Iranian top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani reiterated Monday Tehran's rejection to stop uranium enrichment.

Larijani, who is the secretary general of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), told a news conference Iran would not accept conditional negotiations over its nuclear program.

The Iranian government 'insists on its position over uranium enrichment,' said Larijani.

But he said Iran would remain 'open' over negotiations that should be 'constructive and reasonable without any previous c ... full story

Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League (AL) Ahmad Bin Hilli announced Monday that the Iraqi national dialogue conference will take place on August.

The announcement came during a joint conference with Iraqi deputy foreign minister Lubaid Abawi.

Bin Hilli had discussed this matter with the Iraqi leadership and said that a preparatory committee for the national conference will be established on July 22.

The AL official said that the current schedule was chosen to give a chance for Iraq's poli ... full story

Palestinian security forces were on high alert Monday after Palestinian Authority and Hamas security forces clashed in Rafah, resulting in two deaths.

Hamas forces also fired shots at a government building in Rafah.

In response, Fatah supporters set fire to a building used by the Hamas-led government in Ramallah. That fire was later brought under control.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas put the forces on high alert and deployed security forces around ministries in Ramallah to protect ... full story

The new leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq will be 'brought to justice', US President George W Bush has pledged.

Abu Hamza al-Mujahir was named as the successor to Abu Musub al-Zarqawi, killed in a US air strike last week.

Speaking during two days of talks with key advisers over future US strategy in Iraq, Mr Bush was quick to insist that Mujahir would be 'on our list'.

A website confirming Mujahir's role described him as 'knowledgeable', with a history of fighting a holy war.

Mr Bush described Zarq ... full story

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has placed his security forces on high alert after deadly factional violence in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Mr Abbas ordered troops to take control after gunmen loyal to his Fatah group set fire to Hamas offices in Ramallah.

Violence flared after earlier clashes in Gaza, where two people were killed.

The Palestinian Authority has been dogged by a power struggle since Hamas won elections in January, ousting Fatah from government.

Senior Palestinian negot ... full story

The Hamas-led Palestinian government has agreed to withdraw a controversial militia from the streets of Gaza.

Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad said the black-clad militia 'are going to be in places away from the public'.

The deal is aimed at ending weeks of violent tensions between Hamas, and Fatah factions loyal to the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Meanwhile, Palestinian sources say three Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border.

Details are still sketchy, but acc ... full story

Iraqi parliament spokesman Mahmmoud Al-Mashhadani held talks on Wednesday with members of the British House of Commons on the security situation in the southern city of Basra.

Al-Mashhadani met with defense committee members in the British parliament to discuss the importance of stabilizing the situation in Iraq, especially after the deteriorating security situation in Basra.

Positive activation of legal, executive and legislative establishments in Iraq was also discussed in order to maintain unity an ... full story

The United States said on Wednesday Iran's suspension of enrichment activities is key to holding negotiations with Tehran over the incentive and disincentive package offered by the major powers.

'They would need to suspend all enrichment and reprocessing-related activities -- all enrichment and related reprocessing activities. So that is the prerequisite for negotiations. Iran needs to suspend all enrichment and reprocessing related activities,' State Department Spokesman Sean McCormick said.

But McCo ... full story

Syria and Iran on Wednesday termed their relations as strategic and sustainable, said a report released by the Foreign Ministry's Media Department after a meeting between Syrian president's special envoy, Mohammad Nassif and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

The report, carried by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), said The two officials assessed the stance and role of regional states, in particular the neighboring ones, in promoting Iraq's security and stability as important and reitera ... full story

The U.S. military said it released 204 male detainees in Iraq on Tuesday.

A military statement said they were released after the Iraqi-U.S. Combined Review and Release Board reviewed their files and recommended release. It gave no further details.

Many Iraqi detainees complain they are held for long periods in U.S. military jails without charge before being released or transferred to a court.

About 15,000 inmates are being held in U.S. military jails.

The board, established in 2004, has reviewed ... full story