Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, Jan. 29

RAMALLAH -- Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Monday that his ministry will apply to the UN Security Council (UNSC) next February to get full UN membership for the state of Palestine and demand international protection for the people of Palestine under the Israeli occupation. (Palestine-UN)

- - - -

BEIRUT -- Lebanon's public prosecutor has filed a lawsuit against ad-Diyar newspaper and its owner and editor-in-chief Charles Ayoub on charges of insulting Saudi King Salman, the daily said on Sunday.

The prosecution has demanded a one-year's jail term and a fine for Ayoub, ad-Diyar said. (Lebanon-Saudi Arabia)

- - - -

BEIRUT -- Around 100 supporters of Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri blocked the main roads in Beirut's Mar Elias area in response to a leaking video showing offensive words by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil towards the speaker.

The video footage, which was disclosed Sunday, showed the foreign minister calling Berri a "thug" in a closed meeting. (Lebanon-Insult to Speaker)

- - - -

BAGHDAD -- Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi Monday told the ambassadors of the Group of Seven (G7) countries that the Iraqi government is serious about economic reform in the country.

A statement by his office said that Abadi "held a meeting in his office this evening, with the ambassadors of the G7 group, EU ambassador and the representatives of the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)." (Iraq-Economic Reform) Enditem