al-Quds al-Arabi (London): Morocco bans Islamic party after links to al-Qaida, plan to kill ministers – The Moroccan government said it banned the Islamic al-Badil al-Hadari Party (Alternative Civilization) and arrested it leader, Mustafa Moatassim, for alleged ties with an al-Qaida-linked network the authorities said they dismantled and seized large caches of weapons. This was the first time that a licensed Islamist party and its leader have been linked to terrorism.

Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (London): Ahmadinejad to be Iraq's guest, protected by Iraqis – Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zibari told ash-Sharq al-Awsat that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will pay a one-day visit to Baghdad March 2, saying he will be a guest of the Iraqi government and under its security. He said that Ahmadinejad will only visit the capital and will not be meeting with U.S. officials, only Iraqis.

Akhbar al-Khaleej (Bahrain): Ahmadinejad calls Israel savage animal – The Iranian president launched a new attack on Israel, describing it as a "dirty microbe" and "savage animal," while Israel continued to warn against Iran's nuclear program. Ahmadinejad told supporters in a televised rally that "world powers have created a black and dirty microbe named the Zionist regime and have unleashed it like a savage animal on the nations of the region."

Okaz (Saudi Arabia): Youssef to Okaz: Secretary-general carries new ideas to resolve presidential crisis – Hisham Youssef, the spokesman for Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, told Okaz newspaper that Moussa will visit Beirut well before the scheduled Feb. 26 parliamentary session vote on a president. The visit is the latest of an intensive diplomatic effort to end the Lebanese crisis. He said that Moussa will be carrying new ideas that have been discussed by all Lebanese and Arab parties within the framework of the Arab initiative.

Al-Thawra (Yemen): Sudanese army launches large operation in Darfur against rebels – The Sudanese army announced it has taken full control of Jebel Moon in west Darfur following a massive operation against rebels in the area, in which eight soldiers were killed. A rebel leader accused the government forces of setting three villages on fire and killing 50 civilians, including women and four children, during the assault.