IRAQ-CONFLICT: Vatican deplores start of war

In its first official reaction to the start of the Iraq conflict, the Vatican said it was deeply pained by the outbreak of war and deplored the interruption of efforts to bring about a peaceful solution.

IRAQ: UAE will continue delivering humanitarian aid even during war

A United Arab Emirates (UAE) newspaper said today that the UAE Red Crescent Society (RCS) would continue its humanitarian program to the Iraqi people even in case of war.

IRAQ: Strikes will not affect UAE airspace

United Arab Emirates (UAE) airspace will not be affected in the event of war against Iraq and airline traffic at the international airports will continue as usual, according to the Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA, . Ghanim Al Ghaith told reporters yesterday.

IRAQ: Missile raids leave 10 killed, dozens injured

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that at least 10 Iraqis have lost their lives as a result of the US missile raids on Baghdad.

PALESTINE: Israeli occupation forces destroy three houses in Gaza

The Israeli occupation forces demolished three Palestinian houses in Al Mughazi refugee camp in central Gaza Strip early this morning.

KUWAIT: Two Iraqi missiles hit northern border

Kuwait's Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber al Mubarak al Hamad al Sabah said that two Iraqi missiles hit Kuwait's northern border with Iraq, the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) said today.

IRAQ: Intelligence tower shelled

The US missiles, fired on As-Sulaimaniya, northern Iraq early this morning, have shelled a tower belonging to the Iraqi intelligence.

ENVIRONMENT-IRAQ: Bombing strikes can trigger wave of quakes.

Massive bombing and missile strikes on Iraq can trigger off a series of strong quakes in the entire region. However, this wave is not likely to reach Russia.

IRAQ: Australian forces in combat operations

Australian forces have begun combat operations in the war against Iraq, Prime Minister John Howard said on ‘Today'.

AFGHANISTAN: US military operation underway

A US military operation is under way in southern Afghanistan, with the aim of searching villages and suspected hideouts of al Qaida, a US military spokesman said today.

PALESTINE: Abbas formally named prime minister

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat formally named Mahmoud Abbas as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority today.

IRAQ: Malaysia dispatches planes to evacuate its nationals from the Middle

Malaysia today dispatched three military transport planes to the Middle East to evacuate 400 of its citizens ahead of a looming US-led war on Iraq, Malaysian news agency Bernama reported.

IRAQ-OIL: OPEC will ensure supply in event of war, says Saudi oil minister

Saudi Oil Minister Ali Ibrahim al-Naimi said that the petroleum cartel OPEC will assure the supply of oil in the event of a war in Iraq, the German weekly magazine 'Stern' reported.

MIDDLE EAST: Arab League calls for end to Israel’s weapons of mass

Director of Disarmament Department at the Arab League called on Arabs to derive benefit from the lessons of this stage and support the Arab joint action for being one of the necessary means to deter impending dangers, which are posing a threat to the Arab countries.

UAE-MILITARY: US defense industry ready to share technological expertise

Huge investments in science and technology by the US defense industry have made it a leader in global defense industry and services and the US is ready to offer its expertise in this field based on requirements by countries, said Joseph P. Hollis, Director, Industry Affairs, Association of the United States Army.

UAE-CUBA: Relations at embassy level

United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Rashid Abdullah has received a letter from Cuba's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fernando Remirez de Estenoz.

MIDDLE EAST: Iraq should not repeat old mistakes, says UAE paper

A United Arab Emirates (UAE) newspaper today commented on the US ultimatum, which was totally rejected by President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.

MIDDLE EAST: Israeli soldiers round up Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank

Israeli Soldiers have arrested on Wednesday five Palestinians in Rafah in a sweep and arrest campaign and elsewhere in the West Bank Israeli soldiers rounded up 13 Palestinians.

PHILIPPINES: Malaysia sets meeting between government and Muslim rebels

Malaysia has arranged a meeting between the Philippine government and the largest Muslim separatist rebel group in a bid to restart stalled peace talks amid escalating hostilities in the south, officials said Wednesday.

POLITICS-IRAQ: War Preparations Begin in Israel

Israel has been put on a partial war footing ahead of an expected U.S. attack on Iraq. The government has called up reservists and urged people to prepare sealed rooms in the event of a chemical or biological attack by Iraq.

POLITICS-IRAQ: Egypt Braces for War Fallout

Egypt is preparing to handle the political and economic fallout of a war in Iraq.