Iraqi lawmakers have elected a Sunni Arab as speaker of parliament, the first step in forming a new government four months after national elections

Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency reports a court has sentenced a close ally of former hard-line president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to six-and-a-half years in prison

Angry protesters have stormed the Iranian consulate in the southern city of Basra and set fire to an Iranian flag, as part of ongoing demonstrations that have turned deadly in the past few days

Iraq's newly-elected parliament is meeting for the first time as rival factions compete over the right to name a new government

Iraq's top court ratifies results of manual ballot recount, paving the way for new house to meet, government to be formed

Report: Iran detains outspoken lawyer demanding free elections

Israel's recent detention of Jewish-American critics entering the country is shining a spotlight on a growing gulf between the world's two largest Jewish communities.

Sudan's official SUNA news agency reports the country's ruling party has nominated President Omar al-Bashir for re-election in 2020 even though country's constitution limits presidents to two 5-year terms

Iraq's election commission: Ballot recount doesn't alter outcome of May elections

Iraq's election commission has completed its recount of ballots from May's parliamentary elections, which were marred by allegations of fraud and irregularities