Asked by Bloomberg TV whether he'd be willing to go to Tehran for talks if necessary, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says, "I would welcome the chance to speak directly to the Iranian people," he says.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has made similar threats in the past, but not implemented them. Declaration comes a day after the US reportedly blocked a proposal in the United Nations Security Council seeking condemnation of housing demolitions carried out near east Jerusalem.
Parliament speaker takes over as interim president, election to take place later this year. Essebsi's death while still in office could lead to new power struggles in the only country to emerge from the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings with a functioning democracy and relative stability.
Governing party maintains razor-thin lead over Blue and White alliance ahead of the Sept. 17 election. Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu projected 7 seats.
Church leaders and conservative politicians claim the songs of band Mashrou' Leila are an insult to Christianity. Rights groups, intellectuals, activists, protest ban: "Mashrou' Leila is one of the greatest things to happen to the Middle East."
