UK sailor speaks of Iran 'mistake'
One of the five British yachtsmen held in Iranian for a week says sailing into Iran was "a mistake"

Iran to enrich uranium 'to 20%'
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the country will enrich its uranium to higher levels, despite pressure to stop.

Jerusalem residency losses rise
Israel stripped a record number of Palestinians of their right to live in East Jerusalem last year, an Israeli rights group says.

US holds Iranian for arms dealing
Federal prosecutors reveal the US secretly detained an Iranian man who pleaded guilty to plotting to procure and smuggle arms to Iran.

Hezbollah weapons right endorsed
Lebanon's new unity government endorses Shia group, Hezbollah's, right to keep weapons.

Settler mayor held over protest
The mayor of a Jewish West Bank settlement is arrested as protesters try to stop Israeli officials enforcing building curbs.

Iran warns against UN sanctions
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says international sanctions over his country's nuclear programme will not work.

Iran jails pro-reform economist
A prominent Iranian economist is jailed for nine years for protesting against the election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, his lawyer says.

Israel settlers obstruct monitors
Jewish settlers try to stop building inspectors enforcing recently announced limits on West Bank construction.

Iranian doctor 'was poisoned'
The doctor who treated opposition supporters in custody at an Iranian jail was poisoned according to Iranian officials.

Iraq shoe thrower targeted in shoe-throwing attack
The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former US President Bush is himself targeted by a shoe-throwing attack.

Choppy water
What does sailors' release mean for UK-Iran relations?

Rollercoaster ride
Will Dubai woes tarnish UAE's pearls to petrol success?

Bitter harvest
Middle East conflict played out in the olive groves

Iran defiance
Plans for new nuclear enrichment plants fuel crisis

National outrage
How Egypt's World Cup exit exposed deeper frustrations

Stress points
Tension never far away on BBC man's West Bank return

Saudi flood death inquiry ordered
Saudi Arabia has ordered an inquiry into flash floods that killed more than 100 people, the state news agency reports.

Egypt kills man on Israel border
An African migrant is shot and killed by Egyptian police as he tries to illegally cross into Israel, an Egyptian security official says.

New head of the IAEA takes office
The new head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, takes office at the UN agency.

UAE tries to reassure investors
The president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan, moves to try to reassure investor sentiment.

Swiss minaret ban condemned
Religious leaders from across the world criticise Switzerland's referendum vote to ban the building of minarets.

Mysterious Saddam TV off air
A mysterious TV channel dedicated to ex-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein drops off air three days after its launch.

Iran warned on nuclear sites plan
Western nations warn Iran that its plan to build 10 uranium enrichment sites will lead to more sanctions.

Somali pirates seize supertanker
Pirates seize a supertanker carrying oil from Saudi Arabia to the US - one of the largest ships captured off Somalia.

West blamed on nuclear move
A top Iranian official says the West provoked his country into launching a plan for 10 new uranium enrichment plants.

Hezbollah manifesto announced
The head of the Lebanese Shia movement, Hezbollah, sets out a new manifesto for the party focusing on conflict with Israel

Dubai debt 'not guaranteed'
Dubai says it will not guarantee Dubai World's debt, as its main shares index had its biggest drop in a year.

Dubai needs time to repay debts
Dubai's financial health is under scrutiny after a government-owned investment company asks for a delay on repaying its debts.

Double standards in minaret ban
Newspapers in the Middle East are critical of the Swiss referendum which decided to ban the building of minarets.

New Israeli settlement criticised
Israel's approval of 900 extra housing units at a settlement in East Jerusalem comes in for harsh criticism in the Palestinian, Middle Eastern and Pan-Arab press.

Lebanon views on government
Voters' views on long awaited new government

Abbas 'pushed' to stand down
Israeli and Arab commentators consider the reasons behind Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' decision not to stand in forthcoming elections.

Iran witness: Protest videos
Your films of anti-government protests in Iran

Egyptians gear up for Eid al-Adha
Cairo's shopping frenzy ahead of Eid al-Adha festival

Analysis: Election debacle in Iraq
Rows over election law threaten Iraq's crucial poll

Morocco wine-makers see success
Morocco's wine growers sniff success abroad

Jerusalem's city of three faiths
Life in Jerusalem's heart where three faiths coincide

Leaders keep it in the family
Is North Africa succumbing to dynastic rule?

All quiet on Iraq's western front
Little evidence to support Iraqi claims of border infiltration

Q&A: Palestinian political turmoil
Key issues behind the Palestinian political crisis