Arabic News Weekly Edition for Local, 9/22/1997
Weekly Edition, Local - Week of September 22, 1997
- Algeria loses its balance under repeated terrorist strikes to the government
The Algerian people are living amidst severe worry and fear because of the recent massacres while the government makes announcements and declarations that it will stop these massacres. Algeria, Analysis, 9/27/1997 - Arab world waits for Russia to define its Middle East role
"We must have a constant high-level presence there." The Russian president also said the deadlock in the peace process was due, "mostly to unconstructive stance of Israel." Regional, Analysis, 9/27/1997 - Collective punishment against families of suspected bombers and villages
As in previous cases in which Palestinian suicide bombers' families were punished for the actions of their sons, the families were notified that they have to evacuate their houses so that the Israeli forces could demolish them, possibly early next week. Palestine, Local, 9/27/1997 - General Lahoud to Israel's Mordechai, its our right
Army commander, General Emile Lahoud responded to Israeli Defense Minister Yizthack Mordechai's statement that Isreal will destroy anyone who bombs its forces, stating that the Lebanese army will always resist the occupation troops in the South. Lebanon, Military, 9/27/1997 - Time-share building plan was a hoax
they sent the money to the company when persuaded to finance a time-share plan for a tourist and vacation village in Hurghada Egypt, Local, 9/27/1997 - Mad cow beef at Alexandria sea port
The Food Control Authority at the Alexandria sea port seized two 241 ton consignments of frozen meat brought by Italy and Ireland. Egypt, Local, 9/27/1997 - Gaza's first public library workers training in France
The four-month course is aimed at training seven employees to handle Gaza's forthcoming first public library, due to open in summer 1998. Palestine, Local, 9/27/1997 - Tensions rise between Egypt and Israel due to conference
The reason for current tension is Egypt’s insistence on holding an "exceptional conference" in the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva Egypt-Israel, International, 9/26/1997 - PNA launches campaign against Hamas
The Palestinian National Authority decided to act against Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, because Hamas leaders had misled the PNA with inaccurate information when they claimed they had no connection to the latest suicide bombings in West Jerusalem. Palestine, Local, 9/26/1997 - New law would bar Palestinians from claiming compensation from Israel
the most serious part of the bill is the fact that it gives moral support for the Israeli soldiers who would feel free to open fire at Palestinians without the fear of being indicted Palestine, Analysis, 9/26/1997 - US aircraft carrier heads for Gulf
The US aircraft carrier Nimitz has left Japanese territorial waters on its way to the Arabian Gulf to monitor the embargo against Iraq. Gulf Region, Military, 9/26/1997 - Assassination attempt on governor in west Sudan
Sources said that assassination attempt comes within the context of conflicts between the supporters of the Sudanese government. Sudan, Local, 9/26/1997 - 513,000 child smokers in Egypt
Official Egyptian statistics forsee rising national smoking, which could burden the national economy with enormous expenses due to the diseases caused by smoking. Egypt, Culture, 9/26/1997 - Kuwait to participate in GCC championship for the disabled
This event comes within the activities of the 13th championship for the disabled in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which is held yearly in one of the six member states. Kuwait, Sports, 9/26/1997 - Saudi woman gives birth to septuplets
The babies weigh between 650 and 800 grams each, said Dr. Usama Abdullah who carried out the delivery. Saudi Arabia, Local, 9/26/1997 - New Headquarters for American University in Cairo
The Egyptian Housing Minister attended the signing of a contract allocating of 250 feddans in New Cairo City to establish a new headquarters for the American University in Cairo. Egypt, Local, 9/26/1997 - Book exhibition opens at Al Assad Library
Some 361 Arab publication houses from 13 Arab countries and 14 foreign publication houses from 7 foreign countries are to take part in this exhibition. Syria, In Brief, 9/26/1997 - Iranian government allows actresses to act without veils
For the first time since the production of the film "Iranian Revolution," censors allowed a film to be shot in which actresses will appear without veils. Iran, Culture, 9/26/1997 - Festival aimed at uniting the nation's youth
With the motto "The Festival Youth in all of Lebanon," the event will include art, folklore, theater, music, and sports activities. Lebanon, Culture, 9/26/1997 - SPLA liberates Ballena 1, besieges Ballena 2
SPLA sources said that its forces destroyed the government forces stationed in Ballena 1, capturing 15 boxes of G-3 ammunition, four G-3 guns and RBJ missiles. Sudan, Military, 9/26/1997 - Bango and Hashish
The dealer intended to mix the powder with other substances to make a considerable quantity of fake hashish. Egypt, Local, 9/26/1997 - Special Report: Who were the four suicide bombers? New revelations
There is suspision that the real perpetrators of the two suicide bombings are still on the run and Israel is still looking for them, but without admitting this Palestine-Israel, Special Report, 9/25/1997 - Oman buys British fighter jets
With recent concerns about the dispute between the United Arab Emirates and Iran, which has made efforts to buy long-range rockets from Russia and China, there has been an added effort by the Gulf countries to aquire advanced weaponry for which west countries, Russia and China are eager to supply. Oman, Military, 9/25/1997 - Algerian group calls for cease-fire
The Islamic Salvation Army, the armed wing of the banned Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) announced a cease-fire starting next Wednesday in Algeria, in a two-page statement dated September 21. Algeria, Local, 9/25/1997 - Israel hits south Lebanon, resistance hits back
Israeli occupation forces bombarded with heavy artillery Al Dahor mountain heights in western Bekaa and al Ealouqi valley near the occupied section of south Lebanon, security sources said. Lebanon, Military, 9/25/1997 - Father of Lebanese cinema dies
Mohammed Alman, the "father of the Lebanese cinema," died on September 24 at age 75, a few hours after a lung operation at the American University Hospital in Beirut. Lebanon, People, 9/25/1997 - Algeria to hand over 21 Tunisians traveling to France with fake passports
Meanwhile six Islamic militants were killed by the security forces in the areas of Weld Maimoun and Ain Talout near Telmesan (in the West) after they killed three civilians near a sham security barrier. Algeria, Local, 9/25/1997 - Private phone exchanges shut down in Beirut
The businesses, commonly known as Central, were the final services of their sort operating in the capital after scores closed down last month. Lebanon, Local, 9/25/1997 - Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia cooperate on fertalizer project
Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia agreed on setting up a joint project to produce fertilizers and other chemical derivatives with a cost of $256 million. Egypt, Agriculture, 9/25/1997 - Medical aid arrives from US
The supplies will be distributed to four nongovernmental organizations: Lebanese Red Cross (four containers), Secure Popular (three), the Welfare Association (two) and the Knights of Malta (one). Lebanon, Local, 9/25/1997 - Kuwaiti plane makes emergency landing
A Kuwaiti Airways plane carrying 94 passengers made an emergency landing at Kuwait Airport yesterday after part of its front tire was torn off. Kuwait, Local, 9/25/1997 - Mordechai threatens the Lebanese army
Israeli Defense Minister repeated his threats to destroy the Lebanese army. Meanwhile Lebanese army units fired at an Israeli warship, while Israel shelled several towns, and Hizbullah forces launched strikes on five Israeli positions Lebanon, Military, 9/24/1997 - A new massacre in Algeria - new hope for peace
Two hundred people were killed, according to eyewitnesses and hospital workers, in a new tragedy in Baraki, a southeastern suburb of Algiers. Algeria, Military, 9/24/1997 - Journalists told to be polite when reporting impoliteness
He was referring to Joumblat's vocal criticism of the Maronite patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, triggered by the Cardinal's criticism of Syria's role in Lebanon. Lebanon, Local, 9/24/1997 - Second man dies after ISF siege as media ignores ban
Pro-Hizbullah TV and radio stations in the Bekaa remained on the air, defying government warnings that it will shut down unlicensed audio visual media by force, if necessary. Lebanon, Local, 9/24/1997 - Women aim to break society's silence on domestic violence
The forum encourages countries to sign international agreements including the UN declaration for the eradication of all acts of discrimination against women. Regional, Culture, 9/24/1997 - Reports on mental condition of bus attacker premature
He said that despite a report by an Egyptian daily paper which was quoted by a number of foreign TV stations that Farahat was found to be mentally sound during investigations, the investigations are still going on. Egypt, Judicial, 9/24/1997 - An Egyptian Arts Festival in Tunisia
An Egyptian Arts Festival will be held in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, during the month of November, which will last for ten days. Tunisia-Egypt, Culture, 9/24/1997 - America in the First Czech Film Festival in Cairo
Four Czech films will be presented at the festival, displaying the development of the cinema industry in the Czech Republic. Egypt, Culture, 9/24/1997 - 6 Egyptian journalists awaiting trial on libel charges
6 Journalists from the opposition "Al-Shaab" newspaper will be put on trial within a few weeks on charges of libeling the interior minister and insulting the police. Egypt, Judicial, 9/24/1997 - US Agency for International Development offers Egypt a grant of $245 million
The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation will offer $45 million in the form of technical assistance to the program to increase crops through 4 years during its implementation. Egypt, Agriculture, 9/24/1997 - Tunisia plans to increase citrus crop
It is expected that the crop will increase from 244 thousand tons to 300 thousand tons by the year 2000 and 375 thousand tons by the year 2010. Tunisia, Agriculture, 9/24/1997 - Egyptian Museum tourist numbers back to normal
The tourist influx was not affected by the incident that occurred in Al Tahrir Square except on Thursday--the day of the attack--and Friday. Egypt, Culture, 9/24/1997 - Iraq to hold census
Hassan Abdul-Muneim, the head of the Planning Commission, said all preparations for the country's first census since 1987 had been made. Iraq, Local, 9/24/1997 - Charles Helou station opens
"We're back!!" That's the first thought I had when I knew about the official opening of the "Charles Helou" station for traveling and transport yesterday. Lebanon, Short Essay, 9/24/1997 - Arab dentists conference opens
The conference will help contribute to increasing knowledge and consolidate scientific cooperation between Arab and foreign dentists. Syria, Medicine, 9/24/1997 - Unexploded bomb found in Sidon
The bomb, near the Daoud Ali building at al-Bawaba Al Fawqa, was checked by an army explosives specialist accompanied by policemen and soldiers, who sealed off the area until the bomb was defused. Lebanon, Local, 9/24/1997 - Two guards wounded in the Israeli embassy in Jordan
Two guards at the Israeli embassy in Jordan were shot yesterday in Amman. "The Islamic Resistance in Jordan," a fundamentalist organization, has announced its responsibility for the operation. Jordan, Local, 9/23/1997 - Radio shutdowns continue, this time quietly
Internal security forces surrounded the building of "The Voice of Beirut" radio station in Burj-Abu-Haidar, yesterday at noon, giving the station twenty four hours to close its doors. Lebanon, Local, 9/23/1997 - Environmental catastrophe endangers Kuwait
Factories in the Shuiba industrial area used large quantities of impure fuel in operating their machines which resulted in accumulating nitrogen and dioxide gases in high density in the higher levels of the atmosphere and started to form white and yellow clouds over the skies of the capital. Kuwait, Local, 9/23/1997 - Egyptian Presidents Naser and Sadat in the Egyptian cinema
Two films about presidnets are currently being shot in Egypt, one of which depicts the life of the late Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Naser and the other which tackles important phases in the life of the late President Anwar Sadat. Egypt, Culture, 9/23/1997 - Lebanese resistance men shell Israeli positions
A group of Lebanese national resistance men machine-gunned a concentration of Israeli occupation troops in al Dahra position inside the occupied zone of south Lebanon. Lebanon, Military, 9/23/1997 - Amman aviation conference Jordan, Local, 9/23/1997
- Campaign against drugs, alcohol
The number of alcoholics is increasing, especially among women. However, the country has succeeded in reducing the level of drug addiction by some 70 percent. Lebanon, Local, 9/23/1997 - Marriage of two men with unofficial contract
This marriage was discovered after one of them killed the other due to a conjugal problem between them. Egypt, Local, 9/22/1997 - Demonstrator killed in Tripoli in showdown over media closure
Internal Lebanese Security forces killed Khaled Sabagh Wazze and injured three others who were demonstrating against the closure of the fundamentalist Islamic Tawheed movement's television station. Lebanon, Local, 9/22/1997 - Bahrain intro Bahrain, Special Report, 9/22/1997
- Bahrain and the violence
Bahrain Is the only Gulf country with a significant indigenous proletariat that has some experience of collective action, and has had few difficult moments to live through. Bahrain, Special Report, 9/22/1997 - Short skirts and falafel, a different kind of confrontation
"Go to Lebanon and show us what you can do there. You pretend to be brave here against unarmed Palestinians but there you run away from Hizbullah," yelled a Palestinian youth after he was beaten up by an Israeli soldier. Palestine-Israel, Local, 9/22/1997 - 52 villagers' throats cut out in Algeria
Attackers slit the throats of 52 Algerian Villagers in an orgy of killing after a two-week lull in civilian massacres. Algeria, Local, 9/22/1997 - Beirut mass rally commemorates Hadi Nasrallah and companions
Hizbullah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah--Hadi's father--addressed the mass rally to hail the bravery of the Lebanese national resistance in South Lebanon Lebanon, Local, 9/22/1997 - Bodies of Germans killed in bus attack sent home yesterday
The bodies were placed aboard a Lufthansa plane and flown to Frankfurt Airport. Egypt, Local, 9/22/1997 - 23 Killed and injured in road accident
6 People were killed and 17 seriously injured when a public transportation bus, carrying 40 passengers collided with a truck. Egypt, Local, 9/22/1997 - Turkey-Israel maneuvres November 16-20
Turkey said on that the Israeli-Turkish naval maneuvres with the participation of US will take place in the international waters on November 16-20 in East Mediterranean Sea in spite of criticism directed against carrying them out. Regional, Military, 9/22/1997 - Gas explosion at plant injures four
Three of the injured were treated and discharged from the hospital, and the fourth was recovering in a hospital in Jubail Saudi Arabia, Local, 9/22/1997 - 21 killed from the Armed Islamic Group in Algeria
The Algerian authorities and security men in Algeria promise to face gunmen whom they beleive are responsible in killing hundreds of innocent people across Algeria. Algeria, Military, 9/22/1997 - Damascus festival of culture opens
Mr. Taghlebi made a speech highlighting the importance of the festival, which is a cultural demonstration embodying the cultural heritage of the city of Damascus. Syria, Culture, 9/22/1997 - More Israeli fire on Lebanon
Security sources said the shelling targeted the towns of Hadatha, Eita al Jabal, Tibneit, Haris and al Za'atar mountain. Lebanon, Military, 9/22/1997