The new respiratory virus that emerged in the Middle East last year appears to make people sicker faster than SARS, but doesn't seem to spread as easily, according to the latest detailed look at about four dozen cases in Saudi Arabia.

Since last September, the World Health Organization has confirmed 90 cases of MERS, the Middle East respiratory syndrome, including 45 deaths. Most cases have been in Saudi Arabia, but the mysterious virus has also been identified in countries including Jordan, Qatar, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Tunisia. MERS is related to SARS and the two diseases have similar symptoms including a fever, cough and muscle pain.

Yemeni tribesmen have kidnapped two soldiers in the southern city of Daleh to press authorities to release an arrested relative, a security official said Thursday.

The soldiers were heading towards Al-Jarba camp overlooking Daleh late on Wednesday when they were abducted, the official said, adding the kidnappers "are demanding the release of a relative arrested recently in Aden over criminal charges".

Fears of an outbreak of the deadly MERS virus in Saudi Arabia and construction in the holy city of Mecca have forced cuts in the numbers of pilgrims permitted to perform this year's hajj.

Millions of Muslims during the annual pilgrimage head to Mecca and Medina, Islam's two holiest sites, providing a possible means for MERS to spread around the globe as pilgrims who may become infected return to their home countries.

Al-Mustaqbal bloc leader Fouad Saniora has informed President Michel Suleiman about the movement's readiness to participate in an unconditional national dialogue only after the formation of the new government.

A high-ranking source told As Safir newspaper published Wendesday that an al-Mustaqbal delegation headed by Saniora returned from talks with the movement's leader ex-PM Saad Hairri in Jeddah with three conclusions.

President Michel Suleiman will participate in the inauguration ceremony of Iran's President-elect Hassan Rowhani next month, As Safir newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The daily said Suleiman will travel to Tehran on August 3 at the head of a small delegation that includes Deputy Premier Samir Moqbel and Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.

A meeting held on Sunday between former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and a delegation from al-Mustaqbal movement addressed the on going crises in Lebanon, local newspapers reported on Monday.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper, discussions with the delegation, which is comprised of ex-PM Fouad Saniora and MPs Ahmed Fatfat and Nohad al-Mashnouq, focused on the formation of the cabinet and the resumption of the national dialogue.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday held off from calling for travel restrictions related to the MERS virus striking Saudi Arabia as the kingdom braces for the Muslim hajj pilgrimage.

In a statement following a session of the U.N. health agency's emergency committee -- whose rarity underlined global concerns about MERS -- the WHO said there was currently no reason to step up its level of alert.

Saudi authorities banned on Wednesday Ethiopian workers from entering the country following reports of crimes against children committed by maids from the African nation.

The labor ministry and the interior ministry have agreed to "temporarily" stop the importation of workers from Ethiopia, SPA state news agency said.

Saudi Arabia will not issue visas to the elderly, pregnant women or children for the hajj and umrah pilgrimages to help combat the spread of MERS coronavirus, the French health ministry said on Tuesday.

In an urgent circular to doctors, it said the Saudi health ministry "has taken the decision to restrict the issuing of visas" for the annual hajj and for the umrah, a pilgrimage which can be undertaken at any time.

Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday new rules to protect the rights of foreign domestic workers, most of whom are from South Asia, but stressed they must "respect" Islam and "obey" their employers.

Labor Minister Adel Faqih said the new rules require employers to pay workers "the agreed monthly salary without delay, and give them a day off each week," in remarks carried by the official SPA news agency.