15 May 2009 Egypt Officials downplay Church bombing; jihadist websites says attack inspired by al-Qaeda; further attacks on Copts, Westerners possible
13 May 2009 Iran Border security remains concern for Tehran, presents opportunity for US engagement; Zionist “plot†implausible
13 May 2009 Iran Registration ends for June presidential polls; Supreme Leader supports Ahmadinejad despite rare public rebuke
13 May 2009 Iran Nuclear talks unlikely for now, but freeing of jailed US journalist is positive step; uncertainty remains over Iran’s nuclear programme
13 May 2009 Iraq Arrests in Basra as police try to prevent return of militias; surface to air missiles found north of Basra as smuggling from Iran continues
13 May 2009 Iraq Kurdish region to hold polls on 25 July, but status of Kirkuk will not be resolved, and so will remain contentious
13 May 2009 Iraq Oil industry comes under attack; Britain and US hand over control of terminal near Basra, but another remains under their protection
