Al Bawaba back issues from December 2002:
U.N. inspectors in Iraq admit: No surprise visits; U.S. deploys command center in Qatar
Dec 01, 2002 ... The head of a suspected weapons site in Iraq was tipped off to a"surprise" visit by UN arms inspectors, a spokesman for the armsinspectors in Baghdad admitted."He was informed the day before(Friday) that the team was coming to remove an air sampler andinstall a new one," Hiro Ueki, ...
Israeli raid on Gaza Strip: One Palestinian killed, three home destroyed
Dec 01, 2002 ... A Palestinian man was killed early Sunday and eight others injuredwhen Israeli armoured vehicles and soldiers backed by two combathelicopters stormed the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia,Palestinian security sources said.The dead man was identified asMahmud Saleh Al Wazani, 32. The ...
U.S. warns its citizens of terror attacks in Yemen, Djibouti
Dec 01, 2002 ... The United States said it had received information that attackssimilar to the anti-Israeli strikes on Thursday in Kenya could berepeated in Djibouti and Yemen and urged US nationals there tointensify their security precautions.In separate statements, theState Department Saturday warned ...
Iranian daily: Young unmarried couples not to be arrested in the streets
Dec 01, 2002 ... Iran's police is not authorized to arrest young unmarried couplesseen in the streets anymore, the government-run Iran newspaperreported on Saturday."The police forces are not allowed to stop andquestion young boys and girls seen together in the streets, as in thepast, unless there is a ...
New British ambassador to Iran takes up post
Dec 01, 2002 ... Britain's new ambassador to Iran, Richard Dalton, is to take uphis post on Sunday, ending a diplomatic stand-off of several monthswhich broke out when the Islamic republic refused to accept anothernominee, the British embassy said.Dalton, a Middle East expert andformer consul general in ...
Fire erupts in historic Citadel in Cairo
Dec 01, 2002 ... Fire broke out Friday in Cairo's Citadel compound, an ancientmonument considered one of Egypt's most important historical sitesand a major tourist attraction. The Citadel is an immense fortress,with many buildings and gardens surrounded by ramparts. It was builtby Saladin in the 12th ...
Four Algerian security forces killed
Dec 01, 2002 ... In Algeria, armed Islamic guerrillas killed four members of thecountry's security forces on Saturday, AFP said.It took ...
12 dead, many missing as migrant-smuggling ship sinks off Libyan coast
Dec 01, 2002 ... Twelve people were killed and 56 were missing early Sunday after aship smuggling more than 100 African citizens to Europe sank off theLibyan coast, according to official sources in Tripoli.The strickenfishing trawler, the nationality of which was not known, went downoff Tripoli late ...
11-year-old son of Turkish Prime Minister called for army duty
Dec 01, 2002 ... Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul's son has been called up to dohis military service even though he is only ... 11 years of age,Turkish media reported Saturday.Mehmet Emre Gul, who goes to schoolin the capital of Ankara, received a letter on Thursday from thedefense ministry ordering ...
Reports: Syrian President invited to visit Britain
Dec 01, 2002 ... Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been invited to pay anofficial visit to Britain, according to the Times and Jane's ForeignReport on Friday.The visit would mark the first ever to be made by aSyrian leader to Britain. It comes after Damascus gave full backingto United Nations Security ...
Experts: War on Iraq could cost 200 billion dollars
Dec 01, 2002 ... Informal estimates made by congressional staff and Washingtonthink tanks place the costs of an invasion of Iraq and a postwaroccupation of the country between $100 billion to $200 billion. Ifthe fighting is protracted, and President Saddam Hussein blows up hiscountry's oil fields, most ...
Is Hizbullah invisible leader involved in activities in Canada?
Dec 01, 2002 ... Placed on the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Most WantedTerrorists list and described as an alleged head of the securityapparatus for the Lebanese Hizbullah group, Imad Mugniyah's name hasrecently re-surfaced as authorities suspect he may be linked to anactive Canadian cell. In ...
Two Iraqi boats intercepted in Kuwaiti waters
Dec 01, 2002 ... On Saturday, Kuwait intercepted two Iraqi boats "infiltrating" theemirate's territorial waters.The two boats were spotted before dawnfive miles off Ohah island, an estimated 20 kilometers east of KuwaitCity by monitors from the Public Authority for Agriculture ...
Iranian President condemns attempted assassination of Turkmen counterpart
Dec 01, 2002 ... Iranian President Mohammad Khatami condemned the recentassassination attempt on his Turkmen counterpart, Saparmurat Niyazov,according to IRNA Sunday. During a phone conversation Saturday nightbetween the two presidents, Khatami expressed ...
Damascus Radio: Israeli Premier's victory in Likud to strengthen extremism
Dec 01, 2002 ... Damascus Radio on Saturday stressed that the "terrorist (IsraeliPrime Minister Ariel) Sharon could make a vital and essential changewithin (the) Likud (party) structure by winning the Likud election(s)over Netanyahu".According to the state-run radio, cited by SANA,observers, who monitor ...
Egyptian censors delete 115 scenes from Ramadan series due to indecency and political & religious controversy
Dec 01, 2002 ... This Ramadan, Egyptian drama series have proven to be most watchedby viewers in and outside the Arab world. Approximately 18 Arab localand satellite channels have bought rights to air Egyptian dramaseries. This month also experienced major cuts and omissions ofscenes and certain lines ...
Lucy rushed to hospital after passing out while shooting the final scenes of "Juha al Masri" due to kidney failure
Dec 01, 2002 ... Egyptian actress and belly dancer Lucy fainted in front ofEgyptian actor Yahia al Fakhrany while shooting the final scenes fromthe Ramadan series "Juha al Masri" (The Egyptian Juha). She wasimmediately rushed to the hospital for all necessary tests, only tofind out that Lucy is ...
Arab scholars accuse Mohammad Subhi of fabricating historical facts in his politically driven series "Faris Bila Jawad"
Dec 01, 2002 ... Controversial views are not limited to the Jews in Israel and theUS, but also have been extended to scholars in the Arab World.Historians have accused Mohammad Subhi, star of "Faris Bila Jawad"(Knight Without a Horse) of fabrication of facts and invalidhistorical dates. According to the ...
Sources: Former Saudi Intelligence Head nominated as ambassador to London
Dec 03, 2002 ... Former Saudi Arabian intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal,who has acknowledged meeting Osama bin Laden several times before1994, has been nominated to become the kingdom's ambassador toLondon, a Saudi source said Monday."Faisal is a candidate to succeedambassador Ghazi al-Gossaibi ...
Senior Tanzim activist arrested; Sharon says Arab states, PA interfering in Israeli elections
Dec 03, 2002 ... A senior Tanzim member was arrested late Monday in Bethlehem.According to Israel Radio, Muhammad Masalma, accused of recruitingand dispatching suicide bombers, and preparing explosive belts wasnabbed. In addition, Israeli troops arrested several aides ofMusalma, the report said ....
Study: number of Jews declining
Dec 03, 2002 ... The number of Jews in the world is declining with a net loss of300,000 American Jews in the last decade, according to a new study bythe Jewish Agency's Institute for Jewish People Policy Planning,cited by Haaretz. According to the institute, which convened anemergency session to deal ...
Algeria helps Morocco following floods
Dec 03, 2002 ... Algeria has sent gas assistance to the Moroccan eastern city ofOujda, the official MAP news agency reported Monday.The assistance,dispatched in trucks, comes in the ...
Moroccan King, French President hold talks in Casablanca
Dec 03, 2002 ... Morocco's King Mohammed VI and French President Jacques Chiracexchanged viewpoints on the development of a "special strategicpartnership" between their countries during talks held in Casablanca,according to a Moroccan official source.Chirac arrived on Monday inCasablanca for a short ...
Jordan's armed forces to obtain new weapons
Dec 03, 2002 ... Jordan's King Abdullah has announced plans to strengthen hiscountry's armed forces with a new air defense system and two newkinds of anti-tank missiles, officials said Monday.The Monarch toldarmy officers on Sunday that the air force and the army will obtainthe new weapons later on this ...
Arab League Head to visit Russia for talks on Iraq, Mid-East conflict
Dec 03, 2002 ... Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa said on Monday he wouldtravel to Russia on December 9th to review the Iraqi crisis and theArab-Israeli conflict.Mussa told journalists he had received aninvitation from the Russian government and that he ...
Cairo to train Palestinian police forces
Dec 03, 2002 ... Egypt has agreed to provide training to the Palestinian police,during talks held in the capital of Cairo with Palestinian interiorminister Hani al-Hassan, an Egyptian official said on Monday.OnSunday, Hassan discussed with his Egyptian counterpart Habib al-Adli"the means to support and ...
Sudanese "inadvertently" killed by Saudi security forces
Dec 03, 2002 ... In Saudi Arabia, security forces "inadvertently" shot dead aSudanese national who left a bank with a bag full of money in the RedSea port city of Jeddah, according to a newspaper report.The man wasfatally wounded in the head on Sunday when a bank protection unitopened fire after he ...
Asalah Nasri and Saber Al Rebaa'i light up the Eid al Fitir celebration in Beirut
Dec 01, 2002 ... With Eid Al Fitir being just around the corner, many Arab singershave already made deals with sponsors on where they want to performduring the Islamic holiday. Among many who will perform are AsalahNasri and Saber Al Rebaa'i. The two singers will host a live concertat the Sheraton Hotel ...
Reports: At least four Iraqis killed in Basra bombing; U.N. monitors continue inspections in Baghdad area
Dec 01, 2002 ... Western warplanes attacked an oil facility in Basra in southernIraq on Sunday, killing at least four people and wounding severalothers, residents said. U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, saidit had no information on the report. "We have nothing on it,"Lieutenant Colonel Martin ...
Israeli helicopters hit Palestinian vehicle in Gaza Strip; At least two reported killed
Dec 01, 2002 ... Two Israeli helicopters fired three missiles that hit a carnortheast of Gaza City on Sunday afternoon, Palestinian witnessessaid. The target of the attack was not immediately known. Rescueteams rushed to ...
Following Kenya attacks: Mossad activates ''sleeper'' agents in Saudi Arabia, Yemen
Dec 01, 2002 ... Israel's Mossad has activated "sleeper" agents in Saudi Arabia andYemen after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered his secret servicehead, Meir Dagan to track down the planners and perpetrators of lastFriday's dual attacks in Kenya. Quoting a well-informed source, theLondon Sunday Times ...
Saudi accident: 19 pilgrims killed
Dec 01, 2002 ... A collision between a truck and a bus carrying Muslims to Meccakilled 19 of the pilgrims and injured 22, Saudi police said Sunday.The bus was heading from al-Kharj, some 70 kilometers south ...
Yemeni-Bahraini Joint Committee to convene soon
Dec 01, 2002 ... Yemen's Minister of Planning and Development Ahmed Mohammed Sufanis to lead Yemen's delegation in the first round of the Yemeni-Bahraini joint ministerial committee, to be held at the end of thismonth, according to SABA, quoting the Al-Thawra daily. Both sides ...
Another fire erupts in Moroccan jail
Dec 01, 2002 ... A fire broke out Friday evening in the Sidi Moussa Jail of Al-Jadida, which was the scene earlier this month of a tragic fire thatkilled 50 inmates and wounded 40 others.The fire was immediatelycontrolled and ...
Syrian Agriculture Minister receives UN official for talks
Dec 01, 2002 ... Syria's Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform NourriddinMona received in the capital of Damascus Sunday the ResidentRepresentative of the UN Development Program Tawfeek BenAmara.According to SANA news agency, during the meeting, talksbetween the two focused on bilateral cooperation ...
Arab League Secretary General, Palestinian Minister meet in Cairo
Dec 01, 2002 ... Secretary General of the Arab League Amre Mousa met in theEgyptian capital of Cairo on Sunday with Palestinian Minister ofLocal Rule Sa'eb Oreiqat, who is currently paying a visit to Egypt.SPA news ...
Palestinian President sends message to Emir of Qatar
Dec 01, 2002 ... Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani has received averbal message from Palestinian President Yasser Arafat regarding thelatest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, theSaudi Press Agency ...
Saudi King congratulates United Arab Emirates President
Dec 01, 2002 ... Saudi Arabian King Fahd bin Abdulaziz has sent a cable ofcongratulations to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahayan, President ofthe United Arab Emirates on the occasion of his country's nationalday. On his own behalf, the Saudi people and government, the SaudiKing expressed his best wishes ...
Qatari Minister visits Saudi Arabia
Dec 01, 2002 ... Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmad bin AbdullahAl-Mahmoud arrived in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah on Sunday,according to SPA news agency. At King Abdulaziz ...
Palestinian killed in Gaza Strip; Israeli Army Chief urges Arafat exile
Dec 02, 2002 ... An Israeli soldier was lightly wounded and a Palestinian waskilled early Monday when the latter was trying to infiltrate into theGaza Strip settlement of Netzarim. The Israeli Army arrested earlyMonday 10 Palestinians. According to Israel Radio, six wereapprehended in the West Bank and ...
Kenya, Israel dispute over Mombassa attacks probe
Dec 02, 2002 ... Kenya will not heed Israeli demands to turn over some evidence inthe attacks on an Israeli-owned hotel and an Israeli jetliner, sayingSunday it would conduct the probe alone. The dispute threatened todelay the investigation into the suicide bombing Thursday of anIsraeli-owned hotel and ...
Saudi Arabia stops money transfers to relatives of Palestinian suicide bombers
Dec 02, 2002 ... Saudi Arabia no longer gives money directly to relatives ofPalestinian suicide bombers, but instead helps families in needthrough humanitarian organizations, a top Saudi official said Sunday."What we do in that case is we give money to the Palestinian RedCross and to the International ...
Human rights group asks Damascus to free dissident
Dec 02, 2002 ... A Paris-based Arab human rights group asked Damascus on Sunday torelease a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and his family who thegroup claimed were apprehended shortly after their extradition fromItaly.In addition, the Arab Human Rights Commission slammed theItalian decision to ...
Egyptian President calls on Israel to "change course"
Dec 02, 2002 ... Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday called on Israel to"change course" and seek a negotiated end to its conflict with thePalestinians, warning that injustice and despair were fuellingterrorism."I call on the leadership and the people of Israel torealize before it is too late that ...
Sudan, Uganda begin negotiations on military accord renewal
Dec 02, 2002 ... Sudan and Uganda started talks in Khartoum Sunday to renew amilitary accord that allows Kampala's forces to track down Ugandanrebels inside Sudan, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismailsaid.The discussions are conducted by Sudanese Defense Minister BekriHassan Salih and his Ugandan ...
Morocco pulls out over 30 bodies of illegal immigrants from sea
Dec 02, 2002 ... Authorities in Morocco on Sunday retrieved the bodies of 32illegal immigrants from the sea off the coast of Western Sahara,according to police officials.The circumstances of the death of theimmigrants, who were ...
Senegal's President concludes Saudi visit
Dec 02, 2002 ... Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade left the Saudi port city ofJeddah on Monday after he had performed Umrah, SPA reported. At KingAbdulaziz ...
Saudi Arabia to send relief aid to Morocco following floods
Dec 02, 2002 ... Saudi King Fahd bin Abdulaziz issued in the port city of Jeddah onMonday orders to provide relief aid to Morocco, after the NorthAfrican country had been hit by floods, ...
Emir of Qatar invites Kuwaiti Emir to GCC summit
Dec 02, 2002 ... Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani has sent a letterto Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Jaber al Ahmed al Sabah containing an invitation for the GCC 23rd summit, whichis to be held in Doha between December 21 and 22.The letter ...
Slovenian Minister of Interior to visit Cyprus
Dec 02, 2002 ... Slovenian Interior Minister Rado Bohinc is expected to arrive inCyprus on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to the island, at theinvitation of Cyprus Justice and Public Order Minister, ...
Denmark's Foreign Minister to visit Turkey, Greece to discuss Cyprus issue
Dec 02, 2002 ... Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller, whose country holds theEuropean Union (EU) rotating presidency is due to travel to Turkeyand Greece on Monday and Tuesday, to stress the significance ofputting an end to the Cyprus problem.A press release from the DanishEU presidency said Moller ...
Scud factory inspected; Iraq complains about Basra bombing
Dec 02, 2002 ... A U.N. inspection team on Monday went to a Baghdad factory thatmade guidance and control systems for Iraq's "stretch Scuds," Soviet-made missiles that the Iraqis modified to longer range and used inthe Gulf War. Iraqi Information Ministry officials said a second teamof inspectors visited ...
lawyer for Iranian professor sentenced to death appeals verdict
Dec 02, 2002 ... The lawyer for Iranian university professor Hashen Aghajari, whowas sentenced to death for insulting Islam, appealed the verdictMonday.Aghajari was condemned to hang last month after he questionedclerical rule, saying believers should not blindly follow seniorclerics.The sentence sparked ...
Bush ''not encouraged'' by inspections while Britain accuses Saddam of human rights violation
Dec 02, 2002 ... President Bush warned Saddam Hussein that he has until a Sundaydeadline to prove he is serious about averting war. After the firstweek of United Nations weapons inspections, Bush said: "So far, thesigns are not encouraging." "The inspectors are not in Iraq to playhide-and-seek with Mr ....
Egypt frees over 40 Islamic militants
Dec 03, 2002 ... The Egyptian prosecutor's office has ordered the release of 42members of the Islamic fundamentalist group Muslim Brotherhood,including a top figure, a judicial source said Monday.The Brotherhoodmembers were arrested at different times and locations, includingCairo and Sohag in the ...
Egypt gets back stolen artifacts from Switzerland
Dec 03, 2002 ... Switzerland has returned to the North African country of Egyptfour stolen artifacts, an official from the Egyptian Higher Councilof Antiquities said Monday.The artifacts have been placed temporarilyin the Egyptian Museum and will later be returned to their originallocations, Sabri Abdul ...
Syrian President invited to visit China
Dec 03, 2002 ... Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Monday received a letter fromChinese President Jiang Zemin.The letter was delivered to PresidentAssad by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister, Yang Win Chang, in thecourse of a meeting with the Syrian leader, in the presence ofForeign Minister Farouk ...
Damascus Radio: Israeli occupation, supported by the US - pushes region into "explosion"
Dec 03, 2002 ... Damascus Radio affirmed on Monday that the "terrorist (IsraeliPrime Minister) Ariel Sharon couldn't abort the Palestinian Intifada"or uprising, which began over two years ago.The state-run radio, inits daily political commentary, said that the continuation of theIsraeli occupation, ...
Moroccan King thanks Algerian President for aid
Dec 03, 2002 ... Morocco's King Mohammed VI has sent Algerian President AbdelazizBouteflika a message of thanks for the solidarity Algeria has showedRabat following the floods that recently hit the North AfricanKingdom."We have received with consideration and recognition thefinancial and technical ...
Sudan, Yemen, Ethiopia Foreign Ministers to hold meeting
Dec 03, 2002 ... Foreign Affairs Ministers from Sudan, Yemen and Ethiopia are dueto meet in Khartoum following Eid Al-Fitr vacation, an official inthe Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday. The meeting isexpected to discuss the formation of a joint ministerial committee,along with various ...
Britain's Foreign Secretary visits Turkey for talks on Iraq, Cyprus
Dec 03, 2002 ... British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is expected to fly Tuesday toTurkey to discuss the Iraqi crisis as well as means to resolve thedispute in Cyprus, British officials said on Monday. Ankara is viewedas an important ally of the West in the fight against internationalterrorism, and its ...
Egypt court orders retrial to Saad Eddin Ibrahim
Dec 03, 2002 ... Egypt's top appeals court ordered a retrial for an Egyptian-American sociologist on Tuesday, overturning his conviction fortarnishing the country's image with his writings on democracy and foralleged financial crimes by his think tank. Saad Eddin Ibrahim'sconviction and sentencing to ...
Elaine Khalaf: I'm seductive by nature and can get what I want from a simple "body movement"!
Dec 03, 2002 ... Lebanese singer Elaine Khalaf is currently preparing to shoot amusic video in the form of cinematic performance for the song "LaoIndak Kalam" (If you Have Anything to Say) from her latest albumdirected by Saleem Al Turk. The singer expects her new album, which is to be sung in ...
Sanaa Jamil to begin chemotherapy treatment for left lung
Dec 03, 2002 ... Doctors at the Al Salam International hospital in Al Muhandiseen-Cairo have announced that the condition of Egyptian actress SanaaJamil is improving gradually. Doctors have taken away somerespiratory machines that have been helping her breath saying she isable to breathe normally now ....
Saudi Arabia imposes new measures on local charitable organizations
Dec 03, 2002 ... Saudi Arabia is cracking down on charities whose money is fundingterrorist organizations, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. In areport to be released in Washington, the Saudis are to detail anumber of steps they have taken since Sept. 11, 2001, to keep bettertrack of charities that ...