Arabic News Weekly Edition for Politics, 9/12/2005
Weekly Edition, Politics - Week of September 12, 2005
- Allouni put in prison, again
The Spanish police announced the detention of al-Jazeera correspondent in Spain, Taiyseer Allouni, who was under home arrest. Regional-Spain, Politics, 9/17/2005 - Bashir in Egypt
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak receives Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir who was due in Alexandria Saturday on a one-day visit to congratulate President Mubarak on his victory in the recent presidential elections. Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 9/17/2005 - Meirghani splits from Sudanese opposition coalition
At a time when special meetings of the commission of the democratic national coalition leadership in Cairo continued since last Tuesday in order to finalize a formula over participation of the coalition in the national unity government, the coalition was surprised by an unexpected step taken by its chairman and leader of the democratic federal party Muhammad Othman al-Meirghani. Sudan, Politics, 9/17/2005 - Security forces mentioned in Beirut's explosions
Lebanese parliamentarians on Saturday loomed to the responsibility of the Lebanese security forces which worked during the Syrian presence period for the al-Ashrafeyah explosions which took place on Friday evening and killed one person and injured other 22. Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 9/17/2005 - Ahmadinejad on Iran nuclear rights; will not be bullied
IRNA reported that Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said that referral of Iran's nuclear dossier to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has no legal basis and even if it goes to the UNSC, there is clear-cut procedure to deal with it. Iran-UN, Politics, 9/17/2005 - UN Security Council reforms fail
Major Security Council reforms to expand and democratize the Council have failed during this UN summit. Regional-UN, Politics, 9/17/2005 - Mubarak outlines six elements for the United Nations reform
President Mubarak stressed the importance of launching the United Nations reform saying that international efforts and institutional reform of the United Nations must run in parallel with efforts aimed at eliminating terrorism which could undermine international community efforts to establish international peace and security. Egypt-Regional, Politics, 9/17/2005 - UN General Assembly president urges Member States to deliver on Summit declaration
Member States have the duty to ensure that this week's World Summit outcome document makes a real difference in the outside world, especially given the anger of so many people about the pace of progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the General Assembly's President Jan Eliasson said yesterday. Regional-UN, Politics, 9/17/2005 - Rice rules out resorting to force against Syria
The US secretary of state Condaleezza Rice ruled out resorting to the military force against Syria. She said this matter is not being considered at the meantime. Syria-USA, Politics, 9/17/2005 - Jordanian King calls Sharon to pullout from West Bank
The Jordanian King Abdullah II demanded the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon to withdraw from the West bank as the next step after the Gaza withdrawal. This was expressed during Abdullah's meeting with Sharon in New York on the sideline of the UN world summit. Jordan-Israel, Politics, 9/17/2005 - A-Qassma threaten to convert the security strip into another Shabaa Farms
Groups of Ezz Eddine al-Qassma, the military wing of the Islamic resistance movement Hamas, threatened to convert the so-called buffer zone Israel wants to establish in north of Gaza to a place of horror and destruction. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/17/2005 - Members of the African coalition for human rights Regional, Politics, 9/17/2005
- Pakistan: Aziz rules out trade relations with Israel now
Pakistan's prime minister Shawkat Aziz on Friday ruled out the possibility of establishing trade relations with Israel at this time. Israel-Pakistan, Politics, 9/17/2005 - Lifting banking secrecy from eight Lebanese officials
A banking official said that the banking committee in charge of fighting money laundry chaired by the governor of the Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salameh, decided to lift the banking secrecy protection off the accounts of 8 Syrian figures and Lebanese figures close to Syria. Lebanon, Politics, 9/16/2005 - Differences between government, People's Movement over energy ministry
The leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and first Vice President, Sylva Kiir, said that the difference over the ministry of energy is still delaying the formation of the Sudanese interim government. Sudan, Politics, 9/16/2005 - US threats against syria are due to US failure in Iraq, papers
The USA is increasing pressure on Syria in order to escape blame from the impasse in Iraq, the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi paper said Thursday. Syria-USA, Politics, 9/16/2005 - The Independent: Occupation instigate sedition for excuse to stay in Iraq
Internationally recognized British Journalist Robert Fisk accused the US and Britain of instigating sedition and civil war in Iraq. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/16/2005 - Arab organizations condemn Iraq bombs
General Secretariat of International Federation for Arab Trade Unions on Thursday strongly condemned the latest acts of terror which took place in several Iraqi cities and claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people yesterday. Iraq-Regional, Politics, 9/16/2005 - Fox News: Rice calls for continued pressures on Syria
The US secretary of state Condaleezza Rice called on Thursday on the international community to pressure Syria "because it might have known of what had taken place in Lebanon," in remarks to the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri. Syria-USA, Politics, 9/16/2005 - US on Israeli Supreme Court decision on the seperation wall
Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman for the US Department Of State was asked "within the last day the Israeli Supreme Court has just issued a ruling unanimously, which says that the barrier wall on the West Bank must be rerouted to help the Palestinians gain some control over their lives.Ê But also in the Gaza strip there's been other anarchy and apparently Hamas has blown a hole in the wall -- the fence there.Ê And have you spoken to President Mubarek as far Egyptian troops to gain control there?" Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/16/2005 - Norway withdraws from Iraq, following election of new leadership Iraq-Norway, Politics, 9/16/2005
- Qatar's foreign minister meets with Israeli peer
Qatar's foreign minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jaber al-Thani held talks with his Israeli peer Silvan Shalom, on the sideline of the meetings of the UN General Assembly in New York. Qatar-Israel, Politics, 9/16/2005 - Blair asked to withdraw Iraq troops Iraq-UK, Politics, 9/16/2005
- Syria signs international agreement on combating nuclear terrorism Syria, Politics, 9/16/2005
- Amended draft Iraqi constitution handed over
Deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Hussein al-Shahristani, said that an amended draft for the permanent Iraqi constitution was handed over to the UN mission in Baghdad, which will assume its circulation to Iraqi citizens prior to the referendum set for mid October. Iraq, Politics, 9/15/2005 - Libya stretches reconciliation hand to Saudi Arabia
Libya on Wednesday expressed readiness to resume normal relations with Saudi Arabia and to bring back its ambassador to Riyadh, following cassation between the two states that lasted for 10 months. Libya-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 9/15/2005 - Iran ready to transfer nuclear technology to Islamic states
Referring to the decrease of fossil fuel reserves and the country's need to use at least 20,000 MW of electricity, he said, "The Islamic Republic never seeks weapons of mass destruction and with respect to the needs of Islamic countries, we are ready to transfer nuclear know-how to these countries." Iran-Turkey, Politics, 9/15/2005 - British war crimes lawyer: Israeli ambassador helped Israeli general escape the law
British lawyer in charge of bringing to justice a retired Israeli general for committing war crimes against the Palestinians called to strip immunity of the Israeli ambassador and his staff in London to unveil how the legal order to arrest the Israeli General reached the Israeli embassy that helped hide the Israeli general from British law. Israel-UK, Politics, 9/15/2005 - Egyptian culture minister quits over fire incident
The Egyptian minister of culture Farouk Hosni gave his resignation on Wednesday to President Hosni Mubarak. Egypt, Politics, 9/15/2005 - Reactions to US pressure on Syria
General Union of Arab Students in Syria stressed Wednesday its support to Syria in the face of "US - Zionist pressures and baseless campaigns against her". Syria-USA, Politics, 9/15/2005 - Syrian official source-condemns Baghdad explosives
A Syrian Foreign Ministry official source announced on Wednesday that "the Syrian government and people have felt sharp pain over the news of the terrorist bombings that took place in Baghdad where many innocent lost their life," SANA reported. Syria-Iraq, Politics, 9/15/2005 - Zarqawi announces vast war on Shiite
In a taped message, distributed on one sites on the Internet, the leader of al-Qaida organization in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, announced comprehensive war against "the Shiite wherever they are in Iraq." Iraq, Politics, 9/15/2005 - Sunnis deplore Baghdad's explosions
Sunni figures and establishments including the Muslim Scholars Commission and the Islamic Party as well as the Sunni Waqf denounced Baghdad's Wednesday explosions and called for calming down the situation. Iraq, Politics, 9/15/2005 - Egypt closes border as Palestinians flock back to Gaza
The Egyptian authorities closed its borders with Gaza and prevented the Palestinians from crossing to the Egyptian Rafah via the fence along the borders. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 9/15/2005 - Lebanon detains leaders of outlaw party that calls for killing Palestinians
The Lebanese authorities detained three leaders of the Christian extremist "Hurras al-Arz" (the guards of cedar) party. Lebanon-Palestine, Politics, 9/15/2005 - Al-Assad talks about unjustified threats to Syria Syria-USA, Politics, 9/15/2005
- Ahmadinejad: No world peace by hegemony Iran-Lebanon, Politics, 9/15/2005
- Syria's grand mufti underlines religious tolerance
Syria's grand Mufti and the Armenian consul discussed Wednesday the religious tolerance in Syria as well as in the Arab region saying "we have been carrying both Islam and Christianity as an honor message that benefits all people and countries." Syria-Armenia, Politics, 9/15/2005 - Sharon, Musharraf shake hands
Israeli TV channel 2 said on Wednesday that the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and the Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf shook hands in one of the UN lounges. Israel-Pakistan, Politics, 9/15/2005 - Bush commends Sharon Israel-USA, Politics, 9/15/2005
- Baghdad joins Washington in attack against Syria
The Iraqi officials continued accusations against Syria after the US ambassador in Baghdad strong statements this week against Syria. Iraq-Syria, Politics, 9/14/2005 - Lahoud: Palestinian Diaspora has right to return to their lands
President Emile Lahoud of Lebanon on Tuesday renewed his country's commitment to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on the UN relevant international resolutions on the Arab-Israeli conflict, including the UN resolution No. 194 on the right of the Palestinian Diaspora to return to their lands. Lebanon-Regional, Politics, 9/14/2005 - Darfur rebels claim government attacked them
Darfur's rebels announced that the Sudanese government forces killed ten of its members and at least other ten of its members were injured in continued clashes along the three past days. Sudan, Politics, 9/14/2005 - Syria rejects US accusations on Iraq as baseless
Syria strongly rejected on Tuesday accusations of the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad over border infiltrations as "baseless," and said they were posing as another act in a series of the US pressures on Syria. Syria-USA, Politics, 9/14/2005 - Bush warns of wider isolation for Syria over its position on Iraq, Lebanon
The American President George W. Bush said that he is trying together with US allies to prevent Syria from obstructing the birth of democracy in the Middle East. He renewed accusations to Syria of facilitating the transit of foreign fighters to Iraq. Syria-USA, Politics, 9/14/2005 - Washington Post: Talibani speaks of partial US withdrawal
The Iraqi President Jalal al-Talibani said that the USA might pullout 50,000 of its soldiers from Iraq by the fall of the end of this year, justifying that to the readiness of the Iraqi forces to start controlling parts of the country. Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/14/2005 - London mayor and Muslims
Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, on Tuesday said that U.S. President George W. Bush and the so-called new right-wing conservatives are marketing the idea of clash of civilizations among Muslims and the West. Regional-UK, Politics, 9/14/2005 - Women for peace march marks final preparations in Syria
The organizational and technical committees for the "Women on Bicycles for Peace" rally, organized in Syria by the Syrian Panel for Family Affairs and Areeba Telecom Company, have put final touches for making the event a success to "present Syria's real image and express solidarity with the issues of Arab women and children." Syria-Regional, Politics, 9/14/2005 - Syrian FM reiterates linking pressures to syria's stances Syria-Regional, Politics, 9/14/2005
- Arab League criticizes pressures against Syria Syria-Regional, Politics, 9/14/2005
- Bush tells Iraqi president US support will not waver Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/14/2005
- Syria is pressed because of her demand of international legitimacy
Syria's Minister of Expatriates said on Monday Syria's insistence the the world countries live up to international legitimacy and law was the cause behind pressure she is exposed to. Syria-Regional, Politics, 9/13/2005 - al-Jazeera: Damascus rejects Washington's threats; considers it part of the pressure
Syria has rejected the new American accusations of helping "extremists" to sneak into Iraq via its borders, considering that the American threats and resorting to power is part of the pressure campaign against it. Syria-USA, Politics, 9/13/2005 - Riyadh to form a government commission for human rights
Saudi Arabia's government announced its determination to establish a government commission for human rights. This is the second commission of its kind in the kingdom since one and a half years. Saudi Arabia, Politics, 9/13/2005 - Dakhlullah on Syria's regional policies
Dakhlullah said the Palestinian people have been under unprecedented suffering in the modern history where many Palestinians were killed or displaced across the world as their question still unsolved despite UN Security Council resolutions which stress their right to restore the land and establish an independent state. Syria-Regional, Politics, 9/13/2005 - Iran's responce to nuclear political games will be firm and serious
Iran once again declared that its national nuclear program is designed to generate electricity and that it does not aim to produce nuclear arms. Iran-UN, Politics, 9/13/2005 - UN Hariri death investigator to interrogate Syrian officers
Chairman of the UN investigation team in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri, Detlev Mehlis, ended a decisive visit to Damascus where he is to return again to it by the end of the current week. Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 9/13/2005 - Lahoud heads for NY
The Lebanese President Emil Lahoud left Beirut for New York in order to take part in the works of the UN General Assembly world summit despite the objections of the Lebanese parliamentary majority which stands against Syria. Lebanon-UN, Politics, 9/13/2005 - Syria deny allowing foreign, Arab fighters into Iraq
the leader of al-Qaida organization in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, accused the American and Iraqi forces of using "poison gas and mass annihilation weapons" in their attack against Tel-Afer Syria-Iraq, Politics, 9/13/2005 - US ambassador to Iraq on reconstruction efforts
Khalilzad: Iraq is part of this region that we call a vital part of the world. So therefore, what happens in Iraq will affect the region. And what will happen in that region will affect us all. We are all very dependant on the region Iraq-USA, Politics, 9/13/2005 - Arab reaction to the Israeli pullback from Gaza
A United Arab Emirates Newspaper warned on Monday that the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip would remain imperfect as long as the Palestinian sovereignty is not complete by air, sea and land. Regional-Palestine, Politics, 9/13/2005 - Israel expresses to Egypt concern over controlling the borders with Gaza
one Palestinian was killed by bullets near the security fence which separates Gaza from Egypt. Witnesses said that the source of the bullets which hit the killed man in the head Egypt-Israel, Politics, 9/13/2005 - Arab League calls for comprehensive Israeli withdrawal
The Arab League on Monday demanded Israel withdraw from all the occupied Arab lands as of the June 4th, 1967 line, pointing out that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip must be a first step towards the comprehensive and complete withdrawal, according to the international resolutions and the Arab peace initiative. Regional-Palestine, Politics, 9/13/2005 - al-Assafir: Syrian Egyptian summit very soon Syria-Egypt, Politics, 9/12/2005
- Israel's occupation of Gaza ends
The Palestinian flag was hoisted over the areas from which Israel withdrew in Gaza marking the end of 38 years of the Israeli military occupation. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/12/2005 - Day of joy for Palestinians
The participants in the meeting discussed the measures for imposing full control on the liberated areas, and preventing violations, especially inside the settlements which were destroyed by Israel while Jewish Synagogues were left standing. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/12/2005 - Mauritania opposition leaders abroad return back today
Mauritanian opposition leaders said that a plane carrying scores of Mauritanian opposition abroad will be returning back in a group flight today. Mauritania-Senegal, Politics, 9/12/2005 - Egyptian Human Rights Organization praises atmosphere of presidential elections
The Egyptian Human Right Organization praised on Saturday the atmosphere in which the presidential elections were held on Wednesday and ended with the winning of President Hosni Mubarak. Egypt, Politics, 9/12/2005 - Demonstration of protest against Mubarak
In the center of Cairo, a massive demonstration took on Saturday evening the streets organized by the Egyptian movement for the change known as "Kefaya" ( enough). Egypt, Politics, 9/12/2005 - Secular opposition in Algeria for boycotting reconciliation document
The opposition coalition party for culture and democracy in Algeria has joined the advocates of the call to boycott the referendum on national reconciliation due on September 29th. Algeria, Politics, 9/12/2005 - Mubarak vows to continue reform
President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt has vowed to continue reforms, considering that what Egypt is witnessing "is a turning point in its history." This was expressed in his first statements after he won the presidential elections. Egypt, Politics, 9/12/2005 - Lebanese officials call to strengthen internal front
Head of Lebanese Najada Party Mustafa Hakim on Sunday warned against hostile plots which target distinguished relations with Syria who offered support to Lebanese resistance which defeated the Israeli occupation. Lebanon, Politics, 9/12/2005 - Annan 'very concerned' accord may not be reached on World Summit document
Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned Friday that he was "very concerned" that agreement might not be reached in time on a draft document for next week's World Summit at United Nations Headquarters in New York, and he urged "more give and take" from Member States. Regional-UN, Politics, 9/12/2005 - Iraqi government closes Rabea border point with Syria
The Iraqi government closed the Rabea border point with Syria, and the Iraqi minister of interior Bayan Jabber announced in a statement he will not permit from now on any of the carriers, including trains, to pass except those who have a permit from the ministry of interior. He also prevented persons not living in the area from entering it, and imposed curfew from the beginning of night until dawn. Iraq-Syria, Politics, 9/12/2005 - Egyptian troops start deployment on frontiers with Gaza
Egyptian troops Saturday started deployment on frontiers with Gaza in line with the agreement reached with Israel, according to an official source. Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 9/12/2005 - The Jewish synagogues in Gaza
The persistence of Israel not to demolish the synagogues in Gaza raised the regret of the Palestinian Authority which considered that as an attempt to embarrass it before the world and distort the image of the Palestinians if these synagogues are demolished. Palestine-Israel, Politics, 9/12/2005 - UN investigator in Damascus tomorrow Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 9/12/2005