Ash Sharq al-Awsat (London): Iraqi-Iraqi differences at Manama; Saudi says it is not competing against anyone – The last day of the Manama talks witnessed Iraqi-Iraqi differences, in which national security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie blamed the violence in Iraq on criminal gangs and Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi criticized the government, accusing it of being fragile and unprofessional. Rubaei told the gathering in Bahrain there was "competition turning into a struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran on Iraqi territories," but Saudi deputy chief of intelligence Faisal Bin Abdullah told Ash Sharq al-Awsat that his country is not competing against anyone in Iraq "except to support the Iraqi citizen."

Al-Hayat (London): Struggle between Hakim and Sadr groups polarizing Shiite tribes – Differences were renewed between the largest Iraqi Shiite groups, the Islamic Supreme Council of Abdel Aziz Al Hakim and the trend of Moqtada Sadr, following the latter's accusation that Hakim was bowing to American "injustice and tyranny." Sadr is apparently attempting to polarize the Shiite tribes, with his followers holding a conference calling to combat the federation that Hakim is eager to apply and urging the protection of Iraq's unity and Arab identity.

Al-Sabah (Iraq): Government urges Tehran and Washington to hold 4th round of negotiations before year's end – The Iraqi government called on Tehran and Washington to hold a new round of talks on Iraq before the end of the year, as Iran announced it was studying a date and diplomatic level for the expected talks. Iraqi government spokesman Ali Dabbagh said Baghdad was placing high hopes on these talks after the United States and Iran exchanged positive messages regarding Iraq's security and stability. He added that Tehran has recently achieved its promises and hoped it would continue to take further steps toward stability and security.

An-Nahar (Lebanon): Brown visited Basra to announce handing it over within two weeks – British Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid a quick visit to Basra in southern Iraq Sunday and announced that the British forces would hand over security matters in the province to the Iraqi authorities within two weeks. Brown said in October he expected the number of British troops to be reduced by half, or 2,500, by 2008.

Al-Quds (East Jerusalem): Palestinian factions call for national unity on 20th anniversary of first intifada – On the twentieth anniversary of the eruption of the first intifada (uprising), Palestinian factions and institutions affirmed the right of the Palestinian people to defend their lands as protected by all international charters. They called for the need to rebuild national unity and end the division between the West Bank and Gaza by launching a serious dialog between the rivals to end the current crisis.