Al-Masry al-Youm (Egypt): Turkey to establish religious college to compete with al-Azhar University – Turkey's religious institution has started work on establishing an international college specialized in religious studies, which is expected to compete with Egypt's Islamic al-Azhar University. The college, the first of its kind to teach in Arabic, Turkish and other languages, was approved by the country's National Security Council.

Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (London; Saudi Arabia): Gadhafi attacks Mediterranean Union – In a mini-summit in Tripoli yesterday, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi blasted French President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan for a Mediterranean Union, saying "we are not hungry, we are not poor, and they need our oil, gas and resources." He warned that Sarkozy's project would divide the Arabs and the unity of the Arab League into three fragments.

Az-Zaman (London; Iraq): Washington sets condition on Iran not to interfere in Iraqi affairs before resuming dialogue – U.S. coordinator for Iraq, David Satterfield, yesterday set a condition for Iran not to interfere in Iraqi affairs before resuming dialogue with Tehran over Iraq. He said while there was no plan to hold a fourth meeting, the channels with Iran have not been closed, stressing it was important to know that such talks are constructive before they are planned.

Al-Qabas (Kuwait): Olmert calls for direct negotiations with Lebanon – As the indirect Syrian-Israeli negotiations are expected to resume in Turkey tomorrow, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called for peace talks with Lebanon. Olmert was reported as saying in a cabinet meeting yesterday he would be happy if the Lebanese government would announce its willingness to start direct bilateral negotiations with Israel; he added he saw "many advantages in this."

Al-Anwar (Lebanon): Qatari contacts with rivals to facilitate government formation – The ongoing contacts to form a new government have so far failed to make results, as officials said that Prime Minister designate Fouad Siniora offered the opposition to choose between the finance and foreign ministries, but has not yet received a response. Political sources also said that Qatari leaders are contacting the Lebanese parties and Arab capitals to facilitate the formation of the new government.