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Originally published February 12, 1999

Today's Headlines

Damascus: Arafat's policy does not serve Palestinian cause
Syrian VP Khaddam said: The PLO's first mistake was that, "It dropped the national dimension of the Palestinian cause and considered that the cause of Palestine is an independent decision, which means that it is a decision of a person and if that persons goes up or down this cause will also go up and down." Syria, Politics, 2/12/99
Reconciliation between Ode Saddam Hussein and al-Takriti
Well-informed Iraqi sources asserted that a meeting was held in Baghdad between Ode, the oldest son of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his uncle, the former Iraqi ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Barazan al-Takriti, during the past few days. Iraq, Politics, 2/12/99
Oldest Egyptian prisoner in Israel freed
El-Sawareka spoke about the severe torture he underwent at the hands of the Israelis during 23 years of imprisonment. He said the Israelis let dogs bite him and that Israeli soldiers broke his bones and burned his skin in order to persuade him to give them information about his colleagues Egypt, Politics, 2/12/99
Libya, Tunisia sign joint development projects agreement
An agreement was signed in Tripoli on Thursday between Libya and Tunisia, calling for cooperation in the areas of equipment, housing, communications, transport and the protection of the environment. Libya, Economics, 2/12/99
Morocco, U.N. sign accord on MINURSO forces status, Security Council extends mission
Morocco and the United Nations concluded on Thursday an accord on the status of the forces of the MINURSO (U.N. mission for the holding of a self-determination referendum in the Sahara), the spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general announced. Morocco, Politics, 2/12/99
A collective tomb in Algeria
Several Algerian dailies issued on Thursday said that the Algerian security forces discovered a collective tomb in a deserted "well" in Welad Allal in al-Mateija plane, southeast of the capital, Algiers. Algeria, Politics, 2/12/99
US military statements conflict with reports on bombed medical factory in Sudan
The owner of the Sudanese medicinal factory which was hit by US missiles in August, 1998 said that he has no relations with Osama Bin Laden, who is held responsible by the US for bomb attacks against two US embassies in eastern Africa last year. Sudan, Politics, 2/12/99
Damascus did not approve inspection mechanism in Adanah agreement
The Syrian charge d'affairs to Turkey, Mamdouh Haidar, denied any new position for Syria concerning its refusal of a Turkish proposal that provides for setting up a security system to follow up on and supervise efforts to fight "terrorism" concerning the banned Kurdistani Workers Party. Syria, Politics, 2/12/99
El-Baz: Egyptian - Sudanese relations are historic
The Egyptian president's political advisor, Osama El-Baz, confirmed that Egyptian - Sudanese relations are very confidential, in addition to the strong relations that have tied the two countries' peoples through different ages. Egypt, Politics, 2/12/99
Iraq to ask Turkey to stop US forces from using airbase
Iraqi Deputy Premier Tariq Aziz told Journalists in Baghdad on Thursday that his country will continue confrontation for these two aresa regardless of sacrifices and results. Iraq, Politics, 2/12/99
Taleban: Any US strikes against Bin Laden will be unforgettable mistake
The Afghan Taleban movement said on Thursday that any new US air strikes against exiled Saudi billionaire Osama Bin Laden will be an "unforgettable mistake." Regional, Politics, 2/12/99
Israeli criticize European position, refuses to meet German foreign minister
Amid strong Israeli criticism for the European Union's position, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, without explanation. Germany holds the current presidency of the European Union. Israel, Politics, 2/12/99
New Jordanian government to be expected very soon
The Jordanian government led by Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh announced on the third and last day of receiving condolences on the death of King Hussein its determination to resign, according to tradition, perhaps as soon as today, while the Jordanian dailies started to talk about expectations concerning the new government which will be assigned by King Abdullah II. Jordan, Politics, 2/12/99
Algerian president to specify final date for presidential elections today
Algerian official sources announced today that Algerian President Liamine Zeroual will deliver a speech tonight in which he will formally announce the date of the presidential elections in April. Algeria, Politics, 2/12/99
$2.5 billion in loans and donations to Egypt
The meetings of the consultative group of donor countries to Egypt are to be concluded this afternoon. The meetings were held in Paris over the last two days under the chairmanship of Kamal Darwish, the deputy chairman of the World Bank for the Middle East and North African affairs. Egypt, Economics, 2/12/99
Boosting cooperation in fields of labor with Saudi Arabia
Egyptian Minister of Manpower Ahmed El-Amawi will begin a week-long visit to Saudi Arabia tomorrow according to the invitation of the Saudi minister of labor and social affairs, Musaid bin Muhammad al-Sinani. Egypt, Politics, 2/12/99
Germany voices readiness to swap Moroccan debts into investments
Speaker of the German Bundestag, Thierse Woldfgang, who started Wednesday a three-day visit to Morocco, expressed Germany's readiness to swap Moroccan debt into investments. Morocco, Economics, 2/12/99
Cohen defends US policy toward Iraq
US Defense Secretary William Cohen has asserted the continued US policy toward Iraq. In a statement to BBC television, Cohen, currently visiting South Africa, said the US will continue its military operations in the two no-fly zones in the northern and southern parts of Iraq. Iraq, Politics, 2/12/99
Tunisian president due to Morocco on coming month
Tunisian President Zein al-Abidin bin Ali is expected to pay a formal visit to Morocco in the second half of March at the invitation of King Hassan II, the first visit of its sort in 10 years. Morocco, Politics, 2/12/99
Egyptian - Moroccan electricity committee to meet
The Egyptian - Moroccan committee for electricity and energy is to hold its meetings on February 19 - 20 under the chairmanship of Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Energy Maher Abaza and Moroccan Minister of Energy and Minerals Youssef Tahiri. Egypt, Politics, 2/12/99
Four Israeli air raids on south Lebanon
Israeli warplanes on Thursday raided the central sector of south Lebanon. Lebanese security sources said the Israeli warplanes on Thursday carried out four raids on Nab al-Jarnanin district on the northern side of Majdal Suloum town and dropped two missiles in each raid. Lebanon, Military, 2/12/99
55% reduction in petroleum revenues in Yemen
The Yemeni government's revenues from exporting crude oil in 1998 reached nearly $454 million, a retreat of 52.2% the revenues reported in 1997. Yemen, Economics, 2/12/99
US to transfer $96 million to Egypt
Both of Egypt and the United States endorsed an agreement to transfer $96 million from the last group of monetary transfers of US aid. Egypt, Economics, 2/12/99
Morocco enjoys largest press freedom in Arab world, union says
Morocco is the most advanced Arab state in matters of press freedom, the Arab Journalists Union (AJU) said in a report. Regional, Culture, 2/12/99
US citizens leave warring Eritrea and Ethiopia
The US asked its working but not main staff in its embassy and agencies to leave Ethiopia and Eritrea together with their families. Ethiopia, Politics, 2/12/99

Short Takes

An Argentinean commercial delegation is leaving Cairo today where they discussed with the Egyptian officials means of supporting commercial and investment cooperation between the two countries through establishing a joint holding company among businessmen in the two countries that works in air and marine transportation fields as well as supporting joint imports and exports and establishing a joint business council to benefit from the commercial agreement signed by the two countries to issue source certificates for the products exported through this company. Go
The Yemeni Cabinet said on Thursday said that Prime Minister Abdul Karim al-Iryani has Malaria. Al-Iryani missed the sessions of the Yemeni Cabinet during the two past weeks. Go
The Algerian medicine company Sidal signed yesterday an agreement with the American medicine company Eli Lilly and Company to establish a joint project to produce antibiotics it was reported in the weekly news from Algeria's embassy in Cairo. The factory will produce 200,000 units annually, and production is to start at the end of the year 2001 and it is decided that Sidal is to raise 20 million shares for a general subscription and at a per-share value of 800 Algerian dinars during the current month. Go
Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gaddafi on Thursday called for convening an African summit to settle disputes, especially the conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia and the warring factions in Sierra Leone. The Libyan news agency said that Gaddafi held phone calls with several African leaders during which he stressed the need to resume the African summit once again in order to extinguish "the fire Africa undergoes." Go
Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul Illah al-Khatib described the meeting held between Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and Jordanian Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh as "very positive." Al-Khatib added that "detailed explanations for several issues and matters of mutual concern of concern to the two countries and the Arab nation were reviewed." Go
Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon on Thursday canceled a meeting which was scheduled with his German counterpart, Joschka Fischer. According to a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, doctors recommended that Sharon stay at home for several days because of wounds he received as a result of a car accident. The spokesman stated that Sharon was injured several days ago in a car accident, but he gave no further details. Go
In the first Iraqi reaction following the death of Jordan's King Hussein, the Iraqi daily Babel said on Thursday that, "Iraq will always be a supporter to Jordan." The paper added that Iraq will be "a strategic depth to Jordan and will never give up this commitment despite well-known pressures and circumstances." Go
News reports in Kigali said that 70 Rwandan military men will soon head for Israel to follow a training course for pilots. The English language Rwandan monthly "The News Line" said that the Rwandan defense ministry will send during March 70 officers to join a course in the Israeli air force. For its part the AFP received assertions from Rwandan military sources about this matter. Go
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud arrives in Damascus today for an official visit to Syria at the invitation of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. Go
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa on Thursday received the second speaker of the Austrian National Assembly (parliament). Talks dealt with current conditions in the region, bilateral relations between Syria and Austria and the importance of consolidating them in various fields. Go
A Jordanian of Palestinian origin, Khalil Ali al-Nabulsi (56), a taxi driver, committed suicide on Sunday out of sadness over the death of King Hussein. One of the driver's family member said on Thursday said that al-Nabulsi was watching the crowds of Jordanians while weeping over the King. He added that al-Nabulsi told his wife that he will "not live one day after the King's death." The man committed suicide when his wife was outside the house for a while. Go
The Moroccan government approved Thursday a law setting up an office in charge of protecting industrial property. The office, which will replace the former administrative bodies in charge of industrial property, will contribute to the development of industrial technologies and the protection of national products and will simplify administrative procedure related to industrial property protection. G15 summit finalizes economic proposals Afghanistan's Taliban leaders say they will keep bin Laden quiet Palestinians to run in Israeli race Hamas leader recalls king who saved him Arafat Seeks to Unite With Jordan Iraqi forces fire on U.S. aircraft in no-fly zone Palestinians demand Arafat free prisoners Israel And Hizbollah Blamed For Civilian Attacks Israel and P.L.O. Held Secret Talks in 1988, Newspaper Reports Mofaz: IDF has 'serious warnings' of Hamas plan to kidnap soldiers PA court sentences two murderers to life Go

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