Middle East & North Africa

ALGIERS, Algeria, Sept 16 (NNN-APS) – Algerian interim President, Abdelkader Bensalah, announced that, the country will hold a presidential election on Dec 12.

Bensalah said, in a televised speech to the nation, that, he decided to set the date of the presidential election for Dec 12, 2019, noting that, “it’s time for everybody to put the higher interests of the nation above any other considerations.”

He added that, he has signed a presidential decree on that issue, in accordance with the constitutional and legislative provisions.

DAMASCUS, Sept 16 (NNN-XINHUA) – Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, received Russian president’s Special Envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev and discussed with him the tripartite summit that will take place today (Monday), in Ankara.

Lavrentiev informed Assad about the work schedule of the tripartite summit that will take place among Turkey, Russia, and Iran.

The discussion also touched upon Russian efforts, to surpass obstacles placed by “some countries in the region and abroad, that aim to prolong the Syrian war.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The weekend drone attack on the world’s largest crude oil processing plant in Saudi Arabia that dramatically cut into global oil supplies is the most visible sign yet of how Aramco’s stability and security is directly linked to that of its owners — the Saudi government and its ruling family.

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algeria’s interim leader has announced Dec. 12 as the date for the presidential election, in line with the army chief’s demand to fill the vacancy left when longtime leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika was pushed from office more than five months ago.

Abdelkader Bensallah during an address to the North African nation Sunday night called on citizens to make Dec. 12 “an historic day to make the dreams of our people concrete.”

CAIRO, Sept 15 (NNN-MENA) – Egypt sent aid shipments to Juba, as part of its efforts to support the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement in South Sudan, Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.

Three shipments of aid, including medicine, tents and military uniforms, were sent to Juba consecutively on Sept 11, 12 and 13, the ministry said in a statement.

BAGHDAD, Sept 15 (NNN-NINA) – Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, signed a deal valued at 1.3 billion U.S. dollars with the consortium of the German Siemens and the Egyptian Orascom, to renovate two power plants in Iraq’s central province of Salahudin.

Located near the oil-refinery town of Baiji, some 200 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the two plants were severely damaged by the Daesh militants, who once took control of parts of Salahudin province.

TEHRAN, Sept 15 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran is in talks with the European Union, to supply natural gas to the European countries, Financial Tribune daily reported on Saturday.

Iranian natural gas will be sent to Europe through a pipeline from Turkey, Hassan Montazer-Torbati, CEO of National Iranian Gas Company, was quoted as saying.

“The infrastructure is in place and talks are underway with the EU private companies,” Montazer-Torbati said, adding that, as soon as the talks produce results, Greece will be among the first gas export destinations.

15 Sep 2019; MEMO: Saudi Arabia has announced to stop oil production temporarily, from its two oil facilities run by the Saudi Aramco, following drone attacks, Anadolu reports.

Saudi Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said on early Sunday that oil production is being temporarily halted from the two major facilities, owned by Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant.

ALEPPO /Syria/, September 15. /TASS/: Officers of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Parties in Syria delivered over three tonnes of food and clothing to the settlement of Maaret Um Haush in the Aleppo province, Denis Shatailo, a spokesman for the center, informed reporters.

15 Sep 2019; MEMO: Turkish security forces on Sunday destroyed seized improvised explosive devices (IED) in northern Iraq, as part of country’s ongoing counter-terror operation dubbed “Operation Claw-3”, Anadolu reports.

“In line with the successfully ongoing Operation Claw-3, a total of four IEDs were destroyed…” the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement.