Back to square one
As Sharon and Abu Mazen hold a futile meeting in West Jerusalem, a bloody week of attacks and counter-attacks dims hopes for a breakthrough in implementing the roadmap. Khaled Amayreh reports from occupied Jerusalem

The real target
Al-Haram Al-Sharif is the real target of Israel's clampdown on its Arab "citizens", writes Jonathan Cook from Umm Al-Fahm

Terror attacks augur reform
The deadly Al-Qa'eda attacks in Riyadh may have provided the Saudi regime with the opportunity it needs to tame the powerful religious establishment and usher in a period of social and political reforms, reports John R Bradley from Jeddah

Thunderbolt in Casablanca
As Moroccan authorities try to establish links between the bombings in Casablanca and Al-Qa'eda, the North African country is taking stock of the ramifications. Hassan Alaoui reports from the beleaguered city

Deeper into the quagmire
The Bush administration's pre-war promises of making Iraqis "free and masters of their own future" now seem easier said than done, writes Salah Hemeid

Waiting to exhale
Two very different Iraqi families share with Judith Neurink their lives under Saddam and their hopes for the future

Heritage lost for ever
As Iraq sinks further into anarchy, the country's most valuable missing archaeological artefacts seem impossible to recover. Michael Jansen writes from Baghdad

Appeasing the occupation
The US is likely to gain the approval of the Security Council for an amended resolution that would assure its control over Iraq, Khaled Dawoud reports from Washington

Glimmer of hope in Machakos
Peace is not an elusive goal say Sudanese protagonists seeking to present their respective cases as convincingly as possible at the negotiating table in Kenya, writes Gamal Nkrumah

Clashes at Ain Al-Hilwa
After six hours of the worst fighting in a year, a cease-fire was reached in Lebanon's largest Palestinian refugee camp on Tuesday...