Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (London; Saudi Arabia): International monitors to investigate site in Syria – The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohammed ElBaradei, said Syria has agreed to receive a team of international monitors this month to investigate any nuclear activities the U.S. says was in a Syrian facility. The visit to the facility, which was bombed by Israel, would answer questions on its activities.

Al-Ahram (Egypt): Assad asks for U.S. sponsorship for peace talks with Israel – Syrian President Bashar Assad said in Abu Dhabi yesterday that the indirect negotiations between his country and Israel need international sponsorship. He said the peace talks particularly need U.S. sponsorship because it is a superpower and has special and strong relations with Israel.

Al-Rayah (Qatar): Abbas downplays chances for peace with continued settlements – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met again yesterday in an atmosphere overshadowed by a serious Israeli political crisis and an announcement of plans for more Jewish settlement units in East Jerusalem. Abbas said the Palestinians always tell the international community that settlement expansion "will make it difficult to reach a political agreement."

Al-Mustaqbal (Lebanon): Security Council extends Hariri probe committee six months – The U.N. Security Council unanimously agreed to extend for six months the committee tasked with investigating the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The council welcomed the committee's latest report, which it said was reached "in difficult circumstances to help the Lebanese authorities investigate all the elements of the terrorist act."

Al-Qabas (Kuwait): Eight killed in Danish embassy bombing in Islamabad – Pakistan's Interior Ministry confirmed that eight people were killed and 26 others injured in a car bomb targeting the Danish embassy in Islamabad, which damaged the embassy building and nearby houses in the diplomatic district. The ministry said the embassy had received anonymous threats after the publication of cartoons [deemed insulting to Prophet Muhammad], adding that most of the foreign staff had left for their countries or to more secure places.