|
|
May 7, 2004 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
***** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz received at Al-Salam palace President Omar Hassan Al-Basheer of the Sudan. During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments at Arab, Islamic and international arenas particularly the Palestinian issue and the situation in Iraq. Aspects of cooperation between the two brotherly countries and ways of their enhancement were also reviewed. The audience was attended by Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Saud Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of State, Cabinet Member and Chief of the Court of Cabinet's Presidency and a number of senior officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulation to President Heinz Fischer on the occasion of winning presidential election in Austria. The King wished the President good health and happiness and the friendly people of Austria steady progress and prosperity, and highlighted the existing friendly relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Austria in all fields. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulation to Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski on the anniversary of his country's national day. The King wished the President good health and happiness and the friendly people of Poland steady progress and prosperity, and highlighted the existing friendly relations between the two countries. The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to the Queen of Netherlands on the occasion of her Country's National Day. The King expressed his good wishes to the Queen and people Netherlands, and highlighted the existing friendly relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Netherlands. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received a message from Bangladesh Premier Khaldah Dhia. The message was delivered to the Crown Prince by the premier's special envoy Salahaldeen Shoudari. The audience was attended by Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, other princes and officials. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, received Saudi Ambassador-designate to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Khojah who came to greet the crown prince. The Crown Prince sent his greetings, which the ambassador will convey, to Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and gave instructions to the ambassador to work hard for the enhancement of relations between the Kingdom and Lebanon. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, received a message from Jordan's King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussain. The message was delivered to the Crown Prince during an audience at his palace here today with Jordan's Foreign Minister Marwan Al-Maashar. During the audience, the Jordanian minister conveyed greetings of the Jordan's King to the Crown Prince who, in turn, sent his greetings to the King. The audience was attended by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister; other princes and officials. Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz Governor of Riyadh region, presided over the meeting of the board of directors of King Abdul Aziz Foundation in Riyadh, he paid tributes to the foundation for its role in preserving Saudi history and culture and for documenting records pertaining to King Abdul Aziz and to all those who helped the foundation to play its role. In a speech on the occasion, Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz highlighted the work of the foundation in recording and documenting the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dr. Fahd Al-Sammary, Secretary-General of the King Abdul Aziz Foundation, said the council reviewed the foundation's agenda and agreed on a number of resolutions. He thanked Saudi leaders for supporting the works of the foundation. Later, Prince Salman opened an exhibition held on the occasion. The foundation currently has 2.5 million documents of which two million came from within the Kingdom. Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, received the Envoy of Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Salahuddin Choudhry, who was accompanied by the Under Secretary of the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry, Shamshir Choudhry. They reviewed issues of mutual interest. The Bahraini Defense Minister and Vice General Commander Sheikh General Khalifa Ibn Ahmad Al-Khalifa received a delegation from the Command and Staff academy under the leadership of Staff Brigadier Hamad Ibn Nasser Ibn Abdullah Al Nabhani. The Bahraini minister reviewed with the delegation bilateral co-operation and co-ordination between the defence forces in Bahrain and the Omani forces on all scales. Minister of Labor Ghazi Ibn Abdul-Rahman Al-Gosaibi affirmed that Ministry of Labor will not consider any figures on labor force and jobless rates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia except what is issued by the General Statistics Authority, which is considered as the official reference to such statistics. "The latest figures issued by the authority state that the jobless rate is around 9.6 percent of the total labor force in the Kingdom whose ages are 15 and more and this equals 300,000 jobless people." These remarks came in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency after noticing that there are lots of inquiries lately and the spread of conflicting figures pertaining to the number of Manpower and the jobless rates in the Kingdom. "The conflicting figures are prompted by studies and efforts made by sectors that do not take proper scientific statistical approaches that is circulated in the local mass media," he added. President Arafat chaired a meeting of the Palestinian National Security Council in the presence of Prime Minister Ahmed Qure. The meeting reviewed the Palestinian situation and listened to reports from chiefs of Palestinian Security Apparatuses. President Arafat sent a written letter to the President of China, Hu Jintao and informed him of the latest developments in the Palestinian areas in light of the continued Israeli military escalation against our people. Mr. President handed the letter to the Chinese Representative to the PNA. The Shoura Council, presided over by its Chairman Sheikh Dr Saleh bin Abdullah Ibn Humaid, finalized in its session today the study of the National strategy to protect integrity and to fight corruption and bribery in preparation to be submitted to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, the Council's Secretary General Dr. Homoud Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Badr said that the Council also discussed a draft regulation on the misuse of public money and authority, noting that the Council will vote on this regulation in a coming session. The Shoura Council, presided over by its Chairman Sheikh Dr. Salih Ibn Abdullah Ibn Humaid, decided in its session to revise and update the basic law of the Saudi Red Crescent Society (SRCS) to improve the performance of the SRCS. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, the Council's Secretary General Dr. Homoud Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Badr said that the Council also decided to provide support for the General Presidency of Virtue Promotion and Vice Prevention to enable it to train its employees. The council also approved administrative measures concerning the work of the Foreign Ministry. There is no "quick fix" to the problem of unemployment said Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi, the minister of labor and president of the Administrative Council for Public Institutions for Technical Education and Professional Training. In speeches setting out his program's objectives, Al-Gosaibi said there was no simple or quick method of eliminating the problem. He emphasized that solving the unemployment issue is the responsibility of everyone. There should be an organized and systematic approach to dealing with the many different aspects of unemployment, Al-Gosaibi said. The high level of foreign workers in the Kingdom is an area he sees as ripe for improvement. Al-Gosaibi issued a statement containing 13 points for dealing with the Kingdom's unemployment problems. He contended that issuing 600,000 employment visas annually "is not acceptable" and that he aims for a 15 percent reduction. Lowering the rate of foreign employment at an undefined "reasonable rate" on an annual basis will, he says, help create opportunities and account for one side of the equation. The other side of the equation will be to increase the private sector's training courses. The "magic word is training," Al-Gosaibi affirmed, and those training programs that have been initiated are pioneering elements in this area. He announced three workshops involving the Ministry of Labor and businessmen that would discuss and deal with the pressing subjects of Saudization, structural issues in the labor market and the private sector's handling of education and training. He disapproved of the actual costs spent on joint training programs but confirmed that the ministry will spend SR1.55 billion on the programs. The minister said there were "the three illusions" to the unemployment problem: the private sector fighting Saudis, reluctance of Saudis to take on certain jobs, and the high salaries paid to Saudis. He said that Saudization is a strategic option with its application a lenient process and that it is among the ministry's priorities to develop the performance of labor offices in implementing it. Al-Gosaibi confirmed that there are currently 100,000 Saudi trainees. Seventy thousand of them form part of the public sector's commitment and the balance are in the private sector. The intention, he said, is to increase this to 200,000 trainees in the next two to three years through intensified joint initiatives. Further details will be issued regarding the procedure for acquiring permits for foreign labor, announced Al-Gosaibi, adding that the ministry would be focusing on updating its media center for dealing with those searching for jobs. The minister firmly ruled out the idea of establishing a welfare system for the unemployed. He pointed out that an economy that can find 7 million jobs for foreign workers could certainly employ 300,000 Saudis. His estimate of the current unemployment is based on studies carried out by the Department of Public Welfare Statistics. Commenting on the private sector's commitment to a minimum wage structure, the minister stated that this would create problems leading to more black market labor in other countries. If one minimum wage were established for Saudis and another for non-Saudis, this would amount to discrimination. Turning to the enforcement of any proposed legislation on employment, Al-Gosaibi said in the case of forgery or cheating, the party in question would in future be prevented from hiring anyone from outside the country. Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr Hashem Ibn Abdullah Yamani met with Australian Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Dr Warren Truss and his accompanying delegation.They reviewed issues pertaining to trade and industrial relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Australia. The two sides also signed an agreement for technical cooperation between the Kingdom and Australia. It is worth mentioning that the volume of trade exchange between the Kingdom and Australia amounted to SR 6,255 million up to the end of 2002. The meeting was attended by a number of senior officials in addition to Australian ambassador to the Kingdom Robert Tyson. Minister of Labor Dr Ghazi Ibn Abdul-Rahman Al-Gosaibi said his Ministry's instructions banning recruitment of foreign manpower by small establishments employing less than ten workers, was prompted by royal directives to train Saudis and help them join establishments of the private sector. In a press statement issued here today, Dr Al-Gosaibi reiterated the keenness of the government on rationalization of the recruitment of foreign manpower, and opening wide-doors for the employment of citizens. "A large number of Saudi cadres have been trained at the governmental and private training institutes. Moreover, these trained cadres are capable of performing their works in a satisfactory manner," he said. Sultan Qaboos Ibn Said presided over a meeting of the Council of Ministers. Welcoming members of the council, His Majesty expressed his greetings to the Omani government, people and Islamic nation on Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) birthday. Sultan Qaboos reviewed the economic situation in the country, expressing his satisfaction with what has been achieved within the comprehensive development framework. Sultan Qaboos directed that the development levels should be done in close coordination thoroughout the Sultanate's regions as per the requirements of each stage. Sultan Qaboos talked about the need to preserve civilisation, thoughts, archaeology and heritage existing thoroughout the country by according it more care and attention. Sultan Qaboos praised the high level of awareness among the Omani citizens to cope with the world's developments and changes. On the current Arab situations, Sultan Qaboos drew attention to the tragic events to which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been subjected, expressing the confidence that the kingdom would overcome the passing crisis, thanks to the wisdom of its leadership and awareness of its people. Concerning the current situation in Iraq, Sultan Qaboos confirmed the Sultanate's position in support of Iraq's territorial integrity and the right of her people to choose their own government and political system. He called for the need to return stability to Iraq so that its people could build a promising future. Sultan Qaboos drew attention to the tragic developments in the occupied Palestinian lands and the aggression to which the Palestinian people have been subjected. He called upon the international community to fulfil its responsibilities in this regard. At the end of the meeting, His Majesty gave royal directives for the realisation of the best performance levels in various sectors. On occasion of Laborers Day, President Arafat addressed a Palestinian rally and affirmed that, nobody or a state in this world is entitled to approve the Israeli occupation or settlement or condone the government of Israel of its moral, political and international responsibility towards the problem of the Palestinian refugees whose right of return to their homes is guaranteed through the resolution 194. Mr. President also asserted that, this is a legitimate and sacred right. Islamic countries meeting urged the United Nations to take "the leading role" in Iraq and denounce Israel's U.S. backed plan to withdraw from some Palestinian territories and its killing of Palestinian leaders. Officials said representatives from about 20 members of the 57-strong Organization of the Islamic Conference attended the one-day emergency session. The meeting of the world's largest Islamic political grouping was called at short notice after a surge in violence this month between U.S. troops and insurgents in Iraq and the White House's backing of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan for "unilateral disengagement" from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank. The meeting issued a declaration condemning Sharon's proposal to withdraw unilaterally from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank but keep Jewish settlements on other West Bank land claimed by the Palestinians. It also denounced Israel's killing of Hamas leaders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi as part of efforts to stop attacks on Israelis. "The way to peace in the Middle East is not by political assassinations, is not by way of introducing a new road map but by sticking to the road map that has been agreed upon." The meeting's declaration urged Israel to respect international law. President Hosni Mubarak urged the Islamic nation to stand against efforts to change the status of Jerusalem through besieging the city with Israeli settlements, a matter which weakens the Palestinian side in the final status negotiations. Mubarak also called for foiling bids to sow the seeds of dissension among the different Iraqi sects. President Mubarak urged the Muslim scholars, intellectuals and experts to develop the Islamic nation and open up to the other with observance of Islam's norms and following the footsteps of Prophet Mohammad. "Our Islamic nation enjoys a distinguished culture with time-honoured history as it has laid the ground works of other nations and peoples," Mubarak said addressing the celebration of the Prophet's Birthday last night. Mubarak called on the Muslim youths to stick to the tolerant teachings of Islam and the "human practices of its Messenger". "You, the Muslim youths, are responsible before God to develop the nation, which can come only by confronting extremism and fanaticism," the President said. Concepts of pluralism, democracy and respect for human rights are basic in the Islamic Sharia and are applied in a way that goes in line with the idiosyncrasies of our societies, Mubarak stressed. Mubarak stated that Egypt took the lead years ago to go ahead on the road of reform, stressing that the Islamic nation is urged to open up to the world to achieve our interests and to refute allegations on linking Islam with terrorism and extremism. The President urged the Islamic world to unite and stand by the Palestinian people for ending the Israeli occupation and establishing the independent Palestinian state. Mubarak also underlined the importance to realize unity among the different sects of the Iraqi people. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he expected the Security Council to authorize a multinational force for Iraq and that Washington was stepping up diplomacy with France, Germany and Russia. But he saw little chance the three nations, who opposed the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, would send their own troops to Iraq any time soon and acknowledged the global security climate had worsened since the war last year. "When you look at the situation in the Middle East and the countries around, the violence has increased. There (are) more terrorist attacks," Annan told NBC's "Meet the Press." Annan said the resolution, which the United States is considering but has not yet circulated, would cover the period after June 30, when Washington plans to hand sovereignty to an Iraqi caretaker government to rule until elections next year. "There will be a resolution authorizing a multinational force and encouraging governments to come together in a genuine international effort to help stabilize Iraq." "Quite frankly, it's in everybody's interest to do whatever we can to stabilize Iraq," he said. Annan said the force might help the United States withdraw some of its troops if enough countries sent soldiers. But French, German and Russian troops will probably not be among them, Annan said. "At this stage, I cannot say that they are ready to do it. But down the line, one never knows." On the other hand, Annan said he was aware that the U.S. was stepping up its contacts with the three governments. "It's not as if there is no relationship between the three countries and the United States, and I think the contact and discussions are intensifying. Secretary (of State Colin) Powell was in Germany recently and I know the president himself has been on the line with some of these leaders," he said. Lebanese President Emile Lahoud held Israel responsible for the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. During a meeting with a delegation from the media, Lahoud stressed that force will not give any solution to the armed disputes, pointing out to the necessity of implementing the United Nations resolution and stressed the importance of the European Union, especially after its expansion. He expressed satisfaction over the EU stances, dealing objectively with the just solutions to the Middle East issues, condemning the Israeli brutal practices and the threats launched against Syria and Lebanon. Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Amr Moussa criticized statements by the Israeli officials that there is no Palestinian peace partners. Moussa said that there is no real peace partner in Israel. The latest developments have led to complete collapse of the situation and this needs collective Arab action, Moussa told newsmen Monday night. He further called for dialogue with all parties to restore balance in the region. "The real modern way of thinking is to end the war and establish peace in the interest of all parties," Moussa added. Resolving the Palestinian question, Moussa said that it is in the interest of world peace and would help curb terrorism and tension and give momentum to reforms in the Middle East. He pointed out that it was not proper to link a solution to the Palestinian issue with achieving reforms. Both should run parallel, he said. We are committed to the Palestinian rights, Moussa said, noting that nobody was entitled to give up those rights. He reiterated that reforms in Arab countries should be home-grown and cover all of the nation. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was dealt a huge blow by his Likud party Sunday when it overwhelmingly rejected his plan to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip. According to exit polls carried out by Israeli media, at least 56 percent of Likud members voted against the US-backed "disengagement" plan, sparking intense speculation of a political upheaval in the Jewish state. About 50 percent of the Likud's 193,000 members turned out for the crucial vote, according to initial estimates. The rejection by his own party of the plan he spent most of the past several months promoting is one of the most serious setbacks Sharon has suffered since taking office as prime minister in March 2001. The centrepiece of Sharon's US-backed "disengagement" plan is a withdrawal of most troops and the removal of all 21 Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Authority was swift to urge Sharon to resume negotiations following the rebuff of his plan, which he claimed he had to draw up in the absence of a suitable negotiating partner on the Palestinian side. "After this failure, the Israeli government should immediately resume negotiations with the representatives of the Palestinian people in order to seriously implement the roadmap," said Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat top adviser Nabil Abu Rudeina. Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned maltreatment of Iraqi prisoners by coalition guards in the Iraqi prison of Abu Ghraeeb.þ The secretariat, in a statement, expressed shock at the bad treatment of þthe prisoners that contradicted heavenly religions and international laws, namely the 1949 Geneva covenant concerning the protection of civilians.þ This accord, the statement said, explicitly bans physical abuse of the prisoners.þ The GCC secretariat urged the coalition authority in Iraq to punish the elements who had abused the Iraqi prisoners, alluding to widely-broadcast þphotos of indecent treatment of some of the prisoners. The Arab League has condemned abusing Iraqi prisoners by the US-led coalition forces, after images were aired recently by several television stations showing Iraqi detainees apparently being abused by US soldiers.þ It called on the US-led coalition in Iraq to initiate investigations and to punish those responsible for what a statement by the Arab League said were þ"savage acts" shown in the photos.þ Spokesman for the Arab League Secretary General, Hossam Zaki, said such mistreatment and humiliation contradicted human rights and to international conventions concerning the protection of civilians and POW's under occupation.þ Zaki also called for a punishment against any one who investigations prove was involved in these acts.þ US President George W. Bush has expressed "deep disgust" at the abuse of Iraqi detainees by US troops and vowed to punish those responsible. Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said that he hopes the failure of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in his Likud party referendum to okay his unilateral disengagement plan would encourage the United States to change its position. US President George W. Bush had supported Sharon's plan of disengagement during a visit the latter paid to Washington, which the Palestinians called "a blind support." "We hope that the failure in the referendum would be an indication for the US administration to bring both parties, the Israelis and the Palestinians together as two partners in the peace process," Erekat said. However, Erekat expressed concerns that the failure or success of Sharon in his referendum would "give Sharon the chance to isolate the West Bank, continue with his military offensive and impose more facts on the ground." "It is impossible and can never be accepted that the leading Likud party decides the fate and the future of the Palestinian people. The thing that is always between us and the Israelis that can never be changed is the signed peaceful agreement," said ErekatPalestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat expressed satisfaction that the quartet had stressed the importance of issues being settled through "negotiations, not dictates."But he voiced dismay that it had not criticized more sharply a barrier Israel is building through parts of the West Bank to keep out suicide bombers. "The wall is illegal and it prejudices the final status talks," Erekat said. The Security Council þunanimously approved a resolution calling on states not to offer any support þto non-state actors that try to develop, manufacture, deliver or possess þweapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).þ þThe resolution, submitted by the United States more than three weeks ago and that witnessed a lot of discussions at the Security Council, stipulates þthat all countries should take the required measures and draft the laws that þprevent non-state actors from developing, manufacturing, delivering or using þWMD particularly in terrorist acts.þ The resolution called on all states to enhance dialogue and cooperation in the area of non-proliferation of WMD to face the danger of spreading Nuclear, þ þBiological and Chemical (NBC) weapons and means of their delivery.þ It also states that a Security Council committee should be founded and work for two years at least to submit reports to the council on the implementation of this resolution.þ The resolution urges all countries to submit their first reports to the committee in six months at most from the date of resolution issuance. Ahmed Ibn Abdul Nabi Macki, minister of national economy and deputy chairman of the Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council, and Sheikh Mohammed Ibn Ali Al Qatabi, minister of state and governor of Dhofar, held a session of talks in this Yemeni town yesterday with Khalid Rajih Sheikh, Yemeni minister of commerce and industry, and Naji Ali Al Dhalaymi, governor of the Yemeni Al Mahra governorate. They reviewed cooperation in various fields and ways of strengthening ties of fraternity between the two brotherly peoples. On conclusion of the session, Macki signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries with the Yemeni minister of Commerce and Industry. Meanwhile, the minister of national economy and the governor of Dhofar took part in a ceremony held to launch operation of new medical equipment donated by the Sultanate to Al Ghaitha hospital. They also participated in the opening of dams built on Al Ghaitha Khours and the town water supply network. Macki, Sheikh Al Qatabi and their accompanying delegation arrived here on Tuesday to participate in the inauguration of a number of projects financed by the Sultanate's government. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has warned that U.S. military action in the besieged city of Falluja could bolster resistance and make it harder to end the occupation." The more the occupation is seen as taking steps that harm the civilians and the population, the greater the ranks of the resistance grows," Annan told a news conference. Annan said the United Nations had received an appeal to intervene from a committee in Falluja, where U.S. troops have begun to expand operations, but would not do so. "I have spoken to U.S. authorities about this and the need for caution, the need to do all that is possible to avoid a violent confrontation," Annan said. "Violent military action by an occupying power against inhabitants of an occupied country will only make matters worse." Annan spoke a day after his envoy for Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi, told the U.N. Security Council that unless the situation in Falluja was resolved peacefully there was a risk of a confrontation with potentially "dramatic and long-lasting consequences." Palestine Authority leader Yasser Arafat urged member states of the Mideast peace Quartet to implement provisions of þthe road map to peace.þNabil Abu Rudeina, Arafat's advisor, told Palestine Radio that Arafat sent letters to members of the Quartet in which he said that "Israeli þwithdrawal from Gaza is not enough and that the vision for establishing two separate states side-by-side, one Palestinian and another Israeli, should be seriously brought to life."þ The letters were given to the Quartet ahead of a meeting in New York on May 4 by Quartet foreign ministers, said Abu Rudeina. The meeting is expected to revive the road map to peace. Palestinians consider the meeting a þcrucial one for the course of peace talks. Abu Radina said that the foreign þministers' meeting "will push forward the peace process and reactivate the þroad map to peace." þþ Iranian Petroleum Minister Bijan Namdar-Zanganeh said on Saturday that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has expressed its readiness to invest in the Iranian petrochemical industry. The Iranian news agency quoted Bijan as saying "There has been extensive talks in this respect with the Saudi side." Following his drubbing in a Likud party referendum of his own devising widely seen as the worst political blunder ever by an Israeli leader Prime Minister Sharon was struggling this week to find a way of staving off the demise of his disengagement initiative and, some said, of his career. The initiative, which called for withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers from Gaza and part of the northern West Bank, was defeated by a stunning 19-point margin in the May 2 party referendum, with 59.5% opposing the plan and 40.5% in favor. The defeat sent shock waves through Israel and the international community, which had reluctantly accepted Sharon's plan as a limited first step toward what was expected to be a broader withdrawal later on. With the initiative stalled and no backup plan, Sharon faced limited options, all of them unappealing. Only 51% of the Likud's 193,000 members voted in the referendum. Even so, the margin of the opponents' victory made it impossible for Sharon to claim, as he apparently hoped to do in case of a narrow defeat, that the fate of Israel should not be decided on the votes of a few thousand people. Sharon had devised the unorthodox ballot as a way of pressuring wavering right-wingers in his Cabinet to support the unilateral disengagement, banking on polls that showed him with a double-digit advantage as recently as three weeks ago. But the gambit backfired as his support collapsed dramatically in the last two weeks before the vote. Conceding defeat, Sharon promised to "respect the party's decision." At the same time, though, he vowed to continue his efforts to improve the security situation. Most observers said Sharon had three main options. He could bow to party will and drop his disengagement plan. That, however, would anger Washington. It would also leave Israel stuck in its current stalemate vis-à-vis the Palestinians: unable to defeat them, unwilling to negotiate with them and now unable even to separate from them and Sharon appeared unlikely to go that route. Alternatively, Sharon could attempt to proceed with the plan despite the rebuff. That would risk a split in the party, however, and there is no guarantee of Cabinet or Knesset approval. In a sign of the hurdles ahead, key members of his government, including the trio of reluctant supporters Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Education Minister Limor Livnat made it clear that they will consider the referendum result binding in any future Cabinet or Knesset votes. In preparation for that option, Sharon reportedly ordered Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz this week to prepare a new version of the plan. Unlike last time, Mofaz was told to work closely with the army command, in order to avoid the much-discussed security-related doubts that helped sink the first plan. Some advisers were urging a third tack: a stripped down "mini-disengagement," involving withdrawal from just three Gaza settlements and two or three in the West Bank. That was seen as easier to push through the Cabinet and the Knesset. But settler leaders, who led the opposition to the first plan, said they would oppose a mini-disengagement just as fiercely. And the mini option appeared unlikely to satisfy Washington, much less the broader international community. Sharon faces pressure from the opposition Labor Party, whose support is considered key to Sharon's survival if he decides to implement any initiative. Labor leader Shimon Peres told Army Radio that Sharon was paralyzed by his right wing and called for new elections even though overnight polls after the referendum showed a new election would leave the parties' strengths unchanged. Sharon met with Peres to brief him on the security situation, leading to speculation that plans were in the works for a national unity government of Likud, Labor and Shinui. Peres reportedly took a hard line, declaring that he would support only a full disengagement, not a stripped-down plan. From his side Shinui Party leader Tommy Lapid said they forget these aren't national elections, but a vote in Likud, and the Likud is not the people of Israel. We demand this issue be brought for discussion before the cabinet and parliament... The Likud will not determine the fate of the nation. þBritish Prime Minister Tony Blair condemned as "totally and utterly unacceptable" the apparent mistreatment of þan Iraqi prisoner by British troops.þ "If there has been any abuse, I believe it to be exceptional, but that þdoesn't make it any the less unacceptable," Blair said in Dublin, where he was þamong European leaders attending EU enlargement celebrations.þ "Let me make it quite clear, if these things have actually been done, they þ are completely and utterly unacceptable," Blair told reporters.þ "We went to Iraq to get rid of that type of thing, not to do it.þ "In fairness, however, we should say that there are thousands of British þtroops in Iraq doing a very brave and extraordinary job on behalf of the Iraqi þpeople and on behalf of our country to make the country better."þ Blair added: "I think it is important that people understand that balance, þ whilst at the same time if these things have happened they have got to be þ þutterly condemned.þ His comments were prompted by photographs published in Britain's Daily þMirror apparently showing troops abusing an Iraqi prisoner in a camp near þBasra, in British-controlled southern Iraq.þ The daily has got the photographs from two British soldiers who had þexpressed their concern over the non-human practices of some British soldiers, þthat could result in losing Iraqi people's sympathy with the coalition forces. þ þ |