Sunday morning roundup
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas says a settlement freeze is a U.S. requirement, not a Palestinian precondition. Abbas, in an interview with an Egyptian newspaper, also said any final agreement should include the right of return for Palestinian refugees. And Saeb Erekat, a negotiator for the Palestinians, said they would reject any deal that does not include a complete settlement freeze.
Five Iranian diplomats are back in Tehran after they were released from U.S. custody in Iraq last week. They received a big public welcome at Tehran's Mehrabad airport. The U.S. and Iraqi governments both insist they released the diplomats in accordance with the status-of-forces agreement, and not to curry favor with Tehran.
At least 40 people were killed in Somalia in fighting between the government and the al-Shabab Islamist group. The government claims most of the victims were rebels. Other fighting in Mogadishu this weekend left 20 people dead.
The Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building, won't open until December, three months after the original deadline. Emaar Properties, the company building the tower, says it needs to finish some work on the exterior. The Emirati company won't say how tall the building will be when finished; estimates range from 818m (2,683ft.) to 888m (2,913ft.)
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Categories: Business, Diplomacy, Iran, Israel & Palestine, Regional News
Tags: Burj Dubai, Israeli settlements, Mahmoud Abbas, Saeb Erekat, Somalia
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