Al-Hayat (London): Iran backing all Shiites rivals in Iraq – Although some Iraqis' accusations against Tehran's interference in their affairs is not new, the current struggle between the government and the Sadrists raised the accusation again that Iran appears to be supporting each of the rival Shiites. Reports indicated that Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr yesterday refused to meet with an Iraqi Shiite parliamentary delegation visiting Iran, where Sadr is said to be residing.

Ad-Dustour (Jordan): Successful heart procedure for Abbas – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas left a Jordanian hospital yesterday afternoon after undergoing routine medical tests that had positive results. Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said that Abbas underwent a successful angiogram to look for blockages in the heart; Palestinian Ambassador in Amman Atallah Khairi told Ad-Dustour the results showed Abbas was in excellent condition and is expected to return to Ramallah today.

Al-Hayat al-Jadeeda (West Bank): Israel seeks new conditions that may foil truce – The official Israeli position regarding a truce in Gaza remains unknown, despite the rejection of some of the ministers who claim that Hamas and other factions are exploiting the calm to rearm and prepare for another round of clashes. Israeli reports said the Israeli government is leaning toward rejecting the Egyptian initiative for a truce by imposing new conditions.

Al-Rai (Kuwait): Moussa resumes talks in Beirut – Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa resumed his talks and meetings with Lebanese officials as soon as he arrived in Beirut yesterday in an attempt to iron out differences between the rivals ahead of the May 13 parliamentary session to elect a president. He is attempting to arrive at a declaration of principles over a national unity government and new electoral law, in the hope that the president would be elected at the scheduled date.

Al-Rayah (Qatar): Al-Jazeera journalist released from Guantanamo – The U.S. authorities yesterday released al-Jazeera channel's cameraman Sami al-Hajj after spending more than six years detained at Guantanamo following his arrest during his coverage of the U.S. war on Afghanistan in 2001. The Committee for the Defense of Journalists said Hajj's release and repatriation to Sudan proves the man was innocent all along, while the committee and Al-Jazeera would not say whether they would sue the American authorities for false arrest.