Middle East

By Agencies

Four UN peackeepers are being held in the so-called Area of Limitation between Syria and Israel, where neither Israeli nor Syrian forces can operate.

Read more: UN peacekeepers seized near Syria border

By Agencies

Tanzanian authorities have arrested six people, including four from Saudi Arabia, in connection with an attack that killed two people and injured 30 others during a mass at a church, officials say.

Read more: Saudis arrested over blast at Tanzania church

By Agencies

At least 11 people have been killed in three bomb explosions in the Iraqi capital, medics and police say.

Read more: Deadly blasts hit Iraqi capital

By Agencies

A UN team of investigators into rights abuses in Syria has stressed there is no conclusive proof of either side in the conflict using chemical weapons, despite a team member's claims to the contrary.

Read more: UN: No clear proof of Syria chemical arms use

By Agencies

Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki's coalition came top in provincial elections two weeks ago, results released on Saturday showed, but failed to win a majority in any district, meaning it will need alliances to hold onto senior provincial posts.

Read more: Iraqi PM's coalition leads in local vote

By Agencies

Syria's information minister has given warning that Israeli air raids against three targets on the outskirts of Damascus "open the door to all possibilities".

Read more: Syria warns Israel after 'latest air raids'

By Agencies

Human Rights Watch has urged Iraqi authorities to give a government committee charged with probing a deadly raid by security forces on a protest camp last week greater financial and political backing to investigate who is responsible for what it described as an apparently unlawful use of lethal force.

Read more: Iraq pressured to step up raid probe

By Agencies

Hundreds of Sunni Muslim families are fleeing their homes in Syria's coastal town of Banias, fearing further sectarian violence after fighters loyal to President Bashar al-Assad killed dozens of people overnight, according to opposition activists.

Read more: Syrians flee coastal town after mass killings

By Agencies

The Syrian opposition has denounced the "large-scale massacre" by troops and militiamen in the village of al-Baida after an activist group said at least 50 people were killed.

Read more: Syria opposition slams village 'massacre'

By Agencies

Russia and China have rejected UN Security Council plans to inspect Syrian refugee camps in Jordan, citing it as a potential attempt to prepare for "foreign intervention" in Syria, where government forces are trying to crush a two-year-old uprising.

Read more: Russia blocks probe into Syrian refugee camps