Shi'ism or schism
The Ashura in Nabatiya was more than a re-enactment of a centuries old tragedy. Political undercurrents were rife, writes Mustafa El-Labbad

Realpolitik 101
Western powers bestow blessings on reformers building a framework for political and economic change in Libya, writes Gamal Nkrumah

Better late than never
Iraqi leaders finally approved a transitional constitution this week, but the splits that delayed the signing are far from resolved, writes Ramsey Al-Rikabi in Baghdad

Let dawn come
A high-level Arab women's meeting pledged commitment to the cause of women in armed conflicts. Dina Ezzat reports from Beirut

Celebrating murder
Spilling "enemy blood", as much as the world will allow, seemed to have the prime objective of the Israeli occupation forces this week, Khaled Amayreh reports

Looking for a quick fix
US President George Bush needs more than signing cermonies to restore confidence in his handling of the situation in Iraq, reports Khaled Dawoud from Washington

The vastness of his allegiance
One week after suicide bombings killed 181 of their kin there is increasingly only one authority for Iraq's Shias -- and it is not the Iraqi Governing Council. Graham Usher reports from Karbala