IRAQ: Shia Pilgrims Progress Past Saddam

The sound of Shias beating themselves on the chest has been thumping through Iraq over the past week. It is the pilgrimage to Karbala in newfound liberty.

/MAY DAY/IRAN: Labour Week After a Year Without Pay

Karamat Aqaee was laid off work as an accountant from the Ahvaz Steel Company in Khozestan in the south of Iran eight years ago. His views were found to be incompatible with the ideology of the Islamic government.

MIDDLE EAST: Palestine needs better government

A major United Arab Emirates (UAE) English daily today commented on the rift between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and his chosen prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, over the latter's choice of cabinet.

IRAQ-CONFLICT: US intends establishing long-term military relationship

A major United Arab Emirates (UAE) English daily today commented on US hegemony over the issue of Iraq.

UAE: Dubai to play key role in Iraq rebuilding

United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US agency that awards deals for the reconstruction of Iraq, has picked Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as one of the three centers that will be used to provide logistics support to the post-Saddam rebuilding effort in the war-ravaged country.

UAE-FINANCES: No assets of former Iraqi government in any bank in country

United Arab Emirates (UAE) Central Bank Governor Sultan bin Nasir Al Suweidi has said that there were no assets of the former Iraqi government, or of any individuals or companies belonging to that government in any bank in the UAE.

IRAQ-CONFLICT: US tried to discredit UN inspectors, Blix says

US officials tried to discredit UN weapons inspectors working in Iraq in a bid to win Security Council support for military action, the UN's chief inspector said in an interview aired Tuesday.

IRAQ: British MP threatens suit over report he received money from Saddam

A member of the British parliament and vociferous opponent of the war against Iraq said Tuesday he would sue a respected conservative daily newspaper that alleged he had received money from Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's regime.

IRAQ-CONFLICT: US administrator visits north

US General Jay Garner, head of the civil administration in Iraq, on Tuesday met with Jalal Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan in Sulaimaniya, North Iraq.

MIDDLE EAST: Some 100 Palestinians fell martyr in one month

About 100 Palestinians fell martyr and 883 others were wounded, some seriously, during February due to continued Israeli attacks on Palestinians, said a report released in Jordan today.

IRAQ-CONFLICT: Philippine humanitarian mission to leave next month

A 500-member Philippine humanitarian mission will leave for Iraq next month to participate in reconstruction efforts in the war-torn country, an official said Tuesday.

YEMEN: General elections on Sunday

Preparations have gone into full swing for holding the general parliamentary elections next Sunday in which 3,489 candidates are running for election in the 301 seat Yemeni parliament.

MIDDLE EAST: Missile and bomb attack on Israeli site in south Gaza

A military site manned by the Israeli occupation forces near Rafah on the Gaza-Egyptian border was hit Tuesday morning by an anti-tank missile and two bombs, Israeli military sources said.

UAE-WOMEN: Businesswomen presented with awards

Two of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) most self-motivated and skilled businesswomen became the first ever recipients of the Emirates Businesswomen Award that has been instituted to recognize the achievements of women in the professional and business world in the UAE.

IRAQ: Possible scenarios after end of US-led war

A leading United Arab Emirates (UAE) English daily ‘Gulf News' commented today on the possible scenarios for a new liberated post Saddam Iraq saying that a free and democratic Iraq will be difficult to shape while US forces are present in Iraq.

IRAQ: Coalition forces held responsible for damage to manuscripts and

The International Council on Archives (ICA) has decided to set up a special committee to be based in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to protect Iraq's historical manuscripts and documents and protect the country's heritage in the wake of massive destruction caused by the ongoing war to Iraqi national archives, a senior official said here yesterday.

MIDDLE EAST: Put peace above the roadmap, says UAE daily

A major United Arab Emirates (UAE) English daily today urged all the parties concerned in the - roadmap" to peace in the Middle East to show good faith in implementing existing plans instead of drawing more.

IRAQ: US does not recognize Al-Zubaidi as Baghdad ‘governor’

The United States does not recognize Mohammed Mohsen al-Zubaidi, a former exile who says he is governor of Baghdad, a senior US official said on Monday.

IRAQ: ‘Saddam Spotting’ Grips Arabs

Newly released video footage of Saddam Hussein has rekindled the debate over the Iraqi leader's fate, and is adding new twists to conspiracy theories circulating on Egyptian streets.

POLITICS-IRAN: A Friendly Move Towards the ‘Great Satan’

An interview with a key leader published in a magazine two months ahead of schedule raises new questions about Iranian relations with the U.S.

GULF: IT market estimated to reach US$ 7.9 billion in 2005

A recent study has projected that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) IT market will grow at a compound rate of 9.4 percent for the next three years to reach US$ 7.9 billion in 2005, against the 2002 figure of US$ 6 billion.