* Iran ‘biggest threat to Mid-East’ US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has warned that Iran poses the biggest threat to US Middle East interests, as she begins a major regional tour.

* Syrian diplomat scorns Bush Mideast proposal Arab League governments were reluctant Monday to support US President Bush’s call for an international conference to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

* Russia Backing Abbas, Supplying Iran Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has thus far received enthusiastic support from Moscow during his three-day trip to Russia this week.

* Golan residents call for talks with Syria The Peace with Syria movement held a conference Monday evening at Kibbutz Gadot with the participation of hundreds of Golan Heights residents.

* Corruption ‘mars Iraq rebuilding’ The US agency overseeing reconstruction in Iraq has told the BBC that economic mismanagement and corruption there are equivalent to “a second insurgency”.

* US funds allies against Iran The US has announced military aid worth more than $43bn to Egypt.

* Sex for the motherland: Russian youths encouraged to procreate at camp Remember the mammoths, say the clean-cut organisers at the youth camp’s mass wedding. “They became extinct because they did not have enough sex. That must not happen to Russia”.

* Barak: Draft dodging a security threat Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned Monday that the growing number of youth who dodge the IDF draft will eventually harm national security.

* Army warns Hebron settlers to evacuate market willingly The Military Advocate General’s office on Monday warned Jewish families residing in Hebron’s old market that should the IDF be instructed to forcefully evacuate them from the site.

* Report: Olmert, Abbas are holding final status talks Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas have been holding secret talks on a final status agreement on the critical issues between Israelis and Palestinians.