Middle East & North Africa

TEHRAN, Oct 26 (NNN-TASNIM) – Iran’s Guardian Council of Constitution, yesterday dismissed allegations, regarding his country’s “interference” in the U.S. upcoming presidential elections.

“Iran announced repeatedly that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. Moreover, it sees no need for such interference,” Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, spokesman for Iran’s highest legislative body was quoted as saying.

Likewise, the U.S. presidential election is a domestic issue of the Americans, in which Iran does not intend or need to interfere, Kadkhodaei said.

BAGHDAD, Oct 26 (NNN-NINA) – Thousands of Iraqis demonstrated yesterday, in the capital Baghdad, and several provinces in central and south of the country, to mark the anniversary of the mass anti-government protests that demanded comprehensive corruption reforms.

Hundreds of protesters rallied in al-Tahrir Square in the morning, to demand reforms and accountability for those who killed hundreds of protesters in previous months.

26 Oct 2020; MEMO: Turkey has continued to train the special forces of the internationally recognised Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), local media reported yesterday.

A video published by the GNA’s “Volcano of Rage” operation’s room showed Libyan forces carrying out military exercises in Turkey.

The exercises were reported to have included 160 GNA soldiers as part of a five-month comprehensive training programme.

26 Oct 2020; MEMO: Protests continued for the fourth consecutive day in the Sudanese capital Khartoum yesterday after a protester was killed last week.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors announced the killing of Mohammed Abdul Majeed and the wounding of 14 others during demonstrations being held to “reform the path” of the revolution.

26 Oct 2020; MEMO: Iranian ground forces conducted one-day manoeuvres in the West Azerbaijan Province near the border with Iraq’s Kurdistan.

The army said the manoeuvres, dubbed “Lovers of Velayat-99”, aimed to display the ground forces’ combat strength and readiness and promote mobility in the area.

The ground forces’ 164th Mobile Assault Brigade led the manoeuvres held overnight, supported by the infantry, engineering, unmanned aerial vehicles and artillery units.

26 Oct 2020; MEMO: The United States and Bahrain’s King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence signed an agreement in the field of combating anti-Semitism and promoting peaceful coexistence on Friday.

26 Oct 2020; MEMO: Polls opened in Egypt on Saturday for parliamentary elections that will stretch over several weeks and are set to be dominated by supporters of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Reuters reports.

A first-round of voting will end on Sunday, with a second-round on Nov. 7-8. Run-offs will take place in late November and early December.

26 Oct 2020; MEMO: An Israeli cabinet minister said on Sunday that a US sale of advanced F-35 warplanes to Qatar could be possible despite Israel’s objections to such a deal given the Gulf state’s links to Iran and Palestinian Hamas, Reuters reports.

25 Oct 2020; MEMO: Israel strongly attacked Turkey and renewed its full support for Greece regarding the East Mediterranean crisis, The New Khalij reported on Friday.

According to The New Khalij, an official Israeli Twitter account run by the Foreign Ministry posted: “Israel is following the latest developments in the East Mediterranean. Some unilateral measures taken by Turkey could undermine the fragile stability in the region.”

25 Oct 2020; MEMO: The military spokesman for Yemen’s Houthi movement said in a tweet on Saturday it had targeted the Jizan and Abha airports and the Khamis Mushait base in Saudi Arabia with drones, Reuters reports.

Earlier on Saturday and in two statements on Friday, the Saudi-led coalition had said it had intercepted and destroyed three explosive-laden drones from the Houthis aimed towards the southern region of Saudi Arabia.