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Short Takes:
US Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala met with members of the US Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, where she stated that Egypt is a strategic partner for the US. Shalala stated that her family descends from Lebanese origin and that she greatly appreciates her Arab origin, adding that she visited with Egyptian Minister of Health Ismael Salem a number of projects implemented by the Egyptian Ministry of Health to improve health conditions in these regions in cooperation with the US Department of Health and Human Services. Go

The Sudanese mass media on Thursday quoted the chairman of the Sudanese National Council, Hussan al-Turabi, as saying on Wednesday that he will resign from the council this month. Go

Oman News Agency reported that former US President George Bush arrived on Thursday in Muscat, his fifth stop during a tour of the Arab Gulf states, where he will inaugurate the American school in Muscat and will visit several archaeological sites in the Sultanate. Go

Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss stated that a decree establishing his new Cabinet will be issued in the next day, Lebanon News Wire reported. Go

The Egyptian - Tunisian joint committee for maritime transport concluded its works yesterday - that lasted for 2 days, in which they discussed the signing of a maritime transport cooperation agreement, and the mutual use for available navigation lines between Egypt and Tunis to boost trade. Go

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi offered to help resolve a conflict over Kurdish Worker's Party leader Abdullah Ocalan between Italy, which is holding the Ocalan, and Turkey, which considers him a terrorist and wants him extradited for trial, Oman Daily Observer reported. Go

Sharjah will begin on December 12 a 43-day festival celebrating Ramadan, Khaleej Times reported. Go

The former Iraqi ambassador at United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Iraqi President Saddam Hussien's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti arrived in Iraq yesterday, after a two-day visit to Jordan within the frame of different predictions over what is waiting for him in Baghdad, despite reported disputes between al-Tikriti and the Iraqi president. Go

The Palestinian government protested yesterday to the Lebanese government, which refused to allow a Palestinian delegation for the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) to obtain visas to attend a meeting in Beirut. The head of Palestinian statistics department, Hosni Abu Labeda, said "I have received a communique from Lebanon's government in which the latter expresses its sorrow for not being able to allow us [Palestinians] to enter its territories." Go

The Moroccan police arrested lately two cocaine dealers who operate in Casablanca's residential districts and mainly in luxury hotels and restaurants. Go

Seven Arab teams will take part in the 1st Arab Indoor soccer championships due in Cairo this Dec.6-14 ( Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, Mauritania, Palestine, Sudan and Morocco). Go

A Turkish Business Mission will visit Morocco shortly to explore potentials of the Moroccan market and foster partnership with Moroccan entrepreneurs in various commercial and industrial sectors. Go

The Islamic experts committee in charge of examining the challenges facing the Islamic world in the next century is convening its 2nd meeting in Bamako, Mali this December 3-4, the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Conference said in a press release. Go

United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan conferred Thursday in Tunis with President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia. Go

The Arab group at the UN has for the second time asked the UN Security Council to approve an investigation by the UN into the attack carried out by the US against a Sudanese pharmaceutical factory on August 20. Go