We are looking for sales & marketing representatives in different countries. Apply now!

Short Takes:
Arab sources stated today that US First Lady Hillary Clinton will visit the Middle East in the first half of the current month in a tour that will include Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. Go

The Saudi royal court on Saturday said in a statement that Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz will start an official visit to the US today at the invitation of US Defense Secretary William Cohen. Go

Tunisian Foreign Minister Said Bin Mustafa has asserted that his visit to Libya falls in the course of coordination and continued consultations in the framework of the Arab Maghreb Union in order to respond to the action taken by Mauritania's government to raise the level of diplomatic representation with Israel to the ambassadorial level. Go

Morocco dispatched Saturday a humanitarian aid to victims of floods in several parts of Mauritania. Two aircraft landed in Nouakchott bearing a cargo of 13 tons of blankets, foodstuffs and drugs. A third plane carrying tents and accommodation equipments landed later in the day. Mauritanian Food Security Minister Lemrabet Sidi Mahmoud Ould Sheikh Ahmed voiced thanks to Morocco saying the move showed the "strong brotherly ties" existing between the two countries. Go

Bahraini Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa on Sunday in Manama received a message from Iranian President Muhammad Khatami related to bilateral relations between the two countries and consultations concerning matters of concern to the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Muhammad Bin Mubarak al-Khaleifa received a message from the Iranian ambassador to Bahrain, Muhammad Fairouz, during their meeting on Sunday. Go

Mauritanian official sources said yesterday that Mauritania decided to summon its ambassador, Mawlai Abdu Allah, from Baghdad. The sources in Nouakchott said this came in reply to the last meeting of the Iraqi Cabinet, which denounced the agreement that took place in Washington between Mauritania and Israel to establish full diplomatic relations between them, as Nouakchott considered this denunciation as an interference in its internal affairs. Go

Gabonese President Haj Omar Bongo left Rabat Sunday after a five-day visit to the kingdom, during which he met King Mohammed VI. Bongo headed for Libya for talks with Leader Moammar Gaddafi on follow-up of the resolutions stemming from the last OAU summit meeting held in Syrte, Libya. Go

The official statement revealed yesterday that the reserves of foreign currency in Algeria decreased to $4.393 billion at the end of August while it was $4.641 billion in June. The statement issued by the Finance Ministry estimated the foreign reserves at the end of December 1998 at $6.850 billion, as the decrease reached $1.65 billion from its level in January 1998. Go

Morocco takes part in the 11th International Tourism and Travel Exhibition of Montreal alongside a hundred participants from all over the world. The Moroccan aisle is very successful with visitors and operators alike with its Menara shape and craftsmen carving wood in a time-old manner before baffled watchers, and efforts of the Moroccan travel industry, attending in large numbers. Go

The Spanish police arrested on Sunday 26 emigrants from North Africa who entered Spain illegally on board small boats. The group included two minors and a woman. Since last January a total of 10,000 illegal emigrants were arrested in Spain and 1,561 were expelled from the country, according to the Spanish security. Go