Iran’s president says Tehran is not interested in building a nuclear bomb, but will not be stopped by the West if it desires to create one. State television quoted President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Thursday as saying his government would tell the world if it was working on a nuclear weapon. Mr. Ahmadinejad’s comments are the latest […]
Iran Arrests Former Deputy Foreign Minister
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
Iranian media report the arrest of the former deputy foreign minister who resigned this week in a political spat. The Fars news agency says Mohammad Sharif Malekzadeh, an ally of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was taken into custody on Thursday. The report did not detail the charges. The ex-deputy foreign minister quit Tuesday as his boss […]
Iran Insists Nuclear Bomb Not on Agenda
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
Iran’s president says Tehran is not interested in building a nuclear bomb, but will will not be stopped by the West if it desires to create one. State television quoted President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Thursday as saying his government would tell the world if it was working on a nuclear weapon. Mr. Ahmadinejad’s comments are the […]
Red Cross Demands Hamas Prove Israeli Soldier is Alive
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 7:15 am (UTC-5)
The International Red Cross has demanded that the Palestinian militant group Hamas prove that kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is alive. In a statement Thursday, the ICRC said its demand comes because there has been no sign of life from Shalit for almost two years. The 24-year-old was last seen in a 2009 videotape released […]
Egypt Jails 3 for Spying for Israel
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 6:50 am (UTC-5)
A court in Egypt has sentenced an Egyptian businessman and two Israelis to 25 years in prison for spying for Israel. The court on Thursday sentenced Tareq Hassan, who was accused of seeking to recruit telecommunications workers in Egypt, Syria and Lebanon to become Israeli spies. Hassan, who runs an import-export company, was arrested last […]
Defiant Gadhafi Denounces NATO as “Murderers”
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 6:20 am (UTC-5)
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has vowed to continue fighting, as he denounced NATO for airstrikes that caused civilian casualties. Mr. Gadhafi said in an audio statement broadcast late Wednesday that NATO states are “murderers” who have “killed our children and grandchildren.” NATO acknowledged an airstrike on Sunday that caused civilian casualties and one on Friday […]
Kuwaiti Prime Minister Survives No-Confidence Vote
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 5:40 am (UTC-5)
Kuwait’s prime minister has survived a no-confidence vote in parliament, which stemmed from allegations he favored relations with Iran over those with other nations in the region. Lawmakers defeated the motion Thursday, with 25 members voting in support of Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammed al-Ahmad al-Sabah and 18 others backing the no-confidence measure. It is […]
Syrian Soldiers Enter Village Near Turkish Border
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 4:55 am (UTC-5)
Activists say Syrian soldiers and tanks have entered a village near the Turkish border, as European Union diplomats prepare to expand sanctions against Syria. Witnesses said Thursday the troops entered Khirbet al-Jouz, continuing a government crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising that began in March. Turkey has set up tent camps to house 10,000 Syrians who […]
UN Selects Qatari Diplomat as Next President
Posted June 23rd, 2011 at 1:50 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. General Assembly has elected a veteran diplomat from Qatar to serve as its next president. Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser was elected Wednesday to take over the rotating presidency when the General Assembly begins its next session in September. Al-Nasser said he will act as a bridge between developed and developing nations, and will focus […]
EU Agrees to Expand Syria Sanctions
Posted June 22nd, 2011 at 9:35 pm (UTC-5)
European Union diplomats say the 27-nation bloc has agreed to expand sanctions against Syria, adding seven individuals, including three Iranians, linked to a Syrian crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising. The diplomats said Wednesday the seven individuals will be added to a list of 23 people and entities already under an EU asset freeze and travel […]
