Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, March 26

TIKEIT, Iraq -- Two soldiers were killed and a third wounded Monday in a clash between the Iraqi army and insurgent militants, believed to be affiliated with Islamic State (IS) group, in the Iraqi province of Salahudin, a provincial police source said.

The incident took place in the morning when gunmen hiding at a valley opened fire on the soldiers who were conducting a search campaign in Gan'ous area in east of the town of Shirqat, some 280 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Colonel Mohammed al-Jubouri from Salahudin's Operations Command told Xinhua. (Iraq-Gunmen)

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DAMASCUS -- The rebels in the Douma district of Damascus' Eastern Ghouta area are ready to lay down weapons and withdraw from their main stronghold in Douma district, state news agency SANA reported on Monday.

SANA spelled no further details yet about the news, but the Islam Army, the major rebel group in Douma, said on Monday that the news of its fighters leaving Douma is not accurate, adding that negotiations with the Russian side are ongoing. (Syria-Eastern Ghouta)

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CAIRO -- Voting of Egypt's presidential election began on Monday, with an expected easy win for incumbent President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Polls opened at 9 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) on the first of three days of voting. (Egypt-Election)

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ISTANBUL -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday reaffirmed his country's goal of becoming a full member of the European Union, saying Ankara remains committed to the accession process.

"Becoming a reliable member of the European Union continues to be Turkey's strategic goal," the president told reporters in Istanbul prior to his departure for Bulgaria's Varna for a summit with EU leaders. (Turkey-EU Membership) Enditem