* Salah urges Muslims to defend al-Aksa Sheikh Raed Salah called for thousands of Muslims to rise, unite and defend Jerusalem and al-Aksa mosque.

* Iran seeks goodwill over captives Iran’s ambassador to London has said Britain should respond “in a positive way” to the release of the 15 Royal Navy personnel held for 13 days.

* Moscow to Get New Air Defense System in August According to a senior air defense commander Russia plans to put new air defense systems on combat duty around Moscow in the end of August.

* Mashaal: Hamas policies won’t change Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Mashaal denied on Saturday that there had been any change in his organization’s policies, and declared that Hamas would neither abandon “armed resistance” nor agree to give up an “inch of Palestinian land.”

* Thousands of policemen deploy in J’lem for ‘Holy Fire’ ceremony Thousands of police deployed on Saturday in the old city of Jerusalem and volunteers helped prevent automobiles from entering the Old City in preparation for the ‘Holy Fire’ ceremony held in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Saturday afternoon.

* Top US envoy on Somalia mission The top US diplomat for Africa is in Somalia to urge the interim government to create a lasting truce, as violence threatens to derail reconciliation.

* Israel launches deadly raid in Gaza Israeli forces have killed a Palestinian fighter and wounded two in what is believed to be the fiercest exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters since a ceasefire agreed in November.

* Forecaster Blasts Gore on Global Warming A top hurricane forecaster called Al Gore “a gross alarmist” Friday for making an Oscar-winning documentary about global warming.

* Sneh: Settlers to be removed from Hebron building within two weeks Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said Friday that settlers occupying a vacant Palestinian building in Hebron will be removed from the structure by April 19, one month after they entered the site.

* Iraq powers plan Egypt conference Iraq’s government has announced that Egypt is to host an international conference on the situation in Iraq.