Arabic News Weekly Edition for Local, 3/23/1998
Weekly Edition, Local - Week of March 23, 1998
- Egyptian Christians reject US Senate interference in their affairs
Egypt's Christians expressed disagreement with claims published in some US media outlets pertaining to their condition in Egypt, and stated disapproval of having their affairs the subject of US senate hearings. Egypt-USA, Religion, 3/28/1998 - Massacres claim the lives of 67 Algerians
In three new massacres, described as the worst massacre since the last month of Ramadan, 57 Algerian citizens were killed yesterday in different places. One member of the security police and 9 armed attackers were also killed. Algeria, Local, 3/28/1998 - Continued Israeli shelling, raids against South Lebanon
Israeli occupation forces on Friday morning bombarded several towns adjacent to the occupied part of south Lebanon. Lebanese security sources said the Israeli bombardment targeted Mreimen valley, the outskirts of Kafra and Yater towns, al-Jabal al-Rafai heights, Sujud and al-Raihan woods and al-Litani riverbed. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 3/28/1998 - Qataris, Omani face trial for owning explosives
The higher Qatari criminal court headed by judge Abdel Raouf El-Boukae held a session to set a trial for six Qataris and one Omani accused of having illegal weapons, starting the formation of an illegal group, and owning unlicensed explosives. Qatar, Judicial, 3/28/1998 - Israeli hacker cut off Australia from the world
The Israeli “Analyzer”, who is currently being questioned by the Israeli authorities for allegedly breaking into the Pentagon computer system, faces a new set of suspicions. Israel, Judicial, 3/28/1998 - Report: Hundreds of buildings destroyed in 1997
The report said that in the past year 154 houses were demolished, 245 tents taken down, one Bedouin school destroyed and ten graves destroyed. Palestine-Israel, Local, 3/28/1998 - Court: Egyptian newborns have their father's nationality
The court said it was proved that the child's father is Iraqi and his mother is Egyptian and that he was born in Alexandria, but the law dealing with nationality says that newborns are given their fathers' nationality, thus the nationality of the child should be Iraqi. Egypt, Judicial, 3/28/1998 - Amnesty International conference held in Fez
Amnesty International sources stated that associations affiliated with the human rights organization will hold today a regional conference in the Moroccan city of Fez. Morocco-UN, Culture, 3/28/1998 - Sudan - Nile Sudan, Health, 3/28/1998
- Regional assembly concerned with higher education Regional, Education, 3/28/1998
- Israeli chief of staff arrives in Jordan Jordan-Israel, Military, 3/28/1998
- Blair believes in an independent Palestine, Jewish group cancel Cook
UK prime Minister Tony Blair will express his country's support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, as he spends a full day in Gaza. Palestine-Lebanon-UK, International, 3/27/1998 - The return of the previous hostage to Lebanon
US citizen Joseph Cicippio, who spent more that five years as a hostage of the Revolutionary Justice Organization in Lebanon, returned to Beirut. Lebanon, Local, 3/27/1998 - UAE confiscates 2.66 tons of drugs
United Arab Emirates police succeeded in the confiscation of 2.66 tons of drugs since the beginning of this year. United Arab Emirates-Pakistan, Local, 3/27/1998 - Continuation of violence in Algeria
Islamist violence and security efforts against the Islamists continue in Algeria, where Algerian security forces were able yesterday to kill two terrorists in the states of Tiaret and Tizi Ouzou and they also arrested another 17 in Mila state. Algeria, Local, 3/27/1998 - Lebanese civilians wounded in Israeli attacks on Barachit
Lebanese security sources said the Israeli occupation forces on Thursday arrested a Lebanese policeman, Marwan Abu Samra, accusing him of dealing with the Lebanese resistance. He was taken to al-Khiam camp. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 3/27/1998 - GCC institutes environment prize
His announced follows a decision by GCC ministers responsible for the environment on the need to recognize efforts to conserve the Gulf environment and protect its resources in order to provide a sound basis for sustainable development. Gulf, Environment, 3/27/1998 - Syrian - Algerian agriculture agreement signed
Earlier in the day, the Algerian minister and his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Moustafa signed an agricultural cooperation agreement providign for exchanging results of agricultural research projects on barley, lentils, fruit tree saplings and seed multiplication and the exchange of visits by technicians. Syria-Algeria, Agriculture, 3/27/1998 - Vatican envoy on trip to Amman, Sanaa
The Papal envoy will arrive in Sanaa later today to hold talks pertaining to relations between the two countries, especially the "possibility of building a Catholic center in Sanaa, where there are no Christian places of worship" Jordan-Yemen-Vatican, Religion, 3/27/1998 - Another 46 Algerians killed by armed groups Algeria, Local, 3/27/1998
- AIDS-infected people expelled from UAE United Arab Emirates, Health, 3/27/1998
- Yemen - military exercises Yemen, Military, 3/27/1998
- Egypt death sentence protest Egypt, Judicial, 3/27/1998
- Iraq inspections Iraq-International, International, 3/27/1998
- Canada Iraq Iraq-Canada, Judicial, 3/27/1998
- An agreement for education between Egypt and Libya
The Egyptian minister of education, together with the secretary-general of the public committee for education in Libya, signed yesterday the program for joint cooperation between the public education committee in Libya and the Egyptian minister of education. Egypt-Libya, Education, 3/27/1998 - Celebrating arrival of the American ambassador in Cairo Egypt-USA, International, 3/27/1998
- Farouk Hosni will head Egypt's delegation to UNESCO conference Egypt-UN, Culture, 3/27/1998
- Iranian pilgrims in Iraq Iraq-Iran, Religion, 3/26/1998
- Algeria: 2,800 Islamists killed in three years
More than 2,800 Islamists were killed in confrontations with government troops in two Eastern districts in Algeria during three years. Algeria, Local, 3/26/1998 - UN Compensation Committee funds third repayment stage
The United Nations Compensation Commission yesterday approved funds for the reimbursement of claimants who were found to have suffered losses in Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The commission dispersed $497.8 million among 17 governments for distribution to nearly 200,000 claimants. Iraq-Kuwait-UN, International, 3/26/1998 - Egyptian council tackles women's rights
The Egyptian Consultation Council which is discussing women's rights voiced its support for womne's political participation and for granting Egyptian citizenship to sons of women who married foreigners. Egypt, Judicial, 3/26/1998 - Israel detains two in south Lebanon
Lebanese security sources said occupation artillery positioned in Teir Harfa town fired 20 shells on the outskirts of Majdal Zoun and al-Mansouri towns and Jib Sweid district in the western sector of south Lebanon. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 3/26/1998 - Butros Ghali will visit Lebanon on April 27
Ghali's visit to Beirut in April in coincides with an expected visit from French President Jacques Chirac to inaugurate the French embassy after repairs are completed. Lebanon, People, 3/26/1998 - Qatar FM to US Qatar-USA, International, 3/26/1998
- Richardson - Algeria Algeria-UN, International, 3/26/1998
- Iran -pilgrimage Saudi Arabia-Iran, International, 3/26/1998
- UN - oil-for-food Iraq-UN, International, 3/26/1998
- Yemen - robbery Yemen, Local, 3/26/1998
- Four Islamists, one shepherd killed in Algeria
In the western suburb of the capital near al-Hammamat two "terrorists" came out of the woods and opened fire on an army inspection point. Two persons were injured as a result. Algeria, Local, 3/26/1998 - Education problems for Palestinian children Palestine, Education, 3/26/1998
- Illiteracy in Palestinian society estimated at 18% Palestine, Education, 3/26/1998
- Lebanese fighters attack Israeli positions in Beit Yahoun
Lebanese resistance forces on Tuesday morning attacked an Israeli military post in Beit Yahoun. In a statement the resistance said another group of resistance fighters fired shots at Israeli positions in the al-Qantara area. The Israeli positions were directly hit as a result of the two attacks. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 3/25/1998 - International Cairo festival for children's films inaugurated
At the end of the festival, the Moroccan film by Mohamed El-Abazy, "The Other Side of the River" -- the only long Arabic film produced for children in the history of the Arabic cinema -- will be presented Egypt, Culture, 3/25/1998 - Palestinian prisoners demand to enroll in their own universities
The Dameer [Arabic for conscience] Organization said that families of 30 Palestinian prisoners held in the southern desert prison of Nafha had enrolled in the Hebrew University but are facing major financial problems and cannot afford to study there. Palestine-Israel, Education, 3/25/1998 - Smoking to be religiously prohibited?
Nasr Farid Wassel, Egypt's mufti, called for a label reading, "Smoking is religiously prohibited" to be printed on cigarette packages instead of the warning "Smoking is harmful for health." Egypt, Religion, 3/25/1998 - FAO warns Middle east countries of waters and food shortage problems Regional, Science, 3/25/1998
- UAE - archeology United Arab Emirates, History, 3/25/1998
- UNSCOM, diplomats ready for inspections Iraq-UN, International, 3/25/1998
- Iraqi chemical weapons scientist arrested Iraq, Judicial, 3/25/1998
- Libya court Libya-USA, Judicial, 3/25/1998
- Mauritania trial Mauritania, Judicial, 3/25/1998
- Yemeni communist party protest prison sentences
The Yemeni communist party objected yesterday to the death sentence issued by a Yemeni court against 5 southern leaders, including former South Yemeni officials. Yemen, Judicial, 3/25/1998 - Algerian security forces arrest 35-member armed guerrilla group Algeria, Local, 3/25/1998
- Moroccan police confiscate Hashish to be smuggled to France Morocco, Local, 3/25/1998
- Dutch trade delegation arrives in Damascus
The delegation, led by the Dutch agricultural attache will carry out activities in the fields of foodstuffs and agriculture, especially food-processing, greenhouses, livestock husbandry, agricultural machinery and food products. Syria-Netherlands, Agriculture, 3/25/1998 - Slowness of judicial proceedings a Pharaonic disease
In Egypt, the slowness of judicial proceedings is an old disease which has Pharaonic roots. Egypt, Culture, 3/25/1998 - Lebanese resistance hits back at Israeli positions
the Lebanese resistance said one of its groups machine-gunned and rocketed the Israeli Radar Station hill in the occupied strip of south Lebanon. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 3/24/1998 - A fire around the Egyptian nuclear reactor
A small fire broke out around the building containing the new Egyptian nuclear reactor in Inshas area, east of the capital, causing no losses. Firemen were able to control the fire before it reached the reactor building. Egypt, Local, 3/24/1998 - Jordanian oppositions for releasing all political detainees
The Jordanian opposition parties today called upon the Jordanian government to set free the political detainees in all Jordanian prisons, to give up the trial of citizens of Maan in southern Jordan, and to form a neutral committee to investigate the events that recently took place in the city. Jordan, Local, 3/24/1998 - Catholic patriarch: Palestinians do have the right to live freely
In the meeting that took place Monday, the patriarch urged the leaders of the Jewish faith in Israel to admit that Palestinians have the same right to live as the Jews claim for themselves. Palestine-Israel, Religion, 3/24/1998 - World Bank US $ loan for Tunis Tunisia, Agriculture, 3/24/1998
- Bahraini Sheikh dies at 62 Bahrain, People, 3/24/1998
- Yemen court Yemen, Judicial, 3/24/1998
- Kidnapped Algerian girls escape Algeria, Local, 3/24/1998
- Eight kidnapped, 6 wounded in bomb explosion in Algeria Algeria, Local, 3/24/1998
- US air force to stay for another 60-days in Bahrain Bahrain-Iraq-USA, Military, 3/24/1998
- Palestinian police will study files of security detainees Palestine, Judicial, 3/24/1998
- First group of Iraqi pilgrims heads for Mecca
The Iraqi government had prevented its citizens from performing the pilgrimage after the Gulf War for economic reasons, yet it retracted its decision last year and 1,500 citizens performed the pilgrimage last year. Iraq-Saudi Arabia, Religion, 3/23/1998 - Caliph Yazid and the Umayyad dynasties
Few world dynasties have produced so many idiosyncratic and agreeable people as Caliph Yazid and the Umayyad dynasties, who were at the same time effective. Mu'awia, the first Umayyad Caliph and brother in law to the prophet Muhammad, secured supreme power over the Arab empire with Damascus as his capital in 661 AD. Regional, History, 3/23/1998 - Israeli court speaks about a two-week mass expulsion that lasted 50 years
The Israeli High Court gave the government of Israel three months to finally take a decision on why Palestinians from the village of Ikrith have not been allowed back to their village, from which they were kicked out in 1948. Israel-Palestine, Judicial, 3/23/1998 - Yemen to sentence 15 former Southern Yemeni officials tomorrow
The accused, including the former secretary-general of the Yemeni Socialist party, are being tried under charges of "greater treason, violating the constitution and committing killing crimes." Yemen, Judicial, 3/23/1998 - Egyptian journalist starts hunger strike
The Egyptian journalists syndicate started communications aimed at achieving a reconciliation between journalist Kamal Fahmy, who was given a six-month prison sentence and writer Sarot Abaza who brought suit against the journalist. Egypt, Judicial, 3/23/1998 - Israel's nuclear position condemned
The International Atomic Energy Agency chief added that Israeli continues to refuse to open its nuclear installations in the Negev desert to international inspection. Israel-Regional-UN, Military, 3/23/1998 - Warring Kurd factions exchange prisoners Iraq, Local, 3/23/1998
- FAO chief lauds Syria's agricultural policy
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa and Director General of Food and Agriculture Oganization Jacques Diouf on Sunday discussed the importance of food security, particularly in developing countries, and the necessity of international cooperation in the field of food programs. Syria, Agriculture, 3/23/1998 - Damascus hosts FAO's 24th regional conference
Aided by representatives of relevant international and regional organizations, participating delegates are examining current problems facing developing countries and weighing the drastic effect of those problems upon comprehensive development plans. Regional, Agriculture, 3/23/1998 - Poet Darwish health condition stable Palestine, People, 3/23/1998
- Qatar planetarium Qatar, Science, 3/23/1998
- Indyk - Israel Israel-USA, International, 3/23/1998
- Kekhya trial dismissed Egypt, Judicial, 3/23/1998
- Hizbullah - withdrawal Lebanon, Military, 3/23/1998
- Palestinians arrested for rebuilding Palestine-Israel, Local, 3/23/1998
- Egypt police killed in clash with gunmen Egypt, Local, 3/23/1998
- Butler - Iraq Iraq-UN, International, 3/23/1998
- Kofi Annan the hero of the peace - lovers people Regional, International, 3/23/1998
- Israeli troops attack al-Rafai mountain
Lebanese security sources said Israeli artillery in the al-Zafata occupation position shelled al-Rafai mountain, Litani river bed and al-Taseh spring course as well as Milta and Lweiza hills. Lebanon-Israel, Military, 3/23/1998 - Jordanian pilgrims leave to Haj
Chief Islamic Justice Sheikh Izuddin al-Khateeb, representing Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan, urged in remarks at the farewell ceremony, that the pilgrims present a good image of the country during the pilgrimage. Jordan-Saudi Arabia, Religion, 3/23/1998