Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 8/22/2005
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of August 22, 2005
- Iraqi constitution differences continue
The Iraqi parliament postponed until an indefinite time a meeting which was due on Thursday to discuss the new draft constitution of the country. Iraq, Politics, 8/26/2005 - Articles of the draft Iraqi constitution; speaks of racism and terrorism without defining them
This council draws the constitution of the district and enact laws in a way that does not contradict with federal laws and its constitution Iraq, Politics, 8/26/2005 - Efforts to calm Shiite rivalry
The Iraqi Presidency and the government on Thursday succeeded to bring back calm to several Iraqi cities which witnessed in the past days confrontations between al-Sader group and the Bader organization which belongs for the Higher Council OF Islamic Revolution that resulted in the death of 8 Iraqis and injuring other 10. Iraq, Politics, 8/26/2005 - Butaflika calls France to admit brutal colonialist past in Algeria
The Algerian authorities said that the massacres which took place on May 8, 1945 killed 45,000 persons in several days, while Europena historians said it resulted in killing between 15,000 and 20,000 when the French forces opened fire at scores of thousands of Algerians who took the streets demanding independence Algeria-France, Politics, 8/26/2005 - UN calls on Syria to cooperate on Hariri investigators
Lebanon's President, Emil Lahoud, accused certain Lebanese sides of aiming to use the report of the UN international investigation committee into the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri against what he called internal politics. Lahoud called on the Lebanese not to pre-judge results of the investigation. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 8/26/2005 - Sudan rebels talks postponed to mid September
The 6th round of the peace talks supervised by the African Union between the Sudanese government and the two rebel movements in Darfur was postponed until mid September. Sudan, Politics, 8/26/2005 - American policy sieges Syria and Lebanon: Venezuelan Official
Charge d' Affairs of the Venezuela's Embassy in Damascus Ghazi Naser Ed-Din has said that the American policy that is "based on the preemptive war which has killed thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan and targeting Syria and Lebanon can be attributed to many allegations." Syria-Venezuela, Politics, 8/26/2005 - UN Security Council 'confident' of cooperation on fate of missing Kuwaitis in Iraq
Welcoming the Iraqi Government's constructive engagement in the ongoing inquiry into the fate of Kuwaitis who went missing in Iraq after the 1990 invasion of their country, the United Nations Security Council yesterday expressed confidence that the parties involved would work to ensure that all outstanding issues were satisfactorily addressed. Iraq-Kuwait, Politics, 8/26/2005 - White House official says Iraqis working to craft durable document Iraq-USA, Politics, 8/26/2005
- Keer does not rule out Garang assassinated Sudan-Uganda, Politics, 8/26/2005
- Talibani wants to meet Sunni demands for constitution that serves all Iraqis indiscriminately
Talibani stressed the need of meeting the demands of the Arab Sunni in the draft constitution, noting that the constitution should be in the service of all Iraqis rather for one group of the Iraqi people. Iraq, Politics, 8/25/2005 - Arab Journalists Union Denounces Yemeni Journalist Kidnapping Yemen-Regional, Politics, 8/25/2005
- Fear the constitution is intentionaly being made democratically weak
They also rejected that the draft constitution does not define the authorities of the presidium council which is composed of the President of the Republic and the heads of the parliament and the Cabinet. If such an allegation is true, that there is such an important body whose authority has not been clearly defined, then this can be interpreted as an attempt to circumvent the democratic process Iraq, Politics, 8/25/2005 - Articles from the draft Iraqi constitution; simple majority to change Iraq's province structures
The districts are composed of one governorate or more and one district or more are eligible to be organized in one district at a referendum request to be submitted by two ways: First asking one third of members in each of the governorate's councils which want to formulate the new district Iraq, Politics, 8/25/2005 - Religion injected into Iraqi draft constitution
Iraq's new draft constitution strikes a careful balance between the country's Islamic traditions and its democratic aspirations, according to U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad. Iraq-USA, Politics, 8/25/2005 - Jaafari calls for calm, inter-Shiite clash in Najaf, Baghdad
The Iraqi prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari has called for calm in his televised speech on late Wednesday evening and deplored the attack against the group of the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader which resulted in clashes in the two cities of al-Najaf and Baghdad. Iraq, Politics, 8/25/2005 - Tunis bans journalists union from holding founding conference
The Tunisian authorities on Wednesday notified the Tunisian Journalists Union that it cannot convene its founding conference due on September 7th, according to chairman of the founding committee of the Union Lutfi Haji. Tunisia, Politics, 8/25/2005 - Workshop on democratic change in the Arab states
He also said that democratic change in the Arab states face tremendous challenges Regional, Politics, 8/25/2005 - No one will force you to return, UN tells Darfur's displaced
United Nations refugee agency chief Antonio Guterres today told a camp housing some 10,000 displaced people in strife-riven Darfur that despite pressure from the Sudanese Government, they would never be forced to go back to the villages they fled under armed attack over the last two years. Sudan-UN, Politics, 8/25/2005 - Libya charge de affairs suicide in Sweden
The Libyan charge de affairs in Sweden was found dead in his apartment in Stockholm amid official Libyan confirmation that he had committed suicide. Libya-Sweden, Politics, 8/25/2005 - Lahoud: Lebanon to fortify internal Front
President Emile Lahoud of Lebanon on Wednesday said that Lebanon and the region are passing through dangerous and crucial conditions, the matter that requires strengthening the internal front and facing foreign plots. Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 8/25/2005 - Abbas meets Mubarak after Israeli withdrawal arrangements
The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said he expects a withdrawal for the Isralei occupation forces from Gaza the latest by October 4, while Egypt deployed Egyptian border guards forces on the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Palestine-Egypt, Politics, 8/25/2005 - With Gaza pullout, Israel, Palestinians must implement Roadmap, says UN
It will be necessary to bring the process back into the mainstream laid down in the Roadmap to peace plan, which calls for a series of parallel steps leading to two states living side-by-side in peace, and to achieve a comprehensive and just peace in the region. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 8/25/2005 - Berri: Syria, Lebanon cling to historical ties Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 8/25/2005
- Syrian trucks- and congestion on borders with Iraq Syria-Iraq, Politics, 8/25/2005
- Articles from the Iraqi draft constitution
The following are some articles from the Iraqi draft constitution which was handed over to the Iraqi National Assembly (parliament) on Monday: Iraq, Politics, 8/24/2005 - Sticking points of the Iraqi constitution
Members of the Iraqi parliament entered a race with time to end their differences over the Iraqi draft constitution before the end of a grace period that ends Thursday. Iraq, Politics, 8/24/2005 - Bush optimistic on Iraqi constitution
US President George W. Bush expected that the Iraqi constitution will be a source of change in the Middle East, noting that the Iraqis are working to reach a settlement concerning it. Iraq-USA, Politics, 8/24/2005 - US views on the Iraqi constitution draft process
The American ambassador in Baghdad, Zalmay Khalilzad, stressed he will be making intensive talks with sides concerned to convince the Sunnis to be flexible. Iraq-USA, Politics, 8/24/2005 - Lahoud: some don't want Lebanon to be stable and prosper
Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh on Tuesday appealed to the international Quartet Committee to take rapid measures and compel Israel to withdraw from all occupied Palestinian lands, Syrian Golan and Lebanon's Shabaa Farms. Lebanon-Regional, Politics, 8/24/2005 - Sudan divides ministerial posts among factions
The Sudanese vice president and leader of the people's movement, Sylva Keer, said that his movement got the seats of the foreign ministry and the ministry for Cabinet affairs in the next national unity government according to a peace agreement finalized with the government. Sudan, Politics, 8/24/2005 - US forces hold Syrian trucks going to Iraq
The American forces in Iraq resumed seizing trucks coming from Syria, just one day after the two Syrian and Iraqi ministers of transports announced resolving the truck crisis between the two states, and easing their measures across the borders between them. Iraq-Syria, Politics, 8/24/2005 - Saddam confirms his new defense lawyer
Iraqi judicial sources said that the former toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein stressed his desire to keep one lawyer, Khalil al-Duleimi, who was chosen by Saddam's family, after they withdrew all assignments from Arab and foreign lawyers by the beginning of August. Iraq, Politics, 8/24/2005 - Iraq wants diplomatic relations with the Arab states
The Iraqi government on Tuesday called on the Arab states to resume full diplomatic relations with Iraq, announcing it will build a protected area for diplomats in order for them to work and live safely. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 8/24/2005 - Israel evacuates four settlements in occupied West Bank
The Israeli occupation forces ended the evacuation of the two settlements of Houmesh and Sanour, north of the occupied West Bank, following a difficult day of confrontations with Jewish extremists who were hiding inside it. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 8/24/2005 - Abul-Gheit terms as important Israeli pullout from Gaza
He said that the Palestinian people in Gaza had suffered a lot during the past years so they have the right to free and decent life. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 8/24/2005 - Bush commends Israeli withdrawal, calls for effective Palestinian government
The US President George W. Bush commended on Tuesday the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. He said that the Palestinians have to form an effective government. Palestine-USA, Politics, 8/24/2005 - Calls to combat corruption and waste Syria, Politics, 8/24/2005
- Saudi Arabia, Lebanon discuss ME conditions Saudi Arabia-Lebanon, Politics, 8/24/2005
- Qabbani describes his meeting with president Assad as fruitful Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 8/24/2005
- Iraqis constitution shows democratic process
Leaders of political blocs in Iraq continued consultations to settle pending issues in order to finish drafting the constitution and submitted it to the parliament before the end of the grace period set on Monday midnight. Iraq, Politics, 8/23/2005 - Mubarak talks to youths, farmers on election agenda
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the candidate for the ruling national party, continued his campaign tours and mass meetings in the course of his election campaign for the presidency. Egypt, Politics, 8/23/2005 - Marathon to support Syrian prisoners in Israeli jails
Director of the Public Relations at Areeba Telecom Company in Syria, Fares Kallas, announced that a marathon of all walks of life in Syria would kick off on Friday morning to support Syrian prisoners and detainees in Israeli jails. Syria-Israel, Politics, 8/23/2005 - Investigator of al-Hariri assassination seeks more time
The spokesman for the UN in Beirut, Najib Freiji, said that the team which is investigating the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri will ask for extending his mission which expires this week. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 8/23/2005 - Toppled Mauritanian president in Doha with family
Toppled President of Mauritania, Mu'aweya Weld Sayed Ahmadf al-Taye, arrived in Qatar Tuesday coming from Gambia, as his second station after Niger where he found out about the coupe that toppled him during his return back from Saudi Arabia on August 3rd. Mauritania-Qatar, Politics, 8/23/2005 - US expects action from Libya before normalizing relations
The US Department Of State has not ruled out normalizing relations with Libya but said that this should be made after Libya takes more steps to improve its human rights records and fight terrorism. Libya-USA, Politics, 8/23/2005 - UN humanitarian envoy starts trip to Eritrea and Ethiopia
The United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa yesterday started a two-day fact-finding visit to Eritrea, which has been hit by five years of drought, the lingering effects of its two-year border war with Ethiopia and the challenges of resettling thousands of refugees. Eritrea-Ethiopia, Politics, 8/23/2005 - Libya to release 131 prisoners including Muslim Brothers
Seif al-Islam, son of the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi and chairman of al- Qathafi group for charity societies, said that the government will release 131 political detainees including members of the banned Muslim Brothers groups by the beginning of September. Libya, Politics, 8/22/2005 - Arab Sunnis demand pressure for a united Iraq
The Sunni members in the committee protested against "margining" them by the Kurds and the Shiite saying that they finalized "deals without them." The statement read that "few hours are left to declare the draft constitution, and still we do not see serious and effective coordination to draft it," Iraq, Politics, 8/22/2005 - Egypt's Muslim Brothers to vote in elections, not for Mubarak
The banned Muslim Brothers group in Egypt called on its members and supporters to take part in the presidential elections due on September 7th and urged them not to vote for the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who is seeking a fifth presidential term of office. Egypt, Politics, 8/22/2005 - Israel evacuates last settlement in Gaza
The Israeli occupation forces intends to evacuate the remaining Jewish settlements in Gaza on Monday so as to complete a rapid evacuation that ends 38 years of occupation. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 8/22/2005 - Tareq Aziz meets family: I am not concerned about trial
Iraq former deputy premier Tareq Aziz met on Saturday members of his family, for the first time since his detention by the American invasion forces after its invasion in April 2003. Iraq, Politics, 8/22/2005 - Qurei expresses pride over Syrian-Palestinian relations
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has stressed the significance of boosting the Palestinian unity at this critical stage. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 8/22/2005 - On restructuring of government agencies in Syria
A three-day workshop on "Restructuring of Government Agencies in Syria " was opened in Damascus Sunday with the cooperation of the United Nations Development Program ( UNDP). Syria, Politics, 8/22/2005 - Al-Jazeera: Toppled Mauritanian president in Qatar
Al-Jazeera TV on Sunday said that the toppled Mauritanian President Mu'aweya Weld Seidi Ahmad al-Taye will be arriving in Qatar today. Mauritania-Qatar, Politics, 8/22/2005 - Lugard: Qathafi hopes Bush Rice would visit Libya Libya-USA, Politics, 8/22/2005
- OIC calls for the Israeli withdrawal from all Palestinian territories Regional-Palestine, Politics, 8/22/2005
- Algeria wants good relations with Morocco Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 8/22/2005