WNCTIMES

The large number of Egyptian voters undecided between candidates touting radically different futures for the country, and the novelty of a free presidential vote make this week's election almost impossible to call, pollsters say.

The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group has appealed for calm following the abduction of 12 Lebanese Shiites in Syria.

The European Union says it is "concerned" over Israel's conviction of a prominent Palestinian protest leader.

A mooted deal between the IAEA and Iran got a cool reception Tuesday on the eve of talks with world powers aimed at defusing the dangerously escalating crisis over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Iraq needs to reform to lessen its economic dependence on the government, and must pay more attention to its tiny non-oil sector, the head of the country's central bank has urged in an interview with AFP.

Lebanese security officials say 12 Lebanese Shiites have been kidnapped in Syria.

Syrian rebels kidnapped 12 Lebanese Shiites in northern Syria on Tuesday, adding to fears that Lebanon is getting drawn into the chaos next door, security officials said.

After detaining him for eight months, Tunisia said Tuesday it will extradite the former Libyan prime minister back to the homeland he fled.