Middle East & North Africa

TEHRAN, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Turkey on Saturday agreed to boost security cooperation, Tasnim news agency reported.

Iran's ambassador to Ankara Mohammad Farazmand and Turkish Deputy Minister of Interior Muhterem Ince held talks on a range of issues, including ways to boost relations between the two neighboring countries in security fields.

"Iran and Turkey have cooperation in law enforcement, security, and the fight against terrorism, illicit drugs and organized crimes," Farazmand said at a meeting held in Turkey's capital Ankara.

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi protesters pressed on with angry anti-government rallies in the capital and across several provinces for a fifth day Saturday, setting government offices on fire and ignoring appeals for calm from political and religious leaders. Security agencies fatally shot 19 protesters and wounded more than three dozen in a sustained deadly response that has claimed more than 80 lives since the upheaval began.

ANKARA, October 5. /TASS/: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan does not rule out that the operation on creation of a safety zone in Syria may start within days.

"The creation of a safety zone in Syria is the most rational way to return Syrians back home. We have decided to act independently. We will execute that operation both from the ground and from the air. Possibly today or tomorrow (the operation will start - TASS)," President said in an address in Ankara on Saturday that was broadcast by A Haber TV channel.

Tehran, Oct 5, IRNA – Iran and Turkmenistan signed various documents on economic cooperation on the sidelines of Iran-Turkmenistan 15th joint commission convened in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

According to Azeri 'Caspian News' website, Iran and Turkmenistan are willing to develop economic cooperation including construction of roads and transport.

During the 15th joint Economic Commission convened in Ashgabat, various topics related to transportation, telecommunications, economic cooperation, trade, fuel, energy, industries and mines, science and culture were discussed.

5 Oct 2019; AA: Turkey targets a growth rate over 5% or more in coming years, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday.

The country also aims to fall the inflation rate below 5% and to lower the unemployment rate under 10% at the end of New Economic Program for 2020-2022, Erdogan told his party members during the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's 29th Consultation and Assessment meeting in Kizilcahamam, a retreat town of capital Ankara.

4 Oct 2019; AA: Yavuz, a Turkish drilling vessel, is undertaking a new expedition in Turkey’s continental shelf in northeast of Cyprus, according to an official.  

“Yavuz will launch a new round of offshore drilling operations on 7 October 2019,” Cagatay Erciyes, acting director general at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, said on Twitter.  

“The drilling area lies within the Turkish CS [continental shelf] registered with the UN," he added.

5 Oct 2019; MEMO: Turkey’s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin and the US National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien discussed accelerating the establishment of the safe zone in northern Syria over the phone, Anadolu Agency reported.

Kalin and O’Brien touched on several issues including bilateral trade target of $100 billion annually, counter-terrorism and developments in Syria and Libya.

5 Oct 2019; MEMO: Egypt announced on Thursday evening the reduction in local prices of various types of fuel, to 25 piaster per litre.

The Oil Ministry announced in a statement that Egypt had cut fuel prices, in an effort to link energy prices to international markets, under the pricing mechanism supported by the International Monetary Fund.

Islamabad, Oct 4 (PTI) Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf plans to return to politics on October 6 after remaining inactive for over an year due to his deteriorating health, according to one of his top aides.

General (retd) Musharraf, 76, who has been living in Dubai since March 2016, is facing the treason case for suspending the Constitution in 2007, a punishable offence for which he was indicted in 2014. A conviction for high treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said on Saturday it would “not hesitate to turn any unprovoked (Turkish) attack into an all-out war” to defend its region in northeast Syria.

President Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey will carry out an air and ground military operation, as soon as Saturday or Sunday, targeting the SDF-controlled area east of the Euphrates river in Syria.