Arabic News Weekly Edition for Local, 2/23/1998
Weekly Edition, Local - Week of February 23, 1998
- Convicted murderer on the run after daring escape operation
A convicted murderer serving a life sentence was still on the run Friday after having escaped from a prison hospital Tuesday, aided by eight gunmen. Lebanon, Local, 2/28/1998 - Kurd groups continue peace talks
In a five-hour meeting, representatives of the two rival Kurdish factions reviewed the implementation of their previous decisions. In the course of their two earlier rounds of talks held on February 12 and 19, they decided to release all the prisoners of war captured by of parties. Iraq, Local, 2/28/1998 - Egyptian film week in Baghdad
They will also highlight the role of art in solving the Iraqi issue and discuss how an actor can deliver a message through his art, presenting solutions for the current situation in the Arab region. Iraq-Egypt, Culture, 2/28/1998 - French president saddened by dying ME peace process
French President Jacques Chirac on Thursday called upon the US to "rapidly take a strong initiative to attempt to relaunch the peace process." Regional, International, 2/28/1998 - Khartoum permits limited aids to the South
Spokesman for Lifeline Sudan said that the Sudanese government has permitted humanitarian aid flights to arrive only at six sites in the Bahr al-Gazelle (Gazelle Sea) province in southern Sudan. Sudan, Local, 2/28/1998 - A week for Tunisian culture and art in Egypt
There will be a week for culture and art within the Tunisian - Egyptian committee's meetings, under Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri, and his Tunisian counterpart Hamed Karoui, beginning on Tuesday. Egypt-Tunisia, Culture, 2/28/1998 - King Hussein and British PM discuss outcome of Iraqi crisis
Jordan's King Hussein and British Prime Minister Tony Blair discussed on the phone the outcome of the recent Iraqi-UN weapons inspection agreement. During his discussion with King Hussein, Blair expressed appreciation of Jordan's efforts to contain the crisis peacefully. Jordan, International, 2/28/1998 - Tasluja Cement Factory set in operation
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, one of the two main Kurdish parties controlling Iraqi Kurdistan since the Gulf War ended in 1991, announced that it could put Tasluja Cement Factory, in Sulaymaniya, northern Iraq in action. Iraq, Local, 2/28/1998 - British officials to the Middle East to advance peace process Regional, International, 2/28/1998
- The experimental festival in coming September Egypt, Culture, 2/28/1998
- Lebanese resistance takes back Deir Klab from Israeli troops
Lebanese resistance on Friday afternoon destroyed an armored vehicle while confronting the Israeli military buildup, just 200 meters from the enemy Deir Klab site which the resistance has already seized. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 2/27/1998 - World Court deals Libya a victory on Lockerbie
Libya won a victory today in the International Court of Justice, which ruled that it has jurisdiction to deal with a dispute between Libya and the United States over the extradition of two Libyan suspects in the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie Scotland. Libya, Judicial, 2/27/1998 - Chirac shows strong commitment to Iraq on accord
Russia reiterated its rejection of the use of force against Baghdad, noting it will resume arms shipments to Iran if Iraq is exposed to a US aggression. Iraq, International, 2/27/1998 - Egypt arrests group with plans to blow up Israeli and U.S. embassies
Egyptian security forces arrested members of a new organization who planned to carry out violent attacks in Cairo, including the blowing up of foreign embassies. Egypt, Local, 2/27/1998 - Reconciliation between Iraq and Kuwait to take place
The Iraqi newspaper El-Zawraa said the head of the Arab Parliamentary Union made communications between Iraq and Kuwait aiming to initiate a reconciliation very soon. Kuwait-Iraq, International, 2/27/1998 - Five Israel soldiers killed, wounded in south Lebanon
Israeli security sources said on Thursday that three Israeli soldiers were killed and another two were wounded in an attack by the Lebanese national resistance against military positions in Balat village in the occupied strip of south Lebanon. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 2/27/1998 - Qatar - France war games Qatar, Military, 2/27/1998
- Sudan conflict continues Sudan, Military, 2/27/1998
- Activating the peace process
Dr. Osama El-Baz, President Mubarak's political advisor, described the agreement between Iraq and the United Nations as a balanced achievement that secures the pride and stability of Iraq. Regional-Palestine, International, 2/27/1998 - Latest Palestine population census Palestine, Culture, 2/27/1998
- Al-Azhar's Shiekh Tantawi visits with Sheikh Yassin
The Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Dr. Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi, visited Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of the Islamic resistance movement Hamas, in his private suite in an Egyptian hospital. Egypt, Religion, 2/27/1998 - Curfew on Maan lifted today
A curfew imposed on the southern Jordan town of Maan in the wake of pro-Saddam protests and riots was lifted early today. Jordanian Prime Minister Dr. Abdul-Salam al-Majali told delegations from Maan that other measures will be lifted on Saturday morning. Jordan, Local, 2/27/1998 - Capitulation by Iraq or conflict to come?
Despite the general positive international reception the UN-brokered agreement regarding the UN-US-Iraqi crisis over weapons inspections has received, there remain many issues that have not been clarified, and those issues may contain the seeds of the next standoff between the US and Iraq. Iraq, Analysis, 2/26/1998 - Terrorists, security forces step up actions in Algeria
A terrorist group bombed a gas pipeline linking Hass El-Raml and Arzyo Benafta El-Meritart in western Algeria. It was the second sabotage operation aimed at the Algerian infrastructure this week. Algeria, Local, 2/26/1998 - Spokesman: Stability restored to South and East of Sudan
Lt. Gen. Abdul Rahman Sewar al-Khatim said the Sudanese army carried out "victorious" operations in the Bahr al-Gazelle (Gazelle Sea) district and in the eastern part of the country. Sudan, Military, 2/26/1998 - Saudi, Bahraini national guard chiefs meet in Riyadh Saudi Arabia-Bahrain, Military, 2/26/1998
- Lebanese resistance attack Israeli armored vehicles Lebanon-Israel, Military, 2/26/1998
- Train bomb death toll raised to 22
The number of victims of an explosion on a train in Algeria was raised to 22 killed and 25 injured, where an armed group placed a bomb on a train coming from Akroon state 70 km from the Algerian capital. Algeria, Local, 2/25/1998 - Santer criticizes practices against the Palestinians
The European Commission on Tuesday criticized Israeli measures and practices against the Palestinians in the occupied Arab territories. Palestine, International, 2/25/1998 - Majali threatens unions in Jordan
Jordanian Prime Minister Abdel Salam al-Majali said his government will not remain bound by pressures from union members and their attempt to influence Jordanian public opinion, "aiming to destroy the nation and its achievements." Jordan, Local, 2/25/1998 - Sheikha Fatima send donations to Iraq
Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, wife of President Zayed Bin Sultan al-Nahyan of the UAE, on Tuesday called for humanitarian aid to be sent to Iraq. United Arab Emirates-Iraq, People, 2/25/1998 - Last respects for Qasem Ali Hamdan, killed by Israel
Israeli troops continued to launch attacks on towns close to the occupied part of south Lebanon. Security sources said Israeli artillery shelled the towns of Majdal Sulum, Shakra, Salouqi, Zouter and some areas of al-Tuffah district. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 2/25/1998 - Egyptian report criticize physicians who work in prisons
The human rights center for supporting prisoners in Egypt criticized physicians working in Egyptian prisons and called for intensifying the supervision of those physicians when dealing with prisoners and detainees. Egypt, Medicine, 2/25/1998 - Yemeni tribesmen release kidnapped pair Yemen, International, 2/25/1998
- A new fiasco is cause of resignation of Israeli chief of Intelligence
Israel unofficially admitted that the resignation of its highly-esteemed Mossad followed an operational fault during a covert action taken by Mossad agents in a European country that has the best and warmest relations with Israel. Israel-Jordan, International, 2/25/1998 - France for lifting sanctions imposed on Iraq Iraq, International, 2/25/1998
- GCC chief to visit France today Gulf, International, 2/25/1998
- Rabat hosts Arab, Islamic universities conference Regional, Education, 2/25/1998
- US's Richardson bombs the agreement?
The agreement, according to US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, is committed to total access, saying "UNSCOM will test thoroughly and comprehensively" Iraq's compliance to the agreement. Iraq, International, 2/24/1998 - Maan is calm: al-Ayan accuses Iraq of inciting riots
"A medical report issued following an autopsy showed that the kind of the bullet that killed a Maani resident during the recent pre-Saddam Hussein protests was not used by the military troops or security men," Jordan's King Hussein stated. Jordan-Iraq, Local, 2/24/1998 - Clinton, Mubarak discuss UN-Iraq accord, ME peace
President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt on Tuesday received a phone call from US President Bill Clinton dealing with the results of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's visit to Iraq. Iraq-Egypt, International, 2/24/1998 - Five agreements between Syria and Russia
Five agreements on economic, trade, technical, scientific and tourism cooperation between Russia and Syria were signed on Monday at the Central Bank in Damascus. Syria, International, 2/24/1998 - Lebanese resistance escalated against Israeli occupation
Lebanese national resistance forces on Monday attacked with machine-guns and rockets two Israeli positions in Bilatt and Radar areas in the occupied strip of south Lebanon. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 2/24/1998 - Greek FM: Turkish-Israeli alliance strategic North Africa, International, 2/24/1998
- EU humanitarian aid to Iraq
The spokesman added that the Humanitarian Affairs Commission in the European Union will make a new evaluation of Iraq's humanitarian needs by the end of 1998. Iraq, International, 2/24/1998 - King Hussein, President Clinton discuss UN-Iraq accord Iraq-Jordan, International, 2/24/1998
- Judicial Council - President Jordan, Local, 2/24/1998
- Algeria bomb Algeria, Local, 2/24/1998
- Lockerbie - ICJ Libya, International, 2/24/1998
- A message from ruler of Kuwait to Turkish President Kuwait-Turkey, International, 2/24/1998
- Mubarak hopes UN-Iraq agreement to be final solution to crisis Iraq, International, 2/24/1998
- Omani Defense minister in Riyadh for military cooperation Oman-Saudi Arabia, Military, 2/24/1998
- A collective funeral for more Iraqi children
Iraq on Saturday held a collective funeral for 63 children, who all died as a result of UN sanctions which deprived them of medicine and nutrition. Iraq, Culture, 2/24/1998 - Israeli measures in the occupied Golan Heights Syria-Israel, Judicial, 2/24/1998
- Iraq's deputy premier accuses Britain of not committing itself to obligations
Aziz said the history of the region and since the first World War has proven that successive British governments did not commit themselves to obligations concerning Arab nations. Iraq, International, 2/24/1998 - Awaiting approval of UN - Iraq agreement
Annan said, "When and how soon I cannot say, referring to the lifting of the sanctions, but he added that, "The way we have discussed this problem, our determination to improve cooperation, to enhance the work of UNSCOM, and accelerate the process, we will be seeing light at the end of the tunnel." Iraq, International, 2/23/1998 - Order is restored in Maan after eruption
Order and calm have been restored in Maan following the tragic incidents over two days that claimed the life of one person and resulted in the injury of ten others, eight of them policemen. Jordan, Local, 2/23/1998 - US, Libya, Egypt accused of not cooperating in Kekhya case
An international legal committee investigating the December 1993 disappearance of former Libyan minister Mansour al-Kekhya accused the US, Egyptian and Libyan authorities of not being forthcoming will all the information and facts surrounding the disappearance. Egypt-Libya, Judicial, 2/23/1998 - Death and injury of 26 Algerian citizens
The Armed Islamic Group in Algeria killed 19 persons and injured 7, when it ambushed a transport truck in Gigel in eastern Algeria. Algeria, Local, 2/23/1998 - Israeli warplanes bombard south Lebanon
Israeli warplanes on Sunday launched some 11 raids on targets in South Lebanon, Lebanese security sources said. The sources added that Israeli jets fired at least 23 rockets. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 2/23/1998 - Moussa: US will approve agreement
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said on Monday that he expects the United States to approve the agreement reached between UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Iraq concerning the current crisis over weapons inspections. Iraq, International, 2/23/1998 - Crisis averted: Clinton approves UN-Iraq deal Iraq, International, 2/23/1998
- Prison sentences given to 22 of the Armed Islamic Front
The felonies court of the greater Algiers governorate issued prison sentences of between 8 and 20 years for 22 suspects convicted of belonging to the terrorist organization the Islamic Front for Armed Struggle. Algeria, Judicial, 2/23/1998 - Large demonstrations in Egyptian universities
Thousands of students from Cairo, Ein Shams, al-Azhar, Helwan, Mansour and Zagzig Universities joined in large demonstrations against the United States, while Egyptian police took measures outside the universities' parameters to prevent students from marching into the streets. Egypt-Iraq, Local, 2/23/1998 - Syrian-Egyptian unity anniversary celebrated
Marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Syrian-Egyptian unity, a symposium was opened in Cairo on Sunday at al-Ahram press institution. Egypt-Syria, History, 2/23/1998 - Israeli planes land in Turkey to attack Baghdad if missiles fired on Israel Iraq, International, 2/23/1998
- Bahrainis protest US envoy's statements on threat to Iraq
US State Department envoy David Newton on Sunday was met with anti-US slogans and denunciation saying that the US only seeks to kill the people of Iraq while speaking at a symposium in Manama to justify the use of force against Iraq. Bahrain-Iraq, International, 2/23/1998 - Al-Sahaf informed Syrian counterpart on results of Annan' s talks Iraq, International, 2/23/1998
- Assad receives communique from Yeltsin on bilateral relations
Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Sunday received Russian Justice Minister Sergey Stepashin, who is also head of the Russian side at the Russian-Syrian joint committee for trade, economic and technical cooperation. Syria, International, 2/23/1998