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Short Takes:
Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri witnessed the signing of a contract selling Beni Suef cement company at a cost of 1.2 billion Egyptian pounds to the French company Desforges. Egyptian Minister of Public Works Atef Ebeid said this transaction comes to crown the success achieved by president Mubarak's visit to France and as a confirmation of the Egyptian investment climate. Go

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir held talks on Saturday with King Abdullah of Jordan. King Abdullah arrived in Khartoum earlier in the day from Sanaa in the course of his current tour which covers Yemen, Sudan, Morocco and Mauritania. Jordanian officials said that the tour of the Jordanian king will center on the Middle East peace process and means of fostering relations between Jordan and these countries. Go

An Iraqi military official said on Sunday that the Iraq has evidence that is anti-aircraft missiles hit one of the US or UK planes while flying over northern Iraq two days earlier. The Iraqi daily al-Joumhoureyah said Lt. Gen. Shahin Yassin, the commander of the defense force, stressed that Iraq will continue intercepting US and UK planes and will surprise them with stronger hits. Go

The Bahraini government is currently studying many projects and plans for developing entertainment tourism sites that serve family tourism, which accounts for 60% of the tourism traffic in Bahrain. An official press statement today said the tourism management is currently studying requests for establishing tourism projects worth $10 million, to be increased, especially in establishing 4- and 5-star villages, hotels and resorts in addition to developing Bahraini coastal areas and preparing them with the basic infrastructure to become a major tourism attraction for incoming tourists. Go

Yemen obtained an easy loan from the International Monetary Fund of $50 million to supporting the plan for economic and financial reform. This loan is considered the first installment of total loans promised to Sanaa by the fund in the coming three years, which are nearly estimated at $700 million, a press statement issued today by the regional bureau for the IMF in Cairo said. Go

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received a written message from Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika that expresses appreciation for the Egyptian president's efforts in order to develop Egyptian - Algerian relations, support the Arab positions and serve all issues of justice and peace in the world. The Algerian letter said President Hosni Mubarak has through his presidency served the Arab states. Go

Eleven people died on Sunday in Kelaat-Sraghna (southern Morocco) when a bus collided with a truck. Thirty six people were injured, including 19 who sustained serious injuries in the accident. Go

Morocco and Senegal signed last Friday in Rabat an umbrella accord providing for cooperation in the field of oil prospecting and exploiting. Go

Manama's Central Municipal Council is cutting the municipal housing tax depending on income and size of property, Gulf Daily News reported. Go

The United Arab Emirates' Higher Ministerial Legislative Committee yesterday concluded discussions on setting up an agency to help develop and recruit national labor, Khaleej Times reported. Go

Oman and Cyprus signed a Global System Mobile service agreement that will allow Omani mobile phone users to use their phones in Cyprus, Oman News Agency reported. Go

The Lebanese daily al-Nahar reported today that according to military information released at the beginning of this month, Maj. Gen. Bahjat Suleiman, who is very close to Col. Bashar al-Assad, was appointed as the chairman for the interior branch in the Syrian intelligence in succession of Lt. Gen. Muhammad Nasif (Abu Wael), who was retired earlier, al-Nahar reported. Go

The second shipment of foodstuffs and other related materials arrived in Iran on Sunday from Saudi Arabia as part of contracts signed in the course of the oil-for-food agreement. An official at the Iraqi Trade Ministry said the shipment, part of contracts signed at a value of US $150 million, had arrived at Um al-Qaser port in southern Iraq. On June 16, Iraq received the first shipment which included foodstuffs, agricultural production requirements and several oil instruments. Go

Algerian security forces have killed seven members of the Armed Islamic Group and confiscated their weapons during mopping-up operations carried out in the provinces in Saida, Mascara and Laghouat. Go

Armed confrontations took place on Saturday between members of the Lebanese Hizbullah Party and Amal Movement in the town of Suhmur in the western Bekaa. News reports from the town said one person was killed and several were wounded in the confrontation. The Lebanese army cordoned off the town and is carrying out a campaign to arrest the persons who took part in or provoked these confrontations. Go

French President Jacques Chirac has stressed in a message he extended to the Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Saturday night his readiness to develop French - Algerian relations in all fields. In his message, President Chirac stressed it is the interests of the two countries to maintain open and solid relations for the interests of the French and Algerian peoples. Go