Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 9/27/2004
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of September 27, 2004
- Syria deplores Lebanese parliamentarian assassination attempt, Khaddam visits
A Syrian official information source on Friday condemned the attempt of assassination against member of the Lebanese Parliament Marwan Hamada near his home in the district of Ein Mreisa, Beirut. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 10/2/2004 - Khartoum agrees on deployment of new forces in Darfur
Khartoum agreed with the African Union which sponsors the peace talks between the rebels in Darfur, west Sudan and the central government to deploy 3500 soldiers and 800 policemen that belong to the union in the district. Sudan, Politics, 10/2/2004 - Former Polisario member deplores Algiers' obstinacy in Sahara issue
Al Fadili Salek, a former member of the Polisario separatist group, deplored Friday Algiers' "obstinacy" to block the efforts made by Morocco and other parties to settle the Sahara dispute. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 10/2/2004 - Moroccan press raises questions over Algeria's armament race
The paper noted that the type of equipment Algeria purchases leads to believe this hides other eventualities because priority is given to "offensive weapons rather than defence arms, especially that no country in the region poses a threat to Algeria." Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 10/2/2004 - Sahara issue should be settled by negotiation between Morocco and Algeria, Ambassador
The settlement of the Sahara issue has to be reached through negotiation between Morocco and Algeria, said American ambassador to Morocco, Thomas Riley in a story run on Friday by the "Maroc hebdo International" weekly. Morocco-USA, Politics, 10/2/2004 - Sezer-highlights Turkish- Syrian relations
Sezer expressed concern over the development of the situation in Iraq, stressing that the unity of Iraq is very important for Turkey which continues its economic and trade relations with it, accusing Washington of evading coordination and cooperation with Ankara against Turkey's opponents in northern Iraq. Syria-Turkey, Politics, 10/2/2004 - Al-Zawahari calls Muslims to resist under a united leadership
The second man in al-Qaida organization Ayman al-Zawahiri said that giving up Palestine is a matter rejected by the Islamic Sharia. He called in a voice message not to confine the battle for the sake of Palestine "in fighting the Jews." Al- Zawahiri called on the Muslim youths not to wait anybody and to start resistance immediately. Regional, Politics, 10/2/2004 - Europe calls on Israel to maintain self control, AL describes Israeli operations as crimes
The Palestinian Authority condemned the Israeli operations against the Palestinians and called on the international community to pressure Israel. The secretary general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, strongly condemned the Israeli operations and described them as crimes leading the region to further violence and bloodshed. Regional-Israel, Politics, 10/2/2004 - Journalist gets one year sentence for defamation
The court of appeal of Rabat condemned Wednesday, Anas Tadili, director of the weekly "Akhbar Al Ousboua " to one year in prison and a fine of 10,000 Dhs (around US $ 1,111). Morocco, Politics, 10/1/2004 - Democratic advances in Morocco were not accompanied by progress in media sector, minister
Moroccan communication minister, Nabil Benabdellah, deplored, here Wednesday, that the "important strides achieved at the democratic level have not been accompanied by a progress in the media sector, in general, and the audiovisual in particular." Morocco, Politics, 10/1/2004 - Algeria receives Khatami after a ten year of boycott
Iranian president Muhammad Khatami arrives in Algeria tomorrow in an official visit which is the first since the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2003. Algeria-Iran, Politics, 10/1/2004 - Kuwait: we recognize Arafat, but not dealing with him
The Kuwaiti foreign minister Sheikh Muhammad al-Sabah al-salem announced yesterday that Kuwait does not deal with the chairman of the Palestinian authority Yasser Arafat. Kuwait-Palestine, Politics, 10/1/2004 - Bashir accuses Washington of arming Darfur rebels; Garang does not oppose sanctions on Khartoum
The Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has accused the US of training the rebels in Darfur and arming them in order to stand in the face of the government of Khartoum. Sudan-USA, Politics, 10/1/2004 - Families of the detainees on Mauritania call for release of their children
Families of the new detainees in Mauritania issued a strong statement in which they denied what was stated by the minister of the interior in Mauritania on a link between their children and the leaders of the coupe attempt. Mauritania, Politics, 10/1/2004 - State of alert in Mauritania, search operations for the leader of the coupe attempt
A state of security and military alert overwhelms all parts of Mauritania at a time when the security forces intensified the operations of search and inspections for the leader of the failed coupe attempt on June 8, 2003, Maj. Saleh Weld Hanana, who is also accused by the authorities of leading a new coupe attempt declared to be foiled several days ago. Mauritania, Politics, 10/1/2004 - Sahrawi NGO: Algeria is party in Sahara conflict
Algeria is a "party" in the artificial conflict over the Moroccan Sahara because it hosts the Polisario secessionists and backs them financially and diplomatically, said spokesman of the Association of Saharawi tribes in Europe, Lahcen Mahraoui. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 10/1/2004 - al-Deyar: Jordan build a fifth minaret in al-Aqsa mosque
The spokeswoman for the Jordanian government Asmaa Khuder said that Jordan is making contacts with the Israeli authorities to pave the way for building a fifth minaret in al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Jordan-Palestine, Politics, 10/1/2004 - Chinese Ambassador in Beirut highlights relations with Arab states
The Chinese ambassador to Lebanon, Liu Xianghua, on Thursday stressed the importance of Arab-Chinese relations, and the necessity of enhancing them in all fields. Regional-China, Politics, 10/1/2004 - Bahrain: a human rights society is desolved
Bahrain has yesterday desolved the "Bahrain center for human rights" just days after detaining the deputy chairman of the center Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja over his criticism of the prime minister in a development which was deplored by Arab human rights organizations and considered by Washington as a regrettable and disappointed step. Bahrain, Politics, 9/30/2004 - Tantawi rejects denial of women's political rights
Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh, Muhammad Sayed Tantawi, said yesterday that the Muslim woman has the right to be nominated and elected and to assume judicial positions, and he doest agree with those who Muslim women their political rights. Regional-Egypt, Politics, 9/30/2004 - Libya asks for radical reform of the UN
Shalqam said that the UN General Assembly is but a decorated commission but without spirit. He considered not making reforms means the need to stop financing the UN which he described as a dead commission Libya-UN, Politics, 9/30/2004 - Equity and Reconciliation Commission satisfied with authorities' cooperation
The Equity and Reconciliation Commission, in charge of out-of-court settlement of past human rights abuses, said it was "very satisfied" with the level of cooperation of public authorities. Morocco, Politics, 9/30/2004 - SPLM requests Egypt's assistance for concluding a final peace agreement with Khartoum
Following talks during which he briefed Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak on the progress of the Sudanese negotiations, the situation in southern Sudan, Darfur, the national reconciliation dialogue held in Cairo and the international attitude towards the Sudanese issue, John Garang, the leader of the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) stressed the importance of going ahead with negotiations Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 9/30/2004 - Moroccan memo To UN SG aims to cast light on Algeria direct responsibility in Sahara dossier, official
Benabdellah, also governement spokesman, told Tuesday, the Moroccan TVM channel, the letter addressed to the UN by Algerian president contains "odd and serious" elements as it describes Morocco, for the first time, as an occupying power" in the Moroccan Southern provinces. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 9/30/2004 - Gul warns against Israel's infiltration in Iraq
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has warned Israel against the adventure of infiltrating in Iraq, stressing that the Israeli presence in Iraq would be extremely dangerous and would be of no good to anyone. Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 9/30/2004 - Tantawi: Egypt, Sudan one body throughout history Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 9/30/2004
- Citizen's rights association declared Egypt, Politics, 9/30/2004
- Khatami will hold an Arab tour Regional-Iran, Politics, 9/30/2004
- Page of past human rights violations in Morocco should be turned, political party
The "dark page" of human rights violations committed in the past should be turned in a "civilized and modern context," said first secretary of the Socialist Union for Popular Forces (USFP), Mohamed El Yazghi. Morocco, Politics, 9/29/2004 - Garang confirms he is not supporting rebelling;Khartoum denies approving a self-rule to Darfur
The Sudanese minister of state for foreign affairs, Najib al- Kheir Abdul Wahab, denied the consent of his government to give self rule to Darfur; noting that it will ask for explanations from the UN Higher Commissioner for Refugees over his statements to this end. Sudan, Politics, 9/29/2004 - Seale and the war on Iraq
British famous writer and journalist Patrick Seale stressed that the U.S. war in Iraq was on behalf of Israel, adding that pro-Israel neoconservatives inside the American administration supported the war on Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/29/2004 - The Guardian : South Africa's recognition of 'SADR' harms own interests
South Africa's recent recognition of the puppet "Sahrawi republic," proclaimed by the Polisario secessionists that claim the separation of Morocco's southern provinces, will harm Pretoria's own interests, said the British daily The Guardian. Morocco-South Africa, Politics, 9/29/2004 - Morocco's Memorandum to UN unveils Algiers' responsibility in Sahara conflict, political parties
Leaders and representatives of Moroccan political parties were unanimous that the memorandum presented by Morocco to the UN on the Sahara issue unveils Algeria's hostility towards Morocco and its ambition to play a key role in the region, on the expense of the Kingdom's territorial integrity. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 9/29/2004 - Bonds of allegiance between Sahrawi tribes and Moroccan monarchy flawless, NGO
The historic bonds of allegiance linking Sahrawi tribes to the Moroccan monarchy are flawless, a reality that Algerians should be reminded of, said spokesman of the Association of Sahrawi Tribes in Europe, Lahcen Mahraoui. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 9/29/2004 - Sahara issue: Algerian General calls for settlement through large autonomy
Former head of the Algerian army's general staff, General Khalid Nezzar, called for the settlement of the Sahara issue through "some kind of large autonomy," stressing that the plan of the former UN Secretary General's special envoy, James Baker, is now "outdated." Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 9/29/2004 - Controlling insurgency key to Iraqi progress, Powell says
As the insurgency in Iraq is brought under control, particularly in the Sunni areas, reconstruction will become more effective and prospects for nationwide elections in January 2005 will brighten, Secretary of State Colin Powell said in a wide-ranging interview with the editorial board of the New York Times on September 24 in New York. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/29/2004 - al-Bilad: Jordanian study on Dimona reactor risks
A Jordanian study called on the UN, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and UNESCO to put pressure on Israel to dismantle its nuclear weapons for protecting the regional security and peace. Israel-Jordan, Politics, 9/29/2004 - Jordan accuses Israel of threatening its national security
Jordan has accused Israel of threatening the neighboring states by the wall of separation it build in the West Bank. Jordan-Israel, Politics, 9/29/2004 - Mauritania announces foiling a coupe attempt Mauritania, Politics, 9/29/2004
- Madrid highlights Morocco's will to solve Sahara conflict Morocco-Spain, Politics, 9/29/2004
- Malaysian Prime Minister: General Assembly should be capable of overriding a Security Council veto Regional, Politics, 9/28/2004
- Mubarak phones Qathafi, tackled conditions in Darfur, Iraq and Palestine Egypt-Libya, Politics, 9/28/2004
- Political party: Morocco's sovereignty over Sahara not subject to negotiations Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 9/28/2004
- Al-Azhar condemns abducting of civilians in Iraq Regional-Iraq, Politics, 9/28/2004
- Germany understands Egypt request for getting UNSC permanent seat Egypt-Germany, Politics, 9/28/2004
- Lukewarm Moroccan-Saudi relations, unfounded allegations, ambassador
Lukewarm diplomatic relations between Morocco and Saudi Arabia, evoked by some Moroccan newspapers, is simply an "unfounded allegation," said Saudi ambassador to Morocco, Mohamed Ben Abderrahmane Al Bichr. Saudi Arabia-Morocco, Politics, 9/28/2004 - Khartoum accepts the expansion of the protection force in Darfur
The Sudanese government agreed to increase the number of military men from the African Union assigned to protect the observers in Darfur; while the special court in Neyala (southern Darfur) sentenced to death three members of the militias and imprisonment sentences against other three between 3 and 5 years in Jail over their involvement in killing and stealing operations. Sudan, Politics, 9/28/2004 - Bin Ali and three opposition members compete in the presidential elections
The Constitutional Council in Tunisian announced yesterday that President Zine al-Abidin Ben Ali and other three candidates of opposition parties have their documents accepted for the Presidential elections set on October 24. Tunisia, Politics, 9/28/2004 - Italy seeks to establish camps in Libya to bring back immigrants
The Italian minister of the interior, Joseibi Beizano, who met with the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi in Tripoli on Sunday said that the Italian government had drawn a big plan to establish camps in Libya in order to prevent the arrival of illegal African immigrants to the Italian coasts and then from there to Europe. Libya-Italy, Politics, 9/28/2004 - South Africa's recognition of 'SADR', an attempt to undermine Moroccans' patriotism (political party)
South Africa's recognition of the puppet Sahrawi Republic (SADR) is an attempt to undermine Morocco's patriotism symbols and Moroccans' patriotism, said secretary general of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), Saad Eddine Othmani. Morocco-South Africa, Politics, 9/28/2004 - Memorandum sent to UN highlights Sahara issue realities to international community, political parties
Representatives of Moroccan political parties stressed that the memorandum presented by Morocco to Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, highlights realities of the issue of the Moroccan Sahara to the international community and, initially, the fact that Algeria is the party blocking any attempt to settle this artificial conflict. Morocco-UN, Politics, 9/28/2004 - Le Soir d'Algerie: Algiers played part in South Africa's recognition of 'SADR'
The Algerian newspaper "Le Soir d'Algerie" pointed out, in last weekend's edition, to Algiers' "contribution" to South Africa's recognition of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Republic "SADR." Morocco-South Africa, Politics, 9/28/2004 - AL Khaleej: Morocco open to solution securing sovereignty over Sahara, Academic
Morocco has wisely dealt with the Sahara issue and has been open to a solution that secures its sovereignty over its territory, said Pr Abdelhadi Boutaleb in a story ran, on Sunday, by the Abu Dhabi-based "AL Khaleej" daily. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 9/28/2004 - Saudi Arabia calls for an international conference to fighting terrorism
The Saudi deputy foreign minister Nizar Madani announced that his country calls for the convening of an international conference in Riyadh over fighting what he called terrorism. Saudi Arabia-Regional, Politics, 9/28/2004 - Citing death of Palestinian girl by Israeli fire, UN urges protection of children
A senior United Nations official today voiced sorrow at the death of a 10-year-old Palestinian girl who earlier this month had been hit by a bullet while sitting at her desk at a UN-run school in Gaza. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/28/2004 - Sudan: UN rights official says Darfur's displaced live in 'prisons without walls'
Most of the vast population of displaced people in Sudan's Darfur region "are living in prisons without walls," and yet the Sudanese Government continues to deny the scale and gravity of what is happening there, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said after returning from a visit to the strife-torn region. Sudan, Politics, 9/28/2004 - Too many mistakes are being committed during the global war against terrorism, al-Shara Regional, Politics, 9/28/2004
- Syrian FM address at the UN General Syria-Regional, Politics, 9/28/2004
- Dialogue for unified Palestinian stance Palestine-Egypt, Politics, 9/28/2004
- Morocco pleads for broader international counter-terrorism cooperation
Moroccan Interior minister, Al Mostafa Sahel, has called for a larger international cooperation to avoid the appearance of new spots of terrorism, notably in Sahel countries, underlining the urgency of an international action. Morocco, Politics, 9/28/2004 - Following the assassination of a leading figure in Damascus, Hamas threatens Israeli interests abroad
Ezz Eddine al-Qassam group; the military wing of the Islamic resistance movement (Hamas), threatened to target the Israeli interests abroad following the assassination of the leading figure in the movement Ezz Eddine Subhi al-Sheikh by blowing up his car in Damascus. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 9/27/2004 - Syrian Official source statement on Zahera explosion
"Israeli authorities have taken a dangerous step this morning by the assassination of the Palestinian citizen, Izzuddin al-Sheikh Khalil, who was living in Syria after he had been deported by Israeli occupation authorities to Marj al-Zuhour in Lebanon during the first Intifada in 1992," an official source told the Syrian Arab News Agency SANA. Syria-Israel, Politics, 9/27/2004 - Morocco lashes out at Algeria’s campaign to dispute Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara
“Algeria has since 1973 worked to systematically hamper the completion of the Kingdom territorial integrity,” stressed the memorandum addressed by Morocco to the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 9/27/2004 - Garang to meet with Egyptian officials on peace talks in Sudan
Leader of Sudan People's Liberation Movement John Garang, who is currently in Cairo, will hold talks with the Egyptian officials on the Sudanese peace talks and the crucial stage Sudan is passing through, the movement spokesman Yasser Emran told MENA yesterday. Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 9/27/2004 - Powell: talks with Syria over the border issues
The US secretary of state Colin Powell said yesterday that talks are underway between Syria, the USA and Iraq over controlling the Syrian Iraqi borders. A mission which he said is "not easy" stressing that the talks he had held in New York last week with his Syrian counterpart were "more positive than previous ones." Syria-USA, Politics, 9/27/2004 - Lebanon and its understanding of UN of view points
Lebanese Deputy Premier and Head of his country's delegation to UN General Assembly meetings Issam Fares on Sunday expressed pleasure over the UN understanding of Lebanon's point of view. Lebanon-UN, Politics, 9/27/2004 - al-Rai: Iraqi Minister describes talks with Syrians as positive; good Iraq-Syria, Politics, 9/27/2004
- Sudanese opposition doubts the story of foiling the coupe Sudan, Politics, 9/27/2004