Today's Headlines
- Lebanese defense minister: Army not prepared to replace the Syrian forces upon completed withdrawal
The Lebanese minister of defense Abdul Rahim Murad said that the size of the Lebanese army is not enough to replace the Syrian forces in case of complete withdrawal from Lebanon. Lebanon, Politics, 3/26/2005
- Lebanese government: UN fact finding report commission on Hariri assassination not based on evidence
The Lebanese government expressed readiness to cooperate with the recommendations of the UN fact finding commission to carry out an international investigation in order to reveal "the facts" in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri. Lebanon-UN, Politics, 3/26/2005
- Syria's permanent envoy to the UN statement on Hariri fact finding report
Syria's Permanent envoy to the UN Faisal Miqdad said that the U.N. fact-finding mission report on the former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri assassination has dealt with issues of political nature and depended on the sayings of one Lebanese party while ignoring the other. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/26/2005
- Iraq's parliament convenes again on Monday
Shiite negotiations stressed that the list of the United Iraqi Coalition list which is supported by Ayatullah Ali al-Seistani and the Kurdish list agreed in principle to convene the next session of the Iraqi National Assembly ( parliament ) next Monday in order to choose a speaker for the parliament and two of his deputies and the presidential council which is composed of the President of the republic and two of his deputies. Iraq, Politics, 3/26/2005
- Demonstration in Bahrain for amending the constitution
The Bahraini Islamic national reconciliation society has run a demonstration in Setra area demanding the amendment of the constitution, despite the government's rejection on Thursday to such a demonstration. Bahrain, Politics, 3/26/2005
- Qathafi: The African states have to convert the Union to a unified international force
Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi said on Thursday that the African states have to make the African Union "a united force and country," stressing that this matter is possible. Libya-Regional, Politics, 3/26/2005
- Bloody attacks in Iraq
Several Iraqi cities witnesses in the past hours new attacks and explosions, the most violent of which were the attack by a booby trapped car that targeted an inspection point for the Iraqi police at the eastern entrance of Ramadi city to the west of Baghdad and inflicted 11 killing in the line of the Iraqi police. Iraq, Military, 3/26/2005
- Al-Mahdi warns of people's demonstration to topple the government of Sudan
Leader of the opposition Sudanese Ummah party said that solving problems of the country and achieving just peace is linked to the foundation of a forum that includes all people of Sudan with all their ethnic affiliations and political organizations. Sudan, Politics, 3/26/2005
- Arab newspapers criticize US pressure against Syria, Lebanon
Tunisian weekly al-Wahda newspaper on Friday criticized the American pressure put on Syria and Lebanon and the U.S. continued search for pretexts to justify its intervention in the two states' internal affairs. Regional-USA, Politics, 3/26/2005
- Somalia: an Islamic leader threatens holy war against peace keeping forces
Chairman of the Islamic court to the south of Somalia, Sheikh Hassan Daher Oweis, on Thursday threatened to launch a holy war if the African Union sends a peace keeping force to inaugurate the government which takes Kenya as a headquarters. Somalia-Regional, Politics, 3/26/2005
- Solana holds Israel responsible for violating the Roadmap
The European Union's foreign policy chief stressed that Israel is breaching the international community's Roadmap peace plan by expanding its biggest settlement in the occupied West Bank. Palestine-European Union, Politics, 3/26/2005
- Iran hopes to build more nuclear power plants; US hints Iran is now contained
Rice:ÊI do not think you can ever be certain of any such thing.Ê It is better than nothing to have a freeze, obviously.Ê But the real goal here has to be that the Iranians make a choice Iran-Russia, Politics, 3/26/2005
- Israel: contacts with Chad to resume diplomatic relations
Both Israel and Chad are making contacts aiming at a likely resumption if diplomatic relations between the two countries which were severed at the initiative of Chad in 1973, according to one Israeli diplomatic source, adding simultaneously that the resumption of relations Israel desires does not seem nearby due to the reservations showed by Chad. Israel-Chad, Politics, 3/26/2005
- Morocco concerned after liberalization of textile sector
Moroccan officials have voiced concern after the drop of the country's exports of textile products following the liberalization of the sector and the elimination of the quota system in January. Morocco, Economics, 3/26/2005
- USAID to help Moroccan Audit Court promote transparency
Under the accord, the USAID will train judges on issues of public finance and will organize seminars for local officials and administrators on the principles of transparent financial management and reporting. Morocco-USA, Judicial, 3/26/2005
Short Takes
- Lebanese Minister of Interior Suleiman Franjieh yesterday described the accusations of the fact-finding mission's report to the Lebanese Security system as "political speech that doesn't express the reality of the situation." In a press conference, Franjieh stressed that the security system doesn't escape its responsibility, asserting that political dialogue among all parties will lead to an integrated formula for the formation of the new government. Go
- Syria said on Friday the report of the UN fact-finding mission over Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri assassination was overwhelmed by issues of "general political nature." SANA said the report did not define direction to shoulder the crime responsibility and was satisfied itself with a "description of the security condition that accompanied the assassination." " The report has contented itself with a depiction of the political spasm case that the Lebanese arena is watching." Go
- Lebanese Deputy Najib Miqati on Friday called upon the Lebanese to shoulder their national responsibility and participate in solving the current crisis in the country. Go
- Syrian Minister Expatriate Minister Buthaina Shaaban predicted Thursday that that the expected visit by Turkish president Ahmet Necdet Sezer to Syria will boost the bilateral relations between the two countries, pointing out the important of an active Turkish role in the region. Go
- Russia expressed concern over Israeli plans to establish 3,500 new houses units between Maali Adomim settlement and the occupied Jerusalem. In a statement issued on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said these plans contradict with Israel's commitments regarding the Roadmap plan which provides for freezing settlement activities, pointing out that it could affect the solution for the final status of the Palestinian territories. Go
- Palestinian Scholars Association on Friday called on the Organization of the Islamic Conference to hold an emergent meeting to take practical steps to stop the selling of Palestinian lands in the occupied Jerusalem to Israeli groups. Go
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