* Navy captives ‘face legal action’ Legal action is being taken against 15 Royal Navy personnel held captive by Iran for “entering Iranian waters”, a senior Iranian diplomat has said.

* Iran fears strike by West’s ‘warmongers’ Iran is blaming the US and Israel for its decision to withhold information from the outside world on its nuclear program, saying in a confidential letter that threats from the two “warmongers” led it to curtail cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

* EU to deal with non-Hamas ministers EU foreign ministers have voiced support for the Arab peace initiative, revived in Saudi Arabia last week, agreeing to engage with non-Hamas members of the new Palestinian unity government.

* Merkel commences visit to MidEast German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has made the Middle East a top priority of her six-month EU presidency, sets off Saturday on a three-day visit to the region to add Europe’s push to growing diplomatic efforts by the US and UN – and what are seen as hopeful signs from an Arab summit.

* Bloody battle rages in Somali capital Artillery fire and mortar shells rained down on Somalia’s capital Saturday as government troops and their Ethiopian allies continued a major offensive to quash a growing insurgency by Islamic militants.

* Pelosi Going to Syria Despite Objections House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will visit Syria, a country President Bush has shunned as a sponsor of terrorism, despite being asked by the administration not to go.

* Olmert: ‘Not one refugee can return’ While the Prime Minister’s Office had no formal reaction to the Arab League’s land-and-refugees-for-peace initiative relaunched in Riyadh on Thursday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told The Jerusalem Post there is absolutely no wiggle room on the refugee issue.

* Olmert Dares Saudis To Talk; Arabs on Int’l Tour To Sell Plan Prime Minister Ehud Olmert welcomed the Arab League’s endorsement of the 2002 Saudi Arabian peace plan and challenged its members to break their diplomatic boycott on Israel and to talk peace.

* Olmert calls Haniyeh a ‘terrorist’ Prime minister tells Time Magazine Palestinian prime minister Haniyeh transferred $1 million to gunmen to carry out attacks against Israel

* NGOs step up food distribution for Pessah holiday Distribution of food staples by NGOs to the country’s 1.6 million people living below the poverty line went into high gear on Thursday.