The Independent - Middle East RSS Feed

The families driven apart by Israel's red tape

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The frequent claims by Gaza's 1.5 million residents that they live in a "big prison" have become a cliché. But they have been given fresh force by new Israeli procedures that make it virtually impossible for Palestinians to leave Gaza even to reunite with their spouses and children in the West Bank.

Revealed: why UK hostages were killed

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

A militant Iraqi group killed two British hostages because they believed one of their men had been tortured to death in jail and that the British embassy had ignored their demand for the release of prisoners, Iraqi sources say.

Shots fired to clear streets as Iranians defy ban on protests

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Fresh unrest broke out on the streets of Iran yesterday when opposition protesters defied a ban on public gatherings and police fired shots in the air to disperse them.

Israeli agents to screen judges before appointment

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Israel's internal security service has been given a de facto veto over the appointment of judges in an unprecedented decision that has the country's embattled liberals up in arms.

Iraq bans children's visits to Saddam's grave

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Iraq's government has ordered authorities in Saddam Hussein's home town to ban schoolchildren from visiting the grave of the former dictator after a video showed a group of schoolgirls singing his praises at the site.

Were Iraqis tortured and killed by our soldiers?

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Allegations that British soldiers murdered and mutilated 20 Iraqis are to be fully investigated after it emerged that ministers had attempted to warn Tony Blair about damaging evidence of the ill-treatment of battlefield prisoners five years ago.

Israel deports British activists on Gaza mission

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:05:45 GMT

Britons who were on a mercy mission to Gaza told today how it had been forcibly stopped by the Israelis.

British embassy worker freed, but one still held

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:36:29 GMT

One of the last two British embassy workers being held in Iran has been released, it was confirmed today.

Miliband defends 'patriotic' embassy worker facing jail

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

After days in captivity, the release of one of the British embassy's staff members arrested in Iran was thought to be imminent last night. But the second Iranian employee being held is said to have been charged with the offence of "acting against national security", a charge which could result in a long prison sentence.

Iran says Washington Times journalist released

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:03:09 GMT

Iran said today it had released a Greek journalist covering Iran's disputed presidential election for the Washington Times, state television reported.

Miliband says Iran set to release embassy worker

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:08:02 GMT

Iran has said it will release the eighth of nine British embassy employees detained in Tehran today, Foreign Secretary David Miliband revealed.

The Saddam Files: His final interviews

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Achievements

From beyond the grave, Saddam reveals all (nearly)

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Some of the last, frank thoughts and confessions of President Saddam Hussein of Iraq have been revealed in transcripts of a remarkable series of interviews with the former dictator's interrogators.

Ayatollah's aide accuses Iran opposition leader of being US agent

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

A top aide to Iran's supreme leader has described the country's main opposition leader as a US agent and has called for him to be tried for crimes against the nation.

Hardline Iran editor calls for Mousavi to face trial

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:58:32 GMT

A newspaper editor seen as close to Iran's top authority today said that defeated election candidate Mirhossein Mousavi and a former pro-reform president had committed "terrible crimes" which should be tried in court.

British embassy staff to stand trial over protests

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

A leading Iranian cleric sharply and unexpectedly raised the temperature in the crisis over the detention of British embassy staff yesterday by announcing that the two employees still being held would be forced to stand trial for inciting post-election violence against the Islamic regime.

Concern grows for UK staff in Iran

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:30:45 GMT

A threat by Iran to put British Embassy staff on trial over alleged involvement in anti-government protests further heightened diplomatic tensions today.

British embassy staff 'face Iran trial'

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:07:01 GMT

Downing Street said today it was "concerned" about reports that British embassy staff in Tehran will face trial.

Syria's Assad offers informal invitation to Obama

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:01:51 GMT

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued an informal invitation to President Barack Obama to visit Damascus for talks, in a sign that relations between the two countries may gradually be thawing.

Amnesty accuses Israel of Gaza war crimes

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:52:18 GMT

Israeli forces killed hundreds of Palestinian civilians and destroyed thousands of Gaza Strip homes in attacks that amounted to war crimes, Amnesty International charged today, in the first in-depth human rights group report on the recent war in Gaza.

New charges for Israeli troops

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled that the army must file more serious charges against soldiers filmed abusing a bound and blindfolded Palestinian prisoner last year.

Mousavi faces prison threat

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:00:01 GMT

Iran's embattled opposition leader, Mirhossein Mousavi, faces a new threat after the Basiji militia accused him of "offences against the state" and "disturbing the nation's security", charges which carry a sentence of 10 years' imprisonment.

Shiite cleric hopeful about US pullback in Iraq

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:36:52 GMT

A Shiite cleric whose followers have been blamed in some of Iraq's worst violence today gave a cautious welcome to the withdrawal of US combat troops from cities.

Iraqi government approves BP oil field offer

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:31:58 GMT

Iraq's government today approved a BP-led consortium's offer to develop a giant oil field in the south, moving forward with the only deal struck during a much-hyped but ultimately disappointing international oil auction.

Mousavi declares Iran government illegitimate

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:18:00 GMT

Defeated Iranian presidential candidate Mirhossein Mousavi today said the new government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was "illegitimate," in a statement posted on his website.