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ArabicNews.com learned that there are consultations between Cairo and Damascus to convene the 10th session of the two countries' supreme committee in the Syrian capital. Egyptian and Syrian sources stated that these meetings were scheduled for last year, but were delayed many times due to the Egyptian government's reshuffle in which Atef Ebeid was appointed as a prime minister instead of Kamal El-Ganzouri, who headed the last session that was held in Cairo in 1998. The sources said these meetings will discuss a lot of important issues to develop economic and commercial relations between the two countries. Go

Prince Moulay Rachid represented King Mohammed VI in the funerals of Tunisia's former President Habib Bourguiba, who passed away Thursday at the age of 96. The Prince was accompanied by speaker of the house of representative, Abdelouahed Radi, Islamic Affairs Minister, Abdelkebir Alaoui Mdaghri and Royal advisor Mohamed Aouad. Go

Turkish President Suleiman Demirel has asserted that his country has always desired to keep good neighborly relations with Syria in all areas. In a statement to the Saudi daily Okaz published on Saturday, the Turkish president said Turkey wants to improve its relations with Syria and that it will give these relations a push forward in all domains. He remarked that his country's relations with Israel are not at the expense of the Arabs. Go

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Sunday received a telephone call from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Discussions dealt with reports circulated on a possible Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories. Go

A press release by the British embassy in Riyadh said on Sunday that Defense Secretary Geoffrey Hoon will visit Saudi Arabia today. Go

Press reports said that there is a conflict between the two sons of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (Kassei and Adei) on the power to rule - which became more intense following Adei's wining in the parliament. The news also said that President Hussein tried to contain the stance. Go

It was announced in Cairo on Sunday that Lebanese President Emile Lahoud will visit Egypt on April 20 at the invitation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. A well- informed Egyptian source said the talks President Lahoud will make in Cairo will deal with the latest developments concerning the Middle East peace process in light of the possible Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, the need for solidarity between the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and commitment to the implementation of the UN resolutions. Go

Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nabil Shaath hailed the Egyptian effort headed by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to achieve progress in the Middle East, saying there is always coordination between Egypt and the Palestinian government. He said the visit yesterday of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to Cairo was aimed at informing Egypt of the details in the Palestinian- Israeli track, saying that Arafat received support and advice from Mubarak and that he informed Egypt that the negotiations in Washington have not achieved any progress. Go

Saudi Minister of Defense and Aviation Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz depicted the proposals of US Defense Secretary William Cohen during his Gulf tour concerning establishing a joint early warning network and against chemical and nuclear weapons in the Gulf region as being constructive. Prince Sultan said these proposals will be discussed, expressing his hope in convening a meeting of the Gulf states to study these proposals which aim at serving peace. Go

President Denis Sassou N'Guessou of Congo-Brazzaville, on Saturday wound up a visit to Morocco. The Congolese president had held on Friday tete-a-tete talks with King Mohammed VI. Go

President of the Comoro Islands received on Saturday a message from King Mohammed VI conveyed by minister delegate in charge of Maghreb, Arab and Islamic Affairs, Abdeslam Znined, at a meeting that discussed bilateral relations and a set of African and international issues. Go

The staff of local communities and city halls undertake April 11-13 a national 72-hour strike to protest the government's little concern for their claims. Personnel gathered under the UGTM and CDT unions said the decision was made Friday crowning a meeting that looked into the dire situation of staff in city halls and communes. Go

Morocco's football star, Mustapha Hajji, was chosen among the World team that will play against Bosnia on April 25 a gala match for peace. The list, selected by FIFA (World football governing body), includes World's top stars, such as Brazil's Ronaldo, Mexico's Joge Campos, Italy's Roberto Baggio, Ghana's Abede Pele and Iran's Ali Dai. Go

US White House Spokesman Joe Lockhart said today that the US has received the Syrian response on the gaps that existed in the Geneva Summit, and that this gap still exists. Go

Eleven people were killed and ten seriously injured in a road-crash Sunday evening on the Tahaddart river bridge, 30 kms south of Tangier. The driver lost control of the bus which skid out of the road around 7:30 pm local time because of adverse weather conditions with heavy rains and fast blowing winds, the Royal Gendarmerie told MAP. Go

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, currently visiting Israel, discussed the Middle East peace process with Israeli President Ezer Weizman during their meeting on Sunday in occupied Jerusalem. Go