Sharon's wiles
The difference between Sharon's approach to Hizbullah and the PA is more apparent than real, writes Graham Usher in Jerusalem

More spin, what else?
"Iraqification" may be Washington's PR pitch for ending its occupation of Iraq, but who are the Iraqis the Americans have in mind? Salah Hemeid reports

Suicide shock for Saudi
The latest suicide attack, in which no Americans were killed, raises new questions about the new targets of terror, writes John R Bradley in Riyadh

First Saddam, now Uncle Sam
Accused of collaborating with the occupying forces while trying to secure law and order, the Iraqi police find themselves between a rock and a hard place in the new Iraq. Karim El-Gawhary writes from Baghdad

When help hurts
Plagued by doubts about security, humanitarian organisations are leaving Iraq in droves. Nyier Abdou looks at what happens when neutrality is not enough

An extraordinary violation
The plight of Canadian-Syrian Maher Arar is a disturbing example of how far the United States is prepared to go in its hunt for suspected terrorists, writes Jaideep Mukerji

Egypt:

Focussed on domestic interests
President Mubarak outlined Egypt's perspective on a plethora of domestic and foreign policy issues this week, reports Nevine Khalil

Appreciating resistance
The escalation of Iraqi resistance has inspired hope and speculation on the streets of Cairo. Gihan Shahine gauges public reactions

Friendly fire
Is the standoff between the US Embassy and the Egyptian media an attempt to gag the press, or a case of a little friendly advice? Omayma Abdel-Latif searches for answers

Back in session, minus 15
Political reform, disreputable ruling party MPs and the economic crisis look to top parliament's agenda this term. Gamal Essam El-Din reports

BMW shifts out of neutral
After 12 months of stagnation, BMW is restarting production in Egypt. Yasmine El-Rashidi reports

International:

Mauritania's hour postponed
Mauritanian President Mouawiya Ould Taya's sweeping victory at the polls this week might set the country on an irrevocable course of authoritarianism and racial discrimination, argues Gamal Nkrumah

Accessorising or secularising?
French attitudes on head covering are veiled in arguments about secularism, reports Jeremy Landor from paris