Main headlines

March 11, 2013

A Syrian rebel aims his weapon during clashes with government forces in the streets near Aleppo international airport in northern Syria on Monday (Photo: AFP/Stephen J. Boitano) - Picture used for illustrative purposes -
09:57 GMT

An al-Qaeda group claims responsibility for last week's killing of 48 Syrian soldiers and nine Iraqi guards in western Iraq.

Members of the Ansaru group speaking in an unverified location on Dec 24 2012 (AFP Photo)
08:40 GMT

The Ansaru group claimed to have killed all seven hostages, including British, Italian and Greek citizens on Saturday.

These undated photographs obtained courtesy of the Levinson family shows former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran nearly six years ago. (AFP PHOTO / LEVINSON FAMILY)
07:51 GMT

Six years after he first disappeared, Robert Levinson is still missing in the Persian state.

Iraqi protestors gather during a demonstration in the city of Samarra on March 8, 2013. Protestors have taken to the streets in Sunni-majority areas for more than two months, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. (AFP PHOTO / MAHMOUD AL-SAMARRAI)
05:00 GMT

One of the organizers of an anti-government rally close to the capital has been shot and killed according to reports.

March 10, 2013

The Khuzestan region of Iran is rich in oil. (press tv)
17:40 GMT

A blast in the south of the country injures a number of bystanders and damages several cars.

Iraqi protestors shout slogans during a demonstration in the Iraqi city of Samarra in early March demanding the ousting of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. (AFP PHOTO / MAHMOUD AL-SAMARRAI)
10:31 GMT

Iraqi authorities send security forces to break up demonstrators at the main rallying point for anti-government Sunni protests in Western Iraq.

Mohammed al Qahtani was sentenced to ten years in prison.
09:26 GMT

Two human rights activists are jailed for setting up an illegal organization in the Kingdom and rebelling against the authority of the king.

This image released by the SITE Intelligence Group, reportedly shows the executions of seven foreign employees of the Setraco construction company kidnapped by the Nigerian Islamist group Ansaru. (AFP PHOTO / SITE Intelligence Group)
06:58 GMT

Among the men kidnapped by a splinter group of Boko Haram were three Middle Easterners according to reports.

A picture taken from the Israeli side in the Golan Heights shows smoke after shells exploded in the Syrian village of al-Jamlah, close to the ceasefire line between Israel and Syria. (AFP PHOTO/JACK GUEZ)
05:00 GMT

According to a report by British newspaper, The Guardian, opposition fighters are being trained by British and French troops.

March 9, 2013

Filipino UN peacekeepers cross the Quneitra checkpoint between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights on Saturday. (AFP PHOTO/AHMAD GHARABLI)
13:31 GMT

The group of 21 peacekeepers kidnapped by Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights are handed over to the Jordanian authorities.

Egyptians attend the funeral procession of Abdelhalim Mehana, who was killed during clashes with riot police in Port Said on March 4. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI
08:31 GMT

21 of the defendants in the Egyptian trial have been sentenced to execution with a further five set to spend life in jail.

A UN vehicle is seen driving behind barbwire as UN peacekeepers leave a post, in the demilitarised United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) zone, in the Golan Heights. (AFP PHOTO/JACK GUEZ)
05:30 GMT

The vehicles had to turn back after the Syrian army shelled the area where the UN workers are being held.

An Egyptian protestor flashes the sign for victory as he puts a flag with writing on it reading in Arabic: "state of Port Said" on the gate of the security headquarters, following the withdrawal of police forces from the main office. (AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI)
05:00 GMT

More than 30 police stations close as the security situation across Egypt deteriorates.

March 8, 2013

US Senator Kelly Ayotte points to a photo of Sulaiman Abu Ghaith (L) during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI)
12:12 GMT

The son-in-law of the late Osama Bin Laden, who was acting as spokesman for the terrorist organization now faces charges in the U.S.

Laborers work at the construction site of a border fence along Israel's border with Syria in the Golan Heights. (AFP PHOTO/JACK GUEZ)
05:00 GMT

According to the opposition fighters in the disputed Golan Heights they were not trying to kidnap the UN staff.