Best of BBC news

British officials backed the post war purge of Saddam-era officials, former US administrator Paul Bremer tells the Iraq inquiry.

The Israeli army partially opens a motorway that runs through the West Bank to Palestinian drivers, to comply with a court ruling.

Actor Dominic Cooper says playing Saddam Hussein's son in Iraq thriller The Devil's Double was a challenge.

Israel deflects calls for a nuclear free Middle East

Libyan artefacts taken to Britain in the 1950s have been returned home and go on display in Tripoli Museum.

The Israeli PM accepts an invitation to meet Barack Obama in Washington, for the first time since a crisdis in relations.

Mark Urban on de facto halt to Jewish settlement building

Two Israeli Arab activists are charged with being spies for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

UK investors offered Iraq opportunities

Key facts, figures and dates

Key facts, figures and dates

Key facts, figures and dates

Key facts, figures and dates

Key facts, figures and dates

Key facts, figures and dates

The Iraqi government says it plans to close the state-owned Iraqi Airways after declaring it bankrupt.

The Egyptian station set up to help divorcees

A deputy Cairo governor and seven other officials are jailed over a rockslide in a slum that left 119 people dead.

Israeli jets launch a night time bombing raid on the Gaza strip injuring several people, medical sources say.

A concert by the openly gay British singer Elton John is to go ahead in Morocco despite calls by Islamists for him to be banned.