Untitled - orsam

MIDDLE EAST BULLETIN
23 MARCH 2012
NO: 1354
1. IRAQ ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Baghdad Operations Command denies Hashemi claims about bodyguard dying under torture 3
Ministry probes into death of Hashimi’s guard while in detention .............................................4
Arab Parliament Speaker to participate in Baghdad summit .......................................................5
Iraq in talks over proposed highway to Turkey and Syria ............................................................6
Jaafari asserts the intimate alliance of Arab, Kurds, Turkmen, Assyrians ....................................6
Kitab: holding the Summit in Baghdad, a triumph for Iraq, not only the government ................7
Sunni lawmakers accuse Iraq government of torture ..................................................................7
2. IRAN ..................................................................................................................................... 8
Tehran Voices Support for Political Solution to Disputes in Syria ............................................. 10
Iran will respond to any attack at ‘same level’: Leader ............................................................. 12
Ahmadinejad, Sultan Qaboos discuss regional issues on phone ............................................... 14
Tehran dismisses Yemeni claims of Iranian interference .......................................................... 14
‘Iran supports peace plans for Syria but with conditions’ ......................................................... 15
3. ISRAEL - PALESTINE .............................................................................................................. 16
West Bank farmers frightened away from water springs by Israeli settlers ............................. 16
Israel, U.S. disagree on Iran timetable: official ......................................................................... 18
U.N. rights council orders 1st probe of Israeli settlements; Netanyahu slams resolution ....... 19
Liberman considering withdrawing ambassador from UNHRC ................................................. 21
4. AFRICA and EGYPT ............................................................................................................... 25
Morocco to tackle rent-based economy ................................................................................... 25
Mauritania may extradite Senussi to Libya ............................................................................... 26
Algerian officials favour unity with Morocco ............................................................................ 28
Tunisia’s secular opposition unites against Islamists ................................................................ 30
South Sudan invites ‘brother’ Bashir to summit ....................................................................... 32
Sudan and South Sudan: Completing the Separation ............................................................... 34
5. JORDAN and LEBANON ......................................................................................................... 37
Charbel: Border incidents ‘not politically-motivated’ ............................................................... 37
De Freige: ‘Military channels’ in Beirut port should be controlled ........................................... 37
Mikati to present alternative solution for electricity problem ................................................. 38
6. SYRIA ................................................................................................................................... 39
Fear enters Damascus as conflict nears .................................................................................... 39
Annan’s Plan: Avoiding Another Veto ....................................................................................... 41
Bogdanov: No draft resolutions on Syria at Security Council agenda ....................................... 47
7. ARABIAN PENINSULA AND THE GULF OF BASRA .................................................................... 48
Gunmen open fire on Saudi policemen in Shia east ................................................................. 48
Council pledges to rebuild damaged shrine .............................................................................. 49
Saudi sends military equipment to Syria rebels: diplomat ....................................................... 50
Sayfa 1