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Middle East

World powers discuss options should Iran miss nuclear deadline

World powers are discussing next steps toward Iran if it fails to meet a year-end deadline for addressing international concern over its nuclear program, the White House and State Department said Tuesday.

updated Tue Dec 22 2009 21:56:31

World powers discuss options should Iran miss nuclear deadline

World powers are discussing next steps toward Iran if it fails to meet a year-end deadline for addressing international concern over its nuclear program, the White House and State Department said Tuesday.

updated Tue Dec 22 2009 15:24:34

Jewish leaders condemn Vatican's plan to venerate Pope Pius XII

It was a Vatican announcement guaranteed to spark controversy.

updated Tue Dec 22 2009 11:57:41

Clashes kill 73 Saudi security force members, official says

Fighting that has spilled from Yemen into Saudi Arabia has killed 73 members of the Saudi security forces since November 3, a Saudi spokesman said Tuesday.

updated Mon Dec 21 2009 17:14:42

Israel harvested organs without permission, officials say

Israel harvested organs from bodies in the 1990s without permission of family members, the former head of a state-run forensic laboratory said in a newly released interview.

updated Mon Dec 21 2009 14:30:34

House uncovered in Nazareth dating to the time of Jesus

Archaeologists in Israel say they have discovered the remains of a home from the time of Jesus in the heart of Nazareth.

updated Mon Dec 21 2009 14:20:05

UN ends search for survivors after ship sinks near Lebanon

A United Nations task force suspended its search Monday for victims of a ship that sank off the coast of Lebanon.

updated Mon Dec 21 2009 06:37:58

Iranian cleric's funeral draws protesters

Tens of thousands of people chanted anti-government slogans Monday before the funeral of a top Iranian cleric who turned into one of the regime's most vocal critics, a witness said.

updated Mon Dec 21 2009 05:35:54

'Very old world' wine makes a comeback in Lebanon and Syria

The fertile plains of Lebanon and Syria have been producing wine for thousands of years. Only recently, though, has the tradition come back in vogue.

updated Sun Dec 20 2009 21:55:42

Dissident senior cleric dies in Iran

Senior Iranian dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Hussein Ali Montazeri died overnight, several state-run Iranian news agencies reported Sunday.

updated Sun Dec 20 2009 15:58:48

Lebanon and Syria move to thaw relations

The leaders of Lebanon and Syria vowed to improve cooperation between their two countries Sunday, tying up a meeting aimed at thawing frozen relations.

updated Sun Dec 20 2009 07:28:16

Iran-Iraq dispute over oil well still unresolved

Iranian forces that seized an Iraqi oil well have withdrawn from the installation but remain on Iraqi territory, a top Iraqi official charged Sunday.

updated Sat Dec 19 2009 20:21:20

Reports: 3 Iranian prison officials charged in deaths of protesters

Three Iranian prison officials have been charged with murder after three imprisoned protesters were beaten to death in the aftermath of the country's disputed presidential election, Iranian media reported Saturday.

updated Sat Dec 19 2009 13:26:15

Iraqis say oil well still being held; Iran denies claims

Both Iraq and Iran stood their ground Saturday over the reported seizure of a southern Iraqi oil well by Iranian forces.

updated Sat Dec 19 2009 10:22:31

Lebanese leader on first trip to arch-foe Syria

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri arrived in Damascus on Saturday for his first meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad, Hariri's press office said.

updated Fri Dec 18 2009 23:52:00

Source: Yemen airstrike kills al Qaeda deputy

An airstrike in Yemen earlier this week killed a leading al Qaeda figure there, a Yemeni government official said Friday.

updated Fri Dec 18 2009 16:59:04

Iraqis say Iran has seized oil well in Iraq, demand withdrawal

The Iraqi government Friday demanded the withdrawal of an Iranian "armed group" that it says seized an oil well in southern Iraq on Thursday night.

updated Fri Dec 18 2009 13:24:03

Mom pleads with Iran to free daughter, other hikers

A mother pleaded Friday with Iran's supreme leader to release her daughter and two other hikers detained in that country since July.

updated Fri Dec 18 2009 12:28:23

Rescuers search for Lebanon shipwreck victims

A U.N. maritime task force was scouring the stormy waters off the coast of northern Lebanon Friday, searching for survivors from a livestock carrier that sank the night before.

updated Fri Dec 18 2009 08:08:06

Martial-arts trained 'lady guards' latest security craze in Egypt

In a slightly musty gym in the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis, three young women in head scarves are learning how to defend themselves.

updated Fri Dec 18 2009 07:35:12

'Very old world' wine makes a comeback in Lebanon and Syria

The fertile plains of Lebanon and Syria have been producing wine for thousands of years. Only recently, though, has the tradition come back in vogue.

updated Fri Dec 18 2009 05:02:55

Rare gender identity defect hits Gaza families

Two Palestinian teenagers stroll amid the mounds of rubble left by last year's Israeli military offensive, listening to the tinny beat of a Turkish pop song playing on a cell phone.

updated Thu Dec 17 2009 15:19:42

Shroud from Jesus' era found, researchers say

Researchers said Wednesday for the first time they have found what they believe to be pieces of a burial shroud from the time of Jesus.

updated Thu Dec 17 2009 15:01:55

Dozens missing as ship sinks near Lebanon

A ship with 83 people aboard sunk off the coast of northern Lebanon on Thursday , a military spokesman said.

updated Thu Dec 17 2009 14:49:32

Al Qaeda wife sends childcare message

The wife of al Qaeda's second-in-command has purportedly issued a message urging women to raise their children to love holy war and defend Muslim lands.

updated Thu Dec 17 2009 07:13:40

34 killed in Yemen terror raids

Security forces raided locations in two Yemeni provinces killing and arresting dozens of suspected terrorists, the state news agency SABA reported Thursday.

updated Wed Dec 16 2009 15:58:34

Iran tests upgraded long-range missile

Iran tested an upgraded version of a surface-to-surface missile with a range that makes it capable of reaching parts of Europe, state-run television reported Wednesday.

updated Wed Dec 16 2009 03:48:15

Source: 'Alarming' secret document details Iran's nuclear goals

A secret document that appears to show that Iran was working on building nuclear weapons as recently as 2007 is "alarming" and "part of a body of evidence backing up deep concerns over Iran's nuclear program," a Western diplomatic source with knowledge of the papers told CNN on Monday.

updated Wed Dec 16 2009 02:50:31

Expatriate Palestinians irate over revoked residency permits

In 1954, Mahmmoud Hujaij was born with the help of a midwife in a small East Jerusalem house.

updated Tue Dec 15 2009 21:16:13

Al Qaeda in Iraq 'shifting its tactics'

The former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, blames al Qaeda for Tuesday's coordinated bomb attacks in Iraq, saying al Qaeda is now targeting the Iraqi government.

updated Tue Dec 15 2009 13:49:31

Israel condemns 'absurd' UK arrest warrant for Livni

A British court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is "absurd," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday.

updated Tue Dec 15 2009 03:13:16

Car bombs kill four in Baghdad

A series of three car bombs exploded Tuesday near highly guarded central Baghdad locations, killing four people and injuring 14 others, a Ministry of Interior official said.

updated Mon Dec 14 2009 17:26:55

Iraqi government: Iranian refugees to be moved from camp

More than 3,000 Iranian dissidents are set to be moved Tuesday from their refugee camp in northeastern Iraq to a hotel in Baghdad, the Iraqi government said Monday.

updated Mon Dec 14 2009 17:07:34

American hikers to stand trial, Iran says

Three American hikers held in Iran will be put on trial, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told the country's semi-official Fars News Agency on Monday.

updated Mon Dec 14 2009 09:59:22

New protest statement builds in Iran -- men in head scarves

A new anti-government movement has sprung up among protesters in Iran -- and now among their supporters in other countries -- with men posting pictures of themselves on the Internet wearing women's head scarves as a political statement.

updated Sun Dec 13 2009 19:54:35

Exiled Hamas leader visits Iran

Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran, Iran, on Sunday, according to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency.

updated Sun Dec 13 2009 13:49:38

West Bank settlements to receive more funding under plan

The Israeli government on Sunday approved a controversial plan that would classify a number of West Bank settlements as "National Priority Zones," meaning they are entitled to millions of shekels in funding.

updated Sun Dec 13 2009 13:43:29

Iran 'ready to swap uranium for fuel'

Iran is ready to give up some enriched uranium in exchange for fuel that would power a reactor used in cancer research, the country's foreign minister said Sunday, according to Iranian media.

updated Sat Dec 12 2009 14:51:12

Iranian seminarians denounce anti-government protesters

Iranian seminary students and teachers, angered by anti-government protests earlier in the week, held their own demonstration Saturday to show support for the founder of the Islamic Republic, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

updated Sat Dec 12 2009 05:59:37

Officials: Palestinian farmer killed in attack in Gaza

A Palestinian farmer was killed in a cross-border exchange of gunfire between Gaza-based gunmen and Israeli forces, according to medical officials in Gaza.

updated Fri Dec 11 2009 11:49:08

Report lifts veil on trafficking, prostitution of Palestinian women

It's a subject seldom addressed publicly in the Palestinian territories, but for the first time, a report is lifting the veil on the taboo topic of female trafficking and forced prostitution -- and calling for action to stop it.

updated Fri Dec 11 2009 11:09:49

Jewish settlers blamed over mosque attack

Vandals burned a mosque in the West Bank on Friday in an attack a Palestinian official said reflected Israeli settler rage over a government moratorium on settlement construction.

updated Fri Dec 11 2009 09:28:18

Are Internet firms afraid of the Middle East?

The Middle East represents a vast, largely untapped market for Internet businesses across an audience tailor-made for maximizing online revenues, according to industry experts -- so what's holding everyone back?

updated Fri Dec 11 2009 06:02:16

Gates predicts new sanctions against Iran

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he expects Iran to face "significant" new sanctions over its nuclear program.

updated Thu Dec 10 2009 22:11:02

Official: U.S. will not ignore Iran protests

The United States will not sit silently by and ignore what happens on the streets of Tehran, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary for Iran at the State Department said Thursday.

updated Thu Dec 10 2009 14:22:08

Palestinian leader speaks from prison

One of the key players in Palestinian politics and therefore in any future peace talks with Israel has spoken to CNN from his Israeli prison cell. Marwan Barghouti is serving five life sentences following his conviction in an Israeli court on murder and other charges related to his role in planning attacks on Israelis during the second Intifada.

updated Thu Dec 10 2009 13:17:49

Iraqi prime minister cancels meeting with U.S. defense secretary

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki canceled a planned meeting with visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday after being summoned by Iraqi lawmakers to discuss a huge bombing in the capital earlier this week.

updated Thu Dec 10 2009 05:36:42

Al Qaeda claims responsibility in Iraq blasts that killed 127

Al Qaeda's umbrella group in Iraq on Thursday claimed responsibility for a string of suicide car bombings that killed 127 people and wounded 448.

updated Wed Dec 09 2009 18:44:30

Israel court: Deported Palestinian student can't return

An Israeli high court ruled Wednesday that a female college student deported to Gaza by the Israeli military will not be allowed to return to the West Bank to finish her studies.

updated Wed Dec 09 2009 16:25:30

Spate of lethal bombings prompts change of command in Baghdad

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has replaced the commander of Iraqi forces in Baghdad after a string of car bombs killed nearly 130 people, his office announced Wednesday.

updated Tue Dec 08 2009 18:21:02

Iraq sets long-awaited election date

Iraq has finally set a date for elections -- seen as a critical step toward the withdrawal of U.S. troops -- Iraqi officials said Tuesday.

updated Tue Dec 08 2009 14:21:06

Scores dead as car bombs rock Baghdad

Nearly 130 people were killed and more than 400 wounded early Tuesday when a string of five suicide car bombings hit government buildings, a neighborhood and a commercial district in Baghdad, Iraqi authorities said.

updated Mon Dec 07 2009 18:07:28

Iran seeks release of arms dealer facing sentence in U.S.

Iran is calling for the release of an Iranian arms dealer who U.S. authorities say tried to illegally buy U.S. weapons for the Tehran government and was secretly charged, arrested and extradited, state-run media reported Monday.

updated Mon Dec 07 2009 16:46:29

Pakistani Taliban 'have not lost morale,' leader tells CNN

The Pakistani Taliban are waiting the weather out and will take on the military when winter arrives in Pakistan's tribal region, said Taliban leader Hakeemullah Mehsud in a phone call with CNN.

updated Mon Dec 07 2009 15:35:34

Iran police clash with protesters

Demonstrators shouting "Death to the dictator" clashed with police in Iran on Monday as students took to the streets to mark a key national anniversary, witnesses said.

updated Mon Dec 07 2009 10:43:53

Head-turning hijabs: Islamic fashion lets women cover up in style

Just because a woman covers up it doesn't mean she can't show off her individual style. That is the belief of a growing number of fashion designers in the Middle East who are cutting conservative clothes with fashionable flair.

updated Mon Dec 07 2009 09:38:15

Iraqi prime minister hails new election law

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has hailed the passage of a law that calls for elections seen as critical to U.S. plans to withdraw troops.

updated Sun Dec 06 2009 19:46:41

Iraq amends election law after months of dispute

Iraqi lawmakers struck a deal Sunday night to revise the country's elections law after months of disputes that may force a delay of the country's upcoming parliamentary vote.

updated Sun Dec 06 2009 15:44:10

Iran prepares for Students Day protests

Iranian authorities warned of crackdowns as they tried to head off possible protests Monday, when the country marks Students Day -- the anniversary of the 1953 killing of three university students by security forces.

updated Thu Dec 03 2009 11:54:01

Settlers meet Netanyahu over settlement freeze

Settler leaders in Israel voiced their consternation Thursday over the government's 10-month building freeze, with one top leader telling the country's prime minister that the moratorium will be defied.

updated Thu Dec 03 2009 10:56:48

Bus explosion kills, wounds dozens in Syria

An explosion killed or wounded dozens of passengers in a bus in the Syrian capital, Damascus, Thursday morning, an official in the president's office said.

updated Wed Dec 02 2009 21:30:18

Freed by Iran, British sailors land in Dubai

The relatives of five British sailors whose boat apparently drifted into Iranian territorial waters last week voiced relief Wednesday as their sons arrived at a yacht club in Dubai.

updated Wed Dec 02 2009 17:21:17

Spate of suicides by foreign maids in Lebanon sheds light on abuse

A recent spate of suicides by foreign maids in Lebanon is prompting outrage among human rights groups, who say the government is doing too little to protect migrant domestic workers from severe abuse.

updated Wed Dec 02 2009 13:21:07

Spate of suicides by foreign maids in Lebanon sheds light on abuse

A recent spate of suicides by foreign maids in Lebanon is prompting outrage among human rights groups, who say the government is doing too little to protect migrant domestic workers from severe abuse.

updated Wed Dec 02 2009 13:06:55

Protesting freeze, Israeli settlers block inspectors

Leaders of the Jewish settlement movement poured concrete for the foundations of a synagogue Wednesday in this West Bank settlement south of Jerusalem.

updated Wed Dec 02 2009 09:45:42

Doha's treasure trove of Islamic history

Through time the art and architecture of the Islamic world has defined a civilization that once extended from Cordoba in Spain to the Mogul empire in China and India.

updated Wed Dec 02 2009 05:57:43

This month on Inside the Middle East

This month on Inside the Middle East -- Zain Verjee hosts from Doha, Qatar.

updated Wed Dec 02 2009 02:07:15

Ahmadinejad: Russia 'made a mistake' in IAEA vote

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Russia erred last week when it voted for the U.N. nuclear watchdog's resolution rebuking Iran for its nuclear activities.

updated Tue Dec 01 2009 17:16:59

UK urges 'speedy' end in Iran yacht case

Britain said Tuesday that it has asked Iran for a "speedy resolution" in the case of five British sailors being held by Tehran.

updated Tue Dec 01 2009 15:54:25

Israel: EU call to split Jerusalem would risk peace hopes

The Israeli government reacted strongly Tuesday to a report that the European Union is planning on officially calling for the division of Jerusalem between Palestinians and Israelis.

updated Tue Dec 01 2009 15:54:04

What now for sailing in the Gulf?

The detention of five British sailors by Iran in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday has cast a shadow over the area's ambition to become the world's prime destination for luxury sailing events.

updated Tue Dec 01 2009 15:08:54

Iraq's national museum to lure 'virtual visitors'

It houses some of ancient Mesopotamia's rarest artifacts, but what is even harder to find at Iraq's National Museum are visitors.

updated Tue Dec 01 2009 14:22:06

Iraq's civilian death toll in November is lowest since war began

Fewer Iraqi civilians were killed in November as a result of war-related violence than in any other month since the U.S.-led invasion began nearly seven years ago, a CNN count of Iraqi government figures shows.

updated Tue Dec 01 2009 10:55:46

U.S.: Time running out for Iran

The White House warned Iran Tuesday that it faces further sanctions if "they don't stop their enrichment activities, if they don't forsake their nuclear weapons program."

updated Tue Dec 01 2009 07:36:22

Efforts underway to free British yacht crew held in Iran

The father of a British sailor who was detained along with his four crew mates by the Iranian Navy last month says the five are being held in Iran but being treated well.

updated Mon Nov 30 2009 17:41:43

Hezbollah blames U.S. for all terrorism

Hezbollah's chief on Monday announced the group's new "manifesto," which calls on all countries to "liberate Jerusalem" and declares the United States a threat to the world.

updated Sun Nov 29 2009 22:27:06

Iran authorizes 10 new uranium plants

Iran's Cabinet has authorized the construction of another 10 uranium enrichment plants, its state news agency announced Sunday, further defying international calls to halt its production of nuclear fuel.

updated Sun Nov 29 2009 18:22:07

Israel could release 980 Palestinians to free soldier, prosecutors say

Israel could release 980 Palestinian prisoners in a possible deal to win the freedom of an Israeli soldier held captive by Hamas for three years, prosecutors disclosed Sunday.

updated Sat Nov 28 2009 23:32:27

Covering the Hajj: A CNN reporter's view

Hajj is hard. I covered the pilgrimage 2 years ago, but back then, my mind was overwhelmed by the sheer spectacle of it all. In 2007, the sights and sounds had a dizzying effect. It was like being on a roller coaster, rushing along at break-neck speed.

updated Sat Nov 28 2009 21:42:20

Death toll nears 100 from Saudi floods

The death toll from the torrential rains and heavy floods that engulfed western Saudi Arabia this week rose to 98 on Saturday, with dozens of people still missing, Information Ministry officials said.

updated Sat Nov 28 2009 21:22:08

A bridge to safety unveiled for Hajj stoning ritual

Chanting "Allahu Akbar" -- God is Greater than any -- more than 2 million pilgrims crossed new pedestrian bridges Saturday to perform one of the last rituals of the Hajj season.

updated Sat Nov 28 2009 18:29:52

Hajj pilgrims not among those killed in rain

The torrential rains and heavy floods that slammed and engulfed western Saudi Arabia on Wednesday killed dozens of people, but it appeared Thursday that none were Hajj pilgrims making the obligatory journey for Muslims across the globe.

updated Sat Nov 28 2009 15:50:40

U.S. military faces operation pack up

The U.S. drawdown currently happening in Iraq is not just about service members, it also involves military equipment. Because there's so much of it, packing it up and moving it out has become one of the most challenging missions.

updated Fri Nov 27 2009 22:00:28

Pilgrimage to Mecca in photos

updated Fri Nov 27 2009 21:27:16

Hajj pilgrim leaders renew faith

For the average pilgrim, going for Hajj poses financial and physical burdens, but a U.S. couple who aspire to attend the Hajj every year has found a way to help with the steep cost.

updated Fri Nov 27 2009 19:49:46

Shifting sands for Dubai's property dream

For the past decade, Dubai has been home to the greatest concentration of cranes anywhere in the world as billions of tonnes of concrete, steel and glass have refashioned the city skyline.

updated Fri Nov 27 2009 16:26:05

U.S. officials talk tough on Iran sanctions

The United States warned Iran on Friday it is prepared to push for significantly stronger economic sanctions against it in the wake of the U.N nuclear watchdog's resolution censuring Tehran's nuclear program.

updated Fri Nov 27 2009 15:12:48

U.N. watchdog urges suspension of Iran nuclear facility

The board of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency Friday sharply criticized Iran's nuclear activities in a resolution, and urged Iran to immediately suspend construction of its recently disclosed nuclear facility at Qom.

updated Thu Nov 26 2009 12:12:04

Sunni leader holds fate of Iraq's newly revised election bill

The fate of Iraq's newly revised election law again hinges on the approval of the country's Sunni Arab vice president, who is under pressure to sign the much-contested plan.

updated Thu Nov 26 2009 08:26:13

Bombs shake Iraq before Muslim holiday

A series of bombings in Iraq, just before a major Muslim holiday, killed at least six people and wounded 44 others on Thursday.

updated Thu Nov 26 2009 08:03:42

U.S. couple from Georgia experiences Hajj pilgrimage

Hina Babar had prepared for this day for months. But now, as she landed in Saudi Arabia for the Muslim pilgrimage Hajj, the time seemed to have flown by.

updated Thu Nov 26 2009 07:38:50

Jewish orphan finds new life with Indian savior

In a scene his parents would have been heartened to see, family and friends recently thronged around young Moshe Holtzberg as men in black suits and black hats took turns cutting locks of hair from the boy's head on a stage in a rented party tent outside Tel Aviv, Israel.

updated Wed Nov 25 2009 19:58:21

Navy SEALs accused of punching accused Falluja plotter

Three U.S. Navy SEALs face criminal charges after the alleged mastermind of one of the most notorious crimes against Americans in Iraq accused them of punching him after his capture, the military said Wednesday.

updated Wed Nov 25 2009 17:37:31

Israel approves temporary settlement freeze

Israeli government ministers Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a temporary freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank in an effort to restart peace talks with the Palestinians.

updated Wed Nov 25 2009 16:05:20

Gunmen kill 6 in Iraqi home, official says

Gunmen clad in Iraqi army uniforms stormed a house Wednesday north of Baghdad and killed six members of a family, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official said.

updated Wed Nov 25 2009 14:04:17

UK to probe Iraq abuse, killing claims

British Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth announced a public inquiry Wednesday into allegations that Iraqis were killed and abused after a firefight more than five years ago in the southern part of the country.

updated Wed Nov 25 2009 14:01:48

The Hajj: Thinner crowds and lots of rain

The Hajj, an obligatory pilgrimage for Muslims, began this year on Wednesday with two twists: thinner crowds and heavy rain.

updated Wed Nov 25 2009 13:09:14

Hajj masks Islamic differences

The path from the holy city of Mecca to the Mina desert turned a sea of white Wednesday as throngs of Muslims began the annual pilgrimage known as the Hajj.

updated Wed Nov 25 2009 05:52:07

Four dead in Iraq restaurant bombing

A bomb killed at least four people and wounded 25 others in one of Iraq's holy cities Wednesday morning, an Interior Ministry official said.

updated Tue Nov 24 2009 17:29:18

Iraqi VP warns he'll veto election legislation for second time

Iraq's Sunni Arab vice president said Tuesday he will again veto legislation that sets the framework for the country's upcoming elections, saying revisions passed after his first veto made the bill worse.

updated Tue Nov 24 2009 14:24:54

Mapping faith: The pilgrimage to Mecca

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