Middle East: Egypt's El-Baradai calls for election boycott

Egyptian opposition politician Mohammed El-Baradei called Saturday for a boycott of upcoming parliamentary polls while President Mohammed Morsi accepted to change the dates following demands by Coptic Christians who claimed it interfered with Easter.

Islamists, who have won every election since the 2011 overthrow of autocrat Hosni Mubarak, dismissed any suggestion that the parliamentary polls would lack credibility and predicted a strong turnout.

While divisions between the Islamists and opposition remain deep, Mursi appeared ready to soothe anger among the Christian minority over the election schedule. The speaker of Egypt’s upper house said Mursi would change the dates to avoid Coptic Christians having to vote during their Easter celebrations.
Mursi called the lower house elections on Thursday, aiming to conclude Egypt’s turbulent transition to democracy.

Read more: Egypt's ElBaradai calls for election boycott - EGYPT - FRANCE 24

Syria: Turkish, Saudi officers arrested in Aleppo

 A group of Turkish and Saudi officers who may have been aiding rebel Syrian forces have been arrested in Aleppo.

The arrests were reported Monday by Syrian state television as clashes continued in the city, Iran's state-run Press TV reported.

There was no immediate word on how many officers were arrested.

In early July, President Bashar Assad claimed in a Turkish newspaper Turkey was supplying "all logistic support" to the rebels.


Read More: Syria: Turkish, Saudi officers arrested - UPI.com