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Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's usage of the phrase "peace of the brave" must be translated to reality on land, and he must know that the Arabs want him to implement the agreements, stop settlement activity and negotiate on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks. Go

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has asserted that he is looking forward to an Arab summit to be convened next autumn in which Iraq can once again take part. In an interview granted to the French daily Le Figaro published on Wednesday, Mubarak added that the Syrians are ready to negotiate and, "We are asking the new Israeli government to implement the Wye Plantation agreement." Go

The Moroccan police has arrested members in a networking of hireling working to migrate Moroccan youths to Israel. The Moroccan " al-Itihad al-Ishtiraki" paper, mouthpiece of the ruling part in Morocco said the majority of the networking members are from a family which lives in the coastal city of al-Muhamadeyah and one of its members works in Israel, while other members of the family work in the town's municipal council. Go

Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Yousef Wali hailed the positive results of agricultural cooperation between Egypt and Denmark, especially in field of improving agricultural products and following up on these products' quality. He also praised the two countries' participation in establishing the central laboratory for food affiliated to the agricultural research center in 1981. Go

US jets attacked a target in northern Iraq today referred to as a "an intelligence and operations center southeast of Mosul. The site is used to process information from radars that in-turn can target coalition aircraft," a statement from the US European Command said. The statement added that planes flying as part of Operation Northern Watch attacked after being fired upon by Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery and that all the aircraft left the area safely. Go

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika excluded the immediate release of Abbas Madani and Ali Beljaj, the two highest-ranking leaders in the Islamic Salvation Front, despite the pardon he issued for the strict Islamists in Algeria. Abbas Madani lives under house arrest while Baljaj is still in prison. Go

The Monte Carlo radio correspondent in Wednesday said on Wednesday in a report from Washington that Washington sees the visit of President Hafez al-Assad to Moscow as aimed at strengthening Syria's negotiation and military positions with the approach of the resumption of peace negotiations. The report added that US officials believe that Boris Yeltsin, who still feels strong regret because the NATO led by the US had imposed its policy in Yugoslavia at the expense of Moscow, seeks to revive the Russian diplomatic role in the Midde East peace process and strengthening relations with Damascus, the door through which Russia can return to the Middle East. Go

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Shafiq al-Wazzan died today in Beirut, the Lebanese television LBC said today. Go

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, who is also the second deputy premier in Saudi Arabia, arrived on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi in an open visit. The UAE news agency said that during his visit Prince Sultan will hold talks with Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al-Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, on bilateral relations. Go

France has called for the withdrawal of Turkish forces from northern Iraq as soon as possible. The spokeswoman for the French Foreign Ministry on Wednesday reiterated her country's commitment to maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, asserting the refusal of Paris to violate these principles. Go

Israeli political sources said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will meet on Wednesday in occupied Jerusalem with Turkish President Suleiman Demirel. Israel Radio said Demirel will be the first foreign figure to visit Israel since Barak assumed power this week. Israel Radio added that Demirel will also meet with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Go

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah has assigned Crown Prince Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Sabah to form a new Kuwaiti government. Sheikh Jaber released an Emiri law that provides for appointing Sheikh Saad as the prime minister and for nominate members of the new Cabinet, then to present their names to the ruler of the country in order to appoint them. Go

The Algerian daily al-Youm said on Wednesday that the security forces killed four gunmen of the Armed Islamic Groups (GIA) in Jabal al-Houd, adjacent to al-Jumaa district in Tebessa province, 634 kilometers from the capital Algiers. The Algerian daily al-Khabar said that the GIA members surrendered themselves to the security forces in Medea province. Go

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Wednesday received a message from French President Jacques Chirac. The message pertains to bilateral relations between the two countries and several regional and international matters. Go

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa on Wednesday received the ambassadors of Kuwait, Norway and Belgium accredited in Cairo. Talks during the three separate meetings dealt with conditions in the Gulf region and inter-Arab relations as well as the Middle East peace process and means of salvaging it. Go

The French ambassador to Lebanon, Daniel Juano, has asserted his country's backing for Israel's comprehensive and complete withdrawal from south Lebanon in implementation of UN resolution 425. During his tour of the town of Rashayya in the western Bekaa on Wednesday, Juano added that the April Understanding Monitoring Committee will restore its role very soon in order to protect civilians. Go

Both Sudan and the United Arab Emirates have announced that they resumed relations on the level of ambassadors, after the UAE reduced its diplomatic representation with Sudan into the level of charge de affairs in 1990. Go