Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi called a Dec. 15 referendum on a draft constitution and urged a national dialogue on the “concerns of the nation” as the country nears the end of the transition from Hosni Mubarak’s rule.

Concluding a marathon race towards democracy, an Islamist-led assembly finalized a new constitution early on Friday, November 30, aimed at transforming Egypt and paving the way for an end to a troublesome, exceptional transitional phase.

Jubilant Palestinians have rejoiced at the historic – but largely symbolic – vote at the UN General Assembly in New York granting them non-member observer status.

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, along with fellow Islamist movements, called for mass rallies on Saturday to support President Mohammed Mursi, a day after thousands of the president’s opponents protested in several governorates to denounce the latest constitutional declaration.

Tunisia’s President Moncef Marzouki has asked the nation’s Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali to appoint a new cabinet as protests over economic harship contine to sweep the streets of the north African state.

The World Bank on Tuesday approved a $6.4 million grant to improve water and sewage services in the Gaza Strip in the wake of an eight-day firefight between Israel and the territory’s Hamas rulers.

Hundreds of protesters were in Cairo’s Tahrir Square for a sixth day on Wednesday, demanding that Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi rescind a decree they say gives him dictatorial powers.

Two explosions in eastern Damascus have left at least 34 dead, according to Syrian hospital officials.

In less than 24 hours, rebels used surface-to-air missiles to strike down two aircraft in northern Syria, marking a turning point in their war with forces of President Bashar al-Assad.

An Egyptian court convicted in absentia Wednesday seven Egyptian Coptic Christians and a Florida-based American pastor, sentencing them to death on charges linked to an anti-Islam film that had sparked riots in parts of the Muslim world.