Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 12/18/2000
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of December 18, 2000
- One Islamist died in Egyptian prison Egypt, Politics, 12/23/2000
- Sudanese Ummah party for a peaceful political solution in the country
Omar Nour al-Dayem the first deputy for the President of the Sudanese al-Ummah party which is led by al-Sadeq al-Mahdi has stressed that the whole Sudanese people do accept the peaceful political solution in the country. Sudan, Politics, 12/23/2000 - UN official praises Egypt for protecting asylum seekers
Mohammad Boukari, Regional Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) praised protection and care provided by Egypt for asylum seekers of different nationalities, mainly Sudanese. Egypt, Politics, 12/23/2000 - Opposition member says election is a joke Sudan, Politics, 12/23/2000
- Elections in Sudan
Manual selection of votes of the voting ballots in Sudan started Saturday at 7 a.m. for the elections of both the Presidency and the Parliament. These elections have lasted for ten days. Sudan, Politics, 12/23/2000 - Saudi crown prince presides Gulf summit; customs federation delays
Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz will preside over the Saudi delegation on behalf of King of Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz to the Arab Gulf summit due to be held on December 30 and 31 in al-Manama. Saudi Arabia-Gulf, Politics, 12/23/2000 - The politics of oil between the US, Syria and Iraq
Analysists have said that the US ignores reports which speak of Iraq's pumping of oil to Syria, in order to avoid standing against the Arab public opinion in this very critical phase of the peace negotiations in the Middle East. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 12/23/2000 - Morocco invites Mexico to contribute to settling sahara issue
Benaissa, who represented King Mohammed VI in the searing-in ceremony of President Vicente Fox Quesada, told the press in Mexico that Morocco and Mexico share the ideals of freedom, and the defense of human rights and democracy. He said he was very hopeful as to the future of relations between the two countries. Morocco-Mexico, Politics, 12/23/2000 - Syrian source statement on differences between Lahoud and al-Hariri
A Syrian official source has commented on what has been rumored on the existence of disputes between the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud and his prime minister Rafik al- Hariri. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 12/23/2000 - Mubarak's directives turned into program of action
The Cabinet convened Thursday under Prime Minister Atef Ebeid to lay down timetables to execute President Hosni Mubarak's directives that came in his speech Sunday to a joint meeting of People's Assembly and the Shura Council marking the start of the new parliamentary session. Egypt, Politics, 12/23/2000 - Iraq and Turkey intend to open a second border center
The Turkish and the Iraqi government have reached an agreement in their views to open a second border center between the two countries. Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 12/23/2000 - Sheikh al-Qerdawi calls for boycotting Israel
The Islamic scholar Sheikh Youssef al-Qadrawi, very popular in the Arab states, especially in the Gulf with a weekly religious and Fatwa program at many Arab Gulf satellites, has called for continued boycotting of Israel even if the Palestinian government will sign an agreement with Israel, as far as such an agreement will be unfair and will not provide for restoring back full rights to their legitimate owners to establishing the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a capital and the return back of the refugees. Regional-Israel, Politics, 12/23/2000 - Israeli spying on Egypt tampers with peace
The Israeli spying activities against Egypt contradict the peace process and violate the peace accords signed by both countries, said Egypt's Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Bassiouni. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 12/23/2000 - Al-Assad gets a message from German Chancellor Syria-German, Politics, 12/22/2000
- Syrian government prepares a white coupe over the public sector
Well-informed economic sources in Damascus said on December 19 that the Syrian government is currently studying a memorandum prepared by officials sides to make reforms in the public sector, according to a plan which is close to " a white coupe over this sector." Syria, Politics, 12/22/2000 - Mobilizing Sudanese efforts for a political solution
The Sudanese foreign relations minister Mustafa Othman Ismael has unveiled an agreement between the government and the al-Ummah ( nation) party chaired by al-Sadeq al-Mahdi on a national program government in the context of their care to mobilize all political forces, who believe in the political solution in Sudan and to work for forming a joint government in which the authority is shared. Sudan, Politics, 12/22/2000 - Chinese official delegation flies to Baghdad
A Chinese official delegation left on Friday Beijing for Baghdad on a plane carrying humanitarian assistance to Iraq Iraq-China, Politics, 12/22/2000 - UN General Assembly votes for Syrian sovereignty over the Golan
In its 87th general session held on Wednesday evening, the UN General Assembly approved a decision which once again stresses Syria's durable sovereignty over the natural resources in the occupied Golan and also the sovereignty of the Palestinian people for their natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem. Syria-Israel, Politics, 12/22/2000 - Three Palestinians killed, Israel opens fire on diplomats in Khan Younis
Three Palestinians were killed and several others wounded on Thursday as every day in various parts of the West bank and Gaza strip at a time when the Israeli attacks expanded to include a foreign and diplomatic delegation which was inspecting the consequences of the bombardment at Khan Younis Camp when the Israeli opened fire on them. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/22/2000 - Egypt stresses full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan, Jerusalem
The Egyptian cabinet has stressed Egypt's full backing to the Arab rights provides for Israel's complete withdrawal from Jerusalem, the occupied Syrian Golan heights and all Palestinian territories up to June 4, 1967 in implementation of international legitimacy resolutions and the land for peace formula. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 12/22/2000 - Lebanon stresses rejection to settling Palestinians in its territories
Lebanese President Emil lahoud on Thursday received the Speaker of the Lebanese parliament Nabih Berri and discussions between them dealt with the Lebanese position which rejects settling the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Lebanon-Palestine, Politics, 12/22/2000 - The Pope announces solidarity with those who suffer in the ME region
Pope John Paul II on Thursday voiced his solidarity with all " those who suffer the tiring conflict" in the Middle East. This was expressed in the traditional protocols to offer congratulations on the Christmas. Regional-Vatican, Politics, 12/22/2000 - Iraqi parliament tells to British House of commons sanctions are killing innocent people
The chairman of the Iraqi national council Sadoun Hammadi has called on members of the British House of commons to work seriously for ending the sufferings of the Iraqi people and end the sanctions imposed on them. Iraq-UK, Politics, 12/22/2000 - Morocco Studies Spain's Answer on Borders Delimitation
Morocco is currently studying the Spanish government answer regarding the delimitation of the Canary Islands sea borders, well-informed sources said. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/22/2000 - Jordan hosts the next Arab summit
It was announced in Amman on Thursday that Jordan has proposed the convening of the 13th ordinary Arab summit due to be held in Amman in the last week of next March. Jordan-Regional, Politics, 12/22/2000 - US $ 930 million, Saudi aids to Somalia
The chairman of the Somali parliament Abdullah Yitzhak said that Saudi Arabia vowed to offer to the Somali people financial aids estimated at US $ 930 million as a contribution to rebuilding the country and revive services establishments destroyed during the ten year of civil war in the country. Saudi Arabia-Somalia, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Mubarak stresses Egypt's commitment to restore back Arab rights
President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt has renewed his country's commitment to backing Arab rights in Israel's complete withdrawal from the occupied Golan heights, Jerusalem and all occupied Palestinian territories up to June 4, 1967 border lines. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Egyptian weekly flights to Baghdad
An official at the Egyptian Airline company said that the company will start weekly Charter flights to Baghdad after Eid al-Fiter. The official who asked not to be identified added that that the flight will be reorganized to Baghdad every each Tuesday after Eid al-Fiter, but he did not set a date for the beginning of the flights. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Yemeni president wants to use the referendum process to amend constitution
President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen on Wednesday issued a decree to start a people's referendum on February 20, 2000 concerning several constitutional amendments that avails him the power to desolve the parliament and extend his term of presidency. Yemen, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Syrian president chairs over a meeting for the Baath party regional leadership Syria, Politics, 12/21/2000
- Election participation higher in Sudan
Voting process to elect a president for the Sudanese republic and members of the national council have almost reached an end amid varied rates in the number of voters. This rate reached in Khartoum province between 80 to 90 % in the outskirts and 60% in the internal centers. Sudan, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Settlement could be reached before Clinton's departure from White House
Moussa explained the talks go beyond implementing Sharm E1-Sheikh Agreements to trying to see whether reaching a final settlement within the coming few weeks is possible or not. "The ongoing contacts in Washington would reveal the possibility of that," he said. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Qaddafi gets a message from Kazakhstan's counterpart Libya-Kazakhstan, Politics, 12/21/2000
- Egypt pursues contacts to contain tension in ME
Moussa said that running peace in a vicious circle and going from one failure to another was behind directing a blow to the credibility and effectiveness of the peace process in the region . Egypt-Regional, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Saudi- Yemeni security meeting in January
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and members of the accompanying delegation arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday in a visit during which he will perform al-Omra rituals. Saudi Arabia-Yemen, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Cim: Syrian- Turkish relations are good
Turkey's foreign minister Ismael Cim has stressed that Syrian- Turkish relations are proceeding well in various political and economic areas. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Relations between Syria and Turkey have a new tone
The Kuwaiti daily al-Rai al-Am has stressed that after President Bashar al-Assad assumed power in Syria, it seems that a new tone at the internal and external level has started to crystallize with the emergence of a new strategy that might be materialized during the few coming years. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 12/21/2000 - POWs provisions not applicable to Moroccans sequestered in Algeria, fm
Provisions governing the exchange of prisoners of war (pows) are not applicable to the Moroccans sequestered in Algeria, Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, said on Wednesday. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 12/21/2000 - President of Senegal arrived in Jeddah Saudi Arabia-Senegal, Politics, 12/21/2000
- Al-Aqsa Sheikh for continued Intifada
The preacher of al-Aqsa mosque Sheikh Sabri Ikramah has underlined the importance of continuously backing the al-Aqsa Intifada until the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establishing of the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a capital. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Habash calls for continuos Intifada
The founder of the "People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine " George Habash on Wednesday made a call from Damascus for continuing the Intifada in reply to Washington's negotiations which he had strongly criticized. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Three Palestinians killed and tens wounded in clashes with Israeli forces
Amid a Palestinian people's rejection of the negotiations with Israel, the al-Aqsa Intifada on Wednesday continued in several areas in the occupied territories and the palestinian escalated their confrontations against the Israeli forces. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Ethiopia to release some 390 Eritrean prisoners
The Ethiopian government on Tuesday evening announced it will release some 390 Eritrean prisoners in the very near future. Ethiopia-Eritrea, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Government still waits for official answer on delimitation of Canary Islands maritime borders, Benaissa says
"The Moroccan government is waiting for an official answer from Spanish authorities on Spain's decision to delineate unilaterally the Canary Islands' maritime borders" to shed light on the matter and let friendship and neighborly relations between the two countries flow smoothly, foreign affairs and cooperation minister Mohamed Benaissa said. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Iran bans pilgrimages from visiting Iraq through Syria
The London- based al-Hayat daily said in its Wednesday's issue that the Iranian government has banned the travel of the Iranians to Iraq through a third country, including Syria. And this was expressed in a statement released on Tuesday by the al-Haj organization in Iran. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 12/21/2000 - Court: No laws to guarantee freedom of press
The Rabat administrative tribunal said it was not competent to look into the appeal by defense attorneys of the banned weeklies "Le Journal" and "Assahifa." Morocco, Politics, 12/21/2000 - US-based Arab association meets with Kofi Annan
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan met on Tuesday a delegation representing the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) to discuss the situation in the Middle East and the UN role in the region. Regional-Palestine, Politics, 12/21/2000 - King of Jordan heads for Saudi Arabia Jordan-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 12/20/2000
- Djirjian and peace between Syria and Israel Syria-Israel, Politics, 12/20/2000
- Khatami stresses Iran's desire to settle islands crisis with the Emirates
Iranian President Muhammad Khatami has stressed that his country desires to find out a peaceful settlement for its differences with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the islands of Tunb the Great, Tunb the Small and Abu Mousa situated in the Arab Gulf area near Hurmoz passage. United Arab Emirates-Iran, Politics, 12/20/2000 - Sudan: The return back of a prominent official in the opposition
Col. Bushri al-Fadel Azraq, one of the prominent Sudanese military opposition leaders has ended nine years of work outside the country. He returned back to Khartoum on Monday where he was welcomed by the Sudanese minister of state Mutrafi Sadiq. Sudan, Politics, 12/20/2000 - Barak: Washington meeting aim at halting Intifada; Israel strikes Palestinians cities
For her part, the Israeli minister of settlement Yuli Tamir said on Tuesday that Israel might give up sovereignty over al-Aqsa Mosque for getting concessions from the Palestinian side on the right of the Palestinian refugees to return back to their territories. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/20/2000 - Egyptian armed forces, fully aware of peace challenges
Egypt's President Mubarak said democracy dictates respect for the constitution adding that judicial supervision of elections gave citizens wider freedom to select their representatives and increased turnout. Egypt, Politics, 12/20/2000 - Youssoufi proud to have pitched in for political alternation in Morocco
Youssoufi said he was endeavoring to secure "transparency" to coming elections and to become the first prime minister to organize fully transparent general elections and retire from political activity. Morocco, Politics, 12/20/2000 - Eritrea: diplomatic unrest after the loss of the war
The sources did not explain the reasons which pushed Hamad to leave Eritrea and resort to Canada, but expected that this has had links to developments taken place inside the ruling front following the military defeat in the war with Ethiopia. Eritrea, Politics, 12/20/2000 - Mubarak and Arafat to discuss plan of action in Washington negotiations
Egypt's President Mubarak today receives Palestinian President Yasser Arafat who arrived in Cairo yesterday on a two-day visit for talks with President Mubarak on the plan of action in the upcoming stage. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 12/20/2000 - Algeria, Morocco share strong unification elements, FLN chief
Algeria and Morocco share several strong unification elements, said Boualam Ben Hamouda, president of the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN), former single party. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 12/20/2000 - Jordanian King confers with Israeli minister of Justice
The Jordanian royal court said on Tuesday that King Abdullah II of Jordan received on Tuesday in Amman the Israeli minister of Justice Yusi Belin who conveyed to him a message from the Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak. Jordan-Israel, Politics, 12/20/2000 - Kofi Annan: sanctions on Iraq losing value
The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has considered on Tuesday the economic sanctions imposed on Iraq as being gradually devalued. Iraq, Politics, 12/20/2000 - Washington asks its citizens in Oman to be cautious Oman-USA, Politics, 12/20/2000
- Iraqi - Russian talks to strengthen relations
The Iraqi news agency has stated that the Iraqi deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz on Monday discussed with the special missions ambassador at the Russian foreign ministry Nicolai Kortzov " developments of conditions concerning Iraq and continued coordination between the two sides' to lift the sanctions. Iraq-Russia, Politics, 12/20/2000 - People's Assembly discusses terrorism, economic and press issues
At its session, due on the 2nd of January under Ahmad Fathy Sorour, the People's Assembly will discuss the Presidential Decree no. 462/2000 related to the agreement of the Organization of African Unity (OAU)on combating terrorism. Egypt-Regional, Politics, 12/20/2000 - Banning three weeklies was no easy decision, premier says
Banning the weeklies "Le Journal," "Assahifa" and "Demain" was "no easy decision to make," premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi said insisting he was "compelled to make it." Morocco, Politics, 12/20/2000 - Djibouti restores back normalcy Djibouti, Politics, 12/19/2000
- Notable competition in the Sudanese presidential, parliamentary elections
The voting process for the Sudanese Presidential and parliamentary elections had its 6th day on Monday with remarkable competition on several voting provisions, centers and provinces especially in the villages and the rural areas whereas slowness was prevailing other centers especially in the capital al-Khartoum. Sudan, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Prince Moulay Rachid hands over royal message to Sheikh Zayed United Arab Emirates-Morocco, Politics, 12/19/2000
- Yemeni President, Jordanian King visit Saudi Arabia
A Yemeni diplomatic source in al-Riyadh said on Monday that the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh will arrive tomorrow in Jeddah in a visit which will last for two days to perform al-Omra rituals. Saudi Arabia-Yemen, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Press union flatly turns down draft press code
The union said the text maintains government powers to seize, confiscate and ban publications instead of leaving the task to justice insisting it should be amended to provide for more freedom and promotion of profession. Morocco, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Turabi party: Sudan is a police state in need of change
The Sudanese "People's National Congress party" which is led by Hassan al-Turabi has strongly criticized the Sudanese government and described it is a "police state," while al-Turabi himself also strongly criticized the authorities and stressed that the Sudanese people are determinant to "change it." Sudan, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Peace with Israel conditional on ceding Arab territories
Osama A1-Baz, Egypt's Presidential Political Advisor said the statements given by Colin Powell, the Secretary of State in the new Bush Administration on Israel and its security do not trouble us as they are meant for local consumption since he is a farsighted man who believes in scientific techniques in tackling issues. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Ruler of Bahrain vows to establish an elected parliament
The ruler of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa on Saturday vowed in a speech he delivered on the occasion of the country' s national day to establish two councils, including a parliament and this is to be made through elections in this " conservative Gulf state." Bahrain, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Lahoud renews rejection of settling the Palestinians in Lebanon
Lebanese President Emil lahoud on Sunday stressed that Lebanon is committed to the right of the Palestinians' return back to their lands and the establishment of their own independent state with Jerusalem as a capital, noting that he will not accept under any condition to settle the Palestinians in Lebanon. Lebanon-Palestine, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Three Palestinians were killed on Monday's confrontations
Amid Palestinian calls to escalate the anger against the Israeli occupation and rejection to bargain the national rights, demonstrations and confrontations continued on Monday in various parts if the west bank and Gaza strip. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Moussa terms talks with Scharping on ME peace, bilateral ties as useful
Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa termed his meeting with German Minister of Defense Rudolf Scharping as "useful". It tackled the Middle East problem, the situation in the Mediterranean and Euro-Egyptian, Euro-Arab and Euro-Mideast relations. Egypt-Germany, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Mubarak confers with German defense minister
German minister of defense Rudolf Scharping has underlined the key role played by Egypt in the Middle East peace process, noting that this very Egyptian role is uncompensated and the peace process can not continue without Egypt. Egypt-German, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Morocco and Slovakia sign protocol for consultations between foreign ministers
Foreign ministers of Morocco and Slovakia, Mohamed Benaissa and Eduard Kukan, signed in Rabat on Monday an agreement instituting periodic consultations between the two heads of diplomacy. Morocco-Slovakia, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Ivory Coast to open an Embassy in Libya
The secretary general of the people's general committee for African unity affairs Ali Abdul salaam al-Tureiki on Monday in Tripoli met the minister of the Interior in the " Ivory Coast" Dodi Emil, currently visiting Libya. Libya-Ivory Coast, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Morocco made historical decisions in favor of Palestinian people, Erekat said
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said the kingdom made "historical decisions" in favor of the Palestinian people. Palestine-Morocco, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Khartoum hopes to have more understanding from the Bush administration
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has congratulated the US President elect George W. Bush. A Sudanese governmental source said that Khartoum hopes to have the rule of the new US President George Bush a further understanding for pending issues in the relations between the two countries, stressing " the readiness of the Sudanese government to deal seriously and to maintain a dialogue with the new US administration so as to explain and clarify the points of differences in the relations between the two countries. Sudan-USA, Politics, 12/19/2000 - Egypt stresses independence of international criminal court
"Egypt supports establishment of an International Criminal Court that has a full-independent judicial capacity away from political considerations and double standards," said Ambassador Ahmed Abul-Gheit, Egypt's Permanent Delegate to the United Nations (UN). Regional, Politics, 12/19/2000 - UAE President gets a message from Libyan President United Arab Emirates-Libya, Politics, 12/18/2000
- Four Palestinians killed on Sunday's confrontations with the Israelis
Confrontation have been escalated on Sunday in various areas of the West bank and Gaza despite of the news which talked about Palestinian, Israeli and US consultations on resuming the negotiations. These news coupled with the escalation of the Israeli terrorism against the Palestinians. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/18/2000 - A new breakthrough in the Saudi Yemeni relations Yemen-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 12/18/2000
- King Abdullah, Bush vow to establish peace
The Jordanian King Abdullah II and the US President elect George Bush have vowed in a telephone call to work together in order to achieve peace in the Middle East region. Jordan-USA, Politics, 12/18/2000 - Mubarak holds Israel responsible for obstructing ME peace
The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has warned Israel against its continued brutal aggressions against the Palestinian people and its flagrant violations of the international charters and UN resolutions. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 12/18/2000 - Some 10946 Iraqis died because of the sanctions in one month Iraq, Politics, 12/18/2000
- Egyptian parliament discusses economic boycott of Israel
On top of works of the new council's agenda due to be started immediately after Eid al-Fiter holiday is the use of the Arab boycott weapon of Israel and to send an urgent statement to the boycotting offices calling on them to tighten the weapon of economic boycott. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 12/18/2000 - Palestinians should run Al Haram Al Sharif
"A just and comprehensive peace in the region can never be reached unless Arab rights on all tracks are honored," said President Hosni Mubarak's Political Advisor Osama Al-Baz. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 12/18/2000 - Mauritanian government closes a daily over criticizing ties with Israel
The Mauritanian government which has been facing a strong long opposition because of its diplomatic relations with Israel, banned the release of the independent weekly al-Alaam ( the banners). Mauritania-israel, Politics, 12/18/2000 - Sudan protests against Holland for supporting Garang Sudan-Netherlands, Politics, 12/18/2000
- King Mohammed back in Rabat after stay in tetuan
Morocco's King Mohammed VI, accompanied by prince Moulay Rachid, returned to Rabat Saturday evening after a two-day intensive activity in the Wilaya of Tetuan, northern Morocco. Morocco, Politics, 12/18/2000 - Slovak foreign minister visits Morocco
Slovak foreign minister, Eduard Kukan, arrived Sunday in Morocco on a two-day official visit at the invitation of Moroccan peer, Mohamed Benaissa. Morocco-Slovakia, Politics, 12/18/2000 - Arab follow up committee to meet in Tunisia in January
Bin Yahya said that the qualitative Arab common work has been witnessing a qualitative turning stride in inter- Arab relations and that the recent Arab summits has established a new tradition Regional, Politics, 12/18/2000 - Egypt pushes for fair approach in footing UN bill
Egypt has urged that the UN costs should be shared by the Organization's member states on the basis of their economic capabilities . Egypt, Politics, 12/18/2000