Asharq Al-Awsat

Haftar describes Skhirat as expired agreement

Tripoli - Fatima Al Saadawy

Libya’s National Army Commander Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar announced on Sunday the expiry of the 2015 Skhirat Agreement and the end of the tenure of the UN-backed National Accord Government chaired by Fayez al-Sarraj. The agreement, signed on December 17, 2015 in Morocco, under the auspices of the United Nations, stipulated the formation of a consensual government for aRead more

Ghandour blames media for tensions

Sudan - Muslimchronicle

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said that recent tension over the Grand Renaissance Dam was made up by the media, stressing Khartoum’s respect for the Nile River Agreement. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Ghandour said: “Our brothers in Egypt, especially those who manage the negotiations on the Renaissance Dam, know that Sudan has stressed its respect for the Nile Waters Agreement.”Read more

Yemeni legitimacy troops managed to achieve advance

Aden - Abdel Ghani Yahia

Yemeni popular resistance, backed by the fourth military region and Arab coalition, controlled Hamli area, one of insurgents’ most important military sites near Makha on the western coast. The popular resistance succeeded in liberating the area following heavy clashes with Houthi and Saleh militias. Meanwhile, Yemeni army advanced on several major axes in Tuhama region including Baqem which brought theRead more

Comors Minister of Defense blames Iranian role in Middle East

Comoros - Mahdi Mossawy

Defense Minister of the Comoros, Yousuf Mohamed Ali, said that his country would continue to confront the Iranian project with “determination and firmness”, as long as it tries to exploit his country’s economic needs and poverty to interfere in its internal affairs. He also condemned Lebanese “Hezbollah’s” role in destabilizing the security of the region, stressing his country's support forRead more

Government launches a campaign to eliminate corruption

Baghdad - Najla Al Taee

As Iraq declared military victory against ISIS last week, the Iraqi government is preparing to wage a new war, this time against corruption in what is seen as a battle that will be no less intense than the one against the terror organization. Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has intensified his rhetoric against corrupt officials, while parliament Speaker Salim Jabbouri declaredRead more

Western intelligence warned Lebanon’s Hariri of death plot, report claims

Riyadh - Muslimchronicle

Western sources said that the motorcade of Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who resigned last week, had detected jamming attempts, pan-Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported on Sunday. They added that the jamming devices, which are designed to confuse radars and AWACS, turned out to be Iranian-made. The newspaper, citing unnamed sources close to Hariri, said that Western intelligence agencies warnedRead more

UN Envoy to Yemen arrived in Saudi to meet with officials

Riyadh - Saeed Al Ghamedi

UN Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to meet with Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi and ministers in the Yemeni government, to present highlights of his new initiative for a political solution in the war-torn country. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdul Malek al-Mekhlafi told AsharqRead more

Yemen’s Central Bank says outward transfers will be activated soon

Aden - Arabs Today

Yemeni commercial banks have been informed that outward transfers will be activated soon, but they are required to meet some simple conditions, the Central Bank’s Deputy Governor Khaled al-Abbadi said. “Most Yemeni banks are responding positively and showing willingness to comply with the conditions and to perform their role,” Abbadi told Asharq Al-Awsat. Some of the conditions are: providing necessaryRead more

Executive authority’s structure and powers to Libyan dialogue

Tripoli - Fatima Al Saadawy

The two delegations to the Libyan political dialogue, which is hosted by Tunisia under the supervision of UN Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame, discussed on Wednesday the structure of the executive authority and its powers, within a plan to amend the Skhirat political agreement. The closed meeting gathered a delegation representing the Libyan Parliament and another representing the High CouncilRead more

Algerian observers warn of harder economic problems in 2018

Algeria - Muslimchronicle

The “work plan” of Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia is expected to garner wide support at parliament where it will be up for a vote on Sunday, predicted observers of the political situation in the North African country. The premier’s document acknowledges that the Algeria people will face difficulties in 2018 due to the lack of financial resources. Islamist lawmakers announcedRead more