Saturday, February 20, 2010

02/20/10

* Syria warns: Next war will be ruinous Syrian Prime Minister Naji al-Otari on Saturday warned Israel that any new Mideast war would be catastrophic for the region and beyond.

* 'Net use risked al-Mabhouh's life' A Hamas legislator said that Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, who was found dead in a Dubai hotel room on January 20, put himself at risk by booking his trip through the Internet.

* Blair: Israel-Palestinian peace talks to resume Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Saturday that he hoped peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians will resume in the coming weeks.

* Ayalon: Israel-Europe relations solid Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon said Saturday that the chances of a a diplomatic crisis brewing between Israel and the European community over the Dubai assassination of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh are very slim.

* Syria dismisses IAEA call for more inspectors access Syria dismissed on Saturday an International Atomic Energy Agency recommendation to allow its inspectors unrestrained access.

* 'West will lose by helping Israel' During a sermon in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud Zahar warned that the West stands to lose by helping Israel in taking the conflict abroad.

* Greece seeks support for debt plan but not bail-out Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has said his country needs the support of European governments if it is to cut its debt levels effectively.

* Russia to supply Iran with S-300 defense systems Russia intends to fulfill a contract to supply S-300 air defense missile systems to Iran.

* In Turmoil, Sunni Party Calls for Boycott of Iraq Vote The Sunni political party whose two most prominent leaders were disqualified from next month’s parliamentary elections in Iraq because of supposed ties to Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party called Saturday for a boycott of the vote.

* Ex-U.N. official ElBaradei eyes run for Egypt's top job Nobel Peace Prize winner and former United Nations nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei is shaking up Cairo's entrenched political elite.