Lebanese polling stations closed down on Sunday evening, ending 12 hours of tight contest between the ruling majority and the opposition to determine the next parliament, local New TV reported. Lebanese voters cast their ballots in the crucial parliamentary elections and heated contest which recorded an average turnover of more than 48 percent, amid heavy security measures that succeeded to prevent major incidents during the election process. (Lebanon- Polling Stations-Close) KHARTOUM -- A high-ranking official in the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) has announced the formation of a new party named SPLM-Democratic Change Party, the independent daily Sudan Vision reported Sunday. Lam Akol, a senior official in the SPLM party, said Saturday he left the party to found the new one in a bid to rescue the SPLM from collapse. (Sudan-SPLM- Split) RAMALLAH -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman Sunday called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to obligate his right-wing government to accept the two-state solution. The call was made after Netanyahu announced his plan to deliver a key speech responding to U.S. calls for freezing Jewish settlements in the West Bank and adopting the two-state solution which envisions a Palestinian statehood alongside Israel. (Palestinians-Israeli PM) GAZA -- Gaza-ruling Islamic Hamas movement on Sunday welcomed earlier media reports saying that Egypt intends to send a high- ranking security delegation to Gaza as soon as a reconciliation deal is reached with rival President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah movement. Deputy head of Hamas Political Bureau, Musa Abu Marzouq, who is in Damascus told the London-based al-Hayyat Daily that 'We welcome the return of the Egyptian security delegation to Gaza, because such a positive step would be positively reflected on the inter- dialogue.' (Palestinians-Hamas-Gaza) AMMAN -- Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on Sunday arrived in Amman for an official visit to the kingdom, marking a significant sign of reconciliation between the two countries. Sheikh Hamad is expected to discuss with Jordan's king Abdullah II the latest developments in the region, as well as ways to further cement bilateral relations in various fields, said a statement from the Royal Hashemite Court. (Jordan-Qatar-Emir- Visit) JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he will deliver a major address on his diplomatic policy next week, as the United States heaps up its pressure on the Jewish state over the Mideast peace process. 'Next week, I will make a major diplomatic speech, in which I will present the citizens of Israel with our principles for achieving peace and security,' Netanyahu told Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting.(Israel-Peace Policy) BAGHDAD -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is visiting Iran to see ailing Shiite cleric Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, Talabani's office said on Sunday. Talabani arrived in Tehran late Saturday and was received by some senior Iranian officials, his office said in a statement. (Iraq- Iran-Visit) 