Al-Hayat (London): Lebanon: Fiercest confrontation yet between government and opposition turns into strike today – The Lebanese government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and its majority backers have entered a political clash with the Hezbollah-led opposition, the fiercest since the resignation of Shiite ministers in November 2006. This clash comes after the cabinet decided to illegalize Hezbollah's telecommunication network and to dismiss the head of airport security, Brig-Gen. Wafiq Shukair.

Al-Baath (Syria): Illegitimate government declares war on opposition, puts Lebanon on verge of explosion – The illegitimate Lebanese government of Fouad Siniora has taken measures threatening more division, using the issue of cameras installed at Beirut airport as a pretext to dismiss Shukair. The move, along with illegalizing Hezbollah's communications network, could be an invitation to expand the role of the international forces to include the airport, and thereby further internationalize the Lebanese crisis.

Al-Hayat al-Jadeeda (West Bank): Preparations launched to commemorate 60th anniversary of the Nakba – The Palestinians have launched activities to mark the 60th anniversary of the Nakba, or Catastrophe, with a variety of cultural festivals under the slogan of "the right of Palestinian return." The climax of these activities will fall on May 15, which the Palestinian Authority declared as a national holiday.

Al-Rayah (Qatar): Israel's political elite prepare for Olmert's resignation – The political elite in Israel yesterday began preparing for the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert due to a new police investigation of him. As bargaining began behind the scenes, Israeli media speculated that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, a member of Olmert's Kadima Party, has the best chance to head the next government.

Az-Zaman (London; Iraq): Official statistics: One in six Iraqi women are widows – The Iraqi Planning Ministry said yesterday that a new study shows 1 million Iraqi women are widows, with no income to support their families, as one-third of the Iraqi people (27 million) live in poverty. The ministry's study said one in six Iraqi women, aged between 15 and 50, was a widow. Iraqi sources said the increase in their number was due to consecutive wars and sectarian violence that has swept the country since a U.S.-led invasion in March 2003.