Top U.S. Middle East diplomat to retire next week

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Jeffrey Feltman, the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, will retire next week, the State Department confirmed on Tuesday but did not address reports he is expected to take up a senior U.N. position. Sources told Reuters on Monday that Feltman, the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, was expected to replace Lynn Pascoe, another career U.S. diplomat, as U.N. under-secretary-general for political affairs. In that position, Feltman would help to formulate U.N. policy in negotiations on the Middle East peace process and other conflicts and to oversee U. ...

Exclusive: Tunisia to extradite former Gaddafi PM to Libya

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia will extradite former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's prime minister to Libya and the handover could take place in "days or weeks", Justice Minister Noureddine Bouheiri said on Tuesday. Should he be handed over, Al Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi would be the first senior official to be sent back for trial under Libya's transitional leadership and his extradition could establish a precedent for other countries who have given refuge to or arrested members of Gaddafi's old entourage. ...

Monti offers help for earthquake zone

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti declared a state of emergency and promised more help on Tuesday for northern regions hit by an earthquake, saying it was vital to restore some of the most economically productive parts of the country. He said the government would suspend property taxes on damaged factories and residences in the region around the towns of Modena, Ferrara, Mantova and Bologna and encourage banks to step up lending to companies hit by the emergency. ...

Exclusive: Tunisia to extradite former Gaddafi PM to Libya

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia will extradite former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's prime minister to Libya and the handover could take place in "days or weeks", Justice Minister Noureddine Bouheiri said on Tuesday. Should he be handed over, Al Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi would be the first senior official to be sent back for trial under Libya's transitional leadership and his extradition could establish a precedent for other countries who have given refuge to or arrested members of Gaddafi's old entourage. ...