Former prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif on August 25 quit the ruling coalition over differences on the reinstatement of sacked judges and, challenging his former ally’s presidential bid. “We have taken this decision after we failed to find any ray of hope and none of the commitments made to us were fulfilled,” Sharif told a press conference adding, “This situation forced us to withdraw our support and sit on opposition benches.”

Sharif and As...

“[We will deal with Jews] in accordance with our ethics, religious teachings, and historical values,” Abu Marzook, the deputy head of Hamas political bureau, told IslamOnline.net, in answer to a question put forward by an Israeli Jew who wanted to know the kind of state Hamas would establish if it ever rises to power in Palestine and whether it would expel Jews if Israel was dismantled, during the portal’s online exclusive interview with the Hamas leader. He highlighted ho...

The Afghan cabinet on August 25 demanded the renegotiation of agreements regulating the presence of the international community in Afghanistan after more than 90 civilians were killed in US-led air strikes. The cabinet said the review should focus on the “limits of authority and responsibilities” of international troops and a halt on air strikes on civilians, illegal detentions and unilateral house searches, a statement said.

A government commission on August 24 said...

Israel on August 25 freed 198 out of about 11,000 Palestinian prisoners in a gesture to president Mahmud Abbas as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was due in the region to spur US-backed peace talks. Many of the detainees fell to their knees and kissed the soil as they were released outside the Israeli military detention centre at Ofer in the occupied West Bank. Crowds cheered and chanted Palestinian patriotic songs as the detainees were driven to the territory’s political capit...

On August 25 Jordan said it plans to buy a nuclear reactor from a French firm to help the tiny desert kingdom generate power. “Jordan is in the process of signing an agreement with a French company to purchase a nuclear reactor,” Prime Minister Nader Dahabi told a French parliamentary delegation. “The reactor will provide Jordan with electricity and enriched uranium for peaceful use,” Dahabi was quoted as saying. The French firm will also provide training for the sta...