Middle Orient

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Iraqi government sued dozens of companies, including oil giant Chevron Corp., for more than $10 billion on Monday, saying they paid kickbacks to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s government under the U.N. oil-for-food program.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Five Iraqi appeals court judges escaped assassination attempts on Monday when bombs exploded outside their homes in eastern Baghdad, an apparent attempt to intimidate the court, police and a judicial official said.

(Reuters) – Following are security developments in Iraq at 9:30 EDT on Monday: BAGHDAD – Five Iraqi appeals court judges escaped assassination attempts when bombs exploded outside their homes in eastern Baghdad, police and a judicial official said.

GAZA (Reuters) – A Palestinian journalist said from his hospital bed on Monday that he was abused and injured by Israeli security personnel on his way home to the Gaza Strip after receiving a journalism award in Britain.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Turkey will ask Malaysia’s main opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to leave its embassy in Kuala Lumpur as soon as possible, Malaysia’s foreign minister said on Monday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran and Pakistan signed four agreements on cooperation at the end of the 17th session of their joint economic commission which concluded here in Tehran on Sunday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- A report on Sunday said that Washington has been funding covert operations to destabilize the Iranian government, with full approval from the US Senate.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC)and Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG) are about to sign a 2-billion-dollar liquefied natural gas (LNG) contract.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran has increased its oil output to 4.23 million barrels per day, the highest since 1979, and plans to increase output further.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia on Saturday night met with the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council Chief, Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah in Riyadh.