All Middle East
Pressure mounts on Bahrain as hunger striker reaches 62nd dayBahrain has been trumpeting its return to normalcy ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix that begins April 20. But now there is increasing pressure to cancel the car race.
Attack in Yemen: Is Al Qaeda stronger now?Yemenis are hopeful that Yemen's new president will be more effective at reining in Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula than his predecessor.
Amid widening Syria violence, a new war-crimes chargeSyrian refugees say Assad's soldiers are forcing women and children to march in front of advancing tanks to prevent rebels from opening fire. International law forbids the use of human shields.- A northern Iraqi EasterFears for the future remain within Iraq's devastated 海角大神 community, but there were glimmers of hope this Easter.
Omar Suleiman, Mubarak's no. 2, enters Egypt's presidential raceMany Egyptians loathe Omar Suleiman, a former intelligence chief whom rights advocates blame for decades of abuse and torture. But others see him as a man who can restore stability in Egypt.
Israel's Iranian Jews grapple with possible strike on their homelandWhile he fears an Iranian bomb, a spice seller from Tehran vows that Iranians love peace. One restaurant cook from Isfahan is baffled by 'how things went so wrong.'
Hebron settlers threaten retaliation after Israeli police evict themThe tensions in Hebron, a mainly Arab city that's holy to both Muslims and Jews, test Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's willingness to expand settlement in the West Bank.
In major reversal, Muslim Brotherhood will vie for Egypt's presidencyThe Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group, could end up in control of all three branches of Egypt's new government.聽
Real triumph of Arab League summit: That it happened at allThe Arab League took little action to address Syria crisis, deferring to UN. But the summit, held in a renovated marble palace with gold-encrusted dates for dessert, still marked a triumph for host Iraq.
Atheist and pro-Israel, Maikel Nabil tests free speech in EgyptA year ago this week, Maikel Nabil became the first Egyptian blogger to be arrested solely for his opinion. Now released, he talks about his fight for one of the key principles of democracy.
Egypt takes second shot at coming up with a fair constitutional conventionIslamists are talking with secularists today after they resigned in protest. To be enduring, critics say, Egypt's constitution must be a document based on consensus.
Egypt's liberals walk out, leaving Islamists to write a constitutionOf the 100-member assembly elected this weekend to craft Egypt's new constitution, about a fifth resigned before the group met today to begin writing.
Qatar builds a brand as mediatorFlush with cash and fancy hotels, Qatar has hosted representatives from the West Bank, Gaza, Darfur, and Libya in the past year alone.
Tiny Qatar played outsized role as Arab League president. Will it last?This week, Iraq takes over the Arab League presidency from Qatar, which has ruffled feathers with its surge in leadership. A Russian official famously told Qatar, 'Go back to your size.'
As Syria's war rages, Assad bans military-age men from leavingThe Syrian regime issued new travel restrictions for military-aged men on Monday.
Syrian opposition cautiously welcomes UN cease-fire planBut for more support from the West, the Syrian opposition needs to overcome divisions and squabbling that were on full display at a major Istanbul meeting today.
Syria's opposition faces 'divided we fall' momentSyria's opposition meets today after being shaken by resignations and splits. A united front could sway skeptical Syrians who don't particularly support Assad but fear the alternative could be worse.
Amid bombings, Iraqi family celebrates a wedding and good gradesThe Methboub family, which the Monitor has followed for a decade, has reasons for hope after dark days during which a son was wrongly imprisoned and a daughter's marriage collapsed.
US eager to send foreign aid to Yemen, a land battling poverty and Al QaedaThe West sees foreign aid as a way to help counter extremism and issues like child malnutrition, but Yemenis caution against too much, too soon 鈥� and point to Afghanistan.
Syria thumbs its nose at the UNDespite a UN statement yesterday calling for an end to the violence, which was backed even by Syria ally Russia, 82 people were killed yesterday in clashes around the country.