Tunisia

The Centre of Mediterranean and International Studies and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

Foundation are holding next October 30-31 in Tunis a conference on the theme "Political Changes and

Impact on Security in the Mediterranean Region."

The United States and Algeria consult closely on key international and regional issues such as law enforcement cooperation, both in the field of

counterterrorism and in countering more conventional transnational crimes. The two countries have finalized language for a customs mutual assistance

agreement and have signed a mutual legal assistance treaty. The United States and Algeria have conducted bilateral military exercises

EgyptEgypt’s political transition has been dogged by unexpected twists and turns but

nothing comes close to the bombshell delivered on Thursday by the constitutional court. Two days before the first democratic presidential elections, and amid an

increasingly polarized political scene, the court ordered the recently elected parliament dissolved, saying it was unconstitutional.

LibyaObama administration’s response to the Benghazi attack as symptomatic of larger

leadership failings. Mitt Romney and fellow Republicans have been particularly critical of comments made by Susan E. Rice, the United States ambassador to the United

Nations, who said on Sept. 16 that the attack had resulted from a spontaneous mob that was angry about an anti-Islamic video. Later that day, American intelligence

analysts seemed to contradict that initial assessment.

Saudi Arabia

One of the most devout and insular countries in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has emerged from being an underdeveloped desert kingdom to become one of the wealthiest nations in the region thanks to vast oil resources. But its rulers face the delicate task of responding to pressure for reform while combating extremist violence. Named after the ruling Al Saud family, which came to

power in the 18th century, the country includes the Hijaz region - the birthplace of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad and the

cradle of Islam. This fact, combined with the Al Sauds' espousal of a strict interpretation of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism,

has led it to develop a strongly religious self-identity

JordanAdmission and guided tour of the Pyramids and the Sphinx, Admission and guided tour of the Egyptian Museum, Overnight sleeper train Cairo to Aswan, Nubian Village walk and traditional

dinner, Felucca overnight sailing trip, Visit to the Colossi of Memnon, Donkey ride, admission and guided visit to the Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut, meal with local family in Luxor,

Overnight sleeper train Luxor to Cairo, Guided walking tour of Islamic Cairo,Admission to the Cairo Citadel, Visit to Khan al Khalili bazaar, Mt Sinai guided climb, Wadi Rum desert camping with

traditional dinner, Petra entrance and guided tour, Madaba mosaics entrance and guided tour.

Yemen is a poor, deeply divided country that has been in turmoil since January 2011, when protesters inspired by the Arab Spring took to the streets in a violent uprising

against the autocratic rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh — at a cost of hundreds of deaths and rising chaos.

Yemen

SyriaRami Abdelrahman, head of the Observatory, said that five insurgents were

also killed in the attacks, two of which were on the highway linking the capital of Damascus to Aleppo, Syria's most populous city. The third attack was at a

checkpoint on the road linking Aleppo with Latakia, a port city where Assad's forces remain mostly in control.