Egypt

Hamas agrees to form national reconciliation government

Hamas agrees to form national reconciliation governmentCairo - Palestinian Islamists who met with Egyptian mediators have agreed to form a government of "national reconciliation," not one of national unity, Hamas leader Mahmoud al- Zahar said Thursday.

The government of national reconciliation "might include members of other Palestinian factions along with Hamas and Fatah," Zahar told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

He declined to explain how the powers of both Hamas and Fatah would be divided in such a government. "We do not want to go into those details now."

Egyptian villagers protest police killing of pregnant woman

Egyptian police detain 31 Muslim Brotherhood members Cairo- Hundreds of Egyptian villagers protested early Thursday after police killed a pregnant woman in a house raid, a security source told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The 26-year-old pregnant woman resisted police who came to arrest her brother, who is being investigated in a robbery case.

Police hit the woman, who died after she was moved to a hospital in Samalout.

Samalout is located some 217 kilometres south of Cairo.

Positive signals from Egypt-brokered talks, says Palestinian leader

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud AbbasNew Delhi - There were positive signals from talks brokered by Egypt with Palestinian factions, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said in New Delhi Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at the conclusion of a four-day visit to India, Abbas also said a decision on elections in the Palestinian Territories - presidential and legislative - would be held after an Arab proposal based on the Egypt-brokered talks was made.

He said the proposal was expected by the end of October or early November.

Hamas, Fatah to meet this month in Cairo

Cairo - Hamas, Fatah to meet this month in CairoA Cairo-hosted mee

Eight die in building collapse in Egyptian coastal city

Eight die in building collapse in Egyptian coastal city Cairo - At least eight people died Wednesday when a building collapsed in the coastal Egyptian city of Alexandria, according to a security official.

Additionally, one woman was injured in the collapse. It was unknown how many people might still be buried in the rubble, the official told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The collapse of the five-storey building may have been caused by poor construction that allowed more floors to be added to the building than the structure could support.

Developing economies key players in global system, IMFC head says

Developing economies key players in global system, IMFC head says Cairo - Egyptian Finance Minister Youssef Boutros Ghali on Tuesday said that choosing him to head the International Monetary Fund's top decision-making body reflects developing countries' increasing involvement in the global economy.

Ghali's pick, announced by the IMF late Monday, marked the first time a minister from an emerging market or developing country had been chosen to chair the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC).

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