Today's Headlines
- Toujan al-Faisal faces the court without lawyers
The attorney general of the Jordanian state security court on Monday called for condemning former member of parliament Toujan al-Faisal over the accusations addressed against her, relating in particular to "undermining the sovereignty of the state." Jordan, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Free trade area between Iraq, Saudi Arabia
The Iraqi minister of industry and melting Maysar Raja Fallah has unveiled a move and an agreement to found a free trade zone between his country and Saudi Arabia in order to promote trade exchange between the two states. Iraq-Saudi Arabia, Economics, 5/14/2002
- Al-Assad meets with Dubai's crown prince
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Monday in Damascus received Sheikh Muhammad Bin Rashed al-Maktoum, the crown prince of Dubai and defense minister in the United Arab Emirates and members of the accompanying delegation. Syria-United Arab Emirates, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Mubarak, Bashir discuss the Sudanese peace in Cairo tomorrow
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir discuss tomorrow in Cairo the efforts exerted at the Arab and regional levels to establish peace in Sudan. Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Ruler of Qatar starts today a one- week African tour
The Qatari royal court announced Monday that the ruler of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaleifa al-Thani will head today to the South Africa republic, marking an African tour which will also cover the republic of Cote De Voire, Geniea, Gambia, Niger and Mali. Qatar-Regional, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Sudan, Ethiopia sign four agreements
In conclusion of the talks held under the chairmanship of the two countries' foreign ministers, both Sudan and Ethiopia have signed four cooperation agreements that covered the areas of agriculture, livestock, culture and tourism. Sudan-Ethiopia, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Message from Al-Assad to Lahoud, conveyed by al-Shara
Lebanon's President Emil Lahoud on Monday at the Lebanese Baabda palace received the Syrian deputy premier and foreign minister Farouk al-Shara. The meeting was attended by the Lebanese foreign minister Mahmoud Hammoud. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Kaddafi receives message from King Mohammed
Libyan President Moammar Kaddafi on Sunday received a message from Morocco's King Mohammed VI. Libya-Morocco, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Moroccan businessmen meet Libyan peers
Moroccan-Libyan trade is still short of existing possibilities as Morocco's exports to Libya in 2000 did not exceed US$ 50 million while imports were valued at US$ 70 million, comprising mostly oil products Libya-Morocco, Politics, 5/14/2002
- First Libyan- French ministerial meeting in 10 years
Well-informed Libyan sources said that the French- Libyan committee will hold a meeting shortly in Tripoli under the chairmanship of the ministers of state for foreign affairs in the first step that perpetuates rescheduling of cooperation between the two governments since more than 10 years. Libya-France, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Benzene prices may increase at 51% in Syria
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Monday issued three among five legislative decrees which will strongly contribute to improve the monthly income of the Syrian state employees or the retired people. Syria, Economics, 5/14/2002
- Morocco signs prison management training
The Moroccan Center of Prison Administration (CFCAP) and the French School of Prison Administration (ENAP) signed in Rabat Monday a twinning convention on prison management training and research. Morocco-France, Culture, 5/14/2002
- US envoy report on the conflict in Sudan
The US special envoy for peace to Sudan John Danforth has defined basic reasons for the Sudanese conflict in five points which are: oil, self- determination, the connection between religion and the state, the type of the ruling system and the guarantees. Sudan-USA, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Iraq decides to establish a free trade area in Baghdad
Iraq has decided to establish the first typical free trade area in Baghdad in the framework of its efforts to benefit from Arab and foreign investments and in order to develop trade dealings with other countries. Iraq, Economics, 5/14/2002
- Egyptian premier meets Qatari minister
Fahmi said that the meeting dealt with means of local components of energy projects instead of importing them and joint cooperation in oil and gas projects. Egypt-Qatar, Economics, 5/14/2002
- UN Security Council postpones voting sanctions against Iraq for the fourth time on Monday
The UN Security Council on Monday postponed a resolution amending the sanctions law imposed on Iraq since 12 years. This was at the request of Syria's representative to the UN Security Council in order to make consultations with his government. Iraq, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Mubarak's contacts led to positive development in US stance-Maher
he added, "we are not satisfied with moving because we, sometimes, reject and approve these moves. This is why Mubarak's contacts target moving in these positive directions." Egypt-USA, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Maher receives ambassadors of US, Britain and France
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher held separate meetings Monday with the US, British and French ambassadors, Maher told the ambassadors that the Israeli government's statements and stance went against the atmosphere created by the Arab peace initiative. Egypt-Regional, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Quebec economic mission visits Morocco
A Quebec economic mission, led by vice-prime minister and state minister of economy and finance, Ms. Pauline Marois, is visiting Morocco May 13-16. Morocco-Canada, Economics, 5/14/2002
- Fahmi meets Chinese oil delegation three joint companies to be set up
Fahmi and the delegation, comprising a number of Chinese oil companies chairmen, company discussed the possibility of setting up a Chinese-Egyptian prospection company to work in Egypt, China and neighboring countries. Egypt-China, Economics, 5/14/2002
- Contacts underway to finalize forming US-Egyptian President's Council
Contacts are going on between the Egyptian Foreign Trade Ministry and the US Department of Commerce to finalize the new make-up of the Egyptian-American President's Council, according to economic sources on Monday. Egypt-USA, Economics, 5/14/2002
- Israel starts to build 1000 settlement units in the Golan
The Israeli occupation forces started its plan to expand its settlements by building other 1000 housing units in the occupied Golan heights in a step described as the greatest settlement movement there. Syria-Israel, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Equatorial Guinea renews backing to Morocco's territorial integrity
President Obiang Nguema Mbazogo of Equatorial Guinea has renewed his country's unconditional backing to Morocco's territorial integrity. Morocco-Guinea, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Austrian ex-minister: 'Chain of human rights violations' by Israel
Hatzl described Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as "a state terrorist. Palestine-Austria, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Amnesty International: Israeli occupation forces torture and mistreats Palestinians
No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture Palestine-Israel, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Palestinian state not subject to Likud whims
Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher dismissed yesterday a vote by Israel's ruling Likud party rejecting the creation of a future Palestinian state, saying it was up to Palestinians to decide, not the Israeli right wing. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Morocco dedicates song festival to Palestine
The event will highlight with the presence of Ahmed Jamal Ad-Doura, father of Mohamed, whose killing by Israeli soldiers was broadcast by TVs around the world. Morocco-Palestine, Culture, 5/14/2002
- US vows support for founding the Palestinian state
The US has announced it supports the idea of establishing the Palestinian state despite the vote made by the Israeli Likud party on Sunday on a decision in which it rejects the foundation of such a state. Palestine-USA, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Arafat in Jenin
The chairman of the Palestinian authority Yasser Arafat arrived in Jenin on Monday in the framework of a tour he made in the cities of the West Bank following lifting the siege imposed on it by the Israeli forces Palestine, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Two Palestinians killed, Hamas vows continued resistance
Two Palestinians were killed on Monday by the Israeli occupation army near Bethlehem and in the Jordan valley and the Israeli forces broke into Beit Fajjar to the south of Bethlehem and Doura near ramullah and al-Mawasi suburb near Rafah and arrested several Palestinians at a time when the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas vowed continued resistance. Palestine-Israel, Military, 5/14/2002
- Israel continues to violate Lebanese airspace; Israeli landmine wounds UNIFIL officer
The Israeli warplanes on Monday continued its violation of the Lebanese territories and the Israeli planes continued provocative sorties over south Lebanon until reaching the airspace of several Lebanese areas. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 5/14/2002
- Egyptian Evangelical Church in California calls on Bush to carry out UNSC resolutions on Mideast
Egyptian Evangelical Church in California calls on Bush to carry out UN Security Council resolutions on the Mideast Egypt-USA, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Washington intensifies contacts with the Iraqi opposition
The Washington Post said on Monday that high ranking American officials intensified their talks with opposition Iraqi groups including groups who were not invited before to take part in such talks. Iraq-USA, Politics, 5/14/2002
- Morocco launches cultural circuits tourism
The Oukaimden's rock paintings site contains over 1,000 paintings representing weapons and animals some of which date back to 1,500 BC. Morocco, Economics, 5/14/2002
- Over 60,000 Israeli pacifists hold rally for end to Israeli occupations
Yossi Belin of the Isareli Labor party also addressed the crowd, stating, "We are told Sharon is a man of peace but it is not true: he doesn't want go to the negotiating table because he has nothing to sayÉSharon is dragging us into a catastrophe." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 5/14/2002
Short Takes
- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday issued five legislative decrees that provide for increasing wages and salaries for state workers and military men by 20%, retired people by 15% and increasing fuel compensation to 870 Syrian pounds. Other decrees also state the increase of compensation for children as follow ( 300 for the wife); 200 SP for the first child; 150 SP for the second child and 100 SP for the third child. One of the decrees also state to amend the maternity leave so as to be 120 days for the first birth delivery, 90 days for the second birth and 75 days for the third delivery. Go
- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak contacted Palestinian President Yasser Arafat late Monday. During the phone conversation, Mubarak and Arafat tackled the outcome of the Egyptian-Syrian-Saudi Summit in Sharm E1Sheikh Saturday and contacts on the situation in the Middle East region. Go
- Egypt's First Lady Suzanne Mubarak opens on May 29 the Fourth Conference of the Non-Governmental Organizations NGOs. The conference will discuss 50 researches to improve non-governmental work. Go
- The Jordanian weekly al-Majd said in its Monday's issue that the Jordanian government of Ali Abu al-Ragheb is expected to be reshuffled by a time not to exceed the end of the current month. Jordanian press sources said that the Jordanian King Abdullah II is no longer hiding his continued criticism to the performance of the government which has become beyond the royal ambitions in various fields. Go
- Morocco will mark today the 46th anniversary of the creation of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR). King Mohammed VI, Head of the FAR General Staff grants an eminent interest to the armed forces, continuously seeing to their training and overture onto the outside world to help keep pace with the rapid changes, MAP said. Go
- The Israeli occupation forces have started vast military maneuvers in the "Jordan valley" area as from Monday morning with the participation of forces from the Israeli army, the borders guards and the police. Go
- Morocco will attend a conference in Cairo on "the reality of Islam towards a changing world." The conference, to be held May 20-24, will debate topics relating to the reality of Islam, relationships with the others, the mix up between Jihad and terrorism and the future relations between the Islamic civilizations and other civilizations, especially the European one. Go
- Pakistani president, Pervez Musharraf, has decided to postpone a scheduled trip in Maghreb countries, "due to the recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan," reports Pakistani news agency (APP). Go
- Morocco's Younes Al-Aynaoui on Monday cruised to second round of the US$ 2.8-million masters series tournament of Hamburg. Go
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