Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 7/4/2005

Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of July 4, 2005

• Garang takes oath as the first Sudanese vice President
  Leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM / SPLA), John Garang, today takes his constitutional oath as the Vice President for Omar Hasan al-Bashir, according a historic peace agreement signed in January this year ending more than two decades of civil war. Sudan, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Historical welcome for Garang in Khartoum
  More than one million Sudanese took the streets to receive Leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM / SPLA), John Garang, amid joy of achieving peace as he arrived in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, yesterday, for the first time since 22 years. Sudan, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Abbas: Syria is a cornerstone in our causes
  "Syria has a significant role on both Arab and international arenas, so we realize her stance which is supporting us and preserving the Palestinian unity to be able to reach aspirations," Abbas stressed. Palestine-Syria, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Syria's hero AbouZeid passes away after 20 years in Israeli prisons
  Syrians in the occupied Golan declared yesterday the martyrdom of internee Haiel Hussein AbouZeid after spending 20 years in the Israeli prisons the matter which caused him a chronic disease to claim his life. Syria-Israel, Politics, 7/9/2005
• London's inhabitants pay price for war on Iraq
  London's inhabitants, in yesterday blasts, have paid the price for the war on Iraq, British Parliament member George Galloway said Friday vehemently condemning these blasts. Iraq-UK, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Iranian personality calls Al-Qaeda 'US-Israeli illegitimate child'
  Interim Friday Prayer Leader of Tehran Ayatollah Mohammad Emami-Kashani said here in his second sermon, "Al-Qaeda is the illegitimate child of the United States and Israel." Addressing thousands of worshipers at central campus of Tehran University, Kashani made the remark in response to British Prime Minister Tony Blair's criticism of Islam in his reaction to fatal Thursday bomb blasts in London Iran-UK, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Algeria's parliament condemns law glorifying French occupation
  The Algerian People and Ummah councils (parliaments) on Thursday condemned the French law on "the positive role of the French presence overseas" especially in North Africa. The law was ratified by the French parliament on February 23rd. Algeria-France, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Al-Thawra: Study on poverty in Syria calls for just distribution of revenues
  A UN development official said on Friday the success of any policy in Syria to fight poverty must be matched with justice to distribute revenue, Al-Thawra newspaper reported. Syria, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Lahoud meets Abbas, supports Palestinian issue
  President Emil Lahoud of Lebanon underlined his country's support to the Palestinians' efforts to defend their just issue. Lebanon-Palestine, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Former 'Polisario' leader calls on humanitarian organizations to monitor their aid to Tindouf camps
  Former "Polisario" leader, Hammati Rabbani, who lately returned to the homeland Morocco, called on humanitarian organisations to closely monitor the aid they send to the camps in Tindouf, South-West Algeria, for the aid is sold in other markets such as Zouirat in Mauritania and Tombouctou in Mali. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Egypt will downsize diplomatic mission in Iraq
  Asked whether an Egyptian team should have had been sent to Iraq for negotiations with the abductors of the slain Egyptian diplomat, Abul-Gheit explained that it was impossible to contact the abductors because they had made no contacts with the Egyptian side. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Egyptian diplomat's assassination widely condemned
  The assassination of head of Egypt's diplomatic mission in Iraq Ihab el-Sherif was strongly condemned by several Islamic, Egyptian, Arab and African parties and personalities. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 7/9/2005
• China underlines support to Syria
  China underlined Friday importance of the resumption of negotiations on the Syrian and the Lebanese tracks, asserting that Syria plays a key role in the Middle East issues. Syria-China, Politics, 7/9/2005
• El Mundo writes about pro-Morocco Sahrawis
  The Spanish daily, El Mundo admits the presence of Moroccan Sahrawis (inhabitants of the Moroccan Sahara) who advocate the "Moroccanity" of the Sahara, and says it is impossible to determine their number and weight without a referendum. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Khasawenah quits as lawyer for Saddam Hussein
  Ziad al-Khasawenah, chairman of the defense team for the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, resigned from his post and accused certain American lawyers on the team of trying to take over the defense measures. Iraq, Politics, 7/9/2005
• 29 Guantanamo detainees to be released, transferred
  As of July 8, the status of 70 captured combatants of the 520 detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has been reviewed by the Defense Department's "parole board," and 29 will be returning to their home country, according to a US senior military official. Regional-USA, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Nazif arrives in Khartoum to attend signing of transitional constitution Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 7/9/2005
• G8 countries state common approach to African aid, climate change
  Leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) nations agreed to effectively double assistance to Africa, advance peace in the Middle East through Palestinian aid, and establish a plan of action to combat global climate change. Regional, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Syria strongly denounces Egyptian ambassador killing in Iraq Syria-Egypt, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Arab-French association condemns London blasts Regional-UK, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Royal message highlights 'brotherly and solidarity ties' with Algeria Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Peaceful nuclear activities is Iran's absolute right Iran-European Union, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Partial Italian withdrawal from Iraq Iraq-Italy, Politics, 7/9/2005
• First Moroccan food aid plane lands in Niamey
  A first Moroccan airplane loaded with emergency food aid landed Monday in the Nigerien capital, Niamey, to help this west-central African country stave off the exceptional drought impact. Morocco-Niger, Politics, 7/9/2005
• Abbas, al-Assad meet with Palestinian resistance groups in Damascus
  The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas met in the presence of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad leaders of the Palestinian groups including the two Islamic resistance movements ( Hamas) and the Islamic Jihad and Col. Abu Mousa leader of " Fatah- Intifada". Syria-Palestine, Politics, 7/8/2005
• Duleimi- Shamakhani: no one can prevent cooperation between Iraq and Iran
  The Iraqi and Iranian defense ministers on Thursday in Tehran said that Iraq will start military cooperation in the field of fighting terrorism with Iran, and that it guarantees to Tehran that its land will not be used for launching attacks against it. The two ministers stressed no body can prevent their countries from their cooperation. Iraq-Iran, Politics, 7/8/2005
• Bahrain, Iran agree to remove reasons behind misunderstanding
  The king of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaifa agreed together with the Iranian president ( whose term of office expired ) Muhammad Khatami, in a telephone call on Thursday, "to give up what causes misunderstanding so as this not to be exploited by enemies of the Arab and Islamic nation," in remarks to the tension which resulted from a Bahraini daily publication last week of a caricature on the Iranian elections. Bahrain-Iran, Politics, 7/8/2005
• Differences in the Sudanese public over the interim phase
  The Sudanese public was split between optimism and one pessimism and concerned over the next interim phase in which the parliament and the SUdan People's Liberation Movement will carry out a partnership that will extend for the coming years. Sudan, Politics, 7/8/2005
• Egypt confirms the killing of its ambassador in Iraq
  al-Qaida added that "jails in Egypt are filled with al-Mujahideen and the Egyptian courts sentenced several monotheists to death including our great Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri," in remarks to the second ranking man in al-Qaida organization who is sentenced in absentia in Egypt. Egypt-Iraq, Politics, 7/8/2005
• African Union wants end to veto power in Security Council reforms
  The African Union in its summit in Libya this week decided to request two seats on the UN Security Council reserved for the African continent. The African Union seeks that the veto right of the five permanent members on the Security Council to be abolished, diplomats said. Regional-UN, Politics, 7/8/2005
• Arab leaders denunciation of London's explosions
  The Arab leaders deplored the explosions which targeted London on Thursday, stressing the rejection of the Arab states for such aggressions and voiced solidarity with Britain in its crisis. Regional-UK, Politics, 7/8/2005
• Syria backs efforts to disarm nuclear weapons
  He added that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that until now doesn't join the NPT treaty." " Achieving the universality of this treaty is a political and moral commitment upon the countries concerned... this universality has not been achieved in the Middle East region due to Israel's rejection to join the treaty," Jaafari added. Syria-Regional, Politics, 7/8/2005
• UN Fact Finding Mission visits Quneitra Syria-UN, Politics, 7/8/2005
• Miqati and Dibble discuss Lebanese-US relations Lebanon-USA, Politics, 7/8/2005
• Fatah forms an investigation committee on Arafat's death conditions Palestine, Politics, 7/8/2005
• Sudan approves draft interim constitution, Garang is Sudan's vice president
  A new shift of prisoners of the government forces returned back on Wednesday evening to the capital Khartoum after they were released by the rebels of south Sudan, in implementation of an agreement signed between the two sides on January this year. Sudan, Politics, 7/7/2005
• UN report reveals Israel conduct in the occupied Golan
  He continued that "since Israel had categorically rejected to collaborate with the committee and to give it access to information and people to serve to this end Syria-Israel, Politics, 7/7/2005
• Sanyoura achieves progress in forming the Lebanese government
  One of the main points standing before forming the government is the demand set by the Shiite alliance to get the foreign ministry in the first participation Hizbullah Lebanon, Politics, 7/7/2005
• Syria urges pressure on Israel to stop violations
  Kariawasan noted the mission task "is to turn the international community attention to these breaches which would continue unless an appropriate mechanism is applied to put an end to." Syria-UN, Politics, 7/7/2005
• Abbas: Syria is a dear and sisterly country
  Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas stressed when he arrived at Damascus airport Wednesday the significance of the Syria-Palestinian relations. Palestine-Syria, Politics, 7/7/2005
• Syria committed to international resolutions: foreign ministry
  Hamwi: "Israel is going ahead in its policies to Judaize the land and cancel the Syrian Arab identity of the occupied Golan, distort the Golan citizens history and civilization including the destruction of buildings, stealing ruins to falsify historical facts and substitute Arab learning courses with Hebrew ones," Syria-Israel, Politics, 7/7/2005
• Zarqawi group reportedly killed Egyptian ambassador in Iraq
  News reports from al-Jazeera and al-Arabia satellite TV stations said that Egypt's top diplomat in Iraq to Iraq, Eyhab al-Sharif, had been executed. Iraq-Egypt, Politics, 7/7/2005
• Iraqi government accuses foreign diplomats of meeting with armed groups
  Iraqi President Jalal al-Talibani strongly denied contacts between the Iraqi government and armed groups despite reports which said that American representatives met with gunmen leaders. Iraq, Politics, 7/7/2005
• Zarqawi says he will continue fighting
  Leader of al-Qaida organization in Mesopotamia, Abu Musdab al-Zarqawi, rejected stances which call for making a distinction between resistance which target the Americans in Iraq and that targets the civilians. Iraq, Politics, 7/7/2005
• Aoun continues to boycott government Lebanon, Politics, 7/7/2005
• Sudan expresses thanks to Libya for help on Darfur problem Libya-Sudan, Politics, 7/7/2005
• Paris rules out international force deployment in Lebanon Lebanon-France, Politics, 7/7/2005
• Gulf states condemns aggression on Bahrain's mission head to Baghdad Gulf-Bahrain, Politics, 7/7/2005
• French defence minister in Libya Libya-France, Politics, 7/7/2005
• Zoellick to travel to Sudan, Jordan, Egypt Regional-USA, Politics, 7/7/2005
• Sirte summit calls for two permanent seats in the Security Council
  President Mubarak returned home yesterday after presiding over Egypt's delegation to the African Union summit which was held in the Libyan city of Sirte in presence of a large number of the heads of state and governments of the African Union. Regional, Politics, 7/6/2005
• Jordan re-arrests al-Maqdisit
  News reports in Amman said that the Jordanian security forces re-arrested one of the main ideological theorists of the Jihad al-Salafeyah trend, Asem Taher al-Barqawi, known as Sheikh Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi. Jordan, Politics, 7/6/2005
• Delegation of UN Committee on Israeli practices in Syria
  "The committee visit which includes Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon comes due to Israel's prevention of its entrance to the occupied Arab territories to investigate Arab citizens' conditions under the Israeli occupation," Chairman of the delegation said Tuesday in a statement to SANA in Dara'a. Syria-UN, Politics, 7/6/2005
• Agreement of principle between government, Darfur rebels
  The Sudanese government and the two rebel movements in Darfur have settled the first obstacle in the face of peace negotiations in Abuja, Nigeria, by sgning an agreement of principles that would open the door before a peaceful solution for the conflict which started more than two years ago in this intensified district located to the west of Sudan. Sudan, Politics, 7/6/2005
• Peace negotiations to resume in Sudan on August 24th
  Following an agreement of principles, the Sudanese sides agreed to resume peace talks on August 24. Both the two rebel movements and the government showed cautious optimism over achieving peace in Darfur. Sudan, Politics, 7/6/2005
• Zarqawi vows to continue fighting
  The leader of al-Qaida organization in Mesopotamia, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, rejected stances which call for distinction between legitimate resistance which target the Americans in Iraq and those that target civilians. Iraq, Politics, 7/6/2005
• Financial Times: British forces withdrawal from Iraq expected
  The British daily Financial Times disclosed on Tuesday that the British defense office has prepared a plan to withdraw a great part of its forces from Iraq. Iraq-UK, Politics, 7/6/2005
• Hamas rejects joining the Palestinian government
  Asked about Hamas's rejection to form a unity government with the Palestinian Authority, and that Hamas expect to sit it out and wait to the fall elections instead to possibly displace Fatah Palestine, Politics, 7/6/2005
• Al-Ahram: Abu-Zeid: Egyptian experts take part in building three dams to generate electricity in Ethiopia
  A group of experts of Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and National Centre for Water Research have completed drawing up engineering designs for a number of dams to generate electricity in Ethiopia. Egypt-Ethiopia, Politics, 7/6/2005
• Lebanese parties unify stances Lebanon, Politics, 7/6/2005
• Wife of terrorist testifies to Syrian TV
  The wife of one of those who run away during the Syrian security forces operation against a terrorist group most recently near Damascus said the group members were changing their residence place every four days. Syria, Politics, 7/6/2005
• Al-Assad receives Iraqi president envoy Syria-Iraq, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Qathafi to the African Union summit: pace of progress not satisfactory
  Some of the unions institutions have yet to be established, namely the African Central Bank, the African Monetary Fund and the court of the African Union. Now we should put an end to this and assume our historical responsibilities Regional-Libya, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Two armed groups in Baghdad appoint a spokesman, intend merging Iraq, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Qathafi calls African leaders to unite at Sert's inauguration summit
  Works of the ordinary fifth summit of the African Union states was opened yesterday in the Libyan Sert city with the participation if 53 heads of states and governments. The Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi called at the summit's opening session, which lasts for two days, the African leaders to get out of the cycle of differences and unite to enable progress for the continent. Regional-Libya, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Qathafi to African leaders: stop begging and become self-reliant
  Egypt is keen to put all its potentials, abilities, and experience at the service of common African causes, as well as maintaining peace and security in the continent, President Hosni Mubarak said yesterday. Regional-Libya, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Shara-Qaddoumi Discussions on developments Syria-Palestine, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Delay in forming new Lebanese government, Hizbullah wants two ministerial bags
  The formation of the first government in Lebanon after the Syrian withdrawal was delayed because of differences between the two trends of Saad al-Hariri and Michael Aoun who said he will not take part in the new government. Lebanon, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Al-Duleimi calls Sunnis to take part in next vote
  the spokesman for the general congress of the Sunnis in Iraq and chairman of al-Waqf al-Sunni, Adnan al-Duleimi, called in the Sunni to organize their lines to take part in the next elections and start to register themselves in the offices of the elections committee. Iraq, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Bahrain closes Islamic organization over harassing governmental figures
  Bahrain has closed an Islamic society accused of defaming government officials. The Bahrain's news agency quoted a statement for the ministry of social affairs and labor as saying that the Islamic labor organization will be closed for 45 days because of its violations of the principles and laws of printing and publications, but no further details were given. Bahrain, Politics, 7/5/2005
• President Mubarak discuss with Annan UN reform Egypt-UN, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Syria adopts all required measures to control borders with Iraq: former Iraqi minister
  Syria took all the required measures to control her joint borders with Iraq, former Iraqi Interior Minister said Sunday, stressing that border security on the Iraqi side is an Iraqi responsibility and "It is unfair to hold Syria the responsibility of both border's security." Syria-Iraq, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Qaddoumi holds Israel responsible for deteriorating situations Palestine-Israel, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Two killed in clashes between Syrian security, gunmen near Damascus
  Units from the Syrian security forces clashed yesterday morning with what it described as a terrorist group, it had broke into, in Mount Qasyoun area which overlooks the capital Damascus. Syria, Politics, 7/5/2005
• No peace in the Middle East without Syria: British minister
  British State Minister for the Middle Eastern Affairs, Kim Howells, on Monday said that "peace can't be achieved in the Middle East without Syria." Syria-UK, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Tunisian killed in armed confrontation at Syrian- Lebanese borders
  Armed confrontations took place between the Syrian security forces and an "extremist group" which tried to infiltrate into the Lebanese territories, resulted in killing two Syrian soldiers and the leader of the group who is of a Tunisian nationality called Majdi Bin Muhammad Bin Saeed al-Zreibi ( 26 year old) and the detention of 34 of his supporters of various Arab, but not Syrian, nationalities. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Changes in major leadership posts of press foundations in Egypt
  The Egyptian Shoura council, the official owner of the Egyptian government newspapers, issued on Monday a decision for changing the chief editors and heads of boards councils for major press foundations in Egypt for the first time since more than 20 years. Egypt, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Delegation in Damascus to investigate into Israeli practices Syria-Israel, Politics, 7/5/2005
• 'Morocco's democracy and Polisario's failure brought me to my homeland,' former Polisario official
  "The growing climate of democracy and the failure of the "Polisario" enterprise are among the reasons that compelled me to return to my homeland, Morocco," Hammati Rabbani, said in Rabat on Monday. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Moroccans in Tunisia denounce Algerian president hostile statements
  The Moroccan community living in Tunisia vehemently denounced the statements Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika made to the Tunisian weekly "Réalités" harming the territorial integrity of Morocco. Tunisia-Algeria, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Angry youth call for uprising against Polisario in Tindouf camps
  Angry youth in Tindouf camps (south-western Algeria) distributed Saturday leaflets calling inhabitants to revolt against the blockade imposed on Sahrawi populations by the Polisario Front, said eyewitnesses. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Polisario imposes total blackout on situation in Tindouf, NGO
  President of "Al Michaal Assahraoui" Association, Sidati Dafa, said the Polisario Front imposes a total blackout on the situation in Tidouf camps (southwestern Algeria) to limit the impact of the current uprising. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Moroccan-Equatorial Guinean cooperation promising, PM
  Lately, a Moroccan company won a 60 million euro contract for the construction of the Malabo port, while a peer won a bid for the construction of 300 apartments to cost 30 million euros. Jettou said Equatorial Guinea has always supported Morocco regarding its territorial integrity. Morocco-Equatorial Guinea, Politics, 7/5/2005
• On the kidnapping of the top Egyptian official envoy in Iraq
  In the course of the implications of the kidnapping of the chairman of the Egyptian diplomatic mission in Iraq, the Egyptian foreign ministry said it hopes that ambassador Eyhab al-Sharif will be treated as a "nationalist" that supports Arab causes, noting that al-Sharif had chosen to work in Iraq in order to serve the interests of the Iraqi people. Iraq-Egypt, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Moroccan emergency aid to help Niger cope with drought impact Morocco-Niger, Politics, 7/5/2005
• 'Ties between Morocco and the United States are getting stronger', King Morocco-USA, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Syrian troops fully withdrew from Lebanon, chief of staff says Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 7/5/2005
• Asefi and the Israeli policy against Arabs Iran-USA, Politics, 7/5/2005

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