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Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson Special correspondent Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson is based in Berlin. Her reports can be heard on NPR's award-winning programs, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and read at NPR.org.
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Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson is a NPR foreign correspondent based in Cairo.
Saudi Arabia's Delicate Dance On The Fate Of Yemen

Thousands of anti-government protesters in Yemen demonstrate against President Ali Abdullah Saleh last month. Saudi Arabia wants Saleh to step down, but also worries that his departure could lead to chaos.

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Mohammed Huwais/AFP/Getty Images

Middle East

Saudi Arabia's Delicate Dance On The Fate Of Yemen

The Saudis are demanding that Yemen's president step aside after months of protest against his rule. Yet last month, the Saudis didn't stop Ali Abduallah Saleh from leaving Saudi Arabia, where he received extensive medical treatment, and returning to Yemen.

Saudi Arabia's Delicate Dance On The Fate Of Yemen

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Libyan Arms Flow Into Egypt Across Sinai

Ali Madaan, 45, is one of the Bedouin guards protecting the al-Midan station in Egypt's northern Sinai. The natural gas pipeline there has come under repeated attacks.

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Africa

Libyan Arms Flow Into Egypt Across Sinai

Alarmed by an increasing sense of insecurity, a growing number of Egyptians in northern Sinai are stockpiling and arming themselves with heavy weapons coming in from Libya. The arms are easy to come by since the revolution in Egypt and subsequent rebellion in Libya.

Libyan Arms Flow Into Egypt Across Northern Sinai

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Grief Among Christians Turns To Rage In Egypt

Christians protest outside St. Mark's Cathedral in Cairo, a day after 25 people, mostly Christians, died in clashes with Egyptian security forces.

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World

Grief Among Christians Turns To Rage In Egypt

In Cairo, the Coptic Christian community buried its dead Monday after violent clashes between protesters and Egyptian soldiers killed 25. The protesters were demanding the country's military rulers protect them from attacks by radical Muslims. Now, Christian mourners are lashing out at those rulers.

In Egypt, Grief Among Christians Turns To Rage

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Middle East

Egypt's Military Clashes With Coptic Christians

Coptic Christians in Egypt clashed with soldiers and anti-riot police during a protest in Cairo against the attack on a church in southern Egypt. It was the worst violence since the 18-day uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak in February.

Egypt's Military Clashes With Coptic Christians

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Middle East

At Least 19 Dead In Egypt Riots

Clashes between Coptic Christian protesters and the Egyptian military in Cairo on Sunday left at least 19 people dead and more than 100 wounded, according to official counts. The violence erupted after the Christians were marching to protest what they claim was an attack on a church in southern Egypt by radical Muslims.

Robert Smith talks to NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

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In Saudi Arabia, Only Men Vote, And Not Often

Saudi men wait to cast their votes in municipal elections in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday. Turnout appeared to be low. King Abdullah says that women will be allowed to vote in the next municipal elections, in 2015. Hassan Ammar/AP hide caption

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Hassan Ammar/AP

Middle East

In Saudi Arabia, Only Men Vote, And Not Often

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has promised women they can vote in the next election. But on Thursday, it was still only the men who were allowed to cast ballots in municipal elections, and it appeared that few of them chose to do so.

In Saudi Arabia, Only Men Vote, And Not Often

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Hidden World Of Girls

Saudi Woman's Driving Violation Spurs Controversy

Saudi men are expected to cast votes Thursday in the kingdom's municipal elections. King Abdullah has promised that women can vote in the next election in four years, but that pledge has been overshadowed by the case of a woman sentenced to 10 lashes for violating the ban on driving.

Saudi Woman's Driving Violation Spurs Controversy

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In Egypt, Mubarak-Era Emergency Law To Stay

Egyptian demonstrators protest against the emergency law in front of the Interior Ministry in Cairo on Friday. The country's military rulers announced last week that the Hosni Mubarak-era measure would remain in effect until at least next June. Khalil Hamra/AP hide caption

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Khalil Hamra/AP

Middle East

In Egypt, Mubarak-Era Emergency Law To Stay

Critics say Egypt's military rulers are using the law, which allows for arbitrary arrests and harsh sentences, to impose their will. The government says it had no choice but to employ the measure after a mob attack on the Israeli Embassy earlier this month.

In Egypt, Mubarak-Era Emergency Law To Stay

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Egypt's Political Turmoil Drives Tourists Away

Tourist guides sit on camels as they wait for clients next to the Giza pyramids on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, June 23. Tourism in Egypt has dropped 35 percent overall in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2010. Khalil Hamra/AP hide caption

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Khalil Hamra/AP

Middle East

Egypt's Political Turmoil Drives Tourists Away

Revolution and tourism don't mix. Just ask the Egyptians. The tourism industry is crucial for Egypt's economic well-being, but foreigners have been staying away since the upheaval in February that ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt's Political Turmoil Drives Foreign Tourists Away

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Middle East

Egypt To Stop Trying Civilians In Military Court

The generals who rule Egypt say they will end military trials for civilians once the government ends emergency rule. That would come none too soon for activists who say six times as many civilians have been tried in military court this year than during Mubarak's entire 30 years in power.

Egypt To Stop Trying Civilians In Military Court

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Middle East

Witnesses Fail To Link Mubarak To Killings

The trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak continued in Cairo Wednesday. Witnesses for the prosecution failed to connect Mubarak or his interior minister to the fatal shootings during protests that led to Mubarak's ouster.

Witnesses Fail To Link Mubarak To Killings

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Africa

Witnesses Deny Mubarak Gave Orders To Shoot

The trial of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resumed in Cairo Wednesday. On orders from the judge, cameras and recording equipment will no longer be allowed in the courtroom. Witnesses for the prosecution have said Mubarak did not give orders to shoot protesters.

Witnesses Deny Mubarak Gave Orders To Shoot

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World

Scuffles Interrupt Mubarak Trial

Scuffles inside and outside the courtroom interrupted the trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, which resumed Cairo on Monday. There was startling testimony from a police general who said there were no orders to shoot anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square.

Scuffles Interrupt Mubarak Trial

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Middle East

Mubarak Trial Resumes In Egypt

In Egypt, the first witness began testimony Monday after scuffles erupted inside and outside the Cairo court where former President Hosni Mubarak is standing trial. The 83-year-old leader is charged with corruption and ordering the killing of more than 850 anti-government protesters.

Mubarak Trial Resumes In Egypt

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Africa

Rebels Tasked With Ensuring Libyans Security

Nearly all Libyans agree that security should be a top priority for the country's interim government. Some councilmen and rebel commanders say the first step to ensuring security will be to take away the light arms that both sides handed out en masse.

Rebels Tasked With Ensuring Libyans Security

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