AFP

Algerian women claw their way into parliament
AFP
Women account for 53 percent of the population, 45 percent of magistrates and now control around 32 percent of the national assembly, statistics which place Algeria ahead of Tunisia and Morocco. …Continue reading

BBC News

Seven die in clashes in Libyan desert town – government
BBC News
Seven people have been killed and more than 20 injured in clashes in Libya’s western desert town of Ghadames, the government says. Government spokesman Nasser el-Maneaa …Continue reading

Globe and Mail

Egypt-Libya World Cup qualifiers to be played without fans
Globe and Mail
Johannesburg— AP World Cup qualifiers involving Egypt and Libya will be played without fans next month because of political tensions in those countries. FIFA …Continue reading

Reuters Blogs (blog)

Army ruler says Egypt election will be model vote
Reuters
By Marwa Awad | CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s military ruler on Wednesday promised next week’s presidential election would be free and fair, urging people to exercise their …Continue reading

Clashes kill scores of al-Qa’ida militants in Yemen
The Independent
Clashes between government troops and al-Qa’ida fighters left 19 people dead in southern Yemen on Wednesday, military officials said. The fighting is part of an intensified government campaign against the group’s strongholds in southern Yemen, …Continue reading

Fall in Dubai prices eases in April
Reuters
Dubai, one of seven United Arab Emirates, has seen prices fall by 1.4 percent on average so far this year in its deepest period of deflation since prices jumped by record 10.8 percent in 2008. Annual falls …Continue reading

Jailed activist: Bahrain seeks to weaken uprising
Huffington Post
May 16, 2012 07:25 AM EST | AP MANAMA, Bahrain — A prominent rights activist jailed in Bahrain says his detention is a political act aimed at weakening the uprising against the Gulf kingdom’s rulers. Nabel Rajab also told a judge on Wednesday …Continue reading

BBC News

Bahrain and Iran in diplomatic row over union proposal
BBC News
Bahrain’s foreign ministry has summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires in Manama to protest at what it described a “gross violation of its sovereignty”. It follows official Iranian …Continue reading

Globe and Mail

Egyptian vote tainted by Mubarak’s legacy
Globe and Mail
By Dina Zayed and Alistair Lyon Military police idly guard the gates of Egypt’s presidential palace in Heliopolis, built as a 400-room luxury hotel in 1910 and vacant …Continue reading

National Post

Egypt’s presidential debate was a historic triumph for democracy. So why did …
National Post
On Thursday night, something historic took place in Egypt: The first televised presidential debate ever held in the Arab world. This was …Continue reading