Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 8/5/2002

Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of August 5, 2002

• New runways in al-Adeed Qatari base in preparations to attack Iraq Qatar-Iraq-USA, Politics, 8/10/2002
• Tunisia's Benali Meets Maghreban Union Secretary General Tunisia-Maghreb, Politics, 8/10/2002
• Machakos peace protocol freezes up separation steps in South Sudan
  "The USA has sponsored the SPLM for some time and gave it an umbrella, and gathered some neighbouring countries beside some Sudanese opposition elements," Ibrahim said. Sudan-Egypt, Politics, 8/10/2002
• Sudanese negotiations Monday for truce, sharing of authority, oil
  A new round of Sudanese talks will start in Kenya on Monday. These talks are expected to center on arranging a cease fire between the government and the southern rebels after the Macacus agreement that was concluded paving the way for southern Sudan's split and exempting it from abiding to the implementation of the Islamic Sharia. Sudan, Politics, 8/10/2002
• Rumsfeld phones Prince Sultan to contain the Saudi- American crisis
  The Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz on Thursday received a telephone call on late Wednesday night from the US defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. During the telephone conversation, Rumsfeld expressed his own personal regret together with the US defense department over what was stated in a US recommendation report about Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 8/10/2002
• UN expert condemns Israel's destruction of homes, prevention of children from school
  Kothari stressed that the demolition of homes, hoarding of natural resources and other collective punishments that continued unabated in Palestinian areas should be considered war crimes. The psychological effects of all this, particularly on women and children, warranted equal condemnation, he said. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 8/10/2002
• Chief of Knesset Security Committee visits Cairo Sunday Egypt-Israel, Politics, 8/10/2002
• Joschka Fischer: Iraq is not a test of solidarity for anti-terrorism
  The German foreign minister Joschka Fischer said that the current controversy on a likely American intervention in Iraq does not constitute a test for the solidarity of the "international alliance against terrorism." Iraq-Germany, Politics, 8/10/2002
• US ambassador in Beirut discusses with President Lahoud tension in Ein al-Helweh camp
  The US ambassador in Beirut Vincent Battle on Thursday visited the Lebanese President at Baabda Presidential palace. Lebanon-USA, Politics, 8/10/2002
• French Chief Justice okays Nafie investigation by Egyptian judiciary
  The French Chief Justice approved a request by the Egyptian judicial authorities to have Ibrahim Nafie, chief editor of Al-Ahram newspaper and chairman of the Egyptian Journalists syndicate and Arab Journalists Union, be interrogated by an Egyptian court in the anti-Semitism charges levied against and attributed to him by the French Supreme Court. Egypt-France, Politics, 8/10/2002
• The US spied in Peru against Arab embassies
  The Al Corrio newspaper issued in Chile said that the CIA used to listen to telephone contacts of the Arab states embassies and the embassies of each of Cuba, China and Russia in Lima under the rule of the toppled President Alberto Fojimori. Regional-USA, Politics, 8/10/2002
• Annan joins the list ignoring Arafat Palestine-Regional, Politics, 8/9/2002
• Jordan elections to be postponed, sources say
  Jordan has decided to postpone the legislative elections which were basically set for September of this year to the spring of 2003. Jordan, Politics, 8/9/2002
• Al-Shara: Syria will not give up an inch of its territories
  Al-Shara talked about "Syria's unwavering and principled stand in supporting the Palestinian resistance and the Palestinian uprising until liberation, ending the Israeli occupation and founding the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a capital.." Syria-Regional, Politics, 8/9/2002
• Egypt: security can be only attained by full Israeli withdrawal
  Maher said that the Israeli occupation is the last occupation in the world Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 8/9/2002
• Jordan summons Qatar's ambassador over criticism in a TV program
  Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marwan Muasher on Thursday summoned Qatar's ambassador in Amman to inform him of the anger and regret of the Jordanian government after the Qatari al-Jazeera satellite TV station broadcast a program in which there was criticism of present and officials Jordanian officials. Jordan-Qatar, Politics, 8/9/2002
• Rights body decries extremist criminal acts in Morocco
  The Moroccan Human Rights Association (OMDH) on Tuesday condemned the criminal acts perpetrated by extremists groups against citizens on grounds of "Fatwas." Morocco, Politics, 8/9/2002
• Media cooperation agreement between Syria, Tunisia
  During his visit to Tunisia, the Syrian information minister Adnan Omran held several meetings with the Tunisian information and human rights minister Fatehi al-Hweidi. Tunisia-Syria, Politics, 8/9/2002
• Amman: Muasher confers with Palestinian delegation
  a Palestinian delegation held talks in Amman with Jordanian officials concerning the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in regard of the gradual withdrawal plan by the Israeli army. Jordan-Palestine, Politics, 8/9/2002
• Security meeting failure between the Israelis, the Palestinians
  The Palestinian- Israeli security meeting which was held on Wednesday evening in the framework to discuss the plan of Israel's Defense Minister Benyamin Ben Eliezer, known as "Gaza First" failed because Israel had laid new conditions and then refused to pullout from Bethlehem after Gaza according to the said plan. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 8/9/2002
• Saudi media criticize 'Christian extremism' in the USA
  Al-Watan said "Christian extremism" is of no less danger to world security and peace than claimed extremism alleged in other religions., and that "its danger will be much greater if it controls the policy of a country like the USA." Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 8/9/2002
• Iraqi opposition leader denies receiving sums from CIA
  He said that an US military attack against Iraq will most likely not face strong Iraqi resistance. He said that "the whole of Iraq opposes ( the Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein," referring specifically to the Iraqi army. Iraq, Politics, 8/9/2002
• Bin Ami resigns from the Israeli Knesset Israel, Politics, 8/9/2002
• Muhammad al-Mazali in Tunisia after 15 years in exile
  An official, and sources from the family of the former Tunisian Prime minister Muhammad Mazali, said that Mazali yesterday returned back to Tunisia following 15 years he had spent in exile. Tunisia, Politics, 8/8/2002
• Saddam Hussein to speak on the anniversary of ending the war with Iran Iraq-Iran, Politics, 8/8/2002
• Passport requirement removed for travel between Amman, Damascus
  The Jordanian minister of tourism Taleb al-Refae announced that Amman and Damascus are now studying measures to be taken for travel between the two capitals by the use ID, not passports, noting that this decision was taken in 2001 but was postponed to be enforced because of the security condition the region is passing. Jordan-Syria, Politics, 8/8/2002
• Libya considers Lockerbie responsibility; first of a kind UK meeting
  Libya yesterday officially announced, for the first time, its "initial" readiness to pay compensations for the victims of the American PanAmerican plane in the Lockerbie incident, and to shoulder the responsibility for the event and this is so in order to "eliminate this obstacle." Libya-UK, Politics, 8/8/2002
• Al- Shara to visit India, Pakistan next week
  The Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara will on August 14- 17 visit both India and Pakistan. He will, in India, takes part in its national day and meet in the second with President Pervez Musharraf and hold bilateral talks with him. Syria-Regional, Politics, 8/8/2002
• Washington Post: Pentagon group targets Saudi Arabia as an enemy
  The US defense department (the Pentagon ) on Tuesday escaped a report prepared by its consultation council, including several former officials and published by the Washington Post paper. The report reflects views of the growing trend inside the American administration which classifies Saudi Arabia as an "enemy" and also calls for " targeting " its oil wells and investments in the US, unless the Saudis stop their support to " terrorism." Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 8/8/2002
• Jordan denies show of support for Iraq, the Palestinians
  The committee said that a group of Jordanian youths were due to leave on a trip, in collaboration between the national committee in defense of Iraq and the Jordanian scouts society, heading for Baghdad, Iraq, carrying medicines and baby powder milk to the Iraqi children, but the Jordanian minister informed the border center to prevent this trip from leaving the Jordanian territories. Jordan, Politics, 8/8/2002
• Jordan bans al-Jazeera TV activities
  The Jordanian authorities on Wednesday banned the al-Jazeera satellite TV station on its territories and withdrew its license, following a program considered as an insult to the Hashamite family and the role played by the Kingdom in Palestine and Iraq. Jordan, Politics, 8/8/2002
• Palacio's remarks not conform to ties Morocco wants with Spain
  For Belarbi, the European Union impulsive solidarity with Spain is due to the absence of a European common foreign policy. She added that Europe later on realized that Spain's deployment of warships, aircraft carriers, sub-marines, and helicopters in front of Moroccan Mediterranean coasts was a violation of international law Morocco-Spain, Politics, 8/8/2002
• Al-Hakeem brother in Iraqi opposition meeting under US support
  The delegation representing the opposition Iraqi group, the Higher Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, left Tehran on Wednesday heading for Washington in order to attend a meeting for 6 members of the main Iraqi opposition forces with the American administration on Friday. Iraq, Politics, 8/8/2002
• Israeli fears of infiltration from Jordan by Palestinian resistance fighters
  The Israeli radio announced on Wednesday that an important road extending along the Jordanian borders was closed on Wednesday for fears of infiltration of a " terrorist" armed group to Israel. Palestine-Jordan, Politics, 8/8/2002
• Jewish Organization condemns Zionist campaign against Al Ahram
  An international Jewish organization criticized what it termed as "Zionist organization influence in France" and charges to AL Ahram, its editor-in-chief and Egyptian press of anti-Semitism. Egypt, Politics, 8/8/2002
• Butaflika releases Berber detainees Politics, 8/7/2002
• Legislative elections in Morocco to be held september 27 Morocco, Politics, 8/7/2002
• People's army: Sudanese peace talks start Monday
  An official in the Sudan People Liberation Army announced on Tuesday that the peace talks between the Sudanese government and the rebels, in particular deal with a cease fire, will be resumed in Kenya next Monday. Sudan, Politics, 8/7/2002
• Morocco renews will to consolidate Rule of Law
  Morocco renewed Tuesday, before the United Nations' Human Rights Sub-Commission, its "definitive choice" to defend human rights, and voiced resolve to consolidate the rule of law. Morocco, Politics, 8/7/2002
• Husam Nazzal starts from Jordan a campaign to compete with Arafat
  A Palestinian candidate for the Palestinian Presidential elections, carrying the French nationality, has started his election campaign from Jordan, calling for the foundation of a "Parliamentary Palestinian Republic." Palestine, Politics, 8/7/2002
• In the first visit since cutting relations, British foreign office secretary in Tripoli
  The British minister of state for the foreign office Mike O Brian started on Tuesday an official visit to Libya that lasts for three days. A visit which is the first of its kind since 20 years. Libya-UK, Politics, 8/7/2002
• Mubarak discusses with Kuwaiti defense minister military cooperation
  A source close to the Egyptian presidency announced on Tuesday that President Hosni Mubarak made on Tuesday in Cairo that talks with the Kuwaiti minister of defense, Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, focused on military cooperation between the two states. Egypt-Kuwait, Politics, 8/7/2002
• Moussa forms an official committee to follow up Barghouthi case
  The secretary general of the Arab League (AL) Amr Moussa on Tuesday decided to form an official committee stemmed from the Arab League in order to follow up the detention issue of member of the Palestinian legislative council Marwan Barghouthi and all Palestinian detainees in the Israeli jails. This decision, however, was taken in coincidence with the launching of an international legal campaign in Cairo in defense of the Palestinian prisoners. Palestine-Regional, Politics, 8/7/2002
• Cyprus seeks to alienate a Palestinian evacuee
  The Cypriot minister of Justice Nicos Koshis said on Tuesday that one of the 13 Palestinian evacuees who were expelled by Israel, following the siege on the "Church of the Nativity" in Bethlehem, who stayed in Cyprus might be transported to another country. Palestine-Cyprus, Politics, 8/7/2002
• UN calls for immediate pullout from Palestinian territories; Israel, the US reject
  The UN General Assembly has called on Israel to withdraw its forces immediately from the Palestinian cities it had occupied before the beginning of the Palestinian Intifada in September 2000. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 8/7/2002
• Haaretz: US transfer of consulate from East to West Jerusalem
  American officials have announced that the US is studying the possibility of transferring its consulate from Eastern Jerusalem to the Western part of the city for security reasons. Palestine-USA, Politics, 8/7/2002
• Al-Jazeera: chairman of Algerian Islamic front for Salvation changed
  A source close to the Algerian (Islamic front for Salvation) said that the third conference for the front, which was held secretly last week in Belgium, had removed from its leadership the chairman of the executive committee abroad, Rabeh Kabeer, because of his stances in which he called for giving up "armed struggle" against the Algerian authorities. Algeria, Politics, 8/7/2002
• Baghdad received message from Arab League affirming rejection to military threats Iraq-Regional, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Before investigating him, Syrian company director disappears
  The Syrian al-Baath ( party) daily, mouthpiece of the ruling party in Damascus, said Monday that the director general of one of the public sector's companies has disappeared after investigations started regarding " frozen debts estimated at 300 million Syrian pounds ( $ 6 million)." Syria, Politics, 8/6/2002
• King Fahd receives GCC secretary Saudi Arabia-Gulf, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Al Ahdath Al Maghribia: 76% of Moroccans deem political parties necessary for democracy
  Some 76% of Moroccans deem political parties necessary for the democracy building, according to a poll. Morocco, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Two Iraqi ministers visit Araar center on Saudi border
  The Iraqi minister of commerce and housing, Maan Abdullah Sarsam, on Monday visited the border center in Araar, south west of the country, to be briefed on the work progress in preparations for opening this border crossing very son. Iraq-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Al-Rai: Washington denies resuming al-Aqaba inspection Jordan-USA, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Plans for 9 new Israeli settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan
  The Israeli forces are removing the remains of a Syrian village to the north of the occupied Golan in order to build a new settlement of 150 houses. Syria-Israel, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Musharraf, Bin Alawi discuss conditions in Iraq, Palestine
  Bin Alawi's visit to Pakistan comes just four days after Pakistan had delivered five- Pakistani made planes of "Super Moshak " type to Oman, in an official ceremony in Islam Abad in a implementation of a deal the two countries signed in December 2001. The Pakistani made "Super Moshak" plane are used Oman-Pakistan, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Khartoum refuses to include the opposition in peace negotiations
  The Sudanese ruling National Congress Party has supported its government's rejection to include groups from the opposition coalition in the next round of negotiations the government will have with the rebels movement. Sudan, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Sudanese rebels: Sudanese army statements are mistaken
  The Sudanese news agency said that the Sudanese government has accused the Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) of preparing an attack against government's position in southern Sudan. The agency added that the government has warned that the government army will strongly retaliate any attack by the rebels. Sudan, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Yemeni journalists voice solidarity with Nafe Yemen-Egypt, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Qaddoura, al-Shara review with Khouri Syrian- Lebanese relations
  The speaker of the Syrian People's Assembly ( parliament ) Abdul Qader Qaddoura on Monday received the secretary general of the Syrian- Lebanese higher council Nasri al-Khouri. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Iran will refuse Iraqi refugees if Iraq is attacked
  The Iranian minister of the interior Abdul Wahid Lari on Monday announced that his country would refuse to receive Iraqi refugees in case an American attack is launched against Iraq. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Total Israeli closure of West Bank, two Palestinians killed
  The two Palestinians Khaled Seif and Muhammad Farrouneyah were shot by the Israeli soldiers in Burqa village near Nablus upon breaking into one house. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Moroccan expatriates congress for representation in parliament
  Head of the World Congress of Moroccan Expatriates, Said Charchira, called for the setting up of a governmental, political and official institution in charge of issues related to Moroccan nationals residing abroad, and enabling them to be represented in the parliament. Morocco, Politics, 8/6/2002
• Arab League says UN report on Jenin 'unacceptable' Palestine-Regional, Politics, 8/5/2002
• Egyt: Jenin was a war crime; Peres heads to Cairo
  Egypt's President Mubarak will receive Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres on Tuesday for discussing efforts that must be exerted by the government of Israel for achieving peace and security in the region and halting Israeli aggressive policies in the West Bank. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 8/5/2002
• Prime Minister Youssoufi reviews his government's performance
  Youssoufi, who is also leader of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, was appointed Prime Minister in 1998 by the Late King Hassan II. He formed a center-left coalition government that marked a genuine change in Morocco after decades of right-wing rule. The experiment is commonly referred to in Morocco as the alternation government. Morocco, Politics, 8/5/2002
• Egypt accuses 26 Islamists, 3 Britons of wanting to topple government
  The Egyptian attorney general, advisor Maher Abdul Wahid, decided to bring 26 persons from the Hizb al-Tahrir al-Islami (Islamic liberation party), including three Britons to the supreme state security court on several charges, mainly "joining an opposition secret organization" and trying to topple the government with the aim to establish the "Islamic Khilafa." Egypt, Politics, 8/5/2002
• Khartoum: Sudan's unity not neighbors decision; government reshuffle
  Khartoum on Saturday stressed it understands regional fears concerning the peace agreement with the rebels, that will create a split in the country, but considered that a decision as such is for the Sudanese themselves and no body else. Sudan, Politics, 8/5/2002
• Jordanian King visits South Africa Jordan-South Africa, Politics, 8/5/2002
• Baz said the peace agreement in Sudan doesn't affect Egypt' Water Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 8/5/2002
• Kuwaiti defense minister visits Egypt today Kuwait-Egypt, Politics, 8/5/2002
• Sudan's Umma party to start negotiation with the people's movement
  The Sudanese Umma opposition party chaired by al-Sadeq al-Mahdi announced it has reached an agreement with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement Sudan, Politics, 8/5/2002
• Saudi Arabia, Iran call for halting 'Israel's crimes'
  The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran have expressed their deep concern over the escalation of the Israeli acts and killing of Palestinians. Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 8/5/2002
• Omani- Iranian rejection for striking Iraq
  For his part, Kharazi underlined the importance of developing relations between the two countries and their positive reflections on Iranian- Gulf relations in general Oman-Iran, Politics, 8/5/2002
• Ten killed in fighting Somalia Somalia, Politics, 8/5/2002
• Bassam Abu Sharif founds 'Palestine's democratic party'
  Former media advisor for the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat, Bassam Abu Sharif, announced in Amman, Jordan, the foundation of "Hizb Philastine al-Democrati " ( Palestine Democratic Party). It aims at establishing a Palestinian state on the occupied territories of 1967 including East Jerusalem, which will be the capital. Palestine-Jordan, Politics, 8/5/2002
• Three Yemenis sentences over blowing off Anglican church
  A Yemeni court on Saturday in Aden issues imprisonment sentences ranging between two to six years against three Yemenis who were convicted of carrying out three explosion operations one of them targeted the Anglican church in Aden ( southern Yemen) in 2001. Yemen, Politics, 8/5/2002

Previous Week · Politics · Business and Economics · Local · Algeria · Bahrain · Comoros · Djibouti · Egypt · Iraq · Jordan · Kuwait · Lebanon · Libya · Mauritania · Morocco · Oman · Palestine · Qatar · Syria · Saudi Arabia · Somalia · Sudan · Tunisia · United Arab Emirates · Yemen