Al-Quds al-Arabi (London): Rice: U.S. monitors to supervise removal of Israeli roadblocks – Israel on Monday spoke about significant progress following a new meeting between its prime minister, Ehud Olmert, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, but the Palestinians showed reservations about these reports. The leaders met after another visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who said that American monitors will supervise the removal of Israeli military roadblocks that paralyze the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank.

Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (London; Saudi Arabia): Renewed assassinations of Baathists in Iraq – Iraqi police said that unidentified gunmen yesterday assassinated a senior leader in the dissolved Baath Party, Hamid Salman, after he was kidnapped outside his house in Hilla. A former Baath member told Ash-Sharq al-Awsat on condition of anonymity that "parties supported by external forces, including Iran, are responsible for the targeting of Baathists in Iraq."

As-Safir (Lebanon): Government decides confrontation: Transferring Shukair and dissolving the 'network' – The Lebanese government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora ignored all warnings and advice against slipping into detailed differences that threaten to divide the country. The government, with domestic, regional and international pushing, decided to confront Hezbollah under the slogan of illegalizing its telecommunications network and removing the head of airport security, Brig-Gen. Wafiq Shukair.

Al-Masry al-Youm (Egypt): New price hikes on fuel and cigarettes – The National Assembly endorsed yesterday, in a heated session, the new price hikes proposed by the ruling party's draft budget, and canceled exemptions enjoyed by private educational institutions. Sales taxes were added on petrol, diesel and kerosene, as well as cigarettes, after opposition and independent lawmakers strongly protested against debating the draft bill, which they said was not on the agenda.

Al-Arab al-Yawm (Jordan): Food prices go up again, including white meat and eggs – The issue of price hikes on some food products and vegetables has resurfaced after their prices were reduced in recent weeks following the implementation of a series of government measures. But prices of vegetables and other foodstuffs have already risen again, while the prices of poultry meat and eggs are expected to rise soon after fodder rates went up.