Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 9/22/2003
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of September 22, 2003
- Important step toward comprehensive solution: agreement between Sudan and the rebels
The two spokesman for the Sudanese government and the southern rebels of Sudan announced in Kenya yesterday that the two sides reached an agreement on security matters and other important points aiming at putting an end to 20 years of civil war. Sudan, Politics, 9/25/2003 - Amnesty International: the rule of law sidelined in the name of security in Yemen
On 16 July 2003 the Minister of Interior of Yemen told Parliament that 95 people accused of belonging to al-Qa'ida were released because they "had changed their ideas", and that 195 others remained in detention because they "persist in holding on to the ideas they believe in". He did not refer to any judicial process for these detainees because the rule of law has been sidelined. They are held totally at the mercy of the government and security forces, far removed from judicial scrutiny. Yemen-USA, Politics, 9/25/2003 - Spain: Allouni denies links to al- Qaida
Teiseir Allouni, a journalist for the Qatari al-Jazeera yesterday announced that he had no connections to al-Qaida organization. This was expressed as he was brought before Spanish judge Paltsar Ghartoun who officially accused him of being a member in al-Qaida organization. Regional-Spain, Politics, 9/25/2003 - James D. Wolfensohn: A new global balance needed; the challenge of leadership
There is further imbalance between what rich countries spend on development assistance-- $56 billion a year-- compared with the $300 billion they spend on agricultural subsidies and $600 billion for defense. The poor countries themselves spend $200 billion on defense-more than what they spend on education. Another major imbalance. Regional, Politics, 9/25/2003 - Syrian- Lebanese premiers hold talks in Damascus
Syria's Prime Minister, Naji Otari received in Damascus yesterday Lebanese counterpart, Rafic Hariri. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 9/25/2003 - Syria denies involvement in spying case in Guantanamu
Syria denied yesterday any involvement in the spying case which resulted in the detention of two American military men in the US base in Guantanamu, Cuba. Syria-USA, Politics, 9/25/2003 - No solution to Sahara issue outside Morocco's kingty, insist Sahrawi dignitaries
No solution to the Sahara issue will be accepted by the local population if it does not cater for Morocco's sovereignty over this former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under a three-party agreement between Spain, Morocco and Mauritania. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 9/25/2003 - Hashemi health deteriorate; Sultan Hashem protected, more army reserves summoned
A high ranking American official announced yesterday that the US occupation forces offered "immunit" to the Iraqi former minister of defense Sultan Hashem Ahmad who surrendered last week in the hope he will disclose important information on the activities of the toppled Iraqi president Saddam Hussein concerning armament. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/25/2003 - Arab states hosting Palestinian refugees deplore Israeli practices
Arab host states of the Palestinian refugees have condemned "the inhuman practices perpetrated against the Palestinians aiming at hindering the work of the UNRWA and other international and human rights organizations in the occupied territories" stressing that these practices are an outrageous violation to the international law and to the UN. Regional-Palestine, Politics, 9/25/2003 - Al-Assad, Mubarak hold telephone conversation Syria-Egypt, Politics, 9/25/2003
- Emirates: No relations with Israel before peace United Arab Emirates-Israel, Politics, 9/25/2003
- Al-Assad confers with Lebanese parliamentarian, party officials Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 9/25/2003
- Kuwaiti- Syrian media cooperation Syria-Kuwait, Politics, 9/25/2003
- New Syrian cabinet plan to start with administrative reform
The cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Naji Otari, discussed today during its first meeting following the formation of the new government the work plan for the coming period. Syria, Politics, 9/24/2003 - Two incidents violate the Saudi national day; Three Islamists killed, hostages in Jeizan
While celebrating its National Day yesterday, Saudi Arabia witnessed two remarkable security incidents. The first was the killing of four persons in a clash in the southern area of Jeizan between the security forces and armed Islamists, in an incident during which hostages were held in a hospital. The second incident was the besiege of the house of the reform activist Abdul Aziz al-Tayyar and detaining him. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 9/24/2003 - FBI: Allouni is responsible for campaigning for al- Qaida organization
The Spanish daily La Fangardia said yesterday quoting sources at the Federal Bureau for Investigation and the Spanish police that the FBI accused al-Jazeera TV correspondent Teiseir Allouni that he is responsible for campaigning for al-Qaida organization. Regional-Spain, Politics, 9/24/2003 - One set of dictators replaces another; Iraqi governing council bans al-Jazeera, al-Arabia temporarily
The Interim Governing Council in Iraq decided yesterday to ban the correspondents of al-Jazeera and al-Arabia TV stations from covering news of official activities of the council for two weeks, threatening the possibility of closing the offices of the two channels as a punishment for them over what the council described as "biased media coverage under the pretext of broadcasting messages for the toppled Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and other messages for groups threatened to target members of the council." Iraq-Regional, Politics, 9/24/2003 - Annan warns UN at crossroads over issue of unilateral action
The unilateralism of recent events has called into question the decades-old tradition of global consensus on collective security and brought the international community to a fork in the road, portending a moment “no less decisive than 1945 itself, when the United Nations was founded,” United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday. Regional-UN, Politics, 9/24/2003 - Iraqi tribe delegation concludes a successful visit to Syria
Chairman and members of the delegation of the Iraqi Tribal National Council highly lauded President Bashar al-Assad's vision and analysis of the development of events on the regional and international levels and his care for the realization of security and stability in the region. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 9/24/2003 - Sahrawis reject Baker plan for the Sahara in European parliament
A delegation representing the populations of Moroccan southern provinces expressed Monday in the European parliament in Strasbourg rejection of the latest plan over the Sahara mooted by James Baker, the personal envoy of the United Nations Secretary General. Morocco-UN, Politics, 9/24/2003 - ICRC delegate meets relatives of Moroccan POWs
Delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Dorothea Krimits, is carrying on a "humanitarian mission" visiting in the southern Moroccan city of Guelmim relatives of Moroccan POWs held captive by the Algeria-backed Polisario Separatists in southwestern Algeria. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 9/24/2003 - Musharraf will not send forces to Iraq
President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf said that sending Pakistani forces to Iraq during the current conditions will cause him loss of popularity in the country. Iraq-Pakistan, Politics, 9/24/2003 - Lebanon, Libya; Sudan, Yemen boycott speech of Israeli delegation in Dubai
Israel's presence at the meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Dubai was of restricted impact as expected to be, after the Israeli finance minister Benjamin Netaniahu decided not to take part. Regional-Israel, Politics, 9/24/2003 - One wall collapsed in al-Aqsa Mosque
The Islamic al-Awqaf department in Jerusalem have accused the Israeli authorities of being behind the collapse of an internal wall in al-Aqsa mosque yesterday after it had prevented its engineers form maintaining it. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/24/2003 - Lebanese Parliament deplores Syrian accountability act Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 9/24/2003
- Journalists detained by US forces in Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/24/2003
- Beirut Arab assembly callls for releasing Palestinian diplomats held in Iraq by coalition
The Arab Assembly on backing Palestine and Iraq has called UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to exert efforts to release the members of the Palestinian diplomatic mission which were arrested by the US occupying troops in Iraq. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 9/24/2003 - Islamic and Christian countries participates in World Council of Islamic Call Regional-Libya, Politics, 9/24/2003
- Sudan affirms strong relations with Uganda Sudan-Uganda, Politics, 9/24/2003
- Tribune de Geneve: Swiss daily denounces deportation of sahrawi kids to Cuba by Polisario
The Swiss daily "Tribune de Geneve" denounced in an article published recently the deportation of thousands of Sahrawi children to Cuba by the Algeria-backed Polisario guerrilla movement that claims the independence of Moroccan southern provinces. Algeria-Cuba, Politics, 9/24/2003 - Arab Journalists Union criticizes the government; Some 11 Algerian dailies refrain publication
The Cairo-based Arab Journalists Union (AJU) is "deeply worried" by the "deterioration" of the situation of the media in Algeria -- which led yesterday 11 newspapers to refrain publishing in protest of government's harassment -- where, it said, "the freedom of speech is threatened" by judicial and administrative actions taken against journalists and newspapers. Algeria-Regional, Politics, 9/23/2003 - Butaflika appoints a committee for people missing due to politics
Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika has appointed a national committee to consider the question of hundreds of missing who disappeared in the framework of the wave of violence which effected the country, in a remarkable attempt before the presidential elections, in order to close this file which raised criticism from local and international legal groups. Algeria, Politics, 9/23/2003 - Khartoum, the rebels sign agreement extending truce for two months
The Sudanese government and the main group of the rebels yesterday signed an agreement extending the truce between the two sides for two months in order to allow time for a peace agreement that ends a 20 year old war in which two million people were killed. Sudan, Politics, 9/23/2003 - Al-Assad confers with Iraqi Tribes council delegation
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received yesterday a delegation representing Iraq's Tribal National Council headed by Chairman of the Council, Hussein Ali Shaalan. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 9/23/2003 - Libyans call on the US to pay compensations
More than 200 Libyans including children and elderly who lost their relatives during the American bombardment in 1986 demonstrated in front of the European headquarters of the UN in Geneva calling to be compensated over the loss of members of their families. Libya-USA, Politics, 9/23/2003 - Syrian- Russian party talks
Vice President and Deputy Chairman of the National Progressive Front, Zohair Masharqa, received in Damascus on Monday head of the Russian National Resurrection, People's Will Party, Sergy Paporin and an accompanying delegation. Syria-Russia, Politics, 9/23/2003 - King Mohammed arrives in New york Morocco-UN, Politics, 9/23/2003
- Spanish, South Moroccan trade chambers sign cooperation agreement
The trade chambers of Morocco's southern provinces signed on Saturday a tri-partite cooperation agreement with the chambers of commerce, industry and navigation of Las Palmas (Spain) and the chamber of commerce and industry of the Azores (Portugal) to develop economic and cultural relations between the three regions. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 9/23/2003 - US association calls for immediate release of moroccan POWs
A newly created American NGO called for the "immediate release of Moroccan POWs held captive by Algeria and the Polisario Front" in Tindouf, Algeria. Morocco-USA, Politics, 9/23/2003 - Crown prince Abdullah call for unity of Arab, Islamic tracks Saudi Arabia-Regional, Politics, 9/23/2003
- Morocco and UAE sign judicial and legal agreement United Arab Emirates-Morocco, Politics, 9/23/2003
- Washington delays entry visa for Qaddoumi
In a statement, Palestine's mission at the UN said yesterday that The Political Department Chairman of Palestinian Liberation Organization Farouk al-Qaddoumi who will preside over the Palestinian delegation to the meeting of the UN General Assembly did not get in due time from the USA an entry visa which allows him taking part in the discussions. Palestine-USA, Politics, 9/23/2003 - Hizbullah expects to complete Prisoners deal soon; Israel includes 400 detainees
Palestinian and Israeli sources stressed similarly that a nearby deal for exchanging prisoners will be made between the Hizbullah and Israel. It will include releasing 400 detainees including at least 200 Palestinians for Hizbullah and handing over three Israeli soldiers and an intelligence officer held by it. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 9/23/2003 - Eight Iranians killed in land mine explosion on border with Iraq
The official Iranian news agency said yesterday that a land mine killed 8 Iranians while trying to sneak through the Iranian borders with Iraq on Sunday to visit the religious shrines. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 9/23/2003 - New American advisor for the Iraqi ministry of oil
The US occupation administration of Iraq announced yesterday appointing the former official for the American oil " Conoco- Phillips " group Robert Mackey as a secretary for the Iraqi oil ministry in succession of Philip Carol. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/23/2003 - al-Rai: Jordan to rehabilitate Falouja hospital
The Jordanian government has refused the request of several Jordanian parliamentarians to withdraw the Jordanian field hospital in Iraq and the Jordanian force in charge of protecting it for security reasons. Jordan-Iraq, Politics, 9/23/2003 - Peres: Arafat deserve Nobel peace prize Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/23/2003
- Majlis A'shura deputy president receives British delegation Oman-UK, Politics, 9/23/2003
- Al-Assad outlines reform agenda priorities to the new government
He stressed the necessity for the coordination among the ministries asserting the importance of courage, objectivity and morality to hold bureaucracy accountable and to respond to the citizens' requests. Syria, Politics, 9/22/2003 - Gerhard Schroeder: Security only through international cooperation Regional-Germany, Politics, 9/22/2003
- ICRC meets families of Moroccan POWs in tindouf Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 9/22/2003
- Sudanese agreement to end tension in Darfour
The Sudanese government has disclosed news that it had signed an agreement with the Sudanese ( justice and equality movement ) on August 28th in Paris to dismantle tension in Darfour. Sudan, Politics, 9/22/2003 - Mubarak: Peace progress has stalled since Bush assumed office
Egypt'a President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt has warned that any Palestinian prime minister will fail to achieve peace if he is not supported by the Palestinian national authority and Israel. Egypt-USA, Politics, 9/22/2003 - Al-Assad confers with Iranian media official Syria-Iran, Politics, 9/22/2003
- Al-Shara discuss with the Iraqi delegation the situation in Iraq
Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara received in Damascus on Sunday a delegation representing Iraq’s Tribal National Council headed by Chairman of the Council, Hussein Ali Shaalan. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 9/22/2003 - Saudi crown prince gets a telephone call from Bush Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 9/22/2003
- Khaddam, Otari meets with Iraqi tribes delegation
Syria's Vice President Abdulhaleem Khaddam and Prime Minister Naji Otari seperately received in Damascus on Saturday a delegation representing Iraq's Tribal National Council headed by Chairman of the Council, Hussein Ali Shaalan. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 9/22/2003 - Nabil Fahmi: ME tense conditions hinder Mubarak's annual visit to US
The Egyptian Ambassador to the US, Nabil Fahmi, stressed that the Egyptian-US relations are deep, mature and based on certain interests not on emergent circumstances. Egypt-USA, Politics, 9/22/2003 - Prince Moulay Rachid receives UAE parliament speaker Morocco-United Arab Emirates, Politics, 9/22/2003
- Gulf Cooperation Council and the expulsion of Arafat Gulf-Palestine, Politics, 9/22/2003
- Chalabi confers with the Amir of Kuwait Kuwait-Iraq, Politics, 9/22/2003
- Three Americans killed; Hashemi escapes critical health condition
The number of US soldiers killed in Iraq during the past 24 hours increased to 3. The American occupation forces said that a killed soldier fell in an attack by bomb on an armored vehicle in al-Ramadi city to the west of Baghdad yesterday ( Sunday), noting that the soldier died as he was admitted to a field military hospital. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/22/2003 - Iran renewed support for the Palestinians Palestine-Iran, Politics, 9/22/2003
- Sahrawi notables meet UK officials
A delegation of Sahrawi notables met Friday in London with British officials to express their refusal of the latest proposal on the Sahara issue mooted by James Baker, UN secretary general's personal envoy for the Sahara. Morocco-UK, Politics, 9/22/2003 - Maher calls for restoring Palestinian sovereign rights
Egypt's Foreign Minister, Ahmed Maher has stressed the importance of restoring the Palestinian people's legitimate rights and establishing the Palestinian independent state. Palestine-Egypt, Politics, 9/22/2003 - Assuming the risk of peace in the Middle East - Op-ed by Dominique de Villepin published in the daily newspaper "Al Hayat"
In an Op-ed published in the daily newspaper "Al Hayat", France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominique de Villepin said: Palestine-France, Politics, 9/22/2003 - On te US request to Lebanon to freeze Hamas assets
The special investigation commission to fighting money laundry in "The Bank of Lebanon" yesterday issued orders to banks to disclose any accounts linked to the 6 leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" which the US ordered to freeze their assets. Lebanon-USA, Politics, 9/22/2003 - Syria thanked for new Palestinian school in Jenin
A celebration was given on Saturday in Jenin in occupied Palestine for the opening of Yousef al- Azmeh's secondary school where the Syrian "Popular Committee for Supporting the Intifada and resisting the Zionist Project" donated the cost of its building amounted to 530 thousands dollars. Palestine-Syria, Politics, 9/22/2003 - New Iraqi army will be force for national unity, says US defense official
The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) is building a new army for Iraq that will be a non-political, professional force for national unity, says Walter Slocombe, the Coalition's Special Advisor on Security and Defense. Slocombe spoke at a Pentagon news briefing in Washington on September 17. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/22/2003 - Indian Jews settled in the West Bank
News reports said yesterday that a group of 700 Jews, including men, women and children from the remote Indian state of Manipore settled near the city of Hebron in the West bank. Israel-India, Politics, 9/22/2003