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Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, Feb. 15

Xinhua,February 16, 2018 Adjust font size:

TEHRAN -- Iran on Thursday dismissed the recent allegations by the U.S. intelligence about Iran's rising influence in the Middle East.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi slammed U.S. National Intelligence Director Dan Coats for making "worn-out" and "baseless" claims about Iran's influence in the region. (Iran-U.S. Intel-Response)

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BEIRUT -- Hezbollah's actions pose a threat to the security of Lebanon and have a destabilizing influence in the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Thursday.

"Hezbollah is not just a concern for the United States. The people of Lebanon should also be concerned about how Hezbollah's actions, its growing arsenal, bring unwanted and unhelpful scrutiny on Lebanon," Tillerson said in a joint press conference after talks with Prime Minister Saad Hariri. (Lebanon-Hezbollah-U.S.)

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BAGHDAD -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi Thursday said that his government would negotiate with the world companies next month to sign investment contracts in various fields in in Iraq.

Abadi announced his government's move in a televised press conference after his weekly cabinet meeting, which came just one day after some of the world countries and organizations concluded a conference in neighboring Kuwait and announced 30-billion U.S. dollars financial contributions to help rebuild the war-torn country. (Iraq-Investment)

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TRIPOLI -- The Libyan Constitution Drafting Assembly on Thursday called on the eastern-based parliament to issue the referendum law.

"The Assembly has made effort to pass the draft constitution. It will enable the Libyan people to exercise their constitutional right through the referendum," said Nooh Abdallah, the head of the Libyan Constitution Drafting Assembly, in a statement. (Libya-Constitution-Parliament) Enditem

 

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