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Today's Headlines

• Jordan for better relations with Syria Jordan, Politics, 2/23/99
• Arnoun's people call for a solidarity meeting today
  Citizens of the Lebanese town of Arnoun, annexed by the Israeli occupation forces five days ago into the occupied part of south Lebanon, have called for a solidarity meeting today with local, Arab and foreign media. This solidarity meeting aims at following up on the issue of Arnoun being occupied and declaring a program of action in this respect. Lebanon, Politics, 2/23/99
• Syrian - Turkish security committee meets today in Damascus
  Meetings of the Syrian - Turkish Security Committee chaired by chairman of the political security system in Syria, Lt. Gen. Adnan Badr Hassan, and the commander of the Turkish second army start today Tuesday in Damascus. Syria, Politics, 2/23/99
• Turkey closes off borders with Iran, investigations continue with Ocalan
  Turkish security forces intensified their fortifications in Mudania province which overlooks the Marmarh Sea, as Turkish investigators continue to question leader of the Kurdistani Workers Party, Abdullah Ocalan. Regional, Politics, 2/23/99
• Mubarak says Israel will not get Nile water
  Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has asserted that delivering the water of the Nile to Israel is "impossible," noting that there are international agreements which ban giving the waters of the Nile to any other side. Egypt, Politics, 2/23/99
• Iraq denies Shiite disorder as a result of al-Sader's death
  Iraq has categorically denied that there is any disorder following the assassination of the prominent Shiite man of religion Muhammad Sadeq al-Sader and his two sons. Iraq, Politics, 2/23/99
• Report: Bloody confrontations in Iraq
  The Higher Council of the Islamic Revolution said that a large number of Iraqi government forces were killed in the confrontations that took place in the Iraqi cities, whereas some 18 citizens were shot to death by the guns of the Iraqi security forces. Iraq, Politics, 2/23/99
• Assassination of Iraq's al-Sader cause protest demonstration in Damascus Syria, Politics, 2/23/99
• Turkish army commander to visit Damascus today
  The Turkish Daily News reported on Monday that the commander of the Turkish Second Army, Gen. Etach Suleiman, will visit Syria today to meet with the chairman of Syrian political intelligence, Lt. Gen. Adnan Bader Hassan and with Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa. Syria, Politics, 2/23/99
• President al-Assad confers with Maltese FM
  President Hafez al-Assad on Monday at the Damascus al-Chaab palace received Maltese Foreign Minister Guido De Marco and members of his accompanying delegation. Syria, Politics, 2/23/99
• Capital of first Egyptian - British company worth 500 million pounds
  The Egyptian - British works' council approved the establishment of the first bilateral holding company for investment with a capital of 500 million pounds, where the capital is equally distributed among the two countries' businessmen. Egypt, Politics, 2/23/99
• $70 Million a loan for banks Misr from Citibank
  Esam El- Ahmadi, head of the bank, told ArabicNews.com today that the bank's board of directors is studying this offer, adding that negotiations are currently underway to determine the final value of the loan and the terms to repay it. Egypt, Business, 2/23/99
• Bonds worth $2 billion in Tunisia
  The Tunisian central bank will raise at the beginning of March bonds worth 200 million Tunisian dinars ($177 million) in the first stage of issuing such bonds for the first time. Tunisia, Economics, 2/23/99
• Tunisian prime minister in Portugal today to enhance cooperation
  Tunisian Prime Minister Hamed Karoui is heading today for a two-day official visit to Portugal to fulfill an invitation from his Portuguese counterpart. Tunisia, Politics, 2/23/99
• Nahnah nominates himself for Algerian presidential elections
  Chairman of the Peaceful Society Movement in Algeria, Sheikh Mahmoud Nahnah, has announced his nomination for the presidential elections to be held on April 15. Algeria, Politics, 2/23/99
• Saudi Arabia reassert desire to establish security in Gulf area
  Saudi Minister of Information Fuad Abdul Salam al-Farisi said that King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, who presided over the meeting, stressed Saudi Arabia's continued desire and relentless efforts to unify Arab ranks, to give up inter-Arab disputes Saudi Arabia, Politics, 2/23/99
• Syria, Lebanon sign sea trade agreement
  Syrian Transport Minister Mufid Abdul Karim and his Lebanese counterpart Najib Meikati on Monday in Damascus signed a sea transport trade agreement providing for encouraging projects for joint maritime investment companies in the two states. Syria, Economics, 2/23/99
• Egypt to resurrect Alexandria lighthouse for year 2000 celebrations,
  International and Egyptian companies began the executive measures to reestablish the lighthouse of Alexandria, considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, within the framework of the Egyptian government's plan to reconstruct the monuments of old Alexandreia, which began with the Romanian Theatre, Amoud El-Swari, the Kait Bay Citadel and the Alexandria Library. Egypt, Economics, 2/23/99
• Iraqi civilians killed or wounded in US air strikes
  One Iraqi citizen was killed and others were wounded in raids launched by US warplanes on areas in the northern and southern parts of Iraq on Monday. Iraq, Politics, 2/23/99
• Babel's Patriarch in Iraq to lead delegation to thank the pope
  Iraq has decided to send a delegation representing Christian and Muslim men of religion to the Vatican to convey the thanks of the Iraqi people to Pope John Paul II over the efforts he exerts to end the humanitarian sufferings of the Iraqi people. Iraq, Politics, 2/23/99
• Canada to sign trade agreement with Palestine
  Canada will sign a number of trade and economic agreements with the Palestinian National Authority. Palestine, Economics, 2/23/99
• Increasing French investments in Egypt
  In press statements French Minister of State for Trade and Economy Christian Pierret said a large number of French companies are planning to increase their investment in Egypt. Egypt, Economics, 2/23/99
• Algerian Army denies supporting any candidate in presidential elections
  In its address column the Algerian Army newspaper reported yesterday that the army does not interfere in any election issue except for setting out the conditions to secure the purity of the process. Algeria, Politics, 2/23/99
• El-Mahdi to visit Libya soon
  Sudanese opposition sources in Cairo said that former Sudanese prime minister and head of the Sudanese Ummah Party, El-Sadek El-Mahdi, is going to visit Libya at the end of the current month to hold talks with Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi. Sudan, Politics, 2/23/99
• European-Palestinian cooperation not limited to economy, Schroeder Says
  German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Monday that cooperation between the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and the European Union was not restricted to the economic sector. Palestine, Politics, 2/23/99
• Saudi, Jordanian contacts
  Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz on Monday received a message from Jordanian Crown Prince Hamzeh Bin al-Hussein. The message was delivered by the Jordanian ambassador to Saudi Arabia during his meeting with the Saudi crown prince in Riyadh on Tuesday. Jordan, Politics, 2/23/99
• Egyptian authorities refuse to allow Hassan El-Banna anniversary revival
  The Egyptian authorities refused to grant the family of the Muslim Brotherhood group's founder and its first leader, Hassan El-Banna, permission to revive his 50th death anniversary which was on February 12. Egypt, Politics, 2/23/99
• IDB approves $34 million dollars to finance Bahrain electricity project
  The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Bahrain signed on Monday an agreement to finance the purchase of $34.3 million worth of equipment to be used in the upgrading of Bahrain's electricity network. Bahrain, Economics, 2/23/99
• Egypian appeals court fines Ministry of the Interior over al-Kekhya's protection
  The Cairo Court of Appeals on Monday issued a decision to compensate Baha al-Omari, wife of Mansour al-Kekhya, former Libyan foreign minister, with an amount of 100,000 Egyptian guineas (US $30,000) due to the lack of sufficient protection on the part of Egypt's Interior Ministry in 1994 when he was in Cairo to attend a conference for the Arab Organization on Human Rights. Egypt, Judicial, 2/23/99

Short Takes

• Somali officials said on Monday that some 25 persons died during the past three days. Southern Somalia and that many others are threatened by deaths because of a shortage of food and medicine. Somali officials said that 14 persons died on Friday due to a shortage of food in the Gala district. These include 9 children who were less than five years old. The medical official in the area said another 11 persons died of hunger in Pakoul district. Go
• The meeting of the 22nd seminar of the council of the Arab ministers of youths and sports was opened on Monday in Algiers. Go
• Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Monday in Beirut received Iraqi Foreign Minister Muhammad Saeed al-Sahaf, currently visiting Lebanon. Al-Sahaf conveyed to the Lebanese president a message from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Talks dealt with bilateral relations between the two states and conditions in the region. Go
• Lebaense Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss said in his meeting with the Egyptian - Lebanese Friendship Association yesterday that his government is studying granting facilities to Arab and Egyptian businessmen, including entry visas to Lebanon. He stated that obstacles are currently being studied that prevent the flow of Egyptian investments in Lebanon, adding that those obstacles will be removed immediately. He also confirmed the existence of Egyptian investments in reconstructing Beirut. Go
• In separate meetings, Kuwait Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Monday in Kuwait received the speaker of Parliament in Belarus and the Parliament speaker of Lithuania. Talks during the two meetings dealt with means of developing and strengthening bilateral relations between Kuwait and each of Belarus and Lithuania. Go
• Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak arrived on Monday in Rome, his first leg of a tour during which he will also visit Germany. During his visit, Mubarak will meet with his Italian counterpart, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, and Prime Minister Maseimo Dalema. Go
• Yemeni Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Abdul Qader Bajmal has announced that the Yemeni groups who are currently being tried in Yemen for carrying out acts of violence have no relations with Saudi billionaire Osama Bin Laden. The United Arab Emirates daily al-Itihad on Monday quoted Bajmal as saying that, "Bin Laden has no relation with anyone in Yemen," adding that those who promote reports as such are "mistaken." Go
• Qatari Crown Prince Sheikh Jasem bin Hamad al-Thani on Monday in Doha met with the chairman of the US armed forces' Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Henry Shelton. The Qatar News Agency said the two sides discussed strengthening military relations. Go
• Canada's general governor, Romeo Leblanc, will start next Thursday a three-day state visit to Morocco, following an African tour that comprises Cote D'Ivoire, Tanzania, and Mali. According to top Canadian officials, this first visit, ever paid by a general governor of Canada, is the most important stage of this tour. Go
• Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives, Abdelouahed Radi, is taking part in Vienna in the preparatory meeting of the International conference of Parliament Speakers scheduled for Year 2000 at the UN headquarters. Go
• Tunisia said it supports a Portuguese initiative to convene a Euro-African summit, that is likely to be held during Portugal's chairmanship mandate of the European Union (first half of 2000). Refitting the lively jumble of Cairo's medieval quarters Iraqis Fire on Protesters in Tehran Death Penalty Sought for Ocalan C.I.A. Was With U.N. in Iraq for Years, Ex-Inspector Says Iraq to ban imports from U.S., Britain under U.N. deal U.S. wants Israel and Syria to resume peace talks Israeli Troops Killed in S. Lebanon Yemeni Police Arrest British Lawyer U.N. report cites Iraqi missiles as source of civilian casualties Libya Still Undecided On Lockerbie Handover PM to meet with Abdullah on Sunday PA detainees in 5th week of hunger strike Indyk defends PA against Israel's claims of violations Labor Party members to plan action against 'One Israel' appointments Go

Yesterday's Headlines

• Jordanian king carries out first army reshuffle
• Bahrain, Qatar border dispute may be closer to resolution
• UAE voices strong objection to Iranian measures in Abu Mousa island
• Moussa: We did not advise Arafat to delay the state's declaration
• Sudanese president prefers peaceful separation of the south to forced unity
• Al-Assad meets with Iraqi Foreign Minister
• Meguid and al-Sharaa discuss committee meeting on Iraq sanctions
• Israeli group mediates gas line deal in the Caspian Sea bypassing Iran to Turkey
• Denmark symposium attended by Israelis and Iranians
• Saudi - Egyptian discussions for establishing a free trade zone
• Report: Damascus to be King Abdullah's first stop on Arab tour
• On the annexation of the town of Arnoun
• Regional Arab human rights conference adopts Rabat-declaration
• Opposition: Iraqi forces strike residential areas
• Internal Maghreban problems weigh on Maghreban Union march, Moroccan diplomat says
• Ocalan to be tried in April
• Iraq pledges to suspend media fighting with certain Arab states
• Key Shiite opposition figure tried in Bahrain
• First Egyptian company for trade in Dubai
• Mubarak confers with Maltese FM
• Maltese foreign minister in Damascus
• Palestinian Democratic Front stresses commitment to Palestinians in diaspora
• Investment opportunities worth $200 million in Algeria

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