BAGHDAD — A local criminal court in Iraq’s Diyala province issued an arrest warrant for a Sunni member of parliament on suspicion of financing and inciting sectarian violence, a security official in the northeastern province said Saturday.

Vatican meeting tells corrupt Catholic politicians in Africa to repent or quit

VATICAN CITY — Bishops attending a Vatican meeting on Africa issued a blunt ultimatum Friday to corrupt Catholic political leaders in Africa: repent or leave public office.

Reviving after 2006 destruction, Hezbollah’s Beirut stronghold a symbol of Shiite strength

BEIRUT — The sprawling Shiite suburb of south Beirut has made a comeback after the destruction wreaked by Israel during 2006 fighting, a symbol of the community’s resilience at a time when its political patron, Hezbollah, is seeking a greater voice in Lebanon’s government.

Iran state radio says death toll rises to 31 in suicide bombing targeting military commanders

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian state radio is reporting that the death toll has risen to 31 in a suicide bombing that targeted commanders of the elite Revolutionary Guard attending a meeting in southeastern Iran.

Report: Suicide bomber kills 5 top Revolutionary Guard commanders in southeastern Iran

TEHRAN, Iran — A suicide bomber killed five senior commanders of the elite Revolutionary Guard and at least 26 others in an area of southeastern Iran that has been at the center of a simmering Sunni insurgency, state media reported.

Suicide bomber opens fire in mosque in northern Iraq, then blows himself up, killing 15

BAGHDAD — A suicide bomber who hid among the Sunni congregation in a northern Iraqi mosque sprayed gunfire at Muslim worshippers Friday and then blew himself up, killing at least 15 people, including the imam leading prayers, officials said.

Jerusalem unrest lays bare volatility of city at heart of Israeli-Palestinian conflict

JERUSALEM — Israeli police mobilized reinforcements from across the country to secure volatile Jerusalem on Tuesday, deploying thousands of officers on city streets for fear that two days of minor clashes with Palestinian protesters would escalate.

Yemeni troops fighting Shiite rebels chew local drug to boost flagging morale

HARF SOFYAN, Yemen — Resting between frenetic bursts of fighting with tenacious Shiite rebels in the north, many Yemeni soldiers pass the day chewing qat leaves — the mild stimulant plant that is the impoverished Arab nation’s traditional drug of choice.

Iraqi Christian prelate seeks government protection after Kirkuk kidnappings

KIRKUK, Iraq — The body of a Christian health worker turned up in a field two days after he was kidnapped — prompting several more Christian families to pack up and leave their ancient homeland in northern Iraq.

Pope will visit Czech Republic, a voyage among the nonbelievers

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI is going to the heart of central Europe 20 years after the fall of communism ended restrictions on religion. But what he will find is a Czech Republic where nearly half the population professes to be nonbelievers.

Top Italy cardinal denounces attack on Catholic editor as sign of deterioration of civility

ROME — A top Italian cardinal complained Monday that civility was on the decline in Italy after a prominent Catholic editor was forced to resign after a newspaper loyal to Premier Silvio Berlusconi exposed a scandal in his past.

Philippine Muslim rebels warn of new fighting if peace talks fail

SULTAN KUDARAT, Philippines — The Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group warned Saturday that fighting could break out again if efforts to revive peace talks fail, saying a new truce remains fragile.

Yemen’s government offers a new cease-fire deal to Shiite insurgents fighting in the north

SAN’A, Yemen — Yemen offered a conditional cease-fire on Saturday to the Shiite rebels it is battling in the north, following international concern over a deadly airstrike against civilians displaced from the war zones.

Tribal leader: 87 killed in Yemen airstrike on camp for those fleeing government-rebel war

SAN’A, Yemen — Nearly 87 civilians were killed in a strike by government warplanes that hit a camp of people fleeing fighting in northern Yemen, a tribal leader said Thursday. It was a sign of increasing bloodiness in a remote war against Shiite rebels in this turmoil-ridden Arab nation.

AP Exclusive: Muslim countries seek binding UN resolution to protect religion from blasphemy

Rep. Patrick Kennedy clashes with RI bishop at intersection of abortion, health care

US imam who communicated with Fort Hood suspect wanted in Yemen on terror suspicions

Marine reservist accused of attacking Greek priest; told officers the man was a terrorist

Government adviser says Saudi imposing naval blockade on north Yemen to thwart Shiite rebels

Clergy in the crossfire: Mexico’s bishops seek answers to drug violence at home, from abroad

Army chaplain: Pray for Fort Hood shooting suspect, but also pray for meaning in massacre

Fort Hood suspect told ‘There’s something wrong with you,’ after others also saw trouble ahead

After attack, Muslims in US military worry that violence could bring uncomfortable spotlight

Islamic leader: Suspect asked for advice on what to tell soldiers going to fight Muslims

Fort Hood suspect gave away belongings, said methodical goodbyes, before shooting rampage

Shooting suspect’s classmate says Hasan called war on terror ‘a war against Islam’

Canadians linked to Detroit imam and wanted by the FBI to fight extradition

High-profile defections, court fights pose more challenges for Church of Scientology

Suspected Muslim insurgents kill 2 Buddhist civilians in troubled southern Thailand

Baghdad attacks stoke fears of violence in Iraq as Sunnis struggle for power and relevance

Iraqi court seeks arrest of Sunni parliamentarian for financing sectarian violence