Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 9/5/2005
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of September 5, 2005
- Great election victory for Mubarak, very low participation
Chairman of the higher committee for the Presidential elections in Egypt advisor Mamdouh Meree announced that the candidate of the ruling democratic national party, President Hosni Mubarak, won a fifth term of office for 6 years at a rate of 88.6% of the votes. Only 23 % of the those eligible to vote voted. Egypt, Politics, 9/10/2005 - Mubarak gains wider authority for reform
The Egyptian minister of investment Mahmoud Mohey Eddine said that the win of President Mubarak for the first multi-candidate Presidential elections in the country gives him a wider authority to make change at the economic and political levels. Egypt, Politics, 9/10/2005 - Siniora hails Mubarak's efforts to rebuild Lebanon
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora hailed efforts exerted by President Hosni Mubarak in support of the Lebanese government and people for rebuilding modern Lebanon. Egypt-Lebanon, Politics, 9/10/2005 - Iraq's president sees Iraqi society united
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani says the vocal disagreement between different ethnic and religious communities in Iraq should not be interpreted as a sign of civil discord but, rather, an indication of a healthy political environment. Iraq, Politics, 9/10/2005 - Sunnis seek to desolve the Iraqi parliament
At a time when the US played down the importance of the call made by the Muslim Scholars Commission in Iraq, the largest Sunni commission in the country, to desolve the Iraqi parliament, in protest on the draft constitution, noting that he Iraqi voters are the ones who will decide this issue. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/10/2005 - Polisario demands protection of prisoners observing hunger strike in Morocco
The Polisario Front called on the UN secretary general Kofi Annan to interfere in order to prevent the worsening of the situation of prisoners in the Western Sahara who continue a hunger strike since one month. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 9/10/2005 - Speaker rebuffs unilateral sanctions on syria
People's Assembly in Syria has denounced overnight unilateral sanctions against Syria imposed by, "certain countries on many other states among them is Syria." Syria-USA, Politics, 9/10/2005 - Iran will not give up right to nuclear technology: Rafsanjani
Chairman of Expediency Council in Iran, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, has stressed the necessity of realizating security and stability in Iraq calling upon the Iraqi people to unify ranks to face their problems. Iran-USA, Politics, 9/10/2005 - Garang plane crash not due to technical problems
A senior Russian experts taking part in the investigation into the plane crash in which the Sudanese First Vice President and leader of southern Sudan People Liberation movement, John Garang, was killed, said that the accident was not a result of any technical failure in the Ugandan helicopter which was carrying him. Sudan-Uganda, Politics, 9/10/2005 - Four kidnapped Iranians diplomats are in Israel; former prisoner
One Iranian prisoner who spent 17 months in al-Khayyam jail, in south Lebanon, said on Friday that he saw in his own eye the four Iranian diplomats who were kidnapped in Lebanon during the Israeli invasion in 1982, alive in one of the Israeli jails. Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 9/10/2005 - US army blocks the Iraqi army from Iraq's airport
A British company which is in charge of Baghdad's airport said it closed on Friday Baghdad's airport over a difference on its contract with the Iraqi government and the company. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/10/2005 - Syria works to prevent infiltration to Iraq, Castello says
The Syrian authorities are cooperating and working to prevent infiltration of the armed personnel to Iraq through its borders, Commander-in-Chief of US Central Command Brig. Gen. John Castello said yesterday, hoping for more efforts in this regard. Syria-USA, Politics, 9/10/2005 - Bush sidesteps Lahoud in NY
US President George W. Bush excluded his Lebanese counterpart Emil Lahoud from attending a reception in New York for leaders taking part in the UN summit next week. Lebanon-USA, Politics, 9/10/2005 - Official eulogy, people's absence for Moussa Arafat's funeral
A veiled spokesman on the name of the people's resistance committee said that Manhal was released after Palestinian authority negotiators promised to deal with consequences of "crimes of the collaborator Moussa Arafat." Palestine, Politics, 9/10/2005 - UN investigator postpones his visit to Syria Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 9/10/2005
- Mubarak receives telephone call from al-Qathafi Egypt-Libya, Politics, 9/10/2005
- Washington against Hamas in the government
The White House announced prior rejection to any contacts with representatives for the Islamic resistance movement Hamas who might win the next legislative elections in the Palestinian territories due on January 25th, 2006. Palestine-USA, Politics, 9/10/2005 - Lebanese scholar stresses deep ties with Syria Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 9/10/2005
- Mubarak heads for new term of office
The Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is heading to win a new term of office in the first multi-candidate presidential elections, the authorities described as historic, while the opposition and other non-governmental organizations said it witnessed vast fraud. Egypt, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Human rights situation in Iraq of serious concern, UN reports
The top United Nations envoy in Iraq yesterday voiced serious concern over the human rights situation in the war-torn country, including allegations of extra-judicial executions, consistent reports of excessive use of force and mass detentions of people without warrants, and the displacement of populations in security operations. Iraq, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Sinioura: No boycott of Lahoud
The Lebanese prime minister Fouad Sinioura on Thursday in Cairo, where he took part in the meeting of the Arab foreign ministers, denied a boycott against President Emil Lahoud, saying that that the relations between them is transparent and is governed by the constitution and the law. Lebanon, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Qindil's interrogated for the second time on Hariri assassination
The chairman of the UN investigation committee into the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, Detlev Mehlis, on Thursday interrogated Lebanese parliamentarian Nasser Qindil who is aligned with Syria, for the second time in less than 10 days. His office aid said that he was interrogated as a witness. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Syria denies existence of its intelligence in Lebanon
The Lebanese Maronite Bishops council on Wednesday accused the Syrian intelligence of having "invisible" presence in Lebanon. A statement by the council said that there are incidents that "raise concern, including continued work of Syrian and non-Syrian intelligence within the Lebanese territories, in an invisible way," Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Mehlis asked for extension to his investigation
Chairman of the UN investigation team to the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri, Detlev Mehlis, notified the UN secretary general Kofi Annan that he need 40 days to complete the investigations which so far ended in detaining four major officials of the Lebanese government security system. Lebanon, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Arab League opens an office in Iraq
In their meeting which lasted for one day in Cairo, the Arab Foreign ministers agreed to open an office for the Arab League (AL) in Iraq after the Iraqi President Jalal al-Talibani blamed them for their reservation to dispatching ambassador to his country. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Washington: Egyptian elections are a historic progress
Washington on Thursday described the Egyptian presidential election as the "first positive strides," despite information about falsification operations in certain ballot centers. Egypt-USA, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Arab League council of foreign ministers kicks off in Cairo
Arab League Council of Foreign Ministers stressed Thursday the necessity of preserving Iraq's identity and unity as well as complete the Iraqi political process with the participation of all Iraqis. Regional, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Arab League fails to define a date for Arab summit
The Arab foreign ministers who held a one day meeting in Cairo on Thursday failed to reach an agreement on the date for the special Arab summit which Egypt had proposed to convene following Sharm al-Sheikh attacks in Sinai on July 23. Regional, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Tishrin: Israel's withdrawal from Gaza due to Palestinian resistance: Qaddoumi
Chairman of the Political Department at the Palestinian Liberation Organization Farouk al-Qaddoumi has said "the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza was because of the Palestinian resistance," asserting that the resistance is a main factor in any forthcoming settlement. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Vagueness on death of Yasser Arafat
Vagueness surrounding the death of the former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on November 11, 2004 has increased with the leaks of what was called a medical report which was handed over from the French hospital to the Arafat's nephew Nasser al-Qidwa after his ( Arafat) death. Palestine, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Annan takes quick steps in response to Oil-for-Food findings
the Volcker report helped not only to get to the truth of what had happened in the Oil-for-Food Program, but also served as "lessons learned on how we can improve the administration of this organization." Iraq-UN, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Abul-Gheit: Arab coordination on holding anti-terror summit
He added that Egypt has recently sent a message to the UN Secretary General expressing its willingness to revive the issue through calling for holding an extraordinary General Assembly session to examine it. Regional-Egypt, Politics, 9/9/2005 - Egyptian opposition talk of election irregularities
The process of counting Egyptian votes started in the first multi candidate presidential election to take place in the country amid accusations from the opposition and organizations of violations during it. Egypt, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Tunisia ban journalists conference
The Tunisian authorities banned on Wednesday the convening of the first conference for the journalists Union, which is not officially recognized by the authority. This was after the reservation of one hall dedicated for the conference was cancelled. Tunisia, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Sudanese FM: Mubarak issues directives for establishing Egyptian projects in south Sudan
Sudanese Foreign Minister Mostafa Othman Ismail said following a meeting Tuesday with Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul -Gheit that they discussed projects Egypt is implementing in South Sudan in line with the directives of President Hosni Mubarak. Sudan-Egypt, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Information minister-lecture on restructuring media establishment
Syria's Information Minister Mehdi Dakhlallah said that his ministry is exerting incessant efforts in order to deal with a number of issues related to the restructuring the official media establishment. Syria, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Moroccan authorities release Imam expelled from Italy
The Moroccan police released the Moroccan Imam, Bureiqi Bushta, who was expelled by the Italian authorities according to the laws on what is called "fighting terrorism". Morocco-Italy, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Sinioura will not take part in UN summit, if Lahoud does
The Lebanese prime minister Foaud Sinioura announced he will not take part in the works of the UN General Assembly summit which will be launched next week if the President Emil Lahoud persists to attend it. Lebanon-UN, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Talks to produce UN World Summit document going to the wire, Annan says
With Secretary-General Kofi Annan warning yesterday that talks to produce an outcome document for next week's United Nations World Summit are going down to the wire, Member States are conducting direct, inter-governmental negotiations on all the outstanding issues related to development. Regional-UN, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Al-Assad will not represent Syria at the UN summit
A high ranking Syrian official said that the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will not attend the world summit at the United Nations which will be held on September 14 through 16 in New York, a summit that will deal with UN reforms. Syria-UN, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Iran should not be lectured to on nuclear issues
Iran-Nuclear-Larijani Secretary General of Iran Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani said Wednesday that Iran is a big country and should not be talked to form a position of power Iran-UN, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Lucien Bitterlain expresses French solidarity with Syria
Chairman of the Syrian-French Friendship Association expressed Wednesday French people's solidarity and support to Syria in facing the pressure she has been undergoing. Syria-France, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Talibani: Saddam admits executing people; deserves strangling 20 times a day
The Iraqi President Jalal al-Talibani said that the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein admitted to carrying out execution operations during his rule, considering that he deserves to be strangled 20 times a day. Iraq, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Moussa receives Sudanese FM
Ismail said a new round of negotiations would be held in Abuja on September 15 between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels in order to resume discussions on key issues such as power and wealth sharing as the two issues has not been settled during the previous round. Sudan-Regional, Politics, 9/8/2005 - UN credibility must be restored, says Volcker
"In essence, the responsibility for the failures must be broadly shared, starting we believe with Member States and the Security Council itself," he said. The program left too much initiative with Iraq -- a "compact with the Devil." Iraq-UN, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Silva Kiir satisfaction on investigation of Garang killing
The leader of the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement, Vice President Silva Kiir, expressed his satisfaction over the process of investigation regarding the helicopter crash which was transporting his predecessor John Garang by the end of July, and resulted in his death. Sudan-Uganda, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Al-Jazeera: people's resistance assassinated Moussa Arafat
Al-Jazeera satellite TV reported that a spokesman for al-Naser Salah Eddine contingents, the military wing of the people's resistance committees, announced responsibility for the assassination of Lt. Gen. Moussa Arafat, the military advisor for the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and former chairman of the Palestinian military intelligence department. Palestine, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Hamas: Israel aims to interfere in our internal elections
The Islamic resistance movement ( Hamas) rejected the Israeli intervention in the Palestinian legislative elections set for January 2006, stressing that the "elections are but an internal Palestinian issue." Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Abul-Gheit discuses Israeli withdrawal with Moratinos over phone
Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul- Gheit Tuesday conferred over the telephone with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos on the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the steps that should be taken to complete the pullout, extend the Palestinian Authority's control over the entire Strip and resume peace talks. Egypt-Spain, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Continued attacks on aid workers in Darfur
The spokeswoman for the UN, Radia Ashouri, said that gunmen in Darfur district, west Sudan, are still launching attacks against foreign aid workers. Sudan-UN, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Pakistan, India open talks on Iran gas pipeline
The Irsanian official news agency IRNA reported today that: Senior Pakistani and Indian officials on Thursday opened two-day talks on the proposed multi-billion dollars Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, a petroleum ministry official said. Iran-Regional, Politics, 9/8/2005 - Negotiations on constitution end with no amendments Iraq, Politics, 9/8/2005
- Tourkmani: intensive unjust campaign propagated against Syria Syria-Regional, Politics, 9/8/2005
- Bush to receive Iraqi President Jalal Talabani Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/8/2005
- Lebanese Maronite bishops call for ending Lahoud accusations Lebanon, Politics, 9/8/2005
- Al chief and presidential elections in Egypt Regional-Egypt, Politics, 9/8/2005
- Al-Assad receives Kaddoumi Syria-Palestine, Politics, 9/8/2005
- Saudi delegation to the UN summit Saudi Arabia-UN, Politics, 9/8/2005
- Siniora to meet Mubarak Lebanon-Egypt, Politics, 9/8/2005
- Pakistani premiere expresses his country's rejection to recognize Israel Israel-Pakistan, Politics, 9/8/2005
- Mubarak faces two rivals in elections
The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, 77 years old, seeks to assume a fifth term of office of 6 years period in the elections to be held today, following a constitutional amendment to permit multiple candidates instead of the referendum over one candidate chosen by the parliament as used to happen in the past. Egypt, Politics, 9/7/2005 - Supervising elections conflict in Egypt
Hours before the launching of the first multi candidate presidential elections in Egypt, the administrative judiciary court said that judges, alienated by the presidential elections committee from supervising the voting operations, had the right to supervise. Egypt, Politics, 9/7/2005 - Iraqi Sunni killed while helping Shiite stampede victims
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad has praised the heroism of Othman al-Obeidi, a young Sunni man who lost his life while attempting to rescue Shiite pilgrims who fell into the Tigris River August 31 as the result of a panicked stampede over the Adhamyia bridge in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraq, Politics, 9/7/2005 - Syrian agent provides Mehlis new information on Hariri assassination
The "intelligence on line" internet news site specialized in intelligence affairs reported that the investigation of the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri achieved progress following a high ranking Syrian military official defection Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 9/7/2005 - al-Jazeera: Moussa Arafat assassinated
Al-Jazeera satellite TV said that unidentified gunmen assassinated today at dawn Lt. Gen. Mousa Arafat, former chairman of the Palestinian military intelligence and the advisor for the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. They also kidnapped his son. Palestine, Politics, 9/7/2005 - Gowelli calls for Arab marshal plan
Secretary-General of the Arab Economic Unity Council Ahmed Goweili said that time is ripe to implement an Arab Marshall Plan for re-construct and development in the Arab area especially in Palestine, Iraq and Sudan. Regional, Politics, 9/7/2005 - Sudan's Liberation Movement boycotts Abuja talks next week
The African Union officially extended the invitation to the Sudanese government and the two main rebel movements in Darfur to resume negotiations in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, in the mid of this month. Sudan, Politics, 9/7/2005 - Mismanagement and corruption in Iraq oil-for-food program
The Security Council today formally received the final report of the Independent Inquiry Commission (IIC) into charges of mismanagement of the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program under which the sanctions-bound regime of Saddam Hussein was allowed to sell oil to buy food and medicines. Iraq-UN, Politics, 9/7/2005 - Zarqawi criticizes Saudi Arabia rulers abuse of country
The leader of al-Jihad al-Qaida organization in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, criticized the rulers of Saudi Arabia and described them as tyrants who permitted the west of take the resources of the kingdom. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 9/7/2005 - Al-Assad's participation at UN summit uncertain
Syrian senior official to the UN announced on Tuesday that there was no official confirmation that President Bashar al-Assad would head the Syrian delegation to UN summit in New York. Syria-UN, Politics, 9/7/2005 - Arab League office in Iraq, Arab summit delay
The secretary general of the Arab League (AL) Amr Moussa said on Tuesday that the Arab foreign ministers will discuss in their meeting tomorrow and on Friday in Cairo the convening of an urgent Arab summit Egypt had called for. Regional-Iraq, Politics, 9/7/2005 - Saudi Arabia calls for international center to fight terrorism
Saudi Arabia has called the UN General Assembly which convenes its meeting this month to to adopt a proposal by Saudi Arabia for founding an international center to what is called the fighting of terrorism. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 9/7/2005 - Israeli scouts delegation in Tunisia
Participants in the world's 37th conference for the scouts movement, which is being held for the first time in Tunisia, called on Tuesday for the dissemination of the culture of peace and breaking all geographical, ethnical and religious boundaries among the peoples of the world so as to build a more peaceful, secure and tolerant world. Tunisia-Israel, Politics, 9/7/2005 - Egypt denies Mubarak intends to visit Israel Egypt-Israel, Politics, 9/7/2005
- Islamic scholars underline relations with Syria Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 9/7/2005
- Al-Baath: US campaign targets Syria and Lebanon, Khouri says Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 9/7/2005
- Women parliamentary delegations in Libya Libya-Regional, Politics, 9/7/2005
- Families of Libyan prisoners of opinion concerned
Several relatives and families of the Libyan political detainees expressed the feeling of surprise over the decision of the minister of justice which called for the release of criminal prisoners, including first rate criminals, at a time when several university teachers and engineers are still inside prisons. Libya, Politics, 9/6/2005 - Sinioura: killers of Hariri will be prosecuted no matter who they are
Sinioura considered that what is taking place "is a return back to straightforwardness in the work of the government establishments, so as to end the 'state of security', and establish the rule of the law." He asked "is it normal when officials responsible for the security of citizens conspire against this very security." Lebanon, Politics, 9/6/2005 - AU official: Darfur rebels are thieves; SPLA forces join army
1500 soldiers from the forces of the Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA), the armed portion of the Sudan People Liberation (SPLM) headed by Sudan's First Vice President, on Sunday went to Khartoum in order to form a joint unit with the government forces Sudan-European Union, Politics, 9/6/2005 - Golanese renew attachment to Arab identity
Abu Saleh underlined the active role of media in "conveying strife of the Arab citizens in Golan and in unveiling the Zionist inhuman violations that contradict the simplest principles of human rights." Syria-Israel, Politics, 9/6/2005 - Talibani criticizes Arab states for weak diplomatic representation
The Iraqi President Jalal al-Talibani strongly criticized the Arab states over their weak diplomatic representation in Iraq, and he expressed his regret over the fact that most of them did not help the Iraqi people in the painful incident of the "Imams bridge stampede" which claimed the life of more than 1000 persons. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 9/6/2005 - Nearby settlement of Egypt - Gaza border crossing
An official in the office of the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said that the Israeli and Palestinian sides might reach a settlement in the few coming days over monitoring the transfer of goods and people via crossings located between Egypt and Gaza, after the Israeli withdrawal. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/6/2005 - Israeli sources expect Mubarak's visit to Tel Aviv shortly
Israeli sources expected that the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will shortly visit Israel before the end of the current year. Egypt-Israel, Politics, 9/6/2005 - Iran's strategic weapons programs -- a net assessment
A report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) says Iran is unlikely to have stockpiled relevant quantities of nuclear material for bomb making. Iran-Regional, Politics, 9/6/2005 - China opposed to bringing Iran nuclear issue to UN Security Council Iran-China, Politics, 9/6/2005
- Erdogan says anti-Islamism is a crime against humanity Turkey-European Union, Politics, 9/6/2005
- Elections committee defies an Egypt court
The Egyptian Presidential Elections Committee which oversees the elections rejected to abide by the decision of "administrative district's court", on the right of the civil society organizations to participate in monitoring the election process, and ruled out the candidacy of Wahid al-Aqsari. Egypt, Politics, 9/5/2005 - Abul-Gheit: Egypt to host conference on national reconciliation in Somalia Egypt-Somalia, Politics, 9/5/2005
- $500 from each Kuwaiti, Qatari citizen to USA hurricane disaster
The Arab Gulf states were the first among countries which provided aid to the devastated victims of Katrina hurricane in the United States. On Sunday, Kuwait announced offering $ 500 million while Qatar announced donating $ 100 million. Gulf-USA, Politics, 9/5/2005 - Decentralization proposed in the Iraqi constitution
Differences over the draft Iraqi constitution continued amid contradictory statements between the Shiite and Sunni negotiators in the formulation committee, just less than one and a half months before a referendum on it. Iraq, Politics, 9/5/2005 - Draft constitution can help unify Iraq, US ambassador says
Iraq's draft constitution should be evaluated on two standards: its substance in the areas of democracy, human rights and proposed political structure; and its potential to be a national compact that brings Iraqis together and undermines the insurgency. It meets the first test. With respect to the second, the jury will decide in the Oct. 15 referendum. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/5/2005 - Call to boycott the Egyptian elections
Six non-governmental Egyptian organizations called for boycotting the presidential elections or voting for any candidate other than President Hosni Mubarak. Egypt, Politics, 9/5/2005 - Egypt: Priority for defending human dignity
Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul -Gheit Sunday opened the annual International Program on Humanitarian Studies. Egypt, Politics, 9/5/2005 - Zeibari: Iraq to open embassy in Kuwait
The Iraqi foreign minister Hoshiar Zeibari said on Sunday that Iraq will reopen its embassy in Kuwait within weeks. This will be for the first time since its closure following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Iraq-Kuwait, Politics, 9/5/2005 - New calls for Lahoud's resignation
Pressure on the Lebanese president Emil Lahoud to push him to resign increased after one Lebanese judge issued on Saturday warrant of arrest against four senior aides accusing them of involvement in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri. Lebanon, Politics, 9/5/2005 - Ditlive Mehlis in Damascus within days
An official source at the Syrian foreign ministry announced an agreement with Detlev Mehlis, the UN chief investigator on the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafikq al-Hariri, to come to Damascus on Sept 10. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 9/5/2005 - Shara meets Qaddoumi: Palestinian unity underlined
Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara discussed Sunday with Head of the Political Department at the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Farouk al-Qaddoumi, the recent developments in the region. Syria-Palestine, Politics, 9/5/2005 - Saddam's trial to be limited to al-Dajil incident
The spokesman for the Iraiq government Leith Kebbe has not ruled out that the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will only be tried over his role in al-Dajil case which goes back to 1982 and to receive death penalty, waiting not for other sessions in other cases he is accused of, if the higher council for justice and the presidential council ratify the sentence against him. Iraq, Politics, 9/5/2005 - Al-Ahram: Nabil Fahmi: New measures for consolidating Egypt-US relations
"The new coming weeks are to witness measures for consolidating further bilateral relations between Egypt and the United States including the free trade zones establishment and boosting the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ) agreement," Egypt ambassador to the United States Nabil Fahmi said. Egypt-USA, Politics, 9/5/2005 - UAE denies existence of an Israeli mission in Dubai
The United Arab Emirates UAE has denied what was stated by Israeli papers on opening am Israeli diplomatic representation office in Dubai, stressing its cling to the Arab peace initiative which links normalization with Israel to its withdrawal from all occupied Arab lands in 1967. United Arab Emirates-Israel, Politics, 9/5/2005 - Two Israeli ministers visit Tunis in November
An Israeli official announced on Sunday that the Israeli foreign minister Silvan Shalom and the minister of communications Dalia Ishaq will visit Tunisia in November to take part in the world summit on telecommunications. Tunisia-Israel, Politics, 9/5/2005 - Syrian citizens of Golan conclude visits to homeland Syria-Israel, Politics, 9/5/2005
- Erdogan and peace in the Middle East Regional-Turkey, Politics, 9/5/2005