Today's Headlines
- On the forthcoming Syrian parliamentary elections
It was announced in Damascus on Wednesday ( January 15) that elections of the 8th legislative session of the Syrian People's Assembly ( parliament) will start on March 2nd, when candidates from 7 recognized parties and independents will compete for 250 seats representing 14 Syria governorates. Syria, Politics, 1/18/2003
- Construction of Egyptian gas pipeline to Jordan completes today
The construction works of the Egyptian-Jordanian natural gas pipeline is expected to be completed this morning. Egypt-Jordan, Economics, 1/18/2003
- Al-Hayat: AL: 15 Arab experts join the UN inspection teams
The secretary general of the Arab League (AL) Amr Moussa has stressed in statements issued yesterday to the London- based al-Hayat daily that 15 Arab experts will join the UN inspection teams in Iraq. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 1/18/2003
- Al-Khaleij: Syrian- Egyptian summit expected
An Arab diplomatic source in Damascus said it expects an Egyptian- Syrian summit to be convened within the few coming days aiming at relating the efforts of the two states' altogether concerning the Iraqi crisis. Syria-Egypt, Politics, 1/18/2003
- Continued assault on individiual liberty lead by the UN Security Council under pretexts of fighting terrorism
The UN Security Council, led by the USA, continues its assault on individual liberty of citizens worldwide without creating any effective mechanisms or institutions to counteract such measures by providing recourse to individuals to challenge such measures when they are personally effected, and thus further diminish the human rights of the individual under the pretext of fighting terrorism. Regional, Politics, 1/18/2003
- Egypt confirms receiving invitation to attend Ankara's summit
An Egyptian diplomat said Egypt had received an invitation from Turkey to attend a summit conference in Ankara, to be attended by the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Iran to discuss the Iraqi crisis. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 1/18/2003
- Damascus march in protest of American threats against Iraq
A large popular march will be organized today, Saturday, in Damascus in protest to the American aggression on Iraq and to express support to the Palestinian Intifada. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 1/18/2003
- Jordanian King is concerned over the Palestinian question; chances to avoid the war becomes little
The Jordanian King Abdullah II said that the chances to avoid the likely war against Iraq has become "small" under the current situation in the region and the world. He warned against the consequences of conditions after the war and its destructive reflections on the Palestinian question and other Middle East states. Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 1/18/2003
- France warns against a separate action against Iraq, Baghdad delegates an envoy to the Arab states
Before leaving Baghdad, Hassan al-Majuid accused the UN inspectors of being spies. He told journalists that certain inspectors are professional and the others are spies. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 1/18/2003
- Sudanese delegation in Nairobi to hold discussions, not negotiations
A Sudanese governmental delegation arrived in Nairobi yesterday evening to hold discussions with the rebels and European experts on the three areas in Sudan, in al-Nouba, the south of the Blue Nile and Eibi. Sudan, Politics, 1/18/2003
- Hussein threatens the US if Iraq is attacked
The Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has threatened a bad fate for the US if it invades his country. Iraq-USA, Politics, 1/18/2003
- Morocco, Spain hail task groups meeting's atmosphere in rabat
Morocco and Spain hailed "the atmosphere of cordiality and mutual understanding" that marked in Rabat on Thursday meetings, held in camera, of three task groups tackling segments related to politics, emigration and maritime borders. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 1/18/2003
- UN envoy on return of missing Kuwaitis in first-ever visit to Baghdad for talks
Following an invitation from the Iraqi Government, a United Nations envoy was due to arrive in Baghdad yesterday for two days of talks with authorities on the return of missing persons and seized Kuwaiti property. Iraq-Kuwait, Politics, 1/18/2003
- Baghdad: three new oil contracts with Russia; Look oil back to Iraq
Three new oil contracts with Russian companies in Baghdad yesterday were signed in order to explore Iraqi oil fields whose reserves are estimated at 450,000 barrels every day, at a time when unconfirmed information said that "Look Oil" company, the largest of the Russian oil companies, has restored back its contract to develop al-Qarna west oil fields Iraq-Russia, Economics, 1/18/2003
- Der Spiegel: News on Iraqi conditions for exile of Saddam Hussein
The German magazine Der Spiegel said quoting diplomatic sources in Dubai and Cairo that Baghdad has out conditions for the evacuation of the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to exile. Iraq, Politics, 1/18/2003
- Hamas rejects Egyptian proposal to halt Fedayeen operations
The Islamic resistance movement Hamas rejected stopping the "Fedayeen operations" (suicide operation) and having a truce agreement. This was expressed in Hamas' answer to what has been debated in previous meetings of dialogue among the Palestinian groups under the auspices of Cairo. Palestine-Egypt, Politics, 1/18/2003
- Naval Palestinian operation off Gaza, a second in Hebron
As the Israeli forces on Friday imposed a naval siege against Gaza, noting that a booby trapped boat was found in the area, the Ezz Eddine al-Qassam group -- the military wing of the Hamas movement -- announced that one of its members yesterday executed a "martyrdom" operation off Dogit settlement to the North of Gaza. Palestine-Israel, Military, 1/18/2003
- Casablanca courts carries on trial of suspected al-Qaeda operatives
The defense attorneys complained about flaws in the arrest procedure, the preliminary investigation, the minutes writing and the preventive detention period. Morocco, Politics, 1/18/2003
- America extends period of registering foreign visitors
The US administration announced on Thursday the extension for the period of registering foreign visitors from 18 countries, and this is to permit those who did not complete necessary documents to carry out that without fears of imposing sanctions on them. Regional-USA, Local, 1/18/2003
Short Takes
- The Attorney General of the Jordanian state security court has arrested three journalists from the Jordanian weekly al-Hilal ( the crescent) for investigation and the closure of the paper. Go
- President Bashar Al-Assad received at the Damascus al- Rawda Palace yesterday Member of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council and the Special Envoy of the Iraqi President, Ali Hassan Al-Majeed and members of the accompanying delegation. Go
- The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Maher discussed in two telephone calls with his Lebanese counterpart Mahmoud Hammoud and his Turkish peer Yashar Yakis the Iraqi issue. Go
- A number of phone calls were made yesterday between Syria's Foreign Minister, Farouk Al-Shara and Lebanese and Turkish Foreign Ministers and the Arab League Secretary General as well, and dealt with the Iraqi issue. Go
- The first deputy for the Sudanese president Ali Othman Muhammad Taha has stressed the commitment of his government to continue the march of negotiations with the rebels and to reach humanitarian and food aid to needy people and those who are harmed by the war and to keep the agreement on halting the attacks in the south. Go
- The US ambassador to Turkey Robert Person has stated that his country is working to solve the Iraqi issue through peaceful means and international law concept through Iraq's implementation of its obligations as a member at the UN. Go
- The Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, and the Greek Cypriot leader, Glafcos Clerides, met yesterday in the presence of the Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, in the United Nations Protected Area in Nicosia. According to a UN spokesman, the two leaders agreed to continue their meetings on a thrice-weekly basis. Go
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