Middle East

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

By Agencies

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews have protested in Jerusalem against plans to enlist men from their community into the army.

Read more: Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest Israel army draft

By Agencies

The website and Twitter feed of the Financial Times (FT) have been hacked, apparently by the "Syrian Electronic Army", a group of online activists who say they support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Read more: Syria hackers breach Financial Times accounts

By Agencies

A member of Iran's constitutional watchdog group has said women cannot be presidential candidates, effectively killing the largely symbolic bids by about 30 women seeking to run in the June 14 election.

Read more: Iran rejects women presidential hopefuls

By Agencies

The Israeli government says it is taking steps to approve four new settler outposts in the Occupied West Bank, in a decision condemned by Palestinian officials.

Read more: Israel to approve four West Bank settlements

By Agencies

At least 76 people have been killed in bombings in majority Sunni districts in Baghdad and surrounding areas in the deadliest day in Iraq in more than eight months have officials said.

Read more: Scores killed in attacks on Iraqi Sunnis

By Agencies

Twelve people have been killed in an attack on a Shia place of worship, or husseiniyah, in the northern Iraq city of Kirkuk, the AFP news agency reports.

Read more: Suicide bomber targets Iraq place of worship

By Agencies

A group of unidentified gunmen have kidnapped seven Egyptian security officers in the Sinai Peninsula, near the border with Israel, security and Bedouin sources have said.

Read more: Security forces kidnapped in Egypt's Sinai