News in Brief - Fri - May 22 - 21:30 GMT

1 Saudi protesters flood the streets of Qatif to condemn the terrorist attack on the city's Shia mosque that killed 21 people and injured hundreds more. Demonstrators chanted slogans to express their frustration at authorities over the deadly blast at Imam Ali mosque. ISIL has claimed responsibility for the carnage.

2 Iran and Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah have denounced the terrorist bombing of Imam Ali Shia mosque in Saudi Arabia's Qatif region. Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham demanded that those behind the attack be brought to justice. Hezbollah held Riyadh fully accountable for the deadly blast.

3 A terrorist bomb blast rocks a Shia mosque in the Yemeni capital Sana’a, leaving at least twelve people injured. The ISIL terrorists have claimed responsibility for the attack. Sana’a was also targeted by Saudi airstrikes. Nearly four-thousand people have been killed since the beginning of Saudi aggression against Yemen in late march.

4 The Iraqi army along with volunteer forces has managed to take control of Khalidiya city in Anbar province. Khalidiya had been seized by the ISIL. A spokesman for the Popular Mobilization announced that Iraqi troops are planning to carry out an offensive to also retake the city of Ramadi from the Takfiri terrorists.

5 The UN chief has urged certain Southeast Asian countries to avoid taking provocative measures regarding territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Ban Ki-moon noted that territorial rifts should be resolved through dialog and in line with international law. Ban made the remarks during a visit to Vietnam.

6 Thai police arrest dozens of protesters in the capital Bangkok marking a year since the army seized power from the government of Yingluck Shinawat. Thailand's parliament impeached premier Shinawat in January and banned her from politics for five years following the coup last May.

7 Colombia's FARC rebels have ended a unilateral truce following government airstrikes which killed 26 members of the guerilla group. FARC blamed the decision to end the ceasefire on QUOTE the incoherence of the government. The guerilla group, however, noted that the move doesn't mean the rebels are leaving ongoing peace talks in Cuba.

8 Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says drafting of the final comprehensive agreement on the country’s nuclear program is progressing slowly. The talks in Vienna came to an end on Friday. Araqchi said negotiations with the P-5+1 group of countries will continue next Tuesday.

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