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Iran's Larijani meets Hamas in Damascus
DAMASCUS, Jan 7 (Reuters) - A senior Iranian politician met Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Damascus on Wednesday as the Palestinian Islamist group considered an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Ali Larijani, speaker of parliament and one of the major figures in the Islamic Republic, met Meshaal and several high level officials from Hamas at the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital, witnesses said.
The meeting stretched into the early hours of Thursday, with n Full Article
Israel pounds Gaza again
GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli aircraft and tanks pounded the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and troops battled Palestinian guerrillas on the ground as U.S. backing for a proposed truce raised expectations of an end to the 12-day-old offensive. Full Article | Video
Shi'ites in Iraq mark Ashura in show of strength
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Shi'ites in Iraq gathered in their thousands to observe an annual ritual of mourning on Wednesday, an event that has become a show of strength for a majority whose public worship was repressed by Saddam Hussein. Full Article
Turk police detain 40 in coup inquiry
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish police detained about 40 people including three retired generals on Wednesday, the state news agency said, widening a probe into an alleged plot to topple EU aspirant Turkey's Islamist-rooted AK Party government. Full Article
Iran biggest Mideast challenge for Obama: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama should seek tougher sanctions against Iran, which will be his biggest Middle East challenge, outgoing White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley said on Wednesday. Full Article | Video
Iran biggest Mideast challenge for Obama - W.House
(Updates with Hadley speech, Russia, Pakistan comments)
By Tabassum Zakaria
WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama should seek tougher sanctions against Iran, which will be his biggest Middle East challenge, outgoing White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley said on Wednesday.
In a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Hadley also said the Bush administration had laid the groundwork for progress toward Palestinian-Isr Full Article
next pictures (2009/January/7)
Believers beat themselves to mark Ashura in Qom, Iran, january 7, 2009. Reuters Your View/Mostafa Meraji Full Article
next pictures (2009/January/7)
A fountain is filled with blood as believers mark Ashura in Qom, Iran, January 7, 2009. Reuters Your View/Mostafa Meraji Full Article
Gaza outcome could increase Lebanon risk
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A defeat for Hamas in its fight with Israel could increase the risk of another Middle East conflict between the Jewish state and the Palestinian group's Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, analysts say. Full Article
ANALYSIS-Gaza outcome could increase Lebanon risk
By Tom Perry
BEIRUT, Jan 7 (Reuters) - A defeat for Hamas in its fight with Israel could increase the risk of another Middle East conflict between the Jewish state and the Palestinian group's Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, analysts say.
Hezbollah, which like Hamas is backed by Iran, has expressed confidence that the Palestinian group will survive the Israeli onslaught that began on Dec. 27. It has drawn parallels with its 34-day war with Israel in 2006, when Hezbollah guerrillas withs Full Article
