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Lebanese Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Issam Naaman stated that the Israeli occupation army is still carrying out its attacks by air, sea, and land, but the Lebanese resistance repels the attacks twice its whole capacity, because Israel is convinced that the Lebanese government will submit with more pressure from Israel and in an attempt to create a distance between Lebanon and Syria, adding that this is impossible as the two governments understand each other and are allied practically as well as through the resistance activity and the conformity of the political stance which clearly appeared during the visit of US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to Damascus and Beirut. Go

The Qatari airlines company has announced that it will ban smoking on all its air flights as of the first of October. The company's executive director, Akbar al-Baqer, said in a statement in Doha on Tuesday that the international inclination, the low request for smoking seats and actual fears for the safety of passengers are all among the factors that led to such a decision being taken. Go

An Indian federation for computer programming companies said on Wednesday that India and Israel have signed a cooperation agreement in the areas of technology programs and informartion services. Reuters quoted the national federation of the computer services and programs companies Nascom as saying in a statement that India and Israel will hold a joint council for cooperation containing officials and industrial and academic establishments. Go

An agreement announced yesterday between Elf Hydrocarbures Algerie, a subsidiary of France's Elf Aquitaine, and Arco El Djazair Co. calls for Elf to acquire a 40% interest in production sharing in Algeria's Rhourde El Baguel field. The agreement, subject to the approval of Entreprise Nationale Sonatrach, which initially signed the production sharing contract, and the Algerian authorities, is estimated to be worth $1.5 billion over its 25-year length. The field's production is expected to rise to 120,000 barrels daily after a development project is completed, Elf said. Go

The World Food Programme has begun distributing food aid to more than 220,000 people in Mauritania affected by consecutive poor harvests. The WFP said in a news release that the assistance will go to the people in the regions of Aftout, Affole, south of Assaba and south of Hodh El Chargui and Hodh El Gharbi.The WFP supplies to the affected populations a daily food ration of 485 grams comprising wheat, beans and vegetable oil for the three months preceding the harvest period. Go

Morocco and Bangladesh signed on Wednesday a trade cooperation agreement to develop trade and the exchange of services. The five-year agreement binds the two countries to share information and data to promote trade between them. Go

Moroccan sources said today that Tunisia, Morocco and Mauritania agreed to intensify their efforts in an attempt to revitalize the Arab Maghreb Union and prepare for the Maghreb summit scheduled for before the end of this year in coordination with Algeria, which has been heading the union's chairmanship since 1995. Go

Greece's Defence Minister Akis Tsochadzopoulos on Wednesday postpones his official visit to Israel following the death of the Greece's deputy foreign minister. The Greek minister was due to meet during his three- day visit with the Israeli Preside dent Ezer Weisman and other Israeli officials to discuss making Greek military contracts with Israeli governmental I and private companies. Go

Algeria's citizens today will cast their votes over the civil reconciliation law, in a referendum that started on Saturday for the citizens of the remote Algerian areas, the security and army men and Algerians outside the country. The Algerian Ministry of the Interior had prepared some 39,000 referendum balloting centers as well as another 600 mobile balloting centers in the remote areas. Meanwhile, the Algerian political parties, organizations and societies expressed their backing for the attempt made by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in debating the reconciliation law for achieving security and stability in Algeria. Go

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Wednesday received messages from Eritrean President Issias Afwerki and Senegalese President Abdou Dayouf. Kuwaiti radio said the two messages pertain to bilateral relations and means of developing them in the service of their common causes. Go

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has called on Israel to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), saying that Israel's adherence to stockpiling the most sophisticated weapons and strengthening its nuclear programs will not achieve its security, but damage the efforts to establish a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Go

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud has described the results of his talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II as being very positive and very friendly and reflecting a mutual readiness to strengthen cooperation and development of relations between the two countries. In a statement to the Kuwaiti daily al-Rai al-Am published on Wednesday, Lahoud said there were identical views between the Jordanian and Lebanese sides, especially toward the dangers posed by settling of the Palestinian (refugees). Go