BERLIN

Court backs extradition of Yemeni suspects

Germany’s supreme court said Thursday it had approved the extradition of two Yemenis to the United States, where they are wanted on charges of supporting al-Qaida.

Ali Hassan al-Moayad and his alleged assistant, Mohammed Mohsen Yahya Zayed, were arrested in January in a Frankfurt hotel. The Federal Constitutional Court said in a statement that it rejected complaints by both men against lower-court decisions backing extradition.

The final decision on extradition lies with the German government.

JERUSALEM

Palestinians, Israel prepare for summit

Looking ahead for the first time after months of impasse, the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers on Thursday prepared for a summit.

Despite conciliatory statements, however, expectations are low that the U.S.-backed “road map” peace plan can be revived. Neither side appears closer to making concessions — a crackdown on militant groups by the Palestinians, a removal of dozens of settlement outposts by Israel.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia convened his Cabinet for the first time Thursday, a day after it was sworn in after two months of political wrangling.

Lebanon

Hezbollah leader vows to bring home prisoners

Hezbollah’s leader on Thursday pledged to bring home all prisoners held by Israel and said he expected to hear from a German mediator in the next three days on the proposed swap of prisoners and bodies with the Jewish state.

Israel’s Cabinet on Sunday narrowly approved a prisoner swap with Hezbollah. Under the deal, the militants would release Israeli businessman Elhanan Tannenbaum and the bodies of three Israeli soldiers, in exchange for about 400 Palestinians and several dozen prisoners from Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, Sudan and Libya.