Middle East

By Agencies

Egypt's army has sent reinforcements into the Sinai Peninsula after President Mohamed Morsi said there would be no talks with fighters who abducted seven members of the security forces last week.

Read more: Egypt sends more forces over Sinai kidnapping

By Agencies

The death toll in Iraq from four consecutive days of violence has reached at least 140 people, stirring fears that rising sectarian conflicts could lead the country into civil war.

Read more: Iraq death toll stirs fears of civil war

By Agencies

Jordan will play a role in the negotiations for a final settlement in the long-running conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, the kingdom's prime minister has said.

Read more: Jordan eyes role in Israeli-Palestinian talks

By Agencies

Iranian authorities have executed two men convicted of working for Israeli and US spy agencies, Iran's Fars news agency says.

Read more: Iran executes two suspected spies

By Agencies

Egyptian police angered by the kidnapping of seven of their colleagues by armed fighters in the Sinai Peninsula, have blocked a commercial border crossing with Israel, security sources have said.

Read more: Egyptian police block border crossings

By Agencies

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he will not resign before elections in 2014 and warned against the opposition, in an interview with an Argentine newspaper.

Read more: Assad insists he will not step down

By Agencies

The Syrian army has pounded the rebel-held central town of Qusayr, killing at least 40 people in an apparent preparation for a ground assault, watchdog and activists said.

Read more: Syrian army attacks rebel stronghold Qusayr

By Agencies

Several government websites in Saudi Arabia were hacked in a series of heavy cyber attacks from overseas in recent days, disabling them briefly until the attacks were repelled, the government has said.

Read more: Hackers target Saudi government websites

By Agencies

Egyptian security forces have fired tear gas at protesters hurling firebombs at them in central Cairo, hours after hundreds of opponents of Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi rallied peacefully in the streets denouncing his rule and demanding early presidential elections.

Read more: Egypt security forces clash with protesters

By Agencies

Violence in Iraq has killed 12 people, including a police officer, his wife and two children, while gunmen kidnapped 10 security force personnel, officials said.

Read more: Deadly Iraq violence spills into fourth day