Arabic News Weekly Edition for Local, 3/31/2003
Weekly Edition, Local - Week of March 31, 2003
- Service interruption for several hours Notice to readers, 4/4/2003
- Morocco announces plan to eradicate illiteracy by 2015
The plan seeks to cut illiteracy from 48 percent of the 30-million population now to 35 percent in 2004, 20 percent in 2010, before its complete eradication by 2015, Moroccan communication minister and government spokesman, Nabil Benabdallah, told the press at the end of the weekly government meeting. Morocco, Education, 4/4/2003 - Morocco only Islamic state upholding Commander of the Faithful institution (official)
Seen from a political point of view, Morocco is the only Islamic state upholding the Commander of the Faithful (Amir Al Mouminine) institution, embodied by King Mohammed VI, "who belongs to the family of the Prophet Sidna Mohamed's descendents," said Morocco's minister of Waqf and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Taoufiq. Morocco-Regional, Religion, 4/4/2003 - Seven Palestinians killed by Israelis in West bank, Gaza
The Israeli occupation forces yesterday at dawn invaded Rafah area in Gaza where a new crime was committed and resulted in killing four Palestinians and wounding other 8, while other three Palestinians were killed in different aggressions in the West Bank and Gaza. Palestine-Israel, Military, 4/4/2003 - ISESCO denounces US educational programs' negative stereotypes on Moslems
The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO, a Rabat-based offshoot of the OIC) has denounced the "negative cliches" portrayed by the American educational programs on Moslems and Arabs. Regional-USA, Culture, 4/4/2003 - US presentation of the status of the military attack of Iraq
US Army Brigadier General Vincent Brooks, CENTCOM deputy director of operations, briefed the media Iraq-USA, Military, 4/4/2003 - Nearly 7,500 cases of lymphatic cancer in Morocco
The number of lymphatic cancer cases are estimated at 7,500 in Morocco, that is an annual rise of 1,500 cases, said professor Said Benchekroun, head of Hematology Oncology Pediatric service in Ibn Sina school hospital (CHU) in Casablanca. Morocco, Health, 4/4/2003 - Tripoli's international fair; 30 Moroccan companies
More than a thousand industrial and trade enterprises are participating in this event that will last until April 12 and that constitutes an opportunity to sign cooperation and partnership agreements between companies taking part in the fair, said the organizers. Libya-Morocco, Local, 4/4/2003 - Arab Drama Spring Festival Officially Launched
The Arab drama spring Festival, part of events celebrating "Rabat, capital of Arab culture" was officially launched in Rabat on Wednesday. Morocco-Regional, Local, 4/4/2003 - 30 Iraqi children, 215 wounded in Red Crescent hospital bombing; contradictory news
Baghdad, once again yesterday was exposed to brutal bombardment that even struck hospitals. Bombs were dropped on various areas of the capital and bombardment also targeted a telecommunication establishment and a presidential complex near the Tigris river and a bridge at the southern suburb of Baghdad. Iraq-USA, Military, 4/3/2003 - Libya's critical move regarding Morocco and Algeria
The Arab states are facing many challenges on many fronts, some obvious and others less so. One of these challenges that has regional implications is the Algeria-Morocco dispute over Morocco's Sahara region issue. Libya-Regional, Editorial, 4/3/2003 - One Palestinian killed several wounded in Ramullah, Israeli forces break into Toulkarem
The Palestinian Omar Matar ( 14 uear old) was killed and another had strong wounds in his head by the bullets of the Israeli soldiers in Ramullah. Palestine-Israel, Military, 4/3/2003 - No SARS pneumonia case reported in Morocco
In its first ever such travel alert, the United Nations body said there was evidence that in Hong Kong at least the disease was also being spread by the environment -- possibly the water or sewage systems -- and not just by close personal contact. Regional-Morocco, Health, 4/3/2003 - Besiege of ditches of blood in al-Najaf, Kerbala; Baghdad appeals Ankara for help
In the 13th day of the war against Iraq, the invading American- British forces escalated their military operations and bloody attacks in southern Iraq in an attempt to tighten the belt on al-Najaf, Kerbalaa and al-Basra and to enhance its position on the outskirts of al-Kout in preparation for the next move -- the besiege of Baghdad. Iraq-Jordan, Military, 4/2/2003 - Israeli forces continue policy of demolishing houses, detention
The Israeli forces yesterday demolished the house of the Palestinian who executed the operation in Nathania settlement which resulted in wounding more than 40 Israelis. Palestine-Israel, Military, 4/2/2003 - Israeli warplanes violate the Lebanese airspace Lebanon-Israel, Military, 4/2/2003
- Riyadh issues licenses for pilots as Washington drop them Saudi Arabia-USA, Local, 4/2/2003
- Lalla Meryem Tennis Grand Prix: Bahia Mohtassine rolled out Morocco, Sports, 4/2/2003
- US description of its military attack on Iraq's
U.S. Army units attacked Iraqi Republican Guard units around Karbala within the past day, a senior Central Command official told media yesterday. Iraq-USA, Military, 4/2/2003 - Rumsfeld briefs on the US attack on Iraq
US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, along with Gen. Richard B. Myers, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed yesterday on the status of US attack on Iraq Iraq-USA, Military, 4/2/2003 - UN relief agencies warn of soaring heat and water shortages in Iraq
As United Nations relief agencies struggled to move more humanitarian aid into Iraq, stifling heat amid a continuing water shortage emerged yesterday as a new threat to the health of the civilian population, especially children. Iraq-UN, Local, 4/2/2003 - Morocco to earmark 1% of gdp to scientific research by 2010, minister
Moroccan Minister in charge of scientific research, Omar Fassi Fihri, said Morocco will earmark 1% of its GDP to scientific research by 2010. Morocco, Science, 4/1/2003 - Israeli forces broke into Khan Younis, large campaign of detention
The Israeli forces yesterday broke into the city of Khan Younis and launched a campaign of arrest. Palestine-Israel, Military, 4/1/2003 - Spanish-speaking Muslims hold congress in Seville
Spanish-speaking Muslims from several countries will hold their first congress April 3-5 in the Spanish city of Seville on the theme "Islam of the two Banks." Regional-Spain, Religion, 4/1/2003 - Moroccan cross team wins bronze medal in Lausanne
Morocco won Lausanne on Sunday the bronze medal of men's cross race (12,3 km), a competition scheduled in the World Cross Country Championships staged in Lausanne, Switzerland. Morocco, Sports, 4/1/2003 - Morocco ties with Sierra Leone in African nation cup heats
Morocco's national football team battled, in Freetown on Saturday, to a scoreless draw with Sierra Leone, in their African Cup qualifier (Tunisia-2004). Morocco, Sports, 4/1/2003 - ATP Race: Morocco's El Aynaoui 9th Morocco, Sports, 4/1/2003
- US forces intensify bombing against Baghdad, destroy al-Basra oil company, confrontations fierce
Along the past hours on Sunday, the American- British fighters raided several areas in Baghdad and the shelling hit the residential areas especially al-Karrada area. More explosions were heard inflicting more casualties in lines of the Iraqis among the killed and wounded civilians. Iraq-USA, Military, 3/31/2003 - Palestinians celebrate Land Day, new Palestinian operation in Nathania, 40 Israelis wounded
While the Palestinians were celebrating the Land day which falls March 30th, the Palestinian resistance carried out an operation in Nathania settlement at the entrance of London's Cafe that resulted in wounding more than 40 Israelis, 6 of them are in critical conditions. Palestine-Israel, Military, 3/31/2003 - Moroccan movies screened in Ramallah, Palestine Morocco-Palestine, Local, 3/31/2003
- Key Biscayne tennis tournament: Morocco's El Aynaoui ousted in quarter-finals by Agassi Morocco, Sports, 3/31/2003
- US presentation of its military war status on Iraq
Following is the transcript of the Pentagon's briefing, on the status of war against Iraq Iraq-Kuwait, Military, 3/31/2003