Blogging from Dubai. I've received an update on jailed Saudi blogger Fouad Al-Farhan from CNN producer Mohammed Jamjoom.

CNN has confirmed that Al-Farhan, jailed by authorities last December -- ostensibly because he supported reform advocates accused by the Saudi government of supporting terrorism -- has been released.

CNN producer Mohammed Jamjoom today spoke to the Saudi blogger, who is apparently (and unsurprisingly) reluctant to speak freely about his time in detention. In a phone call with CNN, Al-Farhan said:

"I am happy to be back with my family," adding that he was "treated like any other prisoner."

Al-Farhan, who was jailed with 15 to 16 other men, said that he would not comment on his case now, but that he will issue a statement on his blog soon.

I just returned from interviewing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Washington, D.C.

Mister Abbas, who met with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House yesterday, revealed that the two men will meet in Sharm-el-Sheikh Egypt "around May 17th."

I asked the Palestinian leader if he really believes a peace deal would be achieved by the end of the year (a forecast made by the U.S. president himself during his Mideast tour last January), I asked him what he thought of former American President Jimmy Carter's meeting with Hamas, what he makes of a recent opinion poll that suggests Palestinians would rather vote for Hamas today than his party.

I also asked Abbas a question submitted to cnn.com/hala by Anie in Durban South Africa, regarding yesterday's Washington Post report detailing a letter exchange between president Bush and former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, so tune in for that.

Watch this space for a link to the full interview later today.

Because of an opportunity to interview Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Washington, D.C. this Friday, I've delayed my Inside the Middle East trip to the Gulf by a few days.

Mr. Abbas is scheduled to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush in the nation's capital.

Ahead of this exclusive chat, I'm asking our readers and viewers to submit questions they would like to ask the Palestinian leader.

What does he think of Jimmy Carter's meetings with Hamas officials? What did he speak about with President Bush? How does he respond to criticism of his leadership? Will there be a peace deal in the Middle East this year?

I will choose one and read it to Mr. Abbas on air.

E-mail us at mideast@cnn.com or add a comment below.

Thanks,

Hala

Apparently not.

Lebanese lawmakers leave the Lebanese parliament building after the session to elect new Lebanese president was postponed yet again.

Parliament has tried 17 times since September to vote in army commander General Michel Suleiman as a consensus president. But opposition lawmakers have been ignoring slated parliament sessions, leaving the 128-seat house without the necessary two-thirds quorum needed for the balloting.