Az-Zaman (London; Iraq): New Law Impacts Street With Suicide Bombing -- Kirkuk's representatives in the Iraqi parliament renounced violence and called for self-restraint amid an unprecedented security collapse that has swept Kirkuk in the past 24 hours following a controversial provincial election law. Officials in the oil-rich city said a suicide bomber has killed at least 23 people and injured 150 others during a public demonstration protesting the elections bill.

Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (London; Saudi Arabia): Four Blasts by Suicide Bombers Leave Dozens Dead -- At least 51 people were killed and 200 others were injured in four separate suicide attacks across Iraq on Monday that targeted Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad and Kurdish protesters in Kirkuk. Security sources said 25 people, including women and children, were killed and 70 others wounded in the attack against Shiite pilgrims, which is believed to have been carried out by a female suicide bomber.

Al-Anbaa (Kuwait): Cabinet Grants 'Hungry' Their Rights, Crushes Rioters -- The Kuwaiti government yesterday dealt with the "Asian rebellion" on the basis of a carrot-and-stick policy by forcing the companies to pay the laborers their delayed salaries, while taking action against employers that violate pay rules. At the same time, the authorities crushed the escalating riots, arresting at least 700 Asians with plans to deport them at the expense of the state.

Al-Bayan (United Arab Emirates): Damascus Calls for Direct Negotiations With Israel -- The Syrian ambassador in Washington Imad Mustapha yesterday called on Israel to sit at the same table with Syria to negotiate an end to the "state of war" between them, warning that Israel would not enjoy security on its northern borders so long as the Golan Heights remained occupied. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ruled out a new war with Lebanon's Hezbollah, claiming that the organization's chief, Hassan Nasrallah, was "shaken" and had "lost confidence in himself and his capabilities."

Al-Arab al-Yawm (Jordan): Arab League Might Sponsor Inter-Palestinian Talks Soon -- A senior Palestinian official said that Egypt will in the next few days invite all the Palestinian factions to Cairo to launch an inter-Palestinian dialogue under the sponsorship of the Arab League. The official added that talks were necessary to end the escalation of recriminations between Fatah and Hamas.