Iraqi al Qaeda wing merges with Syrian counterpart
DUBAI — Iraq's al Qaeda wing has united with a kindred Syrian group in the frontline of a struggle to oust President Bashar al-Assad, sharpening a dilemma for nations that back the revolt, but fear rising Islamist militancy.The leader of the Islamic State of Iraq, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, said his group had trained and funded fighters...Assad to Arab League: He who lacks legitimacy cannot grant it
DAMASCUS — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has lashed out at the Arab League and its decision to hand Syria's seat to the opposition, saying the body "lacks legitimacy," according to comments published on Thursday."The Arab League lacks legitimacy. It's a League that represents the Arab states, not the Arab people, so it can't grant...
Syria lurches toward ‘war of the rebels’
April 5th, 20130 BEIRUT - As Syria's civil war grinds on, major differences are emerging between Islamist and secular rebel forces, raising fears that the defining conflict will be a showdown between these forces rather than battling the Damascus regime.There are growing fears that the country will be divided in a war between north and south, a split...Turkey’s unsustainable politics in the Middle East: Israel vs. the rest
'Confused’ may be an appropriate term to describe Turkey’s current foreign policy in the Middle East and Israel in particular. The source of that confusion - aside from the appalling violence in Syria and earlier in Libya – is Turkey’s own mistakes.The Turkish government’s inconsistency regarding Israel highlights earlier...Arab League Summit: Doha calls the shots
DOHA — In its drive to bring about the downfall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Qatar succeeded in granting the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) Damacus’ seat at the March 26 Arab League Summit in Doha.It didn’t matter that SNC president Moaz al-Khatib had resigned or the president of the opposition transitional...
Government collapse throws Lebanon in deeper political crisis
March 29th, 20130 BEIRUT - The three Lebanese governments formed during President Michel Suleiman’s five-year term have all been forced into existence due to external pressures.The 2008 Fouad Siniora government was the result of the Doha Agreement. The 2009 Saad Hariri government saw the light of day due to a Saudi-Syrian reconciliation. The 2011 Najib...Mortar attack kills 15 at Damascus University
A mortar attack on Damascus University killed at least 15 students on Thursday, state television reported, blaming rebels who have stepped up attacks in the heart of the Syrian capital. The broadcaster, blamed "terrorists" for the attack, using the regime term for insurgents.Previously, the television station had reported that several...World Social Forum debuts in Arab world
Participants take part in a march to mark the start of the World Social Forum in Tunis March 26, 2013. The forum, which runs till March 30, will see activists gathered from around the world to discuss diverse issues including economics, human rights and the environment. REUTERS/Zoubeir SouissiTUNIS — The Tunisian capital...
Benny Napoleon kicks off campaign for Detroit Mayor
March 29th, 20130 DETROIT — Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon announced his bid for Detroit Mayor on Tuesday evening at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, where over 1,000 guests were in attendance to support his campaign kick off.Napoleon, 57, told the crowd that he would be the right person to lead a turn-around for the city. He criticized current...
Arab Americans raise funds for Detroit mayoral hopeful Duggan
March 29th, 20130 DEARBORN — Detroit mayoral candidate Mike Duggan was at Byblos Banquet Hall Tuesday where a campaign fundraiser was held for him. Nearly 35 people attended, including several Arab American community activists. The event was organized by Attorney James Allen, Hassan Jaber, executive director of the Arab Community Center for...Lavrov: Arab League decision to recognize rebels denies peaceful solution
The Arab League’s recognition of the Syrian opposition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people means that the League is refusing to allow a peaceful settlement in Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.“We consider the main meaning of the decisions made that the Arab League has refused a peaceful settlement...Mosque suicide bombing kills prominent cleric
DAMASCUS - A suicide bombing rocked a Damascus mosque on Thursday, killing at least 42 people including Syria's most prominent Sunni cleric, state media and a watchdog group said.The bomber blew himself up inside the Iman Mosque in central Damascus as the cleric, Mohamed al-Bouti, addressed religious students, in an attack that echoed...
Iraq once more on the brink of war
March 22nd, 20130 KIRKUK, Iraq (IPS) — Driving into the city of Kirkuk, one is greeted by the view of a huge sea of grey concrete houses from which laundry has been hung out to dry in the wind and be blackened by smoke rising from the surrounding oil wells.Only the turquoise flags fluttering from lampposts and balconies break the monochromatic view,...Syrian delegates push for peaceful resolution of conflict
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) — Amidst ongoing violence between the Syrian regime and opposition forces, and serious international discourse on arming the opposition, some Syrian civil society leaders are insisting upon a non-violent approach toward conflict resolution.Dr. Haytham Manna and Dr. Rim Turkmani traveled to New York and Washington...
Accusations swirl over Syrian chemical attack
March 22nd, 20130 A day after an alleged chemical weapon attack in Syria Tuesday, international actors weighed in on the event, as the Syrian government and insurgents exchanged accusations over who was responsible for the death of at least 25 people as a result of the toxic chemicals.Syrian state media reported Tuesday that "terrorists fired rockets......
New resignations show more cracks within Syria’s National Coalition
At least 12 key members of Syria's National Coalition said Wednesday they had suspended their membership in the main opposition body amid a row over the deeply divisive election of the first rebel prime minister.The group of 12 included the Coalition's deputy Soheir Atassi and spokesman Walid al-Bunni.Their decision came amid bitter...Syria state media attack Hitto: American pawn who avoided military service in Syri
DAMASCUS — Syria's state media on Wednesday slammed rebel forces for electing Ghassan Hitto as opposition premier, saying he was a pawn of foreign nations complicit in a "conspiracy" against Syria.Al-Watan daily said Hitto had been "appointed" by Turkey and Qatar, which both back the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, along......
Can Syria be saved from destruction?
The two-year civil war in Syria has reached a highly critical juncture. Either the antagonists will persist in their life-and-death struggle or they will decide to seek some sort of a compromise -- imperfect, of course, like all compromises -- but which would put an end to the blood-letting and save their country from partition and...U.S.: Israel must recognize changed Mideast dynamics
WASHINGTON - The White House says Israel's security depends in part on its ability to court Arab public opinion, as the strongman leaders it long depended on give way to democratically elected governments that may be more hostile to the Jewish state."There is now a situation in which Israel can't count on just a few autocrats holding...Iraqi youth dreams wrecked by decade of violence
BAGHDAD - Yasmine wants a future free of violence and fear, but like many young Iraqis, 10 years of bloodshed have made her doubt she can find such a future in her home country and she now wants to leave.The 25-year-old is one of a generation of Iraqis who grew up during the battles and brutal sectarian killings that followed the 2003...Mike Sareini announces run for Dearborn’s city council
DEARBORN — Mike Sareini has officially announced his bid for a seat in this year’s city council race, eyeing to take one of the seven spots available in this November's election. Sareini is looking to build on the work established by his mother, Suzanne Sareini, who announced this week that she will not seek a re-election after......
Gaza marathon cancelled by UN after Hamas bans women from participating
GAZA (Reuters) - The main United Nations agency in Gaza has cancelled the annual marathon in the small Palestinian territory after ruling Hamas Islamists banned women from the race.Hamas said having women in the annual event, scheduled for April 10, contravened Islamic tradition even though dozens of Palestinian schoolgirls had started...Israel accused of abusing detained children
UN report says Palestinian minors, most arrested for rock-throwing, face systemic ill-treatment by Israeli authorities.UNICEF said that most of the detained Palestinian youths were arrested for rock-throwing Palestinian children detained by Israeli authorities face systematic abuse that violates international law, the United Nations......
Israeli apartheid further cemented by segregated bus lines
WEST BANK - Israel launched two Palestinians-only bus lines in the occupied West Bank on Monday, a step an Israeli rights group described as racist and which the Transport Ministry called an improvement in service.The left-wing Haaretz daily reported the ministry opened the lines, to be used by Palestinian laborers traveling between...Lon Johnson chosen as new State Democratic leader after Brewer withdraws
Lon Johnson.DETROIT- Mark Brewer ended his candidacy for Democratic Chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party Saturday after 18 years in the seat.Brewer announced his withdrawal from the race, opening the door for Kalkaska Democrat Lon Johnson to become the party's next chairman, which was cemented in a unanimous vote by 3,600......