Iran to offer West 'new package'
Iran says it is preparing a new package of proposals for the West amid criticism over its election and nuclear plans.

Bomb rips through market in Iraq
A car bomb kills four people at a market outside the north Iraqi city of Mosul while bombs in Baghdad kill at least three.

Israel in 'Sabbath car park' row
Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with police for the third time over a car park which is open on the Sabbath, the Jewish holy day.

Iraqi footballers win on return
The Iraqi football team celebrates a win in the first international football match held in Iraq since the invasion of 2003.

Gaddafi and Brown in first talks
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi meets UK PM Gordon Brown and shakes a US president's hand for the first time.

Israel must stay 'deep in Golan'
An aide to Israel's PM says the country must retain a large part of the Golan Heights, rejecting Syria's major peace demand.

G8 warning on Iran crackdown
G8 leaders are seriously concerned about Iran's "appalling" post-poll violence and its nuclear programme, Barack Obama says.

US releases five Iranians in Iraq
Five Iranian officials held by the US military in Iraq since January 2007 are returned to Iran's embassy.

Egypt arrests 25 in 'Suez plot'
Egypt arrests 25 suspected militants with al-Qaeda links on suspicion of plotting attacks on ships in the Suez Canal.

Family takes Saudi 'genie' to court for harassment
A family in Saudi Arabia goes to court against a spirit they accuse of theft and harassment, reports say.

Back on side
Iraqi football's triumphant return from six years' exile

Muted opposition
Syria diplomatic thaw does little for human rights

Hijab killing
Anger in Egypt over Muslim stabbed in Germany

Iron fist
Iran learns from its past to smother dissent

Destination Tripoli
Is Libya ready for an era of mass tourism?

Fragile Lebanon
Sadness and anger but peace holds on streets of Beirut

Saudi Arabia 'restricting women'
A rights group accuses Saudi Arabia of not living up to a commitment to end the tradition of male guardianship of women.

Dozens killed in Iraqi bombings
At least 50 people are killed in bomb attacks in Iraq, the deadliest day since US troops withdrew from Iraqi towns.

US criticised over Babylon damage
American troops and contractors caused substantial damage to the archaelogical site at Babylon in Iraq after the 2003 invasion, a new UN report says.

Dutch hand back looted Iraqi art
The Netherlands returns dozens of ancient artefacts to Iraq, after police discover they were stolen after the 2003 invasion.

US-Russian deal 'linked to Iran'
A top US arms control expert stresses the link between a new strategic arms deal with Russia and pressuring Iran.

Iran police tear gas protesters
Iranian police fire tear gas at several hundred demonstrators who defied warnings any new protests would be "smashed".

French envoy visits Iran spy suspect
A French woman held by Iranian authorities on suspicion of spying is visited in prison by the French ambassador to Iran.

'Hijab martyr' rally called in Cairo
Protests are expected in the Egyptian capital over the death of "headscarf martyr" Marwa Sherbini in Germany last week.

Twin car bombing hits Iraqi city
Two car bombs hit the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the second of them killing at least nine people.

Saudi terror trials reach verdict
A Saudi court issues verdicts in 330 suspected terrorism cases, in the first such trials to be concluded in the kingdom.

Crude oil price falls below $60
The price of crude oil falls below $60 a barrel, as concerns persist about the state of the global economy.

Yemenia 'may cancel Airbus order'
The airline Yemenia says it may cancel an order for 10 Airbus planes, saying Airbus gave it no support over the Comoros crash.

Iraqis sceptical over US pullout
Six years after the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, Iraqi troops are assuming control of security.

ME press sees 'real test' for Iran
This week's events in Iran continue to generate much media comment across the Middle East and beyond.

Views on Hamas
Gazans discuss who to blame for their suffering

MidEast views: Obama's speech
BBC readers from the Middle East give their views on President Obama's speech in Cairo.

Views: Kuwaiti elections results
Voters in the only democracy in the Gulf tell the BBC what they think of their election results, which has returned women to parliament for the first time.

Iraqi oil auctions challenge
Oil companies challenge Iraq's auction results

Iranian views on crackdown
The atmosphere after the security clamp down

Iran vote row moves to seminary
Iranian election dispute moves to the seminary

Iraqi gays attacked
Persecuted Iraqi gays say life better in Saddam's day

Southern Israel struggles
Uncertain recovery in southern Israel after Gaza conflict

Tehran calm belies turmoil
Iran seems quieter, but the crisis may not be over