Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 3/29/2004

Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of March 29, 2004

• The ruling party accuses al-Turabi party of planning acts of destruction, assassination
  The ruling party in Sudan has accused the opposition People's Congress party, which is led by Hassan al-Turabi, and whose activities were suspended, of planning for acts of destruction and assassination by using military acts with the aim of spreading "chaos" and "instability" in the country. Sudan, Politics, 4/3/2004
• Human rights council to take immediate measures to solve citizens complaints
  Egypt's National Council for Human rights is to take immediate and effective measures to investigate around 500 complaints filed by citizens. Egypt, Politics, 4/3/2004
• Algeria: elections committee calls on the government to limit violence
  The elections committee in Algeria called on the government to halt the series of the acts of violence which overwhelmed the presidential campaigns in preparations for the elections to be on April 8th. Algeria, Politics, 4/3/2004
• Al-Assad mediates to settle the disputes over the Arab summit
  News reports in Cairo said that the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is making efforts to mediate for convening a meeting between the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the Tunisian President Zine al-Abidin Ben Ali to settle the controversy over the place and time of convening the Arab summit. Regional, Politics, 4/3/2004
• Bin Ali is committed to reforms; al-Faisal stressed the inevitability of convening the summit
  Vagueness remained overwhelming the atmospheres relating to convening the Arab summit, its place and time, yesterday despite the atmospheres of optimism which coupled the meeting between the Tunisian President Zine al-Abidin Ben Ali and the Secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa. Tunisia-Regional, Politics, 4/3/2004
• Damascus denies the two booby trapped car reports; Jordan: Syria is not responsible for that
  Amman was careful yesterday to deny that Syria is involved in the entry of the two booby trapped car to Jordan via the Syrian lands, by saying "this was not made at the knowledge and responsibility of the Syrian authority," at a time during which Syria expressed its strong regret "over these news and stressed care to maintain Jordan's security." Jordan-Syria, Politics, 4/3/2004
• Saudi crown prince in Morocco
  The Saudi crown prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz arrived in Cazablanca yesterday in a visit which lasts for several days during which he will hold talks with the Moroccan King Muhammad IV, who welcomed the crown prince at the airport together with prince Moulai Rasheed, according to an official source. Saudi Arabia-Morocco, Politics, 4/3/2004
• Mahatir Mohammad meets with Syrian parliamentary Delegation
  Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohammad praised on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur the spirit of tolerance and fraternity in Syria, particularly within the religious framework. Syria-Malaysia, Politics, 4/3/2004
• Crown prince Abdullah discuss oil prices with Bush
  The spokesman for the White House said yesterday that the US President George W. Bush and the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah discussed oil prices, noting that the US administration also speaks with other producers from inside OPEC and outside it. Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 4/3/2004
• Syrian-Turkish relations highlighted
  Aleppo Governor Osama Adi received on Friday Director General of Turkish Republic State Railways (TCDD), Suleiman Karaman, and an accompanying delegation. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 4/3/2004
• Two Americans killed; Bush will not be scared, nor withdraw; al-Sader: we are the Iraqi wing for Hamas and Hizbullah
  The Iraqi Shiite Clergy Muqtada al-Sader yesterday announced his solidarity with the Palestinian Hamas movement, in response to the call made by the secretary general of the Hizbullah party Hassan Nasrullah, adding he should be considered the "striking arm" of the movement in Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 4/3/2004
• Moroccan FM holds talks with US arms control official
  Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohammed Benaissa, held talks in Rabat Friday with Jackie Sanders, President Bush's special representative for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Morocco-USA, Politics, 4/3/2004
• King Mohammed VI Holds Talks with Saudi Crown prince Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 4/3/2004
• New York Times: Washington audits the accounts of Arab diplomats
  The New York Times daily said yesterday that the American authorities audits the bank accounts of diplomats from Arab states. Regional-USA, Politics, 4/3/2004
• Egyptian cultural days in Syria on Sunday Syria-Egypt, Politics, 4/3/2004
• Some 14 civilian, political activists sentenced in Aleppo
  Human rights organizations in Syria announced the release of prison sentences against 14 civilian and political activists in Aleppo for periods ranging between one year and three months over their preparations to take part in a political lecture about the emergency law in the country. Syria, Politics, 4/2/2004
• Khartoum suspends activities of the people's congress activities; Turabi will be tried over sedition
  The Sudanese authorities have decided to bring the secretary general of the people's congress party, the opposition Islamic leader Hassan al-Turabi to trial over "creating sedition and instability," as well as suspension of the party's activities after detaining two leading figures and closing most of its premises in all parts of Sudan. Sudan, Politics, 4/2/2004
• Saudi crown prince: we will defeat advocates of hatred, Shoura council calls for increasing the freedom of expression
  Member of the cultural and media affairs committee in the Saudi Arabian Shoura council, Abdul Rahman al-Annad, said that the council showed its desire to develop the freedom of expression "and boosting it in the mass media" and converting the press into a forum of discussions between conservatives and liberals. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 4/2/2004
• Israeli restrictions oblige UNRWA to halt distribution of food to the Palestinians
  The UN Relief and Work Agency for the Palestinians ( UNRWA) said yesterday it had stopped the distribution of emergency food aids to 600,000 Palestinian refugees in Gaza. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/2/2004
• Boufelika: I will never let an Algerian die for Western Sahara
  Campaigning Algerian president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika said he would "never" let a compatriot die for the cause of the Western Sahara, a disputed territory between Morocco and the Algeria-backed separatist movement "Polisario." Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 4/2/2004
• Dutch Foreign Minister EU reviews special clause on weapons of mass destruction on EU- Syria AA
  Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot on Thursday stressed that the European Union is reviewing the special clause relating to the weapons of Mass destruction in the Syrian- European Association agreement with the aim to finding out means to eliminate the difference between the European states and Syria. Syria-Netherlands, Politics, 4/2/2004
• Morocco urges algeria to free 514 POW
  Morocco reiterated Thursday its call for Algeria to immediately and unconditionally free some 514 prisoners of war (POW) still in captivity in Tindouf camps (southern Algeria). Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 4/2/2004
• Shaaban highlights Syria's policy towards developments, interview
  Syria's Expatriates Minister, Butheina Shaaban has underlined that Syria has always been for the Arab joint action particularly in this historical moment through which the Arab nation is passing. Syria, Politics, 4/2/2004
• Syrian FM confers with Netherlands peer
  A session of official talks was held yesterday between Foreign Minister Farouk al Shara and Foreign Minister of Netherlands Bernard Rudolf Bot. Syria-Netherlands, Politics, 4/2/2004
• Three new Americans were wounded in al-Falouja, Powell: we will not run from Iraq
  The US yesterday announced it will not run from Iraq, vowing to punish the killers of the four American contractors on Wednesday in al-Falouja where three American soldiers were wounded yesterday. Iraq-USA, Politics, 4/2/2004
• Syrian ambassador presents his credentials to President Bush
  The Syrian Ambassador, Emad Moustafa on Wednesday presented his credentials to US. President George. W. Bush. Syria-USA, Politics, 4/2/2004
• American investigations in the transfers of the Saudi ambassador in Washington
  The Wall Street Journal said yesterday that Federal investigators escalated their investigations in monetary transfers for large sums from Rages Bank to foreign accounts including withdrawal of large sums from the personal accounts of the Saudi ambassador in Washington prince Bandar Bin Sulan. Saudi Arabia-USA, Politics, 4/2/2004
• News on resuming dialogue in Gaza next week, calls on the Palestinians to evacuate
  One official in Hamas movement announced that the Palestinian national dialogue will be resumed in Gaza next week, while one Israeli plane dropped publications over Gaza calling on the Palestinians to leave. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/2/2004
• Uganda calls on Egypt to stop its egoism towards the Nile
  President of Uganda, Yuri Mosoveini, yesterday called on Egypt to halt what he called its "egoistic approach" over the use of the waters of the Nile. He also called for reconsidering the treaty signed with Britain which gives Cairo the right to control the river. Egypt-Uganda, Politics, 4/2/2004
• Polisario threatens peace in maghreb and the world, experts
  A group of international experts highlighted Wednesday in a conference held at the University of Geneva the threat of the "Polisario" separatist group " to peace, security and democracy, "not only in the Maghreb but also in the rest of the world." Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 4/2/2004
• King Mohammed receives emissary of Cote d'Ivoire president Morocco-Cote d'Ivoire, Politics, 4/2/2004
• Inter- Sudanese peace negotiations in Kenya extended; Turabi detained, accused of supporting Darfour's rebels
  The Sudanese authorities yesterday at dawn detained the opposition Islamic figure Hassan al-Turabi and accused him of provoking tribal tension and supporting the rebels in Darfour area to the west of Sudan, while the government of Khartoum and the main rebels movement in Sudan agreed to extend their negotiations in Nivaha ( Kenya ) which was due to be concluded yesterday. Sudan, Politics, 4/1/2004
• Clashes on Teizi Ozo because of Butaflika's visit
  The election campaign tour of the Algerian president Abdul Aziz Butaflika in one of the largest cities of the Berber Kabayel area of Teizi Ozo, coincided with violent confrontations between the police and the protesting Berbers that ended in detaining many of them. Algeria, Politics, 4/1/2004
• Continued meetings in Egypt, in preparations for the Arab summit
  Discussions continued at the Egyptian Sharm esh Shiekh resort held by the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak with several Arab leaders in order to discuss the convening an alternative Arab summit substituting the 16th summit which was postponed by Tunisia. Regional-Egypt, Politics, 4/1/2004
• Al-Baja Jee warns the Shiite over hegemony in Iraq member of the Iraqi governing council
  Adnan al-Baja Jee yesterday warned the Iraqi Shiite of using their population majority to impose their views on other minorities in the country, but he admitted that there is no alternative for the rule of the majority after making general elections in January 2005 to elect a national council that lays a permanent constitution. Iraq, Politics, 4/1/2004
• Syria: Governmental plans for ensuring prosperity of al-Jazeera area
  The Syrian government has started a new policy to develop the northern east area of Syria in light of a plan to avoid negligence the area had suffered for several decades. Syria, Politics, 4/1/2004
• Cairo: Imprisonment of one Egyptian convicted over spying for Israel
  The Supreme state security court ( Emergency) in Cairo yesterday sentenced to 15 year imprisonment one Egyptian convicted of spying for Israel. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 4/1/2004
• A Jewish league boycotts a meeting with Mubarak
  The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot said that the chairman of the Jewish-American defaming league Afraham Foxman is not intending to attend the meeting which the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will hold during his forthcoming visit to the USA, over Egypt's abrogation of the 15th anniversary celebration of signing the camp David agreement between Israel and Egypt. Egypt-USA, Politics, 4/1/2004
• Egyptian- Saudi visions on developments are identical; al-Sharif Egypt-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 4/1/2004
• Al-Assad meets with Iraqi transport minister Syria-Iraq, Politics, 4/1/2004
• Al-Assad, Bin Yahya talks on forthcoming Arab summit Syria-Tunisia, Politics, 4/1/2004
• Al-Shara holds phone talks with Tunisian peer on developments Syria-Tunisia, Politics, 4/1/2004
• Government eager to promote Civil Society role, Minister Morocco, Politics, 4/1/2004
• March in geneva to condemn Polisario crimes Morocco-Switzerland, Politics, 4/1/2004
• Al-Shara postpones his European tour Syria-European Union, Politics, 4/1/2004
• al-Syasa: Talbani commends relations with Syria Syria-Iraq, Politics, 4/1/2004
• Israel trains an Indian team on Civil aviation security
  Press reports said that officials from the Indian government had visited Israel to study security measures in Bin Guiron International airport in Tel Aviv and to be trained on civil aviation security. Israel-India, Politics, 4/1/2004
• Saudi authorities release one reformer
  Saudi Arabia's authorities yesterday releaed the Saudi reformer Muhammad Saeed al-Tayeb. His wife Faeqa Bader said in a telephone call from Jeddah "they released him and he returned back home since one hour." Saudi Arabia, Politics, 3/31/2004
• Kuwait for convening the Arab summit regardless to place, time Kuwait-Regional, Politics, 3/31/2004
• Mubarak receives al-Shara; reform is internal matter
  Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Tuesday said that he conveyed a letter from President Bashar al-Assad to the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak related to the necessity of the sincere and serious work to convene the Arab summit in a good atmosphere. Egypt-Syria, Politics, 3/31/2004
• Saudi Crown Prince confers with al-Shara, a message conveyed
  Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz exchanged on Tuesday messages within the frame work of Arab consultations for holding the postponed Arab summit. Saudi Arabia-Syria, Politics, 3/31/2004
• Intensive Syrian- Egyptian moves on the summit
  The Arab states yesterday intensified its diplomatic moves to arrange the convening of the Arab summit after Tunisia had postponed it. Regional, Politics, 3/31/2004
• Sudan detains 10 army officers over involving in coupe operation
  A Sudanese official source announced that ten Sudanese army officers were detained under the charge of being involved in a military coupe attempt, seemed to be linked to the current conflict in Darfour. Sudan, Politics, 3/31/2004
• Moussa to leave for Tunis on Friday
  Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said Tuesday that he will leave for Tunis on Friday for a meeting with Tunisian President Zine Al-Abidine Bin Ali as part of a tour which will also take him to Rabat and Algiers. Regional-Tunisia, Politics, 3/31/2004
• Meeting for the committee in charge of defending Saddam Hussein; disagreement among lawyers
  Jordanian former chairman of the Bar association, Saleh al-Armouti, said that the French lawyer Manuel who had volunteered to defend the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will arrive next week in Jordan to coordinate with the Jordanian defense committee, formed by several lawyers to defend Saddam Hussein. Iraq, Politics, 3/31/2004
• Java's Conference on Right to Return for Palestinians
  Participants at the Conference of "The Right of Return and Just Peace" that was held in the Palestinian city of Java stressed commitment to the Palestinian people's right to return, asserting rejection to abandon this right. Palestine, Politics, 3/31/2004
• Governing council: No trial for Saddam before authority transfer Iraq, Politics, 3/31/2004
• At least some 100 Somalis were missed in the Gulf of Aden
  Some 100 persons were considered as missing in the waters of the Gulf during their attempt to reach Yemen last week from Pontland in the north of Somalia. Reasons behind this crisis are not known yet as no official statement was so far released by the Yemeni government. Somalia, Politics, 3/31/2004
• Beirut hosts Iraqi constituent Conference Lebanon-Iraq, Politics, 3/31/2004
• governing council set conditions for elections; One American is killed, al-Seisatni demands guarantees
  The Interim Iraqi governing council yesterday notified the UN that the UN will have no role in running the next Iraqi elections. It expressed its desire that the neighboring states will have no role in these elections, simultaneously it announced the formation of a committee assuming authority transfer on June 30 at a time the Shiite clergy Ali al-Seistani called for guarantees that these elections will be held in due time. Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/31/2004
• Saudi Arabia: releasing two reformers
  The Saudi Arabian authorities yesterday released two Saudi reformers among other 4 detained since March 16, and this was without their vow to stop their reform supporting activities. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Khartoum: news on a coupe attempt
  The Sudanese Islamic opposition figure Hassan al-Turabi yesterday announced that the Sudanese authorities detained several officials from the People's National Congress party which he presides over. Sudan, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Egypt Criticizes Tunisia, hosts a mini summit tomorrow
  President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt has described the unilateral decision taken by Tunisia to postpone convening the Arab summit as an unjustified step. Egypt-Tunisia, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Moroccan government regrets Arab summit postponement
  Tunisian authorities decided early Sunday to postpone the summit due to "differences" between member countries of the Arab league on "fundamental" and "extremely important" proposals on reforms. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Saudi FM statements on postponed summit
  Egypt and Saudi Arabia on Monday stressed the necessity of overcoming what has happened in Tunisia and convening the Arab Summit as soon as possible. Saudi Arabia-Regional, Politics, 3/30/2004
• American army admits the killing of Arabia journalists
  The American army in Baghdad yesterday admitted responsibility over the killing of two Iraqi journalists, who were working for the "Arabia" satellite TV channel on march 18. Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Arab charter for human rights models US, European ones
  The Arab Committee for Human Rights prepared the new Arab charter on human rights, which models on the US and European documents of human rights. Regional, Politics, 3/30/2004
• One American killed in al-Falouja; Annan: work is underway to form a multinational force
  The UN secretary general Kofi Annan said yesterday that the UN Security Council is working to form a multinational force with the aim to help improve the security situation of an elected Iraqi government, while the UN said that the Iraqi officials have to agree on a basic framework for the elections before the end of next May if they wish to make elections in January as scheduled. Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/30/2004
• British parliamentarian calls for imposing weapon ban on Israel
  Member of the British House of Commons Gerlad Kaufman criticized the policies adopted by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon against the Palestinians. Israel-UK, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Palestinian organizations celebrate Land day
  On the occasion of the Land Day, Palestinian popular organizations stressed that the Land Day ( March 30) was a direct reaction to the Israeli attempts to Judaise the lands and expand settlement. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Free Syria an opposition radio broadcast from Cyprus
  Dareed al-Ghadiri who leads the Syrian reforms party, living in the USA announced yesterday that the " Free Syria" ( Souria al-Hurra) radio will start broadcasting tomorrow, March 31st to each of Syria, Lebanon. In a statement issued on the Internet web, al-Ghadiri said that the radio which is financed by "Syrian businessmen" will start broadcasting from the island of Cyprus. Syria-Cyprus, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Moussa: Arab summit to be held within 3- 7 weeks Regional, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Maher denies Syrian- Egyptian disagreements on the summit Egypt-Syria, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Thousands of Moroccans march in solidarity with Palestinian People Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Speaker of the Turkish parliament to visit Syria Syria-Turkey, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Amman: detention of 60 persons burnt the Jordanian flag in a Palestinian demonstration
  The spokeswoman for the Jordanian Government, Asmaa Khuder, said yesterday that 60 persons were detained in al-Wahdat Palestinian camp who took part in demonstrations deploring the assassination of the spiritual leader of the Hamas Movement, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, following Friday's prayers and carried out acts of riots including the burning of the Jordanian flag. Jordan-Palestine, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Shein Beit: Hizbullah finances the Palestinian Black arms Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 3/30/2004
• Arab summit delayed, key states failed the convening of the summit
  The failure of the Arab summit which ended before its beginning in the Tunisian capital constituted a new shock for the Arab nation and its political system. The Arab heads of states summit which was presumed to be open today ( Monday) failed as a result of the sharp differences among the Arab leaders to agree on an agenda for the summit. Regional, Politics, 3/29/2004
• 50,000 Yemeni students call for trying Sharon; Egypt's students deplore postponement of Arab summit
  The Egyptian universities witnessed yesterday more acts of protests over the assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, sparked in particular by the postponement of the Arab summit which was due in Tunisia today. Regional, Politics, 3/29/2004
• Study resumed in al-Qamishli, two explosives defused Tlass: No tolerance with one who destabilizes
  Normal life returned back to al-Hassake governorate at a time when two explosives were defused in a people's area in al-Qamishli city days after the return back of calm to its streets. Syria, Politics, 3/29/2004
• Occupation forces in Iraq closed a paper for al-Sader
  The American occupation forces in Iraq yesterday closed the weekly al-Houzeh, mouthpiece of the Shiite clergy Muqtada al-Sader, on charges of publishing articles urging violence against the American forces. Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/29/2004
• Iraq strongly deplores the postponement of the summit
  Member of the Iraqi Interim Governing Council, Muwafaq al-Rbei, yesterday expressed "strong regret" over Tunisia's decision to postpone the Arab summit. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 3/29/2004
• Elimination of differences between Syria and Libya on mass destruction weapons
  One Arab diplomat said that the meetings which was held on Friday evening succeeded in eliminating the Syrian- Libyan difference over the question of the mass destruction weapons, stated in the recommendations that were due to be submitted to the summit. Syria-Libya, Politics, 3/29/2004
• Iraqi governing council Jews have the right to demand back properties
  Iraq's minister of housing and construction, Baqer Soulagh Jabber, said on Saturday that the cost to containing the problem of housing in Iraq ranges between 50 to 60 billion dollars in order to build 2 million residential units among the four coming years. Iraq, Politics, 3/29/2004
• Bush to receive in April, Mubarak, Sharon and King Abdullah
  US President George W. Bush will meet successively in April the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and the Jordanian King Abdullah II. Regional-USA, Politics, 3/29/2004
• Egypt: Arab Council for Water to be established in Cairo Egypt-Regional, Politics, 3/29/2004
• Al-Shara meets with Japanese special envoy on ME peace process Syria-Japan, Politics, 3/29/2004
• Bin Yahya might resign Tunisia-Regional, Politics, 3/29/2004

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