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The Jordanian weekly al-Hadath quoted diplomatic sources in Amman as saying that Syrian President Hafez al-Assad has reiterated his rejection to meet with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat despite Egyptian mediation. Go

The Lebanese Parliament on Monday started its public session under the chairmanship of Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss the state's general budget for 1999. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss. The discussions on the budget will last for four days and meet in morning and afternoon sessions. Go

The Palestinian official in charge of the Jerusalem issue, Faisel al-Husseini, said he considered excluding the Arab-Israelis in Israel from the governmental coalition formed by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is a continuation of the racism in Israel. Husseini told ArabicNews.com that what happened is predictable and is the Israeli mentality. He added, "Our happiness is not for Barak's winning but for Netanyahu's fall." Go

Lebanese Minister of Information Anwar El-Khalil asserted the correlation between the Syrian and Lebanese peace process tracks to reach a just and comprehensive peace in the area and said that his country is aiming to achieve a just peace, based on implementation of international resolutions. Go

King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan arrived in Rome today for a one-day visit to Italy, during which the king was received by Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi for talks, Petra reported. Go

Lebanese Minister of Justice Joseph Shaoul met during his visit to Paris with two advisors for the French president, Francois Jeer and Jan David Laviette, and delivered them a message from Lebanese President Emile Lahoud to French President Jacque Chirac. In his message, Lahoud expressed thanks for the message which had sent by the French President following the Israeli bombardment of south Lebanon and stressed France's backing to Lebanon. Go

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received yesterday in Algeria on the margins of the Organization of African Unity summit Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, who presented to President Mubarak the results of the meeting he held on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Arafat denied in a declaration after the meeting that Barak asked the Palestinian side to insert adjustments to the Wye River accord and said that Barak said he will implement all the signed agreements including the Wye River accord. Go

Iraqi Minister of Trade Mohammed Mahdi Saleh said that the Arab states accounted for 50% of the foreign trade volume for his country last year for the first time since 1990, adding that Iraq will seek to expanding the volume of its trade with the Arab states. Go

Officials in Helsinki have announced that the chairman of the Palestinian government Yasser Arafat will pay a visit this week to Finland, which has already assumed the Presidency of the European Union. The same officials added that Arafat will hold talks with Finland's president and foreign minister next Thursday relating to the Middle East peace process. Go

Three people were killed in a road accident near the city of El-Jadida, 190 km south of Rabat. A fourth person was seriously injured in the collision of two cars. Go

US planes today attacked "an intelligence and operations center southeast of Mosul" in Iraq, according to a statement from the US European Command. The statement said the planes were fired upon by Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery in the no-fly zone over northern Iraq and responded in self-defense. It added that the planes left the area safely. Go

The Israeli Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, Hadash, has called on Go

Arab officials in the areas of fighting terrorism in the Arab states will meet tomorrow in Tunis in the framework of the council of the Arab ministers of the interior in order to discuss means of drawing a united typical law to fight terrorism. Go

The Qatari armed forces' chief of staff, Maj. Gen Hamad Bin All al-Ateyah, met in Doha on Monday with the commander of the US Central Command, Gen. Anthony Zinni, currently visiting Qatar. The Gulf News Agency said that during the meeting, the two sides reviewed relations between the two countries and means of backing and developing them, especially in security and military fields. Go

The FAO said that more than 400,000 persons are facing the danger of starvation in Somalia. In a special report the FAO, which takes Rome as its headquarters, said that the civil war and the hot weather, the scarce rainfall as well as infectious diseases have all been conducive to starvation, especially in the southern parts of Somalia. Go

The Arab League has denounced the Israeli attacks against Lebanon and its arbitrary practices in the occupied strip of south Lebanon, manifested in abducting and arresting innocent civilians who are flung into Israel's and the Israeli-allied militia's jails without trials. In a statement he made in Cairo on Monday, marking the Lebanese prisoner day on July 14, AL Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid said the Israeli practices grossly violate the provisions of international law and human rights conventions. Go

President Hafez al-Assad on Monday in Damascus issued Legislative decree no. 3 for 1999, providing for a general pardon for crimes committed before March 11, 1999. The decree excepted crimes relating to drugs and drug smuggling connecting with resisting the authorities by the use of arms. The pardon does not include those criminals whose whereabouts are not known, unless they surrender themselves to competent authorities within three months as of the date this decree is issued. The decree is based on provisions in the country's constitution, SANA reported. Go

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Monday in Kuwait received a message from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak concerning bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern. The message was delivered by the Egyptian ambassador to Kuwait, Mahmoud Wajdi Abu Zeid, during his meeting with Sheikh Jaber on Monday. Go

Turkish President Suleiman Demirel and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will arrive in Israel next Wednesday for an official visit. Israeli radio said on Monday that Demirel will meet with Israeli President Ezer Weizman and with Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister David Levy, Minister for Regional Development Shimon Peres and the mayor of occupied, Jerusalem Ehud Olmert. Go

The Kuwaiti daily al-Rai al-Am, said on Monday that preparations are currently being made between Cairo and Damascus in order to convene a Syrian-Egyptian summit in Alexandria following the return of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak from Algeria. Go