Middle East & North Africa

DAMASCUS, Mar 6 (NNN-SANA) – The Syrian Foreign Ministry, yesterday condemned an “illegitimate” visit of a top U.S. general to a U.S. base in north-eastern Syria.

In a statement, the ministry slammed the U.S. Army general, Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for making an unannounced visit to a base to meet U.S. troops in north-eastern Syria.

The visit was a “flagrant violation of Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity,” it said.

CAIRO, Mar 6 (NNN-MENA) – A cargo ship was refloated, after being stranded in Egypt’s Suez Canal for two hours, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced, yesterday.

Four SCA tugboats succeeded to refloat the MSC-ISTANBUL cargo vessel, which went aground while crossing from the south to the north, said George Safwat, spokesperson of the SCA.

Earlier, SCA Chairman, Osama Rabie, said, the navigation movement in the Suez Canal was not affected by this emergency.

CAIRO, Mar 6 (NNN-MENA) – Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi met with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, here yesterday to discuss issues of mutual interest.

During the meeting, the two leaders agreed that sustained coordination is a must for facing challenges and restoring peace and stability in the region, according to the Egyptian Presidency.

Sisi highlighted Egypt’s unwavering support for Iraq and its people at all levels, particularly in the fight against terrorism and for the country’s security and stability.

ANKARA, March 6 (Reuters) - Turkey's opposition neared a deal on Monday in which the right-wing IYI Party could return to an alliance that it quit three days ago, opening the way to mounting a united challenge to President Tayyip Erdogan in elections set for May.

Under a new proposal following a weekend of political intrigue, two popular mayors would serve as vice presidents should the opposition win in the presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14.

With polls showing a close race, the vote is the biggest challenge Erdogan has faced in two decades in power.

DUBAI, March 6 (Reuters) - Iran's supreme leader said on Monday that poisoning schoolgirls is an "unforgivable" crime which should be punished by death if deliberate, state TV reported, amid public anger over a wave of suspected attacks in schools.

Over 1,000 girls have suffered poisoning since November, according to state media and officials, with some politicians blaming religious groups opposed to girls' education.

DUBAI, March 6 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has signed an agreement with Turkey to deposit $5 billion in the country's central bank through the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), the fund said on Monday.

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan announced his country's intention to make the deposit in December.

AMMAN, March 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Monday that the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was of more symbolic than operational importance, and its fall would not necessarily mean that Moscow had regained the initiative in the war.

The battle for Bakhmut has raged for seven months. A Russian victory in the city, which had a pre-war population of about 70,000 but has now been blasted to ruins, would give Moscow the first major prize in a costly winter offensive.

NOUAKCHOTT, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Four terrorists held at the central prison of Nouakchott, capital of the northwest African country Mauritania, escaped Sunday night, the Mauritanian Interior Ministry said on Monday.

The escapees "killed two national guardsmen and wounded two others," the ministry said in a statement, asking people to "report any information that could help find the fugitives."

"The National Guard has tightened control of the prison and immediately launched the hunt for the fugitives," the statement said, without identifying the fugitives. 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s supreme leader said Monday that if a series of suspected poisonings at girls’ schools are proven to be deliberate the culprits should be sentenced to death for committing an “unforgivable crime.”

It was the first time Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all matters of state, has spoken publicly about the suspected poisonings, which began late last year and have sickened hundreds of children.

5 Mar 2023; MEMO: Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Sunday issued a decree reappointing Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al-Sabah as prime minister.

The decree also assigned Sheikh Ahmed to nominate members of the new government, the state news agency KUNA reported.

Sheikh Ahmed had tendered his government's resignation in January amid a dispute with the Kuwaiti parliament.