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Short Takes:
Syrian President Hafez al-Assad arrived in Manama on Sunday, where he offered condolences on the death of Sheikh Issa to the new Emir of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa. Taking part in offering condolences were Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa and members of the Syrian delegation accompanying President al-Assad. Go

Tunisian President Zein al-Abidin bin Ali has been invited by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to visit Egypt before the end of the current year. Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri conveyed the invitation during the conclusion of the meetings of the higher Egyptian - Tunisian committee on Saturday, declaring that he delivered President Mubarak's greetings to support Bin Ali in Arab joint work and that following his return from Tunis, Mubarak suggested pursuing the meetings of Tunisian - Egyptian joint committee. Go

Palestine's ambassador in Cairo, Zohdi El-Kodra, said that President Yasser Arafat's visit today to Cairo will last for two days and inform Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the latest Palestinian development. Go

The Moroccan press union SNPM expressed its opposition to all forms of normalization with Israel, particularly in the fields of culture and information. In a statement, the union also called for the closure of Israel's liaison office in Rabat. Go

Kuwaiti and US trade officials met Saturday to discuss intellectual property rights and boosting trade between the two countries, Kuwait Times reported. Go

Israeli settlers set up mobile homes on a hill near the Palestinian town of Dahariya, Jordan Times reported. Go

Morocco said contacts it had with international financial institutions led to obtaining loans worth $ 600 million "at advantageous conditions." Go

The third meeting for the team of governmental experts in charge of the security and solidarity of the Islamic countries was convened on Sunday in Riyadh at the headquarters of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Go

The Yemeni attorney general has refused the request raised by the lawyers of the eight Britons and two Algerians who have been on trial in Aden under accusations of "terrorism" to free their clients. The judge postponed study of the issue until Tuesday. The ten suspects were accused on charges that leader of "Ansar al-Sharea" organization Abu Hamzeh al-Masri, who takes Britain as his residence, sent these ten persons to Yemen to strike at British and American targets. Go

The citizens of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights have praised the "glorious" revolution of March 8, 1963 (when the Baath Party officially came to power in Syria with many economic and social reform theories), the revolution of workers, farmers, revolutionary intellectuals and the national army. In a statement on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the March 8 revolution, the Syrian citizens in the occupied Golan confirmed their full loyalty to President Hafez al-Assad and their pride in his leadership. Go

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs Mohsin Zada has discussed with the UN Secretary General's representative for Afghan issues, al-Akhbar al-Ibraheimi, developments concerning the Afghan crisis and means of restoring security and stability to Afghanistan. Go

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine arrived on Sunday in Bahrain where he offered condolences on the death of the late Emir of Bahrain, Sheikh Issa Bin Hamad al-Khaleifa. AFP quoted the French embassy in Doha saying that Vedrine met on Saturday in Qatar with the ruler of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani, in the course of his tour on the Arab Gulf region. Go

The Algerian daily al-Shaab said on Sunday that the Armed Islamic Group attacked a group of shepherds in al-Shalf province, killing six shepherds and wounding another three. The gunmen stole all cattle the shepherds had. The paper added that Algerian security forces killed three gunmen in Wadi Habri district, south of Masaad city. Go

The Iraqi daily al-Thawra (Iraqi papers are government controlled) on Sunday accused US Secretary of Defense William Cohen of being the reason behind the death of Bahraini Emir Sheikh Issa Bin Hamad al-Khaleifa on Saturday of a heart attack. The Iraqi daily quoted press sources in Nicosia as saying that the reason for Sheikh Issa's death was harsh words he heard from Cohen, resulting in the fatal heart attack which took place immediately after his meeting with Cohen. Go

Kuwaiti Crown Prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah has postponed scheduled visits to Iran, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon. The postponement was announced on Sunday by an official source at the court of Sheikh Saad. The source added, "Hopefully, the visit will be paid in the near future." Go

Saudi Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources Ali al-Nueimi met on Sunday in Riyadh with the Japanese minister of state for foreign affairs and members of the accompanying delegation, currently visiting Saudi Arabia. The two ministers discussed cooperation in the area of oil and the stability of the world oil market. They also discussed Japanese investments in Saudi Arabia in the sectors of energy and minerals. Go