Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, April 17
Xinhua,April 18, 2018 Adjust font size:
ANKARA -- Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said Tuesday the ruling Justice and Development Party will evaluate a call for early presidential and parliamentary elections.
"Our official institutions will make an evaluation and a statement will be made afterwards," Bozdag, who is also the governmental spokesperson, told reporters in Ankara. (Turkey-Early Elections-Ruling Party)
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DAMASCUS -- Investigators of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) entered the Douma district in east of Syrian capital Damascus on Tuesday to start investigating the allegations of chemical weapons use, state TV reported.
No more details were disclosed about the entry of the team to the previously rebel-held district, where an alleged gas attack by Syrian troops reportedly killed dozens of people and triggered off the U.S.-led joint airstrikes on Syria on Saturday morning. (Syria-Chemical Weapons-Investigators)
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JERUSALEM -- Israel came to a standstill on Tuesday evening in marking its annual Day of Remembrance of Fallen Soldiers and Terror Victims.
The official memorial day pays tribute to soldiers killed during their military service and wars, as well as the civilian victims of attacks. (Israel-Memorial Day)
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TEHRAN -- At least two people were killed in an Iranian helicopter crash in Persian Gulf on Tuesday evening, official IRNA news agency reported.
In the incident, two people were killed, the pilot was rescued and two others are missing, Arsalan Bahari Meimandi, the chief of Crisis Management of Bandar Lengeh, told IRNA. (Iran-Helicopter Crash) Enditem