »

TEHRAN (AFP) - An Iranian nuclear scientist who went missing in Saudi Arabia has been "handed over by Riyadh to Washington," Mehr news agency reported on Tuesday, quoting Tehran's foreign ministry spokesman. Full Story »

DUBAI (AFP) - Share prices in the United Arab Emirates were battered again on Wednesday over Dubai's worsening debt woes, as the Gulf country insisted it was coping with the global economic crisis. Full Story »

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Israel says it's treating five suspected swine flu cases from Gaza in hopes of containing an outbreak of the virus in the blockaded Palestinian territory. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the West Monday for being too quick to censure Iran's nuclear program but told President Barack Obama that Ankara was prepared to mediate with Tehran. Full Story »

DUBAI (AFP) - Saudi Arabia's oil minister told a Dubai conference Wednesday that Gulf economies remain strong, even as the emirate's stock market spiralled downwards over debt default fears. Full Story »

BAGHDAD - The padlocks were snapped shut last week. Full Story »

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian security forces fired warning shots in Tehran on Monday and beat opposition protesters among thousands seeking to renew their challenge to the government six months after a disputed election, witnesses said. Full Story »

DOHA (AFP) - The emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, on Wednesday called for the alignment of gas prices with oil prices at the opening of a forum of gas exporting countries. Full Story »