The Egyptian gas pipeline in northern Sinai Peninsula supplying natural gas to Israel and Jordan was blasted for the 14th time, since 25 January 2011, at dawn Monday.

Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad killed more than 133 people nationwide on Saturday, about half of them were civilians, the Revolution Council reported, as the regime in Damascus intensified its brutal crackdown on the opposition three days ahead of U.N. deadline to pull back and end the violence.

Former US State Department Counselor Philip Zelikow has described the interrogation techniques during the administration of George W. Bush as torture.

The airport in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, has been shut down after forces loyal to a military ally of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh threatened to attack landing and departing aircraft, according to an airport source.

Syrian forces have attacked several opposition bastions despite a ceasefire pledge, according to activist reports, as Russia said the opposition would never defeat President Bashar al-Assad’s army even if “armed to the teeth”.

France deported five Muslims, including three imams, on Monday, April 2, in the latest crackdown on people accused of preaching hatred in the European country.

“Friends of Syria” member countries recognised the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) as the “legitimate

Negative media portrayals of Muslims and their faith have prompted a Canadian professor to study Islam and the Noble Qur’an, leading him to embrace the faith.

Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi has arrived in Qatar on what the Gulf nation’s state news agency called an “official visit.

Russia said on Tuesday it was ready to endorse a U.N. Security Council statement backing U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan’s Syrian peace mission as long it does not present an ultimatum to President Bashar al-Assad’s government.