Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (London): Abbas: There is a historic opportunity after 7 years of waste – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told ash-Sharq al-Awsat on the eve of the donors' conference in Paris that the Annapolis Middle East conference provided a historic opportunity that should be fully utilized toward peace. But he added he was not completely convinced that this opportunity would succeed, saying: "I'm not saying that everything is paved. But seven years have been wasted and it is our duty to exploit an opportunity like this, taking into consideration that it might achieve something."

Al-Hayat (London): Turkish fighters raids Kurdish rebel bases 100 kilometers into Kurdistan … Basra under Iraqis: Beginning of the end of British control – Fifty Turkish fighters raided Kurdistan Workers Party bases in the biggest air attack by Ankara on the Turkish-Iraqi-Iranian border and 100 kilometers into Iraqi territory. Meanwhile, supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr started to head to Najaf for a demonstration demanding an end to the American occupation after the British troops handed over the security matters of Basra province to the Iraqi authorities.

Al-Khaleej (United Arab Emirates): Cheney assures 'Israel:' Military action against Iran still stands – U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney has assured Israel that the option of a U.S. military attack on Iran's nuclear facilities still stands. The assurance came in a message from Cheney as an Israeli intelligence delegation holds secret talks in Washington to convince the Bush administration that Iran is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.

An-Nahar (Lebanon): White smoke rising suggests army chief elected to presidency without constitutional amendment – In a surprise indication, and contrary to the political atmosphere of the past two days in which tensions between Lebanese majority and opposition had been escalating, there were indications overnight of a settlement to elect army chief General Michel Suleiman as president without a constitutional amendment. While all former signs pointed to a ninth postponement of Monday's voting session in parliament, no statements have been issued for another delay.

Okaz (Saudi Arabia): 3,000 elements to combat terrorism and armed riots at Hajj – Commander of the security special forces General Mohammad al-Omani revealed to Okaz the deployment of 3,000 anti-riot and anti-terror troops at the sites of the annual Hajj, or Muslim pilgrimage, this week in Mecca and Medina. He said the "well-trained" security elements would be supported by armored vehicles and equipment for defusing explosives.