Shi’ite pilgrims pray at Imam Abbas shrine in the holy city of Kerbala in Iraq. Shi’ite Muslims are commemorating Ashura, the most important day in the Shi’ite calendar which remembers the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, in the 7th century battle of Kerbala.

Sorry for the intermittent posting – I am out of commission with the flu, but here are a few interesting articles from around the Middle East.

The Muslim Brotherhood expels its only member who won a seat in the legislative elections
There are rumors that Magdi Ashour, the expelled member, accepted the government’s help in engineering his legislative victory.

Egypt’s umbrella opposition group says that it will set up a shadow parliament
In light of the allegations of voter fraud and vote rigging in Egypt’s legislative elections

Syria’s improving foreign relations is aiding its economy
A report from Bank Audi says that Syria’s political relations within the Middle East and the Western world is creating a better investment and business environment

Cyprus and Israel sign a deal outlining sea borders
Egypt and Lebanon have similar deals with Cyprus, but Israel’s deal underlines the security implications tied to the Gaza blockade.

Wikileaks does succession in Egypt
What do Egyptian leaders think of a Gamal Mubarak presidency?

(Photo Courtesy of Reuters/Mushtaq Muhammad)