Snowstorms batter the Middle East
Heavy snow and rainstorms have battered several Middle Eastern countries, closing ports, uprooting trees and disrupting power supplies.
The snowfall trapped hundreds of motorists on mountain roads in Lebanon and in the Jordanian desert.
Heavy rain forced the closure of Egyptian ports on the Mediterranean.
In Lebanon, civil defence workers rescued 500 motorists trapped on various mountain roads.
In the capital Beirut, hail and heavy rain caused flooding and numerous traffic accidents during the night.
Strong winds lashing the country's Mediterranean coast uprooted trees, electricity and telephone poles, but there were no injuries.
In Jordan, a blizzard battered the southern regions of the desert kingdom, dumping as much as one foot of snow, stranding motorists and knocking down power lines.
In Egypt, strong winds and torrential rains in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria forced the port authority to close five ports - including Egypt's main oil exporting terminal.
