MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Anti-government protesters flooded a major highway in Bahrain on Friday, responding to calls for a show of solidarity against the Gulf nation’s rulers. Security forces watched the march but made no move to intervene. Tens of thousands took part in the protest, billed as an attempt to show the resolve of a Shiite-led rebellion against Bahrain’s Sunni monarchy a year after their uprising began. The large protest was also a reply to Bahrain’s Sunni leadership, which... Read more

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi Shiite Muslims have demonstrated against the king of Bahrain. They are demanding that he be banned from attending this month’s Arab League summit meeting in Baghdad. About 2,000 Shiite protesters, followers of hard-line cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, on Friday came out in support of Bahrain’s Shiite majority, which is demanding more rights from Sunni King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Iraq’s support for Bahrain’s Shiites has angered Sunni Gulf states. That was one of the reasons the... Read more

Mitt Romney’s weak appeal so far with white evangelicals will be in the forefront as the GOP presidential primaries move into Southern states where most Republicans are born-again Christians. While polls show the former Massachusetts governor and Mormon comfortably ahead among Republicans nationally, he will spend the coming week in heavily conservative territory that could underscore his vulnerability with a key segment of his party. In the five states so far where evangelicals were a majority of GOP primary voters,... Read more

Mitt Romney’s struggle with white evangelical voters doesn’t bode well for him as he moves through the GOP presidential primary, with Mississippi and Alabama just ahead. In the five states so far where born-again Christians were a majority of GOP primary voters, Romney has trailed either Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich among evangelicals by an average of 20 points. Exit polls also show that about four in 10 born-again voters who are asked say it’s deeply important that a candidate... Read more

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Police Department kept secret files on businesses owned by second- and third-generation Americans specifically because they were Muslims, according to newly obtained documents that spell out in the clearest terms yet that police were monitoring people based on religion. The NYPD has faced intense criticism from Muslims, lawmakers and even the FBI for widespread spying operations that put entire neighborhoods under surveillance. Police put the names of innocent people in secret files and... Read more

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Nayef is in the United States for medical tests, the kingdom’s state media reported on Friday. The Saudi Press Agency and state television said Nayef was in Cleveland for what was described as “scheduled” tests. No further details were given about the condition of the 78-year-old heir to the throne. Nayef was named crown prince in October following the death of Prince Sultan, who had been the next in line to... Read more

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Every Friday, bearded men in shin-length robes demonstrate in Tunisia’s capital against perceived insults to Islam in a country once known for its aggressive secularism. They have occasionally turned violent, attacking secular intellectuals and harassing women for their style of dress. This emerging movement of believers known as Salafis has seemingly appeared out of thin air — and prompted fears of a culture war in this North African country of 10 million. Since the overthrow of... Read more

NEW YORK (AP) — The stern warning issued from the pulpit was directed at the tourists — most of whom had arrived late — a sea of white faces with guidebooks in hand. They outnumbered the congregation itself: a handful of elderly black men and women wearing suits and dresses and old-fashioned pillbox hats. “We’re hoping that you will remain in place during the preaching of the Gospel,” a church member said over the microphone at this Harlem church on... Read more

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — Mitt Romney’s path to the Republican presidential nomination is about to take a turn through the deep American South, which could complicate matters for the frontrunner in the race to challenge President Barack Obama. Romney holds a comfortable lead over his rivals. But in the heart of the so-called Bible Belt, as a ring of conservative Southeastern states are known, Romney faces skeptics among some evangelical Christians in his bid to become the first Mormon president.... Read more

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — Mitt Romney faces a tough sell in the U.S. Deep South. With Mississippi and Alabama primaries coming up next Tuesday, there’s concern that he’s too slick, not really a conservative. In a region where the evangelical vote is important, some are skeptical about his Mormon faith. But if Romney wins the Republican nomination, and it’s a November choice between him and President Barack Obama, the former Massachusetts governor may be just good enough for some Southerners.... Read more