Ain-Al-Yaqeen - September 17, 2004

		September 17, 2004

SAUDI ARABIA LAUNCHED ITS NATIONWIDE CENSUS, WHICH IS TO PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN PREPARING THE EIGHTH FIVE-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2005-2010) OF THE COUNTRY.
THE CHANGE OF VENUE OF THE GCC SUMMIT FROM THE UAE TO BAHRAIN HAS BEEN AGREED BY THE EMIRATES AND OTHER GCC STATES.
PRESIDENT AL YAWER CALLS ON THE EU FOR MORE PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ.
PRESIDENTS AL-ASSAD AND MUBARAK SUPPORT LEBANON SOVEREIGNTY AND REFUSE THREATS.
PRESIDENT AL-ASSAD TO BURNS: OUR FORCES WILL NOT STAY IN LEBANON FOREVER.

On Behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, Prince Abdul Majeed Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Makkah Region, was honored by gracing the washing ceremony of Ka'abah.

At the Grand Mosque in Makkah, he was received by the General President of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs, Sheikh Saleh Ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Hussayen.

Then, Prince Abdul Majeed told reporters that this day was a historic day for him and all participants in this great religious occasion.

He added that six large projects costing between SR 25 to 30 billion will be completed soon.

The ceremony was attended by Ulema (Muslim scholars), Cabinet ministers, senior officials, members of the diplomatic corps from Islamic countries who are accredited to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a group of citizens.

On the other hand Saudi Arabia launched its nationwide census, which is to play a vital role in preparing the Eighth Five-Year Development Plan (2005-2010) of the country. Some 42,000 officials, mostly teachers, have been deployed all over the Kingdom to carry out the work.

Economy and Planning Minister Khaled Al-Gosaibi declared that the census began at midnight last Tuesday. He urged Saudis as well as expatriates to cooperate with census officials by providing them with correct information.

"Census is an important project as it is essential to work out plans for future," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the minister as saying after the inauguration ceremony at the General Statistics Department in Riyadh.

The modern world depends totally on correct data and information for development, Gosaibi said. "The Kingdom's 8th development plan will depend heavily on the data we collect through this census," he explained.

The minister assured that all information would be kept secret and used only for development purposes. This time only Saudi officials are involved in the census, which is to continue until Oct. 20. Census officials will be visiting houses in the evening from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The census will cover Saudis and expatriate workers as well as foreign visitors and Saudis living abroad. Saudi missions in different countries will conduct the census on diplomats and students and other Saudis living abroad. The Ministry of Economy and Planning has already sent census papers to the embassies through the Foreign Ministry.

The ministry has distributed some 10 million brochures to enhance public awareness on the census. Authorities have appointed a supervisor for each team of five census officials to conduct the work in an effective and orderly manner.

The questionnaire contains 62 questions related to family, its revenue and expenditure, physical handicaps, house, unemployment, tourism, education, access to utility services such as water and electricity, recreational facilities, procreation rate and the number of births and deaths during the past year.

Many Saudis pin great hope on the census. Abdullah Al-Badrani believes that it would herald a new era of development. "It will give us an idea of the shortage of services in some parts of the country, especially in the areas of education and health," says Salim Al-Harbi.

Abdullah Al-Jabali said the census must be utilized to work out plans for the educational, social and economic development of all parts of the country. "We hope the new census would help us set out strategic and clear plans," he said, adding that the plans must be implemented and should not remain on paper.

According to the last census held in 1992, the population of Saudi Arabia comprised 12,304,000 Saudis and 4,625,000 foreigners. Riyadh and Jeddah had a population of more than two million each. The population in other main cities including Makkah, Madinah, Dammam, Jubail, Yanbu, Al-Ahsa, Buraidah, Tabuk, Taif, Hail and Abha ranged between 500,000 and one million. Seventy-five percent of the population is concentrated in the cities.

In the toughest part of the head count, an airborne census team finished surveying Al-Nofood desert north of Saudi Arabia.

Saad Al-Shabanat, inspector of Al-Nofood desert, said the first aerial team from the Saudi Air Force started early Monday to locate houses in the desert. A special survey team from the military accompanied them to point out on special maps the gathering of Bedouins. They fly for three days with an average of six hours a day at 1,000 feet altitude. After that the information is written on a map and given to three ground teams located in three areas. The first team is located on the east of the desert station in Turba center, the second team in the south of the station in Juba center and the third in the north of the desert station in Al-Moroot center.

The three teams would travel inside the desert to the marked locations equipped with satellite cell phones. They would have to spend the night in the desert. They would come back to record their information in the main center and then back again inside the desert into another marked location. By their great efforts the census employees managed to complete their mission in a short time in temperatures soaring above 50 degrees Celsius.

Sulaiman Al-Hudaithi, supervisor of the Empty Quarter and Al-Nofood desert, said that the participation of the military became necessary because of the rough terrain inaccessible by cars.

The participation and cooperation from Bedouins made their job easier, census officials said.

Al-Nofood desert is 64,500 square kilometers in size. It stretches 570 kilometers from east to west and 340 kilometers from north to south.

Al-Gosaibi said that expatriates, especially those illegal or undocumented persons or with expired Iqama, need not worry.

Gosaibi told The Saudi Gazette that expatriates workers would not be asked to present their Iqama during the interview.

We will not get into the details of getting their Iqama, Al-Gosaibi said. We won't deal with their problems but only ask their names and the kind of work they are involved in. They do not have to be afraid of the census enumerators.

Abdullah Al-Othaim, general supervisor of the Census Project, said that aside from the names of the expatriates, the foreigners would only be asked to answer the job categories they are in regardless of their immigration status.

We just want to know the total population of the expatriates and the kind of jobs they are into, Othaim said.

I want to assure the citizens that all information will be confidential, Gosaibi said.

At the King Khalid International Airport, Census enumerators started interviewing departing passengers who cooperated with the data gatherers.

Census officials said that data gathering is also being done in bus stations, markets and hotels.

On the other hand suspected terrorists gunned down a Briton near a major supermarket in the eastern part of Riyadh.

The victim was identified as Edward Smith, 50. He worked for Marconi Telecommunications Corporation, which provides consultancy services to the National Guard.

The incident occurred around 2.45 p.m. in the parking lot of Max Discount Center on Khurais Road in Al-Naseem district.

A source told Arab News that police were looking for two Saudis seen fleeing the area in a white Toyota Tercel. The source added that the Briton who was in his car in the parking lot of the supermarket, was shot four times twice in the head and twice in the chest. Smith had come to the market driving a Ford Focus.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of the Briton killed today in Riyadh," British Ambassador Sherard Cowper-Coles said in a statement.

"They should know and the terrorists must know that his murder will only make the British government more determined to stand with the Saudi government and people in their battle against senseless terror of this kind," he added.

One eyewitness said he suspected the act to be linked with terrorism. "There is no doubt that this is a terrorist act. These killers want to show the world that our country is unstable," he said. "But they will fail," he added.

Police ringed the area looking for the killers as Smith's body was removed from the scene in a Red Crescent ambulance. Preliminary investigations were conducted by the security authorities and forensic experts who arrived on the scene soon after the shooting.

In Baghdad a Briton and two US nationals working in Iraq have been abducted in Baghdad. The Iraqi Interior Ministry said gunmen seized the men at dawn from a house in the capital's Mansour neighbourhood.

US and British embassy officials confirmed the kidnappings of the men, workers for a building contracting firm based in the United Arab Emirates.

Shortly after the abductions, a loud blast hit a residential area in central Baghdad. At least one person was killed and several were injured, police said.

The US embassy in Iraq named the two kidnapped Americans as Jack Hensley and Eugene Armstrong but did not give their home towns.

The British embassy said no details on the kidnapped Briton would be released until his family had been informed.

Iraqi interior ministry spokesman Colonel Adnan Abdul Rahman said: "Two Americans and a British civilian were kidnapped from their house in the Mansour district in Baghdad this morning around 0600 (0200 GMT)."

He told the Associated Press news agency they were employed by Gulf Services Company, a Middle East-based construction firm.

He said the men had been bundled into a minivan and driven off. A car was missing from the house where the men were reportedly taken.

There was no fighting as the hostages were taken.

The Mansour district is a wealthy residential area on the river Tigris, where many multinational companies have their headquarters.

Many foreign businessmen and contractors live there if they are not staying in the heavily defended Green Zone.

Meanwhile Iraqi interim President Ghazi al-Yawer is continuing his diplomatic tour throughout Europe. He has met with EU foreign policy representative Javier Solana in Brussels in hopes of gaining support for rebuilding efforts in Iraq. Al Yawer also paid a visit to NATO headquarters. The Iraqi leader's visit comes just one day before alliance ambassadors meet to debate a widening NATO's role in Iraq. Al Yawer says that expanded role is vital. NATO is currently involved in training Iraq's military with a limited contingent of about 40 soldiers.

Yuri Fedotov the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said the 95th session of the UN General Assembly would discuss the Iraqi issue with the presence the G8, Iraq neighbouring countries and countries which can take part in the re-building of Iraq.

He stressed Russia's willingness to continue providing help for re-building Iraq, and expressed his regrets for the deteriorating security situation in Iraq.

As Secretary-General Kofi Annan met in New York with his top envoy for Iraq, the country's foreign minister said the return of the United Nations to Baghdad was long overdue.

Mr. Annan held talks last Monday with his Special Representative for Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, who is holding consultations at UN Headquarters this week.

Meanwhile in Baghdad, Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told Deputy Special Representative in Iraq Ross Mountain that the UN will be necessary to energize the country's political and reconstruction process.

The Foreign Minister sought UN support for Iraq's efforts to hold soon an international conference on reconstruction that would include neighbouring countries.

Mr. Mountain, who was based in Amman, Jordan, where many international staff were relocated after last year's terrorist bombing of the UN's Baghdad headquarters, also met with President Ghazi Al Yawer, Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salah.

The deputy envoy reiterated the UN's current priorities - elections in the political process and the humanitarian/reconstruction work of the UN system - and discussed preparatory work for forthcoming elections.

International staff working for the United Nations in Iraq are "operating at the outer limit of acceptable and prudent risk," Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a new report which warns that the UN presence on the ground there is limited because of insecurity until further notice.

While pledging to "do everything possible, as circumstances permit, to support Iraqi efforts in the political and economic reconstruction of their country," the Secretary-General points out that no country has yet committed to providing any security staff for UN workers there.

UN spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters that the world body has conducted "an exhausting and exhaustive search" for security units, adding that there have been "some promising leads."

The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) needs four personal security details, each comprising 12 officers, to protect the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, other designated UNAMI officials and visitors as they travel around the country.

Three armed guard units, each consisting of 160 people, are required to protect UNAMI facilities, while forces are also needed to help UN staff working outside the so-called "international zone" in Baghdad.

The UN has restricted the number of its foreign staff in Iraq to 35 until there is "a qualitative improvement in the overall security environment," Mr. Annan says.

Just over a year ago, the UN suffered a devastating terrorist attack which killed 22 people at its Baghdad headquarters. And the new report notes that the last few months have been marked by continuing violent attacks, including assassinations and kidnappings, with many targeting foreign workers. Armed militias are still active and are connected to politically influential parties and individuals.

The volatile security situation is also playing havoc with Iraqis' confidence in their political future, especially the electoral process as it heads towards polls scheduled for January next year.

Mr. Annan says the only solution to the insecurity and violence is a political process that is not based on threats or armed force, but instead a genuine willingness to tackle political, economic, social and cultural grievances peacefully.

He gives prime responsibility for this to Iraq's Interim Government, arguing it must be as inclusive as possible as it shapes the political process ahead of the scheduled elections.

"Ultimately, the people of Iraq must be continually reassured and convinced that the process is unequivocally moving towards the goal of making them the masters of their own political future."

Mr. Annan stresses the importance of establishing the rule of law as paramount in Iraq and calls for reform of the country's police, judicial and penal systems. He also calls on political parties to avoid moves which could inflame tensions.

On the other hand Ahmed Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress has fired one of its most senior members for visiting Israel, a spokesman for the group said.

During an emergency meeting, the leadership of the former exile group decided to "fire Mithal al-Alusi from the Iraqi National Conference," spokesman Haidar al-Mousawi told The Associated Press.

Al-Alusi's visit to a terrorism conference angered his colleagues, who said they learned about the trip from the media. A part of Chalabi's inner circle, al-Alusi headed the de-Baathification Committee, which fired thousands of members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party from their jobs.

"His statements, which were carried by the media, do not represent the Iraqi National Congress' point of view," an INC statement said.

Iraq had been one of Israel's harshest enemies in the Arab world until the collapse of Saddam's regime. Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has said Iraq will not make any move to normalize relations with Israel before other Arab nations do so.

On the other hand the Palestinian Leadership condemned Tuesday the Israeli closure of Palestinian voter registration centres in the occupied East Jerusalem, stressing that Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Palestine, is an occupied city.

The Leadership held the Israeli government responsible of restricting democracy in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).

In an urgent meeting, headed by President Arafat, the Executive Committee (EC) of the PLO and representatives of various national and Islamic parties, the Leadership rejected the Israeli measures contradict the Palestinian- Israeli signed accords.

The urgent meeting comes after Israeli troops had blocked Monday six voter registration centers in Jerusalem and detained a number of their employees, seizing voter registration documents.

The Leadership reiterated on the UN Security Council resolution 478/1980, relevant to the "basic law" in the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) proclaiming a change in the character and status of Jerusalem.

The UN resolution "determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purport to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, and in particular the recent "basic law" on Jerusalem are null and void and must be rescinded forthwith".

The Leadership called on the Quartet Committee to shoulder responsibility and to urge Israel to retreat its decision (of closing the voter registration centres).

"The PLO and the Palestinian Authority insist on their total rejection of the Israeli measures," the Leadership said, reiterating on continuity of voter registration in Jerusalem.

It called on the Palestinian people to retaliate the Israeli measures by intensifying registration.

The Leadership urged the Non-Alignment Movement, Japan, China, African countries and international community to prevent the Israeli occupation from practicing haughtiness in Jerusalem.

It pointed out that the Israeli closure of the voter registration centres coincides with speeding up the construction of the Apartheid Wall, the issue raises the necessity of ending Israeli occupation.

The Leadership denounced the Israeli desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque and the continued attacks on the Christian and Islamic holy places.

Israeli colonizers organized, recently, a wedding party, drank alcohols in the al-Aqsa, provocation Moslem prayers.

Meanwhile President Yasser Arafat rejected the Israeli PM Sharon's statement in which he revealed that Israel would not follow the Road Map peace plan.

During meeting with Swedish Foreign Minister, Laila Freivalds, in Ramallah, Arafat said that Sharon renounced the Road Map and had 14 reservations on it.

In an interview with the Israeli Yediot daily, Sharon acknowledged, that Israel was not following the Mideast peace plan and that an Israeli pullout from Gaza was unlikely to revive it.

Arafat pointed out that international community accepts and supports the Road Map, stressing that the US President, George Bush confirmed that the implementing of the plan leads to two side by side (Palestinian and Israeli) states.

Regarding the proposed Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Arafat reiterated that such withdrawal has to be parallel to other withdrawals in the West Bank including the occupied east Jerusalem.

President Arafat revealed that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) obstruct the Palestinian elections.

He told reporters that despite Israeli obstacles the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) does its best to carry out elections.

IOF closed 6 voter registration centres in Jerusalem and arrested employees. Several other attacks against election centres were also carried out in different constituencies in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Thus, Arafat called yesterday the Quartet to dispatch international observers to help the PNA in carrying out elections.

As for the assassinating of 10 citizens, by IOF in Nablus and Jenin, Arafat told reporters that such act is an unforgivable crime.

He added that the crimes in Jenin and Nablus are a part of the Israeli escalation against the Palestinian people, infrastructure and children.

10 Palestinian citizens, including a child girl, were killed Wednesday by IOF in two separate terror attacks in the West Bank cities of Jenin and Nablus.

Arafat praised the Swedish government's help in the peace process, recalling how he held a landmark meeting with influential American Jews in Stockholm in 1988, a first tentative step which was to lead to the Oslo accords with Israel.

Freivalds confirmed that the European Union is abide by the Road Map affirming the Swedish support to the Palestinian people and establishing the Palestinian state side-by-side with Israel.

"Sweden will continue to support the creation of an independent and peaceful Palestinian state besides the state of Israel and we will continue helping you," said Freivalds.

On the other hand President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt arrived in Damascus on Wednesday, and was received by President Bashar al-Assad.

The Egyptian President was also received by Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara and Egypt's Ambassador in Damascus Hazem Khairat.

The Egyptian President is accompanied by Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu al-Ghait, Head of the Presidential Office, Zakaraya Azmi and Presidential Spokesman Majid Abdul Fatah.

Later, the two Presidents held a bilateral meeting.

President Assad held a breakfast banquet in honor of President Mubarak, then the two Presidents resumed their talks.

Both sides agreed on continuing consultation and coordination in the forthcoming stage on issues of mutual interest in a way that activates the Arab joint action.

Talks also concentrated on the distinguished bilateral relations between the two countries, where the two Presidents agreed on intensifying efforts to enhance the fraternal ties between both countries in various fields.

They also stressed the importance of benefiting from the 13th session of the Syrian-Egyptian Joint Higher Committee due in Cairo in order to push the political and economic relations ahead.

Both sides reviewed the challenges that face the Arab region, asserting the necessity of unifying efforts in dealing with these challenges.

They stressed support to the standing dialogue among the Palestinian factions under the sponsorship of Egypt in order to achieve the Palestinian unity and enhance its capability to establish an independent Palestinian state.

They underlined the importance that Israel should carry out its commitments in improving the human situation of the Palestinians under the occupation and to start the political negotiations that aimed at the establishment of a Palestinian independent state.

The two Presidents stressed the necessity of ending the Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan, asserting total rejection of the language of threat instead of dialogue and negotiations.

Both Presidents announced solidarity with Lebanon, asserting Lebanon's right to run its own internal affairs, rejecting any foreign intervention in Lebanon's internal affairs.

Regarding the Iraqi issue, both sides agreed on the importance of carrying out what have been agreed on in the meeting of Iraq's neighboring countries that was held in Cairo. They expressed keenness on Iraq's security and stability as well as support to its national unity.

They also expressed support to the Sudanese exerted efforts to ensure stability and security in Darfur.

President Mubarak and the accompanying delegation left Damascus at the end of a short visit to Syria. Mubarak was seen off by President Assad. The Egyptian President was also seen off by Shara and Egyptian Ambassador in Damascus.

" Syria dealt with visit of the U.S Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs William Burns and an accompanying delegation in a serious way based on keenness on her interests and on security and stability in the region." A well-informed source at the Syrian Foreign Ministry said after Burns meeting with President Bashar al-Assad.

The source added that Syria viewed that the delegation concentration on the issue of cooperation regarding Iraq as a positive point that meets Syria's overt stances towards preserving Iraq's national unity and restoring independence, security and stability.

"The Syrian and U.S sides gave the Iraqi question the priority and great importance where they agreed on practical and concrete ways through which experts of both sides in cooperation with Iraq can reach to proper mechanisms and steps to achieve that." the source pointed out.

"The talks between President al-Assad and Burns also dealt with the U.S commitment to achieve the just and comprehensive peace in the region and with the necessity of ending the cycle of violence in the occupied Arab territories." The source emphasized.

"The situation in Lebanon, the necessity of all to respect Lebanese independence and sovereignty and implementing al- Taef agreement were discussed during meeting."

At the end of meeting Burns stressed that the upcoming days are going to witness intensive meetings between the two sides for the purpose of forming an appropriate background for dialogue and finding constructive solutions for the existing issues between them through proper mechanisms that will achieve concrete results.

U.S Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs William Burns described as " clear and detailed" his talks with President Bashar al-Assad.

In a statement to reporters, Burns said that the talks focused on the situation in Iraq and achieving security and stability in it.

"We discussed practical ways through which Syrian and US experts in cooperation with Iraq can achieve tangible progress in this regard." He said.

Burns emphasized that topic of terrorism was also discussed, stressing that the US President George W. Bush is still committed to reach a permanent, just and comprehensive peace in the region.

Lebanon and Syria announced an upcoming series of talks that will further enhance their brotherly relations, both asserting the Syrian presence in Lebanon was legal.

The conclusions were announced during a news conference held in Damascus by Information Minister Michel Samaha and his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Hassan, following a meeting between the two ministers and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq Sharaa for over an hour.

Samaha denied rumors that Syria would redeploy its troops in Lebanon in the coming few days and said such a redeployment is based on an agreement between the two concerned countries and is affected by security needs and capabilities.

Samaha, who denied that his visit was aimed at announcing a new form of the Lebanese-Syrian relation, said that the visit of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East William Burns to Syria Saturday was positive.

Iraqi Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib stressed that the Syrian-Iraqi relations are in steady progress.

In a statement to Saudi newspaper of ' al-Riyadh', al-Naqib said that his latest visit to Damascus aimed at bolstering bilateral relations in the interest of the two brotherly countries.

He also asserted that the visit was a follow up meeting after the talks held in Damascus between Iraqi Premier Iyad Allawi and senior Syrian officials last month.

In Cairo President Hosni Mubarak discussed with US Under- Secretary of State for Near East Affairs William Burns the outcome of the American official's talks with the Iraqi government over arrangements for holding Iraqi elections in January.

Presidential Spokesman Maged Abdel-Fattah said that Burns had reviewed with the Iraqi officials a three-axis plan for the elections which Americans believe that with the help of sincere efforts, could be held in time.

The first axis of the plan is a political one and is based on the reactivation of the UN role in Iraq and regaining the Iraqi Sunni, Shiite and Kurd trust and encouraging them to partake in the election process so as to preserve the country's territorial integrity.

The second axis which is the security one, covers strategies to overcome any future security difficulties through offering more training to the largest possible number of Iraqi police, the spokesman said noting that Egypt has expressed its readiness to help in this matter. Besides its wish to help overhaul Iraq's police force, Egypt is also willing to offer technical help to Iraq's economic and financial reform plans, he said.

The third axis, which of course covers economic matters, envisages the creation of new job opportunities and elimination of chronic problems, he said.

Mubarak asserted to Burns Egypt's commitment to assisting Iraqis in fulfilling their hopes and underlined the importance of collective international efforts to end violence and restore stability to the country to allow its people to earn their living and lead a better life.

Tightening control over Iraq's borders to prevent militants from infiltrating into Iraqi was one of the important topics reviewed by Mubarak and Burns, Abdel Fattah said. Posting Mubarak on the US efforts with Iraq's neighboring countries to serve this end, Burns said that this particular matter was one of the themes of his discussions in Syria.

The American official said that Washington agreed with Damascus on specific steps to help in controlling Iraq's borders. The Syrians were very positive in handling the matter, he added. On the Palestinian front, the presidential spokesman said that Burns will hold a meeting with US partners in the International Quartet in Cairo to agree in principle on the discussions and the outcome of the Quartet's meeting at the foreign ministerial level in New York on September 22.

Burns also said that the US appreciates Egypt's efforts to unite Palestinian factions and to close their ranks in cooperation with the efforts of other countries in the region, he added. Postponing the liaison committee meeting for two to three months at the request of the Palestinian side was tackled, he said.

President Mubarak has affirmed the need to exert more effort and to adopt a clear stance towards the separation wall and halting settlement construction, being in contradiction with the Roadmap, he added.

The President also stressed the necessity of improving the Palestinian's living conditions, he said.

Egypt is unequivocally committed to the Roadmap including withdrawal from Gaza according to the declared Israeli plans, he said.

On the application of latest UN Security Council Resolution 1559 on Lebanon, the presidential spokesman said that Burns posted Mubarak on the talks Washington was holding with parties concerned on the implementation of the resolution.

In Palestine Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed ten Palestinian citizens in two separate terror attacks in the West Bank cities of Jenin and Nablus. In the meantime, several other citizens were wounded and arrested while homes demolished in WB and Gaza Strip, witnesses and Palestinian official sources said.

Four citizens were instantly killed by IOF in the city of Jenin, witnesses said, medics confirmed.

Witnesses added that Israeli troops stormed the city of Jenin from the northern entrance amid intensive fire killing four and damaging houses.

Medical sources reported that four citizens were killed with live ammunition. The sources said that two of the victims were identified as Fadi Fakhri and Moath Iqtayyet.

Earlier six citizens were murdered by IOF in the old city of Nablus, north of the West Bank, witnesses said.

They told WAFA that the Israeli soldiers shot the six dead in the old city.

Medics named the victims as follows: Maram al-Nahla 11, Abed Salem, Milhem Abu Jamila, Nader al-Aswad, Mohammed Mar'ie and Hany al-Aqqad.

Moreover, Palestinian medical sources stated that at least 27 citizens, including a child critically, were wounded when Israeli soldiers broke into the Deir Al Latin (Latin Monastery) area.

In Tubas, IOF arrested 2 citizens and wounded, fifteen citizens and arrested fourteen others in several West Bank cities, medical sources and witnesses said.

IOF arrested the 20-year-old Ahmed Salha after storming al-Far'a Refugee camp, south of Tubas city, leading him to unknown place, witnesses revealed.

Witnesses added that Israeli soldiers arrested Ali Adawi 20, during a search operation of houses in al-Doha town, west of Bethlehem.

In Qalqilya, IOF military bulldozers demolished a house in Zaid neighbourhood of the city, residents said.

They added that the IOF troops, supported by several bulldozers, rolled into the neighbourhood, and imposed a tight curfew shortly before demolishing a 2-storey house owned by Youssef Eghbary.

In Bethlehem, massive Israeli troops, stationed at a sand checkpoint to the east of al-Khader town where they stopped a car, forcing its passengers to drop down shortly before arresting Ibrahim Salah 24.

In Hebron, Israeli soldiers rolled into different neighbourhoods of the city and arrested a citizen in Soreef town, witnesses said.

They told reporters that the Israeli soldiers rolled into the town where they stormed the house of Ma'moun al-Hadoosh 26 shortly before arresting him.

Earlier Israeli soldiers arrested, Walid Mekawi 20, after besieging and breaking into his house located in al-Dhaisheh refugee camp of Bethlehem and then led him to an unknown spot, witnesses said.

IOF shot and wounded the 3 children in Nour Shams Refugee Camp, east of Tulkarem, after storming it amid heavy shooting at houses, medical sources said.

In addition, 12 citizens suffered suffocation and sustained bruises and fractions when Israeli soldiers assaulted a peaceful demonstration against the "Apartheid Wall" in Hebron City, witnesses said.

In another incident, Israeli soldiers arrested 10 citizens after rolling into Dora town and the old city of Hebron, witnesses affirmed.

Witnessed revealed that Israeli soldiers conducted a harsh door-to-door search of houses ended up with arresting 10 citizens who all were taken to an undisclosed area.

In the meantime, Israeli troops burst into Arraba town, south of Jenin city, and arrested two citizens, witnesses told WAFA.

Witnesses told WAFA reporter that Israeli soldiers broke into the house Tariq Mekdan 35, and arrested him together with his 31-year-old Muna.

Somewhere else in the West Bank, witnesses said that Israeli troops rumbled into Nour Shams Refugee Camp of Tulkarem, arrested Falah Masharqeh shortly before dynamiting his brother's house. Witnesses added that Masharqeh has been taken to an unrevealed area.

Things in the Gaza Strip were not much better, a number of citizens were wounded early today when Israeli soldiers opened intensive fire shooting against houses in Rafah city, southern the Gaza Strip, local sources said.

The Israeli troops, stationed at vicinity of Israeli colony of "Rafeh Yam", opened its heavy machineguns randomly and intensively against a group of citizens gathered in the area, wounding scores, they added. The wounded were bit-by-bit transferred to the hospital due to the intensive fire shooting, medics at al-Najjar Hospital in the city reported.

On the other hand the GCC Summit will be held in Bahrain this year instead of the scheduled venue of the UAE.

The change of venue has been agreed with the Emirates and other GCC states, said Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa yesterday. He said that Bahrain had asked to host the summit, which will be held in December.

UAE Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Hamdan Ibn Zayed Al Nahyan said the Emirates welcomed the holding of the summit in Bahrain.