Magharebia

He lost both of his legs during the first major al-Qaeda attack on Mauritania but Mohamed Mahmould Ould Mohamed has not lost his will to fight.

A week-end forum in Algiers made an appeal for spreading the culture of moderation and co-existence.

The Tunisian government responded to the riots in Sidi Bouzid by removing five ministers.

The "destroyer of taboos", Hassan Benjelloun, received a prize for best screenplay at the International Arab Film Festival of Oran for his provocative new film.

Angry residents who felt neglected by a government re-housing programme took to the streets in violent demonstrations.

Moroccan forces apprehended six suspected members of an internet-based terrorist group.

Composers, musicians and singers from the Maghreb and Middle East competed for cash prizes and trophies at a new Tunisian event. They also got a chance to share ideas.

What began as a simple music video on Facebook is now a debate between modernists and Salafists over the fate of Tunisian culture.

Despite the danger, some Moroccans resort to buying their medicine on the black market to save money.

Residents and city council members in Casablanca were harshly critical of the city administration and utility company's management after recent storms wreaked havoc.

The biggest audience for Morocco's private radio stations is youth. But not everyone is happy with how they are serving their listeners.

Religious authorities in Algeria are undertaking a training and education programme designed to eradicate Salafist ideology.

Unemployment fell for the fourth straight year in Algeria, according to recent government data.

Students raise the controversial question: can secularism be introduced in Morocco?

A proposal to reduce the volume of the prayer call is prompting strong reactions from all sides.

Despite the advent of television and computers, Tunisian storytelling is alive and well.

Motorcycle racing is increasingly popular among young Arabs and now officials hope to bring the sport to even larger audiences.

The Moroccan National Library paid homage to late Moroccan writer Edmond Amran El Maleh by reviewing his last book Lettres à moi-même.

After completing a two-year trial run, Morocco's subsidised healthcare programme will soon be available across the country.

He once sat next to Osama bin Laden as al-Qaeda's chief spokesman, but now Abu Ghaith is speaking out against the terrorist organisation's violent ideology.

While Morocco has taken some steps towards e-government, only a third of civil servants even have access to a computer.

Labour unions, government minsters and business leaders convened in Morocco to exchange ideas on labour relations.

No subject is off-limits for young director Lalla Kaber. Her new movie, premiering at Mauritania's National Film Week, exposes the secret world of teenage girls.

Participants at a Tunis forum voiced concern over the lack of legal protections for the country's online journalists.

An innovative new project in Algeria generates jobs and saves lives.

A Moroccan telethon collected over 13 million dirhams in a campaign to combat the AIDS epidemic.

A draft law boosts African Union co-operation against al-Qaeda and al-Shabab.

The latest round of the informal Western Sahara talks ended with some "concrete" ideas to resolve the conflict, according to UN envoy Christopher Ross.

In what appears to be a cultural shift, Algerian women are entering the workforce in ever greater numbers.

Maghreb states made concerted efforts to tackle the problem of performance-enhancing substances in sport.

Bloggers are up in arms after Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi told elderly beggars that they "disgraced us before the world" on national television.

A few weeks after massive floods in Morocco, victims and parliamentarians raised the issues of compensation and prevention.

"The press doesn't play its role in supporting the capabilities of women and encouraging them to have real participation in politics," said Moufida Belghith, organiser of a Tunis journalism workshop.

In an effort to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, a new play directed at young people tackles common misconceptions about the disease.

A just-released report painted a bleak picture of graft in Morocco.

While the status of human rights has improved across the country, Mauritania still needs to pass additional reforms, according to rights monitors.

Economic challenges, coupled with restrictive laws, hinder the integration of Arab expat families in Europe, according to participants at a Tunis forum.

Moroccan writer Tahar Ben Jelloun was awarded the prestigious poetry prize for encouraging "a secret dialogue between novels and poems in a way that makes one feed on the other".

Mediterranean and Maghreb officials hope to better manage migratory flows.

"Women are not represented as much as their skills and abilities merit in political matters," said Family and Women's Affairs Minister Nouara Saadia Djaafar.

Libya denies freedom of movement to hundreds of people suspected of political dissent, rights activists allege.

Algeria's landmark church, which was abandoned during the turbulent years of terrorism, has finally re-opened, providing a "symbol of understanding and coming together".

Authorities in Algeria are taking action to harness the country's enormous potential for solar power production.

From household advice to fashion, beauty tips and cultural news, Maghreb women will see it all in a brand new talk show, designed specifically for women of the region.

The UN estimates that 3,000 Moroccans contract AIDS every year and 80% of them are unaware they have the condition.

Arab law enforcement and security officials highlighted ways to increase their collaboration in combating crime, human trafficking and terrorism.

Algerian expats in the US are launching a partnership programme between American and Maghreb scientists and businesses.

Striving to preserve their traditions and collective memory, Jewish celebrants across the Maghreb commemorated the long-cherished festival of lights.

Rai music star Cheb Kader is releasing his first new album in nearly a decade, hoping that it will help "to bring Moroccans and Algerians closer together".

People from all walks of life gathered in Morocco's spiritual capital Fez to encourage inter-cultural co-operation.

The 20-year wait for an Arab Maghreb Union agricultural free trade zone may soon come to an end.

Music therapy was once seen as sorcery. This week in Tunisia, experts tested the science behind the practice.

"Combating terrorism and al-Qaeda in the Sahel is a regional affair", US Army Africa Commander David R. Hogg said.

According to analysts, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is turning increasingly to criminal activity.

While most Maghreb fans view the FIFA choice as a shared victory for the entire Arab world, others question if the small Gulf state can step up to the challenge.

Visitors at a Tunis bazaar were treated to foods, decorations, chocolates and wines from a variety of countries, all in an effort to raise funds for aid organisations.

After Spain criticised the Kingdom for its actions at the Gdeim Izik protest camp, Moroccan politicians questioned the solidity of bilateral relations.

A 10-year plan to boost Morocco's tourism industry focuses on regional distinctions.

Recently released statistics revealed a deep gender gap in Moroccan journalism.

Lovers of verse from across the Maghreb celebrated the role of poetry in fostering regional unity.

The Arab League is launching an effort to get girls interested in athletics.

Modern culinary practices are putting Tunisia's unique food heritage at risk, attendees at a Boumerdès fair emphasised.

A recent business conference aimed to enhance youth entrepreneurship and encourage partnership initiatives between the Maghreb and the US.

Young people want to work as caricature artists but the reality of media organisations makes it difficult.

Islamic scholar Amr Khaled sheds light on a brand new project to involve Yemeni youth in confronting extremism.

African and European leaders meeting in Tripoli agreed on an action plan to improve relations by encouraging economic development and combating poverty.

Severe rains killed dozens of people across Morocco and caused enormous damage to the country's infrastructure.

At a seminar tackling issues dividing Europe and the Maghreb, former Tunisian Culture Minister Ahmed Khaled emphasised that "no culture is better than another".

Mohammed Omar, an authority on Somalia, describes al-Shabab's rise to power and why it poses a threat not only to Somalia, but to regions across Africa, including the Maghreb.