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June 18, 2004 |
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***** Prince Sattam Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Vice Governor of Riyadh region, visited here on Wednesday the US Embassy.During the visit, he offered the condolences on the death of former US President Ronald Reagan to the American people and government from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, Aviation and Inspector General, and the government and the people of the Kingdom. The US ambassador James Oberwetter expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Kingdom's government on this noble gesture which stressed the depth of the relations between the two governments and peoples. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, who is also the Chairman of Education Higher Council, has approved a number of decisions taken by the Council in its 33rd session. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, the Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khalid Ibn Mohammed Al-Anqari said that the decisions included the following: -Reassignment of Dr. Hashim Ibn Bakr Mohammed Noor Hariri as Deputy Director of Umm Al-Qura University for three years. -Reassignment of Dr. Sulaiman Ibn Salih Abdullah Al-Khazi as Deputy Director of the Islamic University for three years. -Establishment of an Agency of the Islamic University in Qassim and the assignment of Dr. Ahmed Ibn Ali Rashid Al-Raqibah as Deputy Director of the Agency for three years. -Establishment of an Agency of the Islamic University in Taif and assignment of Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulkareem Ahmed Al-Abbadi as Deputy Director of the Agency for three years. -Renewal of services of 83 members of teaching staff of various higher educational institutions after reaching a pension age. - Renaming of Dhahran-based Military Health College as '' Prince Sultan College for Health Sciences'' that will grant B.A. degrees in the specialization of medical laboratories and nursing. -Inauguration of a Society College in Khamis Mushait Governorate, an affiliate of King Khalid University. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz received at his office at Al Salam palace in Jeddah Lebanon's Premier Rafiq Al-Hariri. During the reception, they discussed the overall developments at Arab, Islamic and international arenas, notably the Palestinian issue and the situation in Iraq. Aspects of cooperation between the two countries were also reviewed. The audience was attended by Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and Chief of the Court of the Cabinet's Presidency; ministers and other officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz received a message from India's Premier Dr. Manmohan Singh. The message was delivered to the monarch during an audience with India's Minister of Foreign Affairs Inayat Ahmed at Al-Salam palace. The minister also conveyed to the monarch the greetings of the Indian premier. On his part, the monarch sent his greetings to the premier. The audience was attended by Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and Chief of the Court of the Cabinet's Presidency; ministers and other officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to President Vladimir Putin of Federal Russia on the occasion of his country's national day. In his own name and on behalf of the people and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Fahd wished the president permanent health and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity. The monarch also lauded relations binding the two friendly countries and their peoples. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, has received a telephone call from President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, inquiring after the health of the crown prince following the successful dental operation he has recently undergone. During the conversation, Musharraf expressed condemnation of the criminal incidents which took place in the kingdom recently by a deviated group whom he described as allies of the devil. On his part, Crown Prince Abdullah thanked President Musharraf. The talks also dealt with the fraternal relations between the two countries and developments of the situations at the regional and international arenas. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, received a telephone call from the United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Zayid Ibn Sultan Al Nahayan inquiring after the health of the crown prince following the successful dental operation he has recently undergone. During the conversation, Sheikh Zayid expressed condemnation of the criminal incidents which took place in the kingdom recently by a deviating group. On his part, Crown Prince Abdullah thanked Sheikh Zayid for his noble feelings. The talks also dealt with the fraternal relations between the two countries and developments of the situations at the regional and international arenas. Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland Prince Turki Al-Faisal held a lunch party in honor of Saudi Minister of Islamic affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance Sheikh Saleh Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Al-Sheikh who is currently on a visit to Britain. The party was attended by a number of Arab and Islamic ambassadors in London, British officials and heads of Britain-based Islamic organizations and centers. Prince Saud Ibn Abdul Mohsin Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Hail Region, has praised the support provided to tourism industry by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard and Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General. In a press statement on the occasion of launching Hail Tourism Festival for 1425H., the prince pointed out that Hail has the natural elements, historical and archaeological heritage, tourist attraction sites, and generous citizens that can be developed into an integrated tourism industry. He also lauded the tourist achievements in the region owing to close cooperation between the governorate and Tourism Higher Authority. The Governor of Al Kharj Prince Abdul Rahman Ibn Nasser Ibn Abdul Aziz stressed after patronizing the sail-flying fair held on the occasion of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz's recovery, that he was not happy about the level of services in the governorate and that his endeavour is to provide the best services to the citizens. The Prince noted that a new maternity hospital will be built. Pirnce Abdul Rahman said the fair was launched on the occasion of Prince Sultan recovery as a symbol of their love to the Second Deputy Prime Minister. The Shoura Council discussed a number of articles in the draft Labor Law during its session chaired by Saleh Ibn Abdullah Ibn Humaid, including major amendments. According to Yazid Ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Ohali, the chairman of the Council s Committee on Social, Health and Family Affairs, the draft law draws on the principles of the Shariah which call for observance of human rights and institution of social justice. Al-Ohali said that a new labor law is necessitated in view of the new economic and social developments in the Kingdom and to tackle shortcomings in the existing law. He said it is also necessary to integrate the multiple sources which govern labor relations into one source and to amend the provisions in the existing law which violate international labor agreements ratified by the Kingdom. Besides, unclear or deficient provisions have also to be amended. The new law will consist of 179 articles and it will be submitted to the Ministry of Labor for final approval. It will regulate employment, training and qualification processes, as well as labor relations and conditions, to include wages, working hours, breaks, weekly days off, leave and part-time employment, prevention of occupational risks and major industrial accidents, occupational accidents and compensation for such accidents, social and health services, employment of women and minors, work at mines and quarries, inspection of work, labor disputes settlement authorities, penalties, and general and concluding provisions. The new law will be applied to the half a million private firms operating in the Kingdom which employ in total more than seven and a half million workers, regardless of their activities and size. Any employer employing 10 or more workers may issue by-laws to regulate work at his facility and workers entitlements, but these by-laws will have to be approved by the Labor Ministry. The major amendments to the law are: 1. Article 30 of the draft proposal submitted by the Experts Panel at the Council of Ministers stipulates that recruitment of expatriates for work purposes shall be subject to the approval of the Ministry of Labor, including temporary workers. 2. The word work shall include all industrial, commercial, agricultural, financial work or other, including house work. The purpose is to make all workers subject to the labor law and the issuance of a work permit for all. 3. Article 58 on the termination of fixed-term contracts adds new provisions to ascertain the efficiency and competence of workers before extending contracts for a similar or specific periods. In case the fixed-term contract stipulates that it shall be renewed for a similar or specific period, it shall be renewed for the stipulated period. Should the contract be renewed for two consecutive times or should extension periods amount to three years with both parties continuing to honor the contract, it shall become an open-ended contract. 4. On the age of retirement, it will be as stipulated in the individual contracts or the facility s by-laws. Retirement age will be the same for all private facilities and all those governed by the Labor Law. However, the employer and the employee may agree to extend employment services beyond the retirement age. 5. Workers who have been arbitrarily terminated may be reinstated or receive compensation for termination as determined by the competent judicial committee. 6. End-of-service payment shall be calculated according to the base salary at the time of termination of employment and will be retroactive to the period preceding the issue of the new law according to the definition of wages in the current law. 7. In the area of employment of women, the new law has adopted the principle of prohibiting women s work at night unless in the activities determined by the Minister of Labor. Since there are various areas which require women to work at night, such as health services and others, prohibition shall be restricted to industrial facilities, with the exception of the cases decreed by the Minister of Labor. In any event, the principles of the Shariah should not be violated. 8. Reduction in the amount of penalties. The Commander of the Lebanese presidential guard Major Mostafa Hamdan and his accompanying delegation have visited the King Khaled Military College where they were met be Major General Issa Ibn Ibrahim Al Rashid. The delegation listened to a brief on the college, its system of acceptance, its programmes and departments. The Commander of the Lebanese presidential guard Major Mostafa Hamdan toured the college, were briefed on the remote-sensing unit, information technology and other military system in which remote-sensing is used. At the end of the visit memorial gifts were exchanged. The UN special envoy to Iraq, Lakhdar Librahimi, considered that the Israeli- Palestinian conflict " affects what is taking place in Iraq." Lakhdar Librahimi told the CNN that the ( Israeli) occupation is actually the main reason for the problem and "I am fully confident that in the day when occupation ends the atmospheres will be quite different in the Middle east and the relations between Israel and its neighbors including the Palestinian people will be quite different." Earlier, al- Lakhdar Librahimi said that the Israeli policy poisoned the conditions in the region. Replying to a question on the danger of the eruption of a civil war in Iraq Lakhdar Librahimi considered " there are many reasons which call for optimism, however, there are some black clouds in the horizon." The Jordanian Speaker of the House of Deputies Abdel Hadi al-Majali said the Jordanian parliament backs up His Majesty King Abdullah II's limitless support of Saudi Arabia in its drive to fight terrorist crimes that completely contravene with our Islamic and Arab values and principles. Majali, who is heading a parliamentary delegation on a visit to Saudi Arabia, was speaking during a round of talks on Sunday with President of the Saudi Consultative Council Saleh Ibn Abdullah Ibn Humaid. He strongly denounced such terrorist acts, unjustly committed in the name of Islam. Jordan has suffered for so long and is still suffering from these illegal actions perpetrated by outlaws, he said. Majali, who expressed deep thanks to Saudi government for its support of Jordan, commended the close historical brotherly ties linking the two countries that share the same policy of moderation. "We both are in the same boat, security and stability of your country are the security and stability of our country and prosperity of your people is the prosperity of our people," Majali said. He added Jordan and Saudi Arabia were the forefront of the countries defending Arab and Islamic issues at the top of which is the Palestinian issue. "We are both calling for building a free and united Iraq...that could live in full peace with its neighbors," Majali told the Saudis. For his part, Ibn Humaid affirmed the common vision shared by Jordan and Saudi Arabia regarding various issues, particularly in fighting terrorism. He said there are terrorist activities but they are limited and will never affect his country's political, economic and social march. He also stressed the necessity to support the Palestinian brothers build their independent state on their national soil with Jerusalem as its capital. He hoped security and stability would be restored to Iraq and foreign occupation would be removed soon. Oman's newly created tourism ministry has signed an agreement with a Dubai-based marketing agency to promote the sultanate as a leading tourism destination in the Gulf, a newspaper here reported yesterday. The deal, signed between the ministry and Fusion Marketing Management, is part of the sultanate's drive to triple the number of tourist arrivals by 2010, the Oman Daily Observer said. The ministry has already appointed agents in Britain, France, Germany and Australia to promote Oman as a holiday destination, the daily said. The new Tourism Ministry was created by royal decree last Wednesday while Oman's Sultan Qaboos also named Rajiha bint Abdul Amir Ibn Ali to head it, appointing the country's second female Cabinet member in three months. In a report presented by the Syrian foreign Ministry to the special committee concerned with the Israeli practices in the Golan Syria stressed that Israel is imposing its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan, altering the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan, imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan and taking repressive measures against the population of the occupied Syrian Golan. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was elected as Vice Chairman of the Council of the International Communications Association during the Council's annual meeting held in Geneva last Tuesday, it was announced. Saudi Arabia will be chairman of the next council meeting due to be held in 2005 according to the principles of the association. The Kingdom previously presided over the council in 1971. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has received the delegation which will take part in the (seeds of peace) camp which will be held in the USA. The Palestinian news agency WAFA said Arafat said in a speech before the delegation that the Palestinian people are determined to implement peace. Dr Saeb Erekat said the delegation will transmit the Palestinian message of peace while Israel continues its aggressive campaign against the Palestinian people. The Quartet committee (United Nations, United States, Russia, the European Union), is to convene by the end of June to assess the latest developments regarding the Middle East Road Map peace plan, Spokesman of the French Foreign Ministry, Herve Ladsous, reported last Friday . Ladsous, who was commenting on the G8 summit's results, was quoted as saying that members of the Quartet, will meet at the foreign ministerial level, by the end of June, to evaluate the Quartet-set Road Map peace plan, unrevealing the meeting's whereabouts. The said meeting is intended at assessing the Road Map in the shadow of continued Israeli military actions against the Palestinian people, sources believed. The discussions due to be held are expected to focus on the progress so far made and the way that the Road Map can go parallel to the proposed Israeli unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and dismantling of some Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the sources noticed. Noteworthy, the G8 summit meeting in Sea Island in the U.S state of Georgia, had joined several bodies around the globe that backed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's 'disengagement plan', which set forth withdrawal from Gaza Strip and dismantling of settlements by September 2005. Paris, from its part, backs the idea of an international force being deployed in the Gaza Strip when Israeli forces withdraw from there under Sharon's plan. A year after the war in Iraq, discontent with America and its policies has intensified rather than diminished. Opinion of the United States in France and Germany is at least as negative now as at the war's conclusion, and British views are decidedly more critical. Perceptions of American unilateralism remain widespread in European and Muslim nations, and the war in Iraq has undermined America's credibility abroad. Doubts about the motives behind the U.S.-led war on terrorism abound, and a growing percentage of Europeans want foreign policy and security arrangements independent from the United States. Across Europe, there is considerable support for the European Union to become as powerful as the United States. Americans have a far different view of the war's impact on the war on terrorism and the global standing of the U.S. than do people in the other surveyed countries. Generally, Americans think the war helped in the fight against terrorism, illustrated the power of the U.S. military, and revealed America to be trustworthy and supportive of democracy around the world. These notions are not shared elsewhere. Majorities in Germany, Turkey and France and half of the British and Russians believe the conflict in Iraq undermined the war on terrorism. At least half the respondents in the eight other countries view the U.S. as less trustworthy as a consequence of the war. For the most part, even U.S. military prowess is not seen in a better light as a result of the war in Iraq. The 15th meeting of the Executive Council of the King Abdul Aziz Foundation and his men for the care of outstanding students was held in Jeddah under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Education Dr Mohammed Ibn Ahmad Al Rashed. The meeting was attended by Prince Khaled Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Abdul Aziz Ibn Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of State, member of the Cabinet and Chief of the Council of Ministers' court, Dr Hashim Yamani, Minister of Trade and Industry, Minister Iyad Madani, Minister of Hajj, Dr Mussaed Al Ayban, Minister of State and member of the Cabinet, Dr Khaidr Al Korashi, Deputy Minister of Education for girls affairs, and others. During the meeting they reviewed the achievement of the foundation and agreed on the awards to be presented to achievers in different fields. Palestinian Leadership reiterated late that the democratically-elected Palestinian Leadership is the only legal representative of the Palestinian people and the source of all resolutions related to the Palestinian cause. In a meeting, headed in Ramallah and chaired by President Yasser Arafat and the PLO Executive Committee and various Palestinian organizations, the Leadership said that any Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian land has to be in coordination with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) which is capable of fulfilling its national and security duties. "Any Israeli withdrawal has to be within a timetable to implement the Road Map peace plan and to be accompanied with other steps of pulling out from the West Bank and end the occupation in line with 1967 borders", the Leadership stated. The Leadership added that the Palestinian Leadership once again voices out its utmost steadfast stance concerning the peace process in the region in accordance with the international resolutions, calling on the Quartet to support the resumption of peace negotiations in order to implement the Road Map peace plan. It appealed to all peace, democracy and freedom loving-powers to activate their role, mostly in the Israeli and international arena so as to end the Israeli occupation and unveil the Israeli brutal practices. The Leadership confirmed its ultimate refusal for Israel's isolation of Holy Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank and the outer world through annexing vast areas of land, in favor of the Israeli colonies and the construction of the racist Annexation and Expansion Wall. In conclusion, the Leadership called on Arabs, Quartet, international community, UN, and the peace advocates to exercise pressure on Israel to stop the Israeli aggressive practices which destroy the Road Map and the entire peace process. Secretary General of the Arab League Amre Moussa has been presented with a copy of the human development report for 2003 in Saudi Arabia published by the Ministry of Economy and Planning with the co-operation of UNDP. A spokesman said on behalf of the Secretary General of the Arab League that the Secretary General expressed his admiration about the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in this field adding that efforts in the field of health and education were particularly fruitful. The spokesman said that the Secretary General praised the efforts achieved in the field of women participation in the comprehensive development process in the Kingdom and honouring two Saudi women amongst 10 Arab women who received awards for achievement in the field of development from a UAE foundation. Dr. Fuad Ibn Abdul Salam Al-Farsi, the Minister of Culture and Information, has sent a cable to the BBC chief of the board of directors Michael Grade offering his sympathy for the sad incidents which have recently taken place in Riyadh. In his own name and on behalf of the personnel of the Ministry of Culture and Information, Al-Farsi also sent condolences to the family of Simon Cambers, the BBC photographer who was killed in the accident, and wishes of quick recovery to Frank Gardner, who is currently hospitalized in Riyadh. Dr Al-Farsi confirmed that Garner, whose situation was described as critical, is receiving the best medial care and treatment. As long as our enemy is targeting journalists, it means that he doesn't respect the principles governing the world community, Al-Farsi said. He said when journalists are targeted, truth is among the losers. He said the Saudi government is determined to eradicate terrorism and bring all culprits before justice. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged senior officials representing Muslim countries to back Iraq's interim government, work for a comprehensive settlement to the Middle East conflict and press Sudan to halt attacks in the country's Darfur region. In a message delivered today by his Special Adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, to the Ministerial Conference of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), in Istanbul, Mr. Annan said all have an interest in helping Iraq to overcome its many challenges. While appealing for a favourable response to the Interim Government's request for support, he pledged the UN's continued reconstruction, development and humanitarian assistance, "from both within and outside Iraq, as circumstances permit." Concerning the Middle East, he condemned Israel's continued extrajudicial killings, use of disproportionate force in densely populated areas, construction of a West Bank barrier and wide-scale house demolitions, and called on the country "to refrain from further violations of international law." He also noted that some Palestinian groups continue to carry out suicide bombings and other attacks that fuel hatred and fear. "We should all strongly condemn terrorism, wherever and whenever it occurs; no cause can justify it," he said, calling on the Palestinian Authority to take effective measures to curb violence and combat terror. Israel's stated intention to withdraw from the Gaza Strip could possibly help end the violence, he said, urging continued focus on achieving a comprehensive settlement. Regarding Sudan, he noted that more than a million Muslims have been forced from their homes in the Darfur region. "I urge you all to persuade your Sudanese brothers to neutralize and disarm the brutal Janjaweed militia; allow humanitarian supplies and equipment to reach the population without further delays; and ensure that displaced people can return home in safety," he said. Warning that further delay could cost hundreds of thousands of lives, he said, "Please do whatever you can to help end this appalling suffering and to bring a greater sense of urgency to the political negotiations." The message also addressed the prevailing climate of religious intolerance. "We must not allow ourselves, out of fear or anger, to treat people whose faith or culture differs from ours as enemies," Mr. Annan said. The Arab peace initiative committee met in the Arab League's headquarter to devise mechanisms for þ implementing the resolution of the last Arab summit in Tunis on activating the þ Arab peace initiative.þ þPalestinian Permanent Representative to the league Muhammad Sabeeh told reporters the committee, discussed means to present the Arab peace initiative to the international community.þ The committee is headed by Tunisia and groups Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, þAlgeria, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Bahrain, Qatar, Yemen and þSecretary General of the Arab League Amre Moussa. The committee was formed by the summit to activate the Arab initiative.þ Sabeeh said that the committee seeks to present the initiative in the international arena to be adopted by the UN Security Council or the UN General þAssembly.þ He added that the committee will also discuss suggestions by Palestine and þ þJordan, in addition to remarks of the league's secretariat over promoting the þ initiative in the international arena, especially in Europe and the United States.þ These suggestions and remarks, he added, will be crystallized in one paper þto be tabled during the next ministerial meeting of the committee late this month.þ The Arab summit's resolution over activating the initiative called for working out a plan to present the initiative to the Security Council and the UN general assembly as a framework for a peace solution. More than 50 Palestinians suffered from suffocation when the Israeli army sprayed gas on protestors who were þdemonstrating against the separation wall built in Al-Zawya town near Nablus, þeyewitnesses said. þ þThey added, the town residents continued their strike for the fourth-day þwhile the Israeli bulldozers forced their way and destroyed their farm þ þfields. Meanwhile, the Israeli troops arrested three Palestinians after an þ þincursion into a festival in Umm Al-Sharayet close to Ramallah. þ Minister of Hajj Iyad Ibn Ameen Madani met with Jordanian Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Dr. Ahmad Mohammad Hulailel. During the meeting, they discussed a number of topics relating to this year's Hajj season and arrangements for Jordanian pilgrims. The Minister of Hajj, also met with Yemen's Minister of Endowments and Guidance and head of Yemen's Hajj mission Homood Mohammed Abbad and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they discussed the preparations and services to be rendered for Yemeni pilgrims. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and þSyria signed minutes of an agreement to establish a free trade zone between both sides. þThe minutes of the accord were signed by Dr. Yusuf Ibn Tarrrad Al-Sadoun, þthe Undersecretary of the Saudi Foreign Ministry for Economic and Culture Affairs and the General Coordinator for the negotiations on behalf of the GCC, þand Undersecretary of the Syrian Ministry of Economic and Commerce Dr. þ Mohammad Ghassan Al-Habash. It included 19 articles which aim at enhancing trade exchanges through the immediate canceling of all customs tariffs and taxes after the two sides þapproved the accord. Following the signing ceremony , Habash said the agreement aims at liberating the trade exchange between both sides through the cancellation of Customs fees and taxes after the two sides ratify the agreement . He added this agreement stipulates that both sides will soon begin the negotiations to liberate the trade in the services gradually , according to the articles of the Trade Liberation Agreement among Arab states and to GAT Agreement. The US army has launched a large scaled operation in Mosul, Northern Iraq in search of Izzat Ibrahim Al Douri, number 2 in the former Iraqi regime. Agence France Presse said a large number of American Forces have isolated a sector in the city in search of Al Douri, while infantery and helicopters took part in the search. The spokesman of the US army refused to comment, but an Iraqi policeman who wanted to remain anonymous said the US force were searching for the former second man. The Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmad Maher said on the final communiqué of the Group of Industrialized Countries (G-8) regarding the Greater Middle East project, that " this statement responded to several observations placed by Egypt, especially in connection to the principle of reform should stem from inside the countries concerned, and this reform to take into account the condition of each and every state, but with welcoming any aid that can be provided by other countries to achieving the reforms." Maher asserted that "Egypt started the process of reforms and achieved numerous positive results at the political and economic fields, alike." |