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Today's Headlines
- African summit conference concluding in Syrte
The exceptional African summit is to be concluded this evening in the attendance of leaders and representatives of 49 African countries, in addition to a number of international and regional organizations. Libya, Politics, 9/9/99 - Al-Assad exchanges views with Lahoud
Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Tuesday received a telephone call from Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, during which views were exchanged on the current conditions, evaluation of these conditions and contacts made recently. Lebanon, Politics, 9/9/99 - Arab consultations prior to AL council's 112th session
The general secretariat of the Arab League on Wednesday carried out a series of consultations with certain Arab states -- especially with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia -- centered on items scheduled on the agenda of the 112th session of the Arab League due to be held on Sunday and Monday under the chairmanship of Iraq. Regional, Politics, 9/9/99 - El-Husseini: Israel to start withdrawal today
A member of executive committee in the Palestinian Liberation Organization and official of the Jerusalem file, Faisel El-Hussini, said that Israel would withdraw today from 7% of the West Bank territories, according to the executive agreement of Wye accord, signed recently at Sharm El-Sheikh, adding that 200 Palestinian prisoners were released. Palestine, Politics, 9/9/99 - Egyptian attorney general releases statement on attack against Mubarak
Egyptian Attorney General advisor Maher Abd El-Wahed announced today that Hussien Mohamed Seliman (El-Arabia), who tried to attack president Mubarak in Port Said, was suffering from a psychological and mental disturbance, besides his hostile behavior, and gave his mother a hole in her ear. Egypt, Politics, 9/9/99 - Abdul Meguid: Arab - African cooperation, coordination important
Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid stressed the importance of coordination and cooperation relations between the AL and OAU (Organization of African Unity). Regional, Politics, 9/9/99 - Sanaa: Trade center owner made explosion, killed in it
Sources from the Yemeni Ministry of the Interior said that investigations carried out concerning the explosion which terrified Sanaa just 11 days ago reached the conclusion that the incident resulted from using gasoline rather than explosives. Yemen, Politics, 9/9/99 - Two million Moroccan children suffer from anemia
Two million Moroccan children (35%) suffer from anemia caused by iron shortage, according to a survey conducted by the Moroccan Health Ministry. Morocco, Health, 9/9/99 - Syrian officials meet with British parliamentary delegation
The speaker of the Syrian People's Assembly, Abdul Qader Qaddoura, on Wednesday received a British Parliamentary delegation led by Dr. Phyllis Starky, a member of the British House of Commons. Syria, Politics, 9/9/99 - Iraq to restore Or before Pope's visit
The Iraqi dailies published on Tuesday said that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has established a committee including officials from the Presidency office and the ministers of al-Awqaf (Islamic trusts), culture and information in order to restore Or, the birthplace of prophet Abraham, before an expected visit by Pope John Paull II to the city. Iraq, Politics, 9/9/99 - Israel to release 200 Palestinian prisoners today Palestine, Politics, 9/9/99
- General strike by Lebanese physicians
More than one thousand physicians from the hospitals of the capital Beirut and other areas rallied in their white uniforms at al-Najmah square. Lebanon, Politics, 9/9/99 - Tunisian president nominates himself for a third term of office
Well-informed sources in Tunis said on Tuesday that Tunisian President Zein al-Abidin Bin Ali will, on Friday, submit his nomination for the presidential elections due on October 24, to the committee of investigations at the Tunisian parliament. Tunisia, Politics, 9/9/99 - British - Jordanian joint training
The official Jordanian news agency, Petra, has reported that a joint military exercise was carried out on Tuesday between two units of the Jordanian armed forces and the British forces, including attacks against presumed targets with live ammunition. Jordan, Politics, 9/9/99 - British parliamentarian in a campaign for backing Iraq
British Parliament member George Galloway has started a two-month trip from London to Baghdad during which he will visit several countries in order to raise backing for lifting the sanctions imposed on Iraq. Iraq, Politics, 9/9/99 - Oman denies naval exercises with Iran
The Oman News Agency said an official at the Ministry of Defense denied on Wednesday reaching an agreement with Tehran to conduct Omani - Iranian joint naval exercises. Oman, Politics, 9/9/99 - Jordanian Journalist Union questions three of its members over normalization
The Jordanian Journalists Union's council on Wednesday questioned three of its members over the nature of their visit to Israel. A complaint was raised against journalists Sultan Hattab, Jihad al-Moumini and Abdullah Hasanat to the council, alleging that they had done a normalization act with Israel and violated the union's decisions which ban normalization with Israel. Jordan, Politics, 9/9/99 - Amman accuses Hamas of interfering in its relations with the PA
Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul Illah al-Khatib has accused the Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, of interfering in the internal affairs of Jordan and in damaging the relations between Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. Jordan, Politics, 9/9/99 - Arafat: Explosions of Haifa and Tiberias not to hamper peace process
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat confirmed that the explosions in Tiberias and Haifa will not obstruct the peace process from the Palestinian side, expressing his belief that the Israeli stance will be the same. Palestine, Politics, 9/9/99 - Moroccan Socialist Party calls OAU to correct mistake
The Moroccan Socialist Union of Popular Forces, USFP whose leader is leading a coalition government, called the Organization of African Unity to correct the mistake it made when it accepted the membership of the Sahrawi republic in 1984. Morocco, Politics, 9/9/99 - Portuguese, Spanish firms eye Moroccan power sector
"Electricidad of Portugal" (EDF) and the Spanish construction firm "Grupo Gragados S.A." are planning to bid for the concession contracts of the Moroccan electricity-water utilities of Fez and Meknes. Morocco, Business, 9/9/99 - Gulf Arabs welcome Sharm agreement
Arab Gulf states have described the agreement signed recently in Sharm El-Sheikh between the Palestinians and Israelis as a good step forward in the Middle East peace process, while warning that the agreement doesn't fulfill the demands of the Arabs and Palestinians. Regional, Politics, 9/9/99 - Iran not to abandon post of OPEC secretary general
An Iranian source stated that his country intends to assume the post of OPEC secretary general and will not support any country that seeks to compete for the post after the end of the term of Nigeria's Rilwanu Lukma. Regional, Politics, 9/9/99 - Clinton might revisit Morocco before end of term
US President, Bill Clinton, might pay a second visit to Morocco before the end of his term. Morocco, Politics, 9/9/99 - Delegation of Tunisian youths visits Cairo as part of cultural cooperation
A delegation of Tunisian youths is currently visiting Cairo to view tourist sights and visit such Egyptian cities as Ismaelia, Suez, Port Said, Hurgada, Luxor, Aswan and Cairo. Egypt, Politics, 9/9/99 - Former Moroccan leprous exhibit carpets in Paris
Paris is hosting this September 7 through October 4 an exhibition of carpets made by Moroccan patients who suffered from leprosy. Morocco, Culture, 9/9/99
Short Takes
- It was announced in Amman on Wednesday that Jordan's King Abdullah Bin al-Hussein will visit Lebanon on Monday at the official invitation of Lebanese President Emile Lahoud. During his two-day visit, the king will be accompanied by an official delegation. Talks will deal with means of developing the relations between the two states in various areas. Go
- Japan has welcomed today the agreement signed in Sharm El-Sheikh between the Palestinians and Israelis concerning the implementation of the Wye River accord and resuming final status negotiations. Go
- An Israeli military spokesman announced the closure of the West Bank and Gaza Strip starting from today out of security concerns during the Jewish new year, which is to start tomorrow and last till Sunday. Go
- Lebanese Shiite leader Sheikh Mohamed Hussien Fadlallah entered a hospital in Beirut after suffering a heart attack. Lebanese quoted the office of the sheikh in the Lebanese capital as saying that Sheikh Fadlallah, 66, felt sick yesterday night, so he was transmitted to the unit for heart diseases in the American University in Beirut hospital, and it was said that his health is stable. Go
- The Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post said yesterday that a special ministerial committee appointed by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak under the chairmanship of Israeli Minister of Tourism Amnon Lipkin-Shahak is going to review conditions presented the Jewish settlers before the final maps for implementing the Sharm agreement are drafted, including the new regions to be under the Palestinian Authority and before presenting these maps to the Palestinian Authority. Go
- A source at the Organization of the Islamic Conference said, "The organization will convene its 9th conference on September 13 - 15 in Baghdad in presence of large numbers of Islamic figures, scholars and philosophers in the world." The source added that the conference seeks "to have Islamic backing for the Iraqi stand which calls for lifting the embargo." Go
- Pakistani sources in Cairo said today that two Iraqis were detained while they were trying to cross the Pakistani borders to Afghanistan yesterday. In their statement the sources said that Mohamed Taleb El-Alamy and Anwar Shikhan El-Helow were arrested while trying to cross the borders at Torkham. Go
- The US European Command said today that Iraq fired anti-aircraft artillery at jets patrolling the northern Iraq "no-fly zone" from sites north of Ba'ashiqah and Tali Kayif. The aircraft responded by attacking "a surface-to-air missile (SAM) support site west of the city of Mosul" inside the "no-fly zone." Go