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Short Takes:
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received a phone call from Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi as it tackled points of view concerning issues of joint concern on the Arab and regional levels, as well as on the African level. Libyan sources said today that the communications tackled the developments in the Middle East, calling for convening the Arab summit, and the obstacles confronting the Libyan - Egyptian initiative for completing the reconciliation in Sudan. Go

The speaker of the Chilean Senate will pay a visit to Morocco next March to explore means of establishing a permanent dialogue between the Chilean and Moroccan legislative institutions. The senate speaker will also discuss with Moroccan officials various aspects of cooperation between Morocco and Chile. Go

Morocco will host early next week a Maghreban conference on procurements in collaboration with the UNCTAD and the World Trade Organization. Participants in the encounter, to take place February 21-22, will debate procurements legislation in the Maghreb and ways to foster training in the field. Go

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan yesterday called for restraint by all parties involved in south Lebanon, saying that a high level of tension there threatens "further destablization of the already very fragile situation." Go

In a report released yesterday UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said the timetable for the referendum over the sovereignty of the Moroccan Sahara is "no longer valid," saying that obstacles, especially in the identification process for voters in the referendum, have created a situation where a date for the vote "cannot be set with certainty." Go

OPEC members Venezuela and Mexico backed increases in oil production as of April, Gulf News reported. Go

Ways to enhance Moroccan-Portuguese cooperation in tourism realms topped talks held here between Moroccan tourism minister, Hassan Sebbar and Portuguese Ambassador to Morocco, Ruy Brito Cunha. Go

The foreign minister of Burkina Faso, Youssouf Ouedraogo, started a two-day visit to Qatar yesterday, Gulf Times reported. Go

Creation of a computer network that would link the governments of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states was proposed by Bahrain, Gulf Daily News reported. Go

Issam Rawabdeh, son of Jordanian Prime Minister Abdul Raouf al-Rawabdeh, filed a suit for damages against parliament member Mahmoud Kharabsheh after corruption allegattions directed at al-Rawabdeh by Kharabsheh were dismissed by the parliament, Jordan Times reported. Go

Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery north of Mosul fired today on aircraft enforcing the northern Iraq no-fly zone, the US European Command said, adding that the aircraft "responded to the Iraqi attack by dropping ordnance on elements of the Iraqi integrated air defense system." Go

Oman has signed bilateral trade agreements with the United States, the European Union, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Mexico, India and the Kyrgyz Republic as part of efforts to gain membership in the World Trade Organization, Oman Daily Observer reported. Go

Spanish and German archaeological teams have begun digs in the UAE emirate of Sharjah, Khaleej Times reported. Go

The National Bank of Bahrain registered a BD 16.31 million in 1999, Bahrain Tribune reported. Go

Some 18 athletes will represent Morocco in the 48th world military cross-country championships, due in Algeria February 21-26. Morocco was winner of the 17th edition, held last year in the US state of Florida. Go