Middle East & North Africa

29 Dec 2019; MEMO: Turkey’s Foreign Ministry Saturday condemned the US parole granted for the murderer of a Turkish diplomat.

A California court Friday ruled for the conditional release of Armenian-origin convict, Hampig Sassounian, who killed Turkish Consul General Kemal Arikan in Los Angeles on January 28, 1982.

“We strongly condemn and reject the decision, which can be appealed and is subject to the approval of the California governor,” the ministry said in a statement.

29 Dec 2019; MEMO: Turkey will definitely stay at its observation posts monitoring a cease-fire in northwestern Syria, and its soldiers there have orders to respond to any acts of hostility, said Turkey’s defense chief on Sunday, according a report by Anadolu Agency.

29 December 2019; AFP: A Turkish military plane arrived in Mogadishu on Sunday to evacuate those gravely wounded in a devastating bombing that killed 79 people and overwhelmed local health services, in the latest attack on a city dogged by insecurity.

The aircraft also brought doctors to help treat the some 125 people injured in Saturday's blast, which happened when a vehicle packed with explosives detonated at a busy security checkpoint.

DUBAI (Reuters) - A missile fired by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group struck a military parade in Yemen’s southern separatist-held town of al-Dhalea, killing at least five people and injuring others, Yemen’s Security Belt forces said on Sunday.

No claim of responsibility was made and Houthi media did not immediately comment on the blast or accusation.

The Security Belt forces are part of a southern separatist front in south Yemen. At the same time, they are backed by the United Arab Emirates in a fight against Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group.

DUBAI (Reuters) - A Saudi Arabian court sentenced on Sunday a man accused of stabbing three performers at a live show in the capital Riyadh in November to death, state television said.

Another man on trial for the same incident was sentenced to 12 and a half years, al-Ekhbariya television said.

The Nov. 11 attack occurred at King Abdullah Park, one of several venues hosting a months-long entertainment festival as part of government efforts to open up Saudi society and diversify its economy away from oil.

TRIPOLI, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Forces of the UN-backed Libyan government on Saturday announced an advance against the rival east-based army in southern Tripoli.

According to the information office of the UN-backed government's forces, two tanks and an armored vehicle of the east-based army were destroyed.

The east-based army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, has been leading a military campaign since early April in and around Tripoli, attempting to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

TRIPOLI, Dec 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Forces of the UN-backed Libyan government, on Saturday, announced an advance against the rival east-based army, in southern Tripoli.

According to the information office, of the UN-backed government’s forces, two tanks and an armoured vehicle of the east-based army were destroyed.

The east-based army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, has been leading a military campaign, since early Apr, in and around Tripoli, attempting to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

TEHRAN, Iran, Dec 29 (NNN-TASNIM) – The Iranian foreign minister is scheduled to visit Russia on Monday (tomorrow), to hold talks with his Russian counterpart, on bilateral ties, as well as, regional and international developments, the Financial Tribune daily reported, Saturday.

Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif and Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, will exchange views on “prospects for further strengthening bilateral political dialogue and developing ties in trade, economic, cultural and other fields,” the report said.

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Turkey’s willingness to dispatch troops to Libya is “unacceptable” and such a move would constitute unwanted meddling in the affairs of a friendly country, the speaker of the North African country’s parliament said Saturday.

Aguila Saleh said in a joint statement with his Cypriot counterpart that Turkey’s actions are increasing tensions and destabilizing the region.

RAMALLAH, Palestine, Dec 29 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestine condemned, on Saturday, Israeli plans, to allow Israeli citizens to register land deeds in Area C of the West Bank, with the Israeli Ministry of Justice.

“It constitutes an attempt to annex large parts of Palestinian lands,” the statement said.

“This move, sought by Israeli Defence Minister, Naftali Bennett, is a challenge to the International Criminal Court,” the Palestinian presidency said, in a statement.