Today's Headlines
- Aziz: Attacks are criminal
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz continued Iraq's strong condemnation of this week's US - British military attacks against Iraq, repeatedly referring to the attacks as "criminal." Iraq, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Strike on Iraq prompts concern of Moroccan government and angry reaction among Moroccans
The leader of the nationalist "Istiqlal party," represented in the government, denounced "the coward aggression," expressing the party's total support with Iraqis Regional, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Iraqi president issues statement on US - British air strikes Iraq, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Russia withraws ambassadors from Washington over Iraq aggression
Russian President Boris Yeltsin and his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin discussed in a phone conversation the situation in the Arab Gulf region after the start of the current US - British military operation against Iraq Regional, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Iraq calls for attacking US, UK interests, widespread reactions rolling in
An Iraqi Baath Party official has called upon Arabs to attack the interests of the US and Britain, who on early Thursday morning started intensive air raids against Iraq. Iraq, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Kurdish national council to be formed within months
Chairman of the Kurdish parliament in exile Yasar Kaya said that within the coming months a meeting will be held for Kurds from Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey in order to maintain Kurdish national unity in the region. Regional, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Jordan, Turkey close borders with Iraq
Jordan on Thursday morning closed its eastern border with Iraq, only permitting the entry of diplomats to its territory. The Jordanian measure aims at facing the possibility of the flow of refugees to Jordan following the US-British attacks against Baghdad. Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Egypt to expand central bank's independence
The Egyptian government is heading toward ratifying a new law that gives the central bank more authorities in practicing its activities as the ultimate monetary authority by canceling the ministry of economy's trusteeship on it. Egypt, Economics, 12/18/1998
- Syrian PM speaker delegated by al-Assad to PA's opening session
Delegated by Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, the Speaker of the Syrian People's Assembly, Abdul Qader Qaddoura, delivered the inaugural speech for the legislature's seventh term. Syria, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Specter conveys message from Netanyahu to President al-Assad
In a press conference he held in Damascus before he headed for Cairo, US Senator Arlen Specter said on Thursday that he had conveyed a message from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to President Hafez al-Assad. Syria-USA, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Security Council extends term of UN mission in Sahara
The UN security council unanimously decided on Thursday to extend till January 31, 1999 the term of "MINURSO," UN mission supervising the referendum process in the Sahara. Morocco, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Morocco cannot accept some Sahrawis be considered as 2nd-class applicants in Sahara referendum
Morocco cannot in any case accept that 65,000 Sahrawis be considered as second-class applicants in the projected referendum in the Sahara and be given less favorable conditions and procedures that are not conforming to the UN settlement plan on the Sahara. Morocco, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Sarid calls for Israel's withdrawal from the Golan
President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt on Thursday received the chairman of the Israeli opposition Meretz movement, Yossi Sarid. Following the meeting Sarid said his discussions with President Mubarak were good, during which "multiple aspects of the Middle East peace process were reviewed." Egypt-Israel, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Germany grants loan to Tunisia Tunisia-Germany, Economics, 12/18/1998
- Cairo denies deal with Islamic Group to halt violence
The Egyptian Ministry of the Interior issued a statement on Thursday in which it denied any deal between the government and the Islamic Group organization that provides for giving concessions in exchange for the "group's leaders'" instructions to their followers to halt violent operations. Egypt, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Morocco targets 5.5 percent growth rate
Morocco decided to set up a five-year economic plan for the 1999-2003 period to endow the Moroccan private and public sectors with "a strategic vision" and a long-term visibility. Morocco, Economics, 12/18/1998
- Lebanese resistance escalates operations against Israel
The Lebanese resistance on Wednesday night attacked the Israeli occupation forces position in Beer Klab in the occupied part of south Lebanon. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 12/18/1998
- Israel monitors developments of US-British strikes against Iraq
Israel has announced that it is still following the development of the British - US assault against Iraq. Iraq-Israel, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Arab ministers call for dealing with year 2000 computer problem
The council of Arab communication ministers has called on the Arab states to deal with the problem of computerized communication in the year 2000 and to make use of the assistance given by the World Bank to treat this problem financially and technically. Regional, Politics, 12/18/1998
- Abu Dhabi organizes shopping festival to help economy
The Chamber of Trade and Industry in Abu Dhabi announced the establishment of a festival for shopping in the period of January 10 to February 10 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the chamber's founding. United Arab Emirates, Economics, 12/18/1998
Short Takes
- The government of Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss won on Thursday night the confidence of the Parliament with the majority of 85 votes. Some 31 Parliamentarians abstained from voting and 12 were absent. Go
- The Foreign Ministers of Iran and Qatar stressed during a telephone call they made on Thursday that the current military operation against Iraq, especially on the cusp of the holy month of Ramadan, will intensify conditions in the region. This telephone conversation was held immediately after the Qatari minister arrived home from Saudi Arabia, where he held talks with Saudi officials. Go
- The first round of negotiations to establish a free trade zone between Egypt and Ankara began today. Egyptian Minister of Trade and Supply Ahmed Goweili said the aim behind establishing this region is the increase of trade exchange volume between the two countries amounting to $1 billion in the year 2000 and $2 billion in 2004. Go
- Egyptian diplomatic sources said today that Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura will visit Cairo within his tour that includes Israel and areas of the Palestinian Authority from January 5 - 13, during which he will hold discussions with high-ranking officials regarding developments in the peace process and increasing cooperation. Go
- Moroccan Posts and Telecom Workers observe this Friday a one-day general strike to protest the deterioration of their financial situation. Go
- Secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), Mohamed Amamou, conferred Wednesday here with Arab League Secretary General Assistant, Noureddine Hachad, on cooperation prospects between the two Arab bodies to enhance Inter-Arab solidarity and unity. Go
- A telephone call was made on Thursday between Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa, during which views were exchanged on the US and British air strikes against Iraq and the attacks' probable consequences on conditions in Iraq and the region. Go
- Sudanese Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Muhammad al-Amin Khaleifa arrived in Manama on Thursday for a three-day visit to Bahrain, during which he will hold talks with Bahraini officials dealing with bilateral relations and means of strengthening them. Go
- Iran on Wednesday released some 375 Iraqi prisoners, and they were handed over to the Iraqi authorities at the two countries' borders in the presence of representatives of the International Red Crescent Society. The director general of foreign citizens in the Iranian province of Karmatchah, Ahmad Safawi said that the number of Iraqi prisoners Iran handed over to Iraq has reached 55,000 whereas the number of Iranian prisoners who were returned to Iran reached 39,364 persons. Go
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