al-Quds al-Arabi (LONDON): Al-Qaida Loyalist Fighters Train in Gaza to Fight Israelis and 'Infidels' – Al-Umma Army, a Palestinian Islamist party formed on the ideology of al-Qaida, has been allowed by Hamas to train in the Gaza Strip to "fight the Israelis and infidels." Hamas has given al-Umma Army a de facto approval to train, but not to interfere in internal Palestinian policy or to use force to impose its ideology on Gaza's people. Groups loyal to al-Qaida, led by Osama bin Laden, have increased in Gaza since Hamas' takeover.

Al-Ahram (EGYPT): 5,000 Palestinians Crossed from Rafah in Two Days – The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza was closed yesterday after being open for two straight days, during which more than 5,000 Palestinians crossed over in the two directions. Some 3,500 people, mostly the sick, students and holders of Egyptian and other residency permits, entered Egypt, while some 1,500 returned to Gaza.

Al-Sabah (IRAQ): Anbar Heads Toward Reconstruction After Taking Over Security – Iraq's Anbar province is heading toward reconstruction and employment after the U.S. forces handed over security control of the area to the Iraqi forces yesterday, according to Iraqi officials. The cities in Anbar witnessed significant security improvement since the end of 2006 with the establishment of the first Awakening Councils, which succeeded in confronting al-Qaida and other armed groups.

Al-Watan (QATAR): Gadhafi to Libyans: Prepare to Take Oil Revenues – On the occasion of the 39th anniversary of the Libyan revolution, Muammar Gadhafi on Monday decided to fight corruption in the management of oil revenues, simply by canceling the managements and distributing oil revenues directly to the citizens. He said in a speech: "Every Libyan citizen should prepare to take his share of oil revenues directly as of the beginning of next year."

An-Nahar (LEBANON): Four-Way Summit in Damascus to Evaluate Syrian-Israeli Negotiations – French President Nicolas Sarkozy will crown his visit to Damascus, which starts on Wednesday by taking part in a Turkish-Qatari-French-Syrian summit on Thursday to discuss the indirect peace negotiations between Damascus and Tel Aviv, mediated by Turkey. Sarkozy's talks with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, are aimed at returning normalization between their countries at the highest levels.