Today's Headlines
- Syrian intellectuals call for freedom, release of detainees, end of emergency law
For the first time since 30 years, a statement was released by a large gathering including 99 Syrian men of letters, intellectuals, artists, engineers and journalists calling on the authority to "cancel the state of emergency, the martial law and Amnesty for all political detainees and the release of freedoms. Syria, Politics, 9/27/2000
- First Arab plane breaks sanctions on Iraq
The Jordanian Cabinet has decided in a special session held on Tuesday to send a Jordanian plane to Baghdad today to be boarded by a large Jordanian delegation including a group of ministers, parliament members and doctors. Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Al-Assad meets with Tareq Aziz
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at 11.a.m. ( Damascus local time) today met with Iraq 's deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz and members of the accompanying delegation. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Tunisian human rights organization blames authorities for death of three citizens
A Tunisian human rights organization blamed in a statement the Tunisian security authorities for the death of 3 Tunisian citizens in police stations and in prisons as well as torturing two other prisoners due to which the first lost his leg while the second lost his eye. Tunisia, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Bashir meets Merghany in Asmara for the first time since 1989
The Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir headed to the Eritrean capital Asmara yesterday on a one day visit to fulfill the invitation of the Eritrean president Asias Aforki. Sudan, Politics, 9/27/2000
- On President al-Assad's visit to Cairo
Well-informed Egyptian sources told the Lebanese daily al-Kifah al-Arabi issued on Tuesday said that President Bashar al-Assad will make his first visit to Cairo next Sunday. Syria, Politics, 9/27/2000
- A Lybian official does not exclude Ghaddafi's visit to Iraq soon
Ali Abd El-Salam El-Tereiki, the secretary general of the Libyan public committee for the African unity who is currently visiting Jordan, said that President Moammar El-Ghaddafi will make an Arab tour soon and it is possible that he will visit Iraq, adding that Ghaddafi will officially visit Jordan soon and that there are current communications to set its date which could be October the 3rd. Libya-Jordan, Politics, 9/27/2000
- On Cim's visit to Syria
According to well-informed Turkish sources, the Kuwaiti daily al-Qabas expected that the Turkish foreign minister Ismael Cim will visit Syria next month to have an agreement with his Syrian counterpart Farouk al-Shara’ on the new mechanism for political dialogue between the two countries before the visit President Bashar al-Assad to be held for Turkey. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Amnesty International report on women's condition in Saudi Arabia
The report said "Limitations on movement Women can not walk alone even in their own neighbourhood without the fear of being stopped, beaten or detained particularly by the religious police as suspected moral offenders. This is because there are more constraints placed on the behaviour of women than men. For instance they are not allowed to go anywhere, or leave the country without a male guardian (mahram) or his written consent." Saudi Arabia, Culture, 9/27/2000
- Moroccan judiciary delegation on study mission in Denmark
The visit is part of efforts to learn about the experience of other countries regarding relations between authority and citizens. Morocco, Judicial, 9/27/2000
- Yemeni president to discuss in Cairo embarrassment to Arab states of not breaking Iraqi sanctions first
The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is due to arrive in Cairo by the end of the current month coming from France following his meeting with the French President Jack Chirac. Iraq-Egypt, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Cohen threatens Iraq
In a press conference held on Monday evening in Washington US defense secretary William Cohen has threatened to strike the Iraqi territories. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Arab League moves to lift sanctions off Sudan
The secretary general of the Arab League Ismat Abdul Meguid has stated that the Arab League is making intensive efforts on the international arena to back Sudan's efforts to lift the sanctions imposed on it since 1996. Sudan, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Heads of Christian factions renew support for Palestinian right in Jerusalem
Heads of the Christian factions in Jerusalem renewed today the confirmation on the Church's stance which support the Palestinian right in Jerusalem and their solidarity with the Palestinian people in their fair cause. Palestine, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Morocco, Kuwait poised to set up joint commission
Morocco and Kuwait are poised to set up a high joint commission to foster and extend their economic and commercial cooperation, Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, announced on Tuesday. Morocco-Kuwait, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Morocco, European Union resume fish negotiations thursday
Morocco and the European Union will resume here this September 28-29 dialogue on fisheries after Morocco refused last November to renew the agreement binding it to the Union expired. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 9/27/2000
- Gulf states summit agenda for December meeting
Gulf sources assured that the summit of the Gulf cooperation council will be convened on the coming December the 30th, saying that the summit will tackle the developments in the Gulf area, the status in Iraq, the attempt to end the Iraqi people's crisis, petroleum prices increase and the volume of the Gulf states oil production. Gulf, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Rift Valley fever in Yemen cause ban on importing animals from Africa
The Yemeni authorities took a decision to ban the importing of animals to an indefinite date due to the prevalence of the Rift Valley fever in many areas north the country. Yemen, Local, 9/27/2000
- Syrian minister in Ankara reviews developing relations
The Minister of the Interior Muhammad Harba on Tuesday in Ankara met with Turkey's deputy prime minister Dawlat Bahajli. The Turkish minister of the interior Saad eddin Tantan and members of the Syrian and Turkish negotiating delegations attended the meeting. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Government works on providing environment for partnership
Both sides cannot work separately from each other as they should cooperate to enable the functioning of international companies into a friendly environment necessary for their growth, Moussa told the Cairo Forum for Cooperation and Development. Egypt, Economics, 9/27/2000
- Portuguese president gets message from King Mohammed
The two men also talked about a projected visit to Portugal by the king, the meeting of the joint commission and other cooperation issues between Morocco and Portugal and Morocco and the European Union. Morocco-Egypt-Portugal, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Egypt, Bulgaria voice backing to Arab rights, cooperation stressed
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday discussed with Bulgaria's Prime Minister Evan Koston the developments of the ME peace process and obstacles placed by Israel against all peace tracks. Egypt-Bulgaria, Politics, 9/27/2000
- On Fringe of WB & IMF meeting: Egypt continue economic reform
Medhat Hassanein, Minister of Finance and head of Egypt's delegation to the meeting of World Bank and International Monetary Fund held in Prague emphasized that the Egyptian government is still carrying on the economic reform process so as to reduce the deficit in payment balance, to increase exports, to re-arrange the customs and tax systems, to remove exporting obstacles, to remedy the legal sides and to guarantee giving investors their rights in short time. Egypt, Economics, 9/27/2000
- Gulf economic sources demand a new strategy to establish a trade zone with the European Union
Gulf economic sources asked the Gulf Cooperation Council states to create a new strategy to determine the cooperation machinery with the European Union to stress on it to apply a fair formula toward establishing a free trade zone with the council's states. Gulf, Economics, 9/27/2000
- To keep their reputations, Swedish companies withdraw from financing Turkish dam
The British daily Financial Times stressed in its Tuesday's issue that the group of Swedish construction companies known as " Shanska" has withdrawn from the project to finance the Eleiso dam that Turkey will build on the Tigris river in southern Turkey. Turkey, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Syrian complaint against Turkey against reduction of water flow
The Turkish daily " al-Jomhoreyah " said on Tuesday that Syria has sent a memorandum of protest to Ankara over reducing the amount of waters to Syria. Syria-Turkey, Economics, 9/27/2000
- Arab League to lift the sufferings of the Iraqi people
The secretary general of the Arab League Ismat Abdul Meguid has informed France, the current President of the European Union, the care shown by the Arab League to lift the sufferings imposed on the Iraqi people. Iraq, Politics, 9/27/2000
- 4259 candidates in the Egyptian parlimentry elections
The Egyptian interior ministry closed the door before those seeking nomination to the Egyptian parliament elections as their numbers reached 4259 candidates among whom are 90 that were excluded for not meeting the required specifications. Egypt, Politics, 9/27/2000
- James Baker views on current peace talks
Former US Secretary of State James Baker asserted that the Madrid terms of reference are still alive, regretting wasting too many peacemaking opportunities. Regional, Politics, 9/27/2000
- Palestinian official denounces Sharon's visit to Aqsa mosque tomorrow
A prominent Palestinian official in the Islamic endowments criticized the visit of Ariel Sharon, the head of the rightist Likud bloc, tomorrow to a- Aqsa mosque and depicted it of being a provocation visit. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/27/2000
Short Takes
- Queen Rania of Jordan on Monday evening gave birth to a new born female who is the third Child for King Abdullah II. Sources at the Royal palace in Amman said that the mother and the new born are in good health conditions. Go
- Iraq decided yesterday to stop buying and selling the dollar and to use other currencies instead of it among which is the Euro. Hekmat El Azzawi, the Iraqi finance minister said to the Iraqi news agency yesterday that "the cabinet took such a decision in a session the day before yesterday when a committee from the economic experts recommended stopping the commercial dealing with dollar as being the currency of an enemy country." Go
- A Saudi official source on Tuesday announced what was stated by the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat ( Middle East) on Monday on that seven foreign oil experts in Yemen had lost their way in the "Empty Quarter" and that they were arrested by the Saudi authorities. In a statement he made on Tuesday, the source explained that no foreign person was arrested at the Saudi - Yemeni borders. Go
- A limited cabinet reshuffle was declared in Amman on Tuesday on the government of the Prime Minister Ali Abu al-Ragheb. It is however, the first reshuffle since the formation of this government on June 9th. To this effect, a royal decree was issued stated to appoint Saleh Arshedat as the deputy premier and transport minister instead of Muhammad al-Kalaldah who was appointed as the chairman for the council of the commissioners of the private economic al-Aqaba district. Go
- Chairman of the Arab Journalists Union Ibrahim Nafe’ has stressed the commitment of the union's to refusing normalization with Israel categorically. He called on the Arab media to resort to a media that concentrates on common Arab interests and national vision and unmasks the policy of occupation, aggression and hegemony practiced by Israel against the Arabs. Go
- The draft charter for small and medium enterprises (SME) is ready and will soon be submitted to the government, said secretary of state to the minister of social economy, SME and handicraft Abdelkrim Benatik. Benatik told 2M TV channel Tuesday adoption will help meet expectations of economic operators and young promoters insisting small and medium enterprises account for 95% of Moroccan economy. Go
- The Moroccan human rights department is holding a contest for the best drama dealing with the theme of peace and violence rejection. The contest comes to involve all components of the Moroccan society in the international campaign to disseminate a culture of peace, as called for by King Mohammed VI. Go
- A light tremor, measuring 4.5 degrees on the Richter scale, was reported on Wednesday in the region of Fez, says the Rabat geophysics lab. The lab experts said the superficial tremor was felt around 100 km. Go
- The spokesman for UNIFIL in south Lebanon Timor Goksil has announced that he has no knowledge about what has been rumored about a new border re-demarcation for the blue line in the Kafer Shouba border area. Go
- The number of Moroccan elderly will increase by 2 % until 2014, the Moroccan women condition, family and childhood protection and handicapped integration department said. There are two million elderly people in Morocco, representing 5 % of the population, the ministry said, adding the increase in this category requires more efforts to ensure their integration and protection. Go
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