Middle East News

Dubai, May 13 (IANS) The projects being designed by various Dubai-based companies as part of their investment plans in India are tailor-made for Indian requirements, according to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Dubai, May 13 (IANS) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has called upon investors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to invest in India's infrastructure sector.

Dubai, May 13 (IANS) India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to institutionalize the India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) dialogue process with regular meetings.

Tehran, May 13 (IANS) Iran has accused the US and Britain of being behind the bomb blast in a mosque in Shiraz and vowed that it would take legal action against the two countries with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), official Iranian news agency IRNA reported Tuesday.

Gaza, May 13 (DPA) Hamas rejected Tuesday an Israeli demand that any truce deal with Gaza miltias include the release of an Israeli soldier snatched in a June 2006 cross-border raid and held captive in the Gaza Strip ever since.

Jerusalem, May 13 (Xinhua) About 14,000 Israeli police officers will man the streets of Jerusalem, safeguarding US President George W. Bush's three-day visit to Jerusalem beginning Wednesday, local daily Jerusalem Post reported Tuesday, citing the Israeli police.

Muscat, May 13 (IANS) India and Oman are finalising an agreement on labour welfare that is likely to be signed later this year.

Abu Dhabi, May 12 (IANS) Energy security and development of infrastructure are the foundations of India's new terms of engagement with the Gulf region, according to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Baghdad, May 12 (DPA) Iraqi authorities lifted a curfew Monday in northern Nineveh, allowing people to leave their homes three days after a military offensive was launched in the province.

Jerusalem, May 12 (DPA) Israeli police have increased their alert level to one grade below an emergency situation ahead of an international conference of world leaders, President George W. Bush among them, to take pace in Jerusalem this week, Israeli media reported Monday.

Tehran, May 12 (RIA Novosti) A delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is to arrive in Tehran later Monday to continue negotiations on the Islamic country's nuclear programme, according to Iran's permanent representative at the UN nuclear watchdog.

Abu Dhabi, May 12 (IANS) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has agreed to join the United Nation's intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the conservation of cultural heritage, WAM news agency reported Monday.

Dubai, May 12 (IANS) The anti narcotics officials of the Dubai police have busted an international drugs trafficking gang which was planning to smuggle a huge quantity of heroin to a number of countries, WAM news agency reported Monday.

Choufayet (Lebanon), May 12 (DPA) A cautious calm prevailed Sunday night in Mount Lebanon following fierce clashes between followers of the Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and opposition followers.

Cairo, May 12 (DPA) Arab foreign ministers cut short an emergency meeting Sunday over the crisis in Lebanon to appeal for an immediate end to armed violence in Mount Lebanon and other parts of the country.

Choufayet (Lebanon), May 11 (DPA) A ceasefire between followers of Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and opposition followers failed Sunday after clashes broke out on Jumblatt's stronghold of Mount Lebanon.

Choufayet (Lebanon), May 11 (DPA) A ceasefire was established Sunday between followers of the Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and opposition followers after clashes broke out on Jumblatt's stronghold of Mount Lebanon.

Beirut, May 11 (DPA) A relative calm was restored Sunday to Beirut as the fighting reached north Lebanon where 17 people were killed in clashes between fighters loyal to the opposition and the country's ruling majority.

Baghdad, May 11 (DPA) The stronghold of the Shia Mahdi Army militia in Baghdad's Sadr City has been bombed overnight by US aircraft hours before a deal to end the fighting in the area comes into effect, witnesses said Sunday.

Baghdad, May 11 (DPA) The US military said Sunday an operation targeting gunmen from the Al Qaeda terrorist network in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul left four people dead, including a woman and a child.