The 1989 Taif Accord which ended Lebanon's Civil War also ended Christian dominance of national politics and drastically reduced presidential powers, through which Christian hegemony was constitutionally expressed. However, the symbolism of Lebanon's presidency can still carry significant political weight

The US government has labeled the Iraq-based Kataeb Hizbullah a "foreign terrorist organization" and levied financial sanctions against the outfit, saying it poses a risk to Iraqi security and has received support and training from the Lebanese Hizbullah movement. The

Israel carried out "wanton" and "deliberate" destruction of the besieged Gaza Strip during a 22-day offensive in December and January, a leading human-rights group said Friday. Unveiling their latest report, "Operation 'Cast Lead': 22 Days of Death and Destruction," Amnesty

An Israeli submarine sailed the Suez Canal to the Red Sea as part of a naval drill last month, defense sources said on Friday, describing the unusual manoeuvre as a show of strategic reach in the face of Iran. Israel

The political unrest in Iran over President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election marks a key point in the ideological struggle between ultra-conservatives and reformers, according to analysts. Thirty years after the creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the two factions are

An official Bahrain delegation travelled to Israel on an unprecedented trip to recover a group of nationals held by the Jewish state, the state news agency reported on Friday. According to BNA, the Bahrainis were in a group of pro-Palestinian

There is no place outside Iran that has closer links to Tehran's ruling establishment than Iraq's holy Shiite city of Najaf, where the silence during Iran's post-election crisis says much about the deep complexities of their cross-border bonds. "Simply put,

Israel's Defense Ministry has recommended a partial lifting of the embargo on the Gaza Strip as a goodwill gesture toward the Palestinians to spur talks to free a long-held captive soldier, an Israeli news site reported Friday. Israel has been

Dubai-based logistics firm Aramex soared nearly 15 percent Thursday after regulators gave it the nod to modify its ownership rules, setting a possible precedent for firms eager to attract more foreign investors. Aramex shares, listed at the Dubai Financial Market,

Federal marshals seized disgraced financier Bernard Madoff's $7 million Manhattan penthouse on Thursday and forced his wife to move out and leave her possessions behind, including a fur coat she had asked to take with her, an official told The

Major countries should support the dollar as the key international currency, although emerging nations may discuss a new global reserve currency on the sidelines of the G8 summit next week, a Japanese official said on Friday. China has asked for

China's ambitious plan to increase wind power capacity could attract up to $150 billion in investment, but Beijing will have to get serious about revamping regulations and building much needed infrastructure.China is set to raise its wind power capacity to

Oil fell towards $66 a barrel on Friday, adding to a drop of nearly 4 percent the previous day, as unemployment data hardened views economic weakness would sap energy demand further and that last month's rally was overdone. In the

For a long time it's been an open secret in Lebanon, although it continues to raise eyebrows, and cause extreme puzzlement. It's the following: a series of countries - Iran, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Israel, France, and the US, for

Analysts say Fillon's trip to Baghdad, with large delegation of French political and business leaders, is another positive sign for war-torn nation

White House says vice president's visit is aimed at reiterating US commitment to withdraw forces from Iraq

Biden's trip comes amid surge of insurgent attacks that are testing capabilities of Iraqi forces

Authorities say roadside bomb struck Iraqi army patrol, at least eight wounded

Former Iraqi dictator said he allowed the world to believe he had weapons of mass destruction because he did not want to appear weak to Iran

Baghdad - Iraqi forces have assumed formal control of security in Baghdad and other cities after U.S. combat troops withdrew from urban areas. A countdown clock broadcast on Iraqi TV ticked to zero as the midnight deadline passed for combat