We are looking for sales & marketing representatives in different countries. Apply now!

Short Takes:
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri called on all Lebanese, especially in the capital Beirut, to express their viewpoints seriously and carry out the national duty of electing a municipal council representing all categories and sects among the Lebanese people. Hariri said: "Beirut is the capital of common coexistence and national balance." Go

A coalition of Beirut candidates backed by Prime Minister Hariri is expected to win 23 of 24 seats in Lebanese municipal elections there, Lebanon News Wire reported. Go

A reliable source at with Hamas, in Khartoum said today that the movement's founder, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, will come back to Gaza after concluding his visit to Sudan. Go

The UAE may propose a law requiring private firms to hire nationals as workers, Gulf Times reported. Go

The Turkish weekly "al-Broub" reported that Turkey is determinant to improve its relations with Syria. The paper quoted a high-ranking Turkish Foreign Ministry official, speaking on conditin of anonymity, as noting "good indicators towards normalizing relations between Syria and Turkey." He added, "We are looking forward to finding a way to improve relations with Syria," noting Turkey's adherence to relations with Syria. Go

Qatar will cut its crude oil production by 20,000 barrels a day starting on July 1, Qatar News Agency reported. Last week Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Venezuela pledged to cut their output by a combined 450,000 barrels a day. Go

US President Bill Clinton renewed on Sunday for six months a decree which excludes the PLO from committing to the terrorism-fighting law and provides for keeping its office open in Washington. On August 13, 1997, the US State Department asked the PLO to suspend the activities of its office in Washington. Go

Arab states' representatives to the UN on Saturday criticized the Security Council resolution denouncing Indian-Pakistani nuclear tests without referring to Israel's nuclear program. Representatives of Egypt, Bahrain, and the UAE criticized the five nuclear powers for being unable to remove Israeli nuclear weapons. Go

A Sudanese official stated that the attack launched by the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, headed by Colonel John Garang in the Blue Nile region of southeastern Sudan is aimed at cutting off the government from the regions of Gopa and Bahr El-Ghazal. Go

Syrian military units carried out tactical exercises attended by Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass, Lt. Gen. Bashar al-Assad and high-ranking army officers. The directive for the exercise was issued by President Hafez al-Assad, who is the armed forces' Commander in Chief. Go

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir met on Sunday with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat as he stopped at Khartoum airport on his way to Burkina Faso to attend the African summit conference due to be held today. In a statement Arafat said he discussed with Bashir several issues of mutual concern, especially the stumbled Palestinian - Israeli peace negotiations. Go

In its Sunday economic bulletin, radio Monte Carlo reported that the Swedish Ericsson telecommunications company has won a US $118 million contract to install one million telephone lines in Syria. Go

The Secretary-general of the Arab League, Esmat Abdul Meguid, has underlined the importance of maintaining cooperation between the AL and the Organization of African Unity. Go

The condition of dams in Kurdistan was discussed in a meeting held yesterday between authorities of local Kurdish government in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and a delegation including Mr. George Hillhouse of British Panny and Company and the manager of UN Developing Program in Kurdistan. Go

Speaker of the Syrian People's Assembly PA Abdul Qader Qaddoura on Sunday discussed speaker of Australian Parliament Ian Sinclair currently visiting the country the situation on the international and Arab arenas, and parliamentary relations between the two countries. Sinclair, who visited the liberated city of Quneitra in the morning expressed his sorrow over the destruction of the city. Go

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stressed the importance of resuming Middle East peace talks, reiterating his country's support for materializing a just and comprehensive Middle East peace. Go

Thai foreign minister Sourin Beiswan arrived today in Muscat for a three-day official visit to Oman. The Gulf News Agency reported that the Thai minister will hold talks with Oman's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Youssef Bin Abdullah and several Omani officials. Go

President of the United Arab Emirates UAE Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al-Nahyan today held a round of talks with President of Turkmenistan Saber Murad Neizov, currently visiting the UAE. Go

Oman and Brunei signed an agreement to promote and protect investments, Oman News Agency reported. Go

Kuwait's Cabinet called a "serious threat" an Iraqi statement that the U.N.-designated border between Kuwait and Iraq is illegal, Bahrain Tribune reported. Go

Yemen's new government won a no-confidence vote in the parliament yesterday, Oman Daily Observer reported. Go

French police arrested nine people suspected to have ties to an Algerian Islamist group, Nando Times reported. France has arrested members of groups they fear may try to carry out violence during the World Cup soccer tournament. Go

Palestine is building a casino near Jericho to attract tourism revenues, Fox News reported. Go

Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem took over two buildings in a Palestinian area, Fox News reported. The incidents sparked violence in the area in which at least two were injured, the report said. Go

Syria plans offshore explorations for oil in the Mediterranean, CNN reported Go

Youssef Butros Ghali, the Egyptian minister of economy, firmly denied today that Egypt was exposed and responded to great pressures from the International Monetary Fund concerning privatizing the general banks and confirmed that the "International Monetary Fund has not any demands concerning this matter". Go

Iraqi newspapers reported that Iraq will shift its focus from humanitarian aid shipments to asking countries to help remove the economic sanctions instead. Go