Al-Mustaqbal (Lebanon): Washington Bans Dealing with Syriatel, Ramak – The US Treasury yesterday banned Americans from dealing with Syria's Syriatel and Ramak companies because President Bashar Assad's cousin, Rami Makhlouf, owns more than 50 percent of each. The United States had previously imposed sanctions on Makhlouf, who has the biggest stakes in Syriatel, the country's largest mobile operator, and Ramak, a chain of duty free shops.

Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (London; Saudi Arabia): Sarkozy Seeks Breakthrough in Damascus-Beirut Ties – French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Paris plans to hold a French-Lebanese-Syrian summit on the sidelines of the Mediterranean Union conference in the French capital on Sunday in an effort to secure Syrian-Lebanese reconciliation. Diplomatic sources told Ash-Sharq al-Awsat the three-way summit will be hosted by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday evening.

Al-Bayan (United Arab Emirates): Parade of Arms Race Between Iran, Israel – Iran and Israel paraded an arms race, as Iran continued to test-fire more medium and long-range missiles, while Israel displayed its advanced spying capabilities with an aircraft that can spy on what it is happening in Iran from occupied Palestine. In response, the United States sent a strong message through Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who said that boosting military presence in the Gulf is aimed at protecting Israel and other U.S. allies from Iran.

Al-Hayat (London): Erdogan, Maliki Launch Strategic Council in Baghdad – After some tension, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's first visit to Iraq yesterday opened a new page in Turkish-Iraqi relations as Turkey and Iraq signed an agreement to form a higher council for strategic cooperation. Erdogan said he received support from the Iraqi central government and the Kurdish administration in northern Iraq to fight the rebel Turkish Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.

Al-Wasat (Bahrain): After Bahrain, Kuwait to Name Ambassador to Iraq Soon – Kuwait yesterday announced it will appoint an ambassador to Iraq soon, citing substantial improved security in the country. Kuwait said it was encouraged to name an ambassador in Baghdad after "our brothers in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates" appointed envoys there.