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August 26, 2005 |
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***** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to President Sellapan Rama Nathan on his re-election as President of Singapore. In his cable, the Monarch wished the President good health and continuous happiness and the people of Singapore steady progress and prosperity. The monarch also hailed the existing good relations binding the two countries and their peoples. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received Former President of Bangladesh Hussein Mohammed Ershad. Ershad offered condolences to Crown Prince Sultan on the death of King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz. Prince Fahd Ibn Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of Tabuk region expressed thanks to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General for raising salaries by 15 percent and allocating SR30 billion of the budget's surplus for improving services in the kingdom. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency, he lauded this generous gesture by Saudi leaders. The Prince expressed the happiness of the people of the region for this raise which he said would improve their level of living and their economic conditions. He added that the order encompasses all sectors of the Saudi society and ended his statement praying God the Almighty to preserve the Kingdom and its security under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his Entrusted Crown Prince. Prince Mohamed Ibn Saud Ibn Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of Al Baha region expressed thanks to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General for raising salaries by 15 percent and allocating SR30 billion of the budget's surplus for improving services in the kingdom. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency, he lauded this generous gesture by Saudi leaders. The Prince expressed the happiness of the people of the region for this raise which he said would improve their level of living and their economic conditions. The Prince added that the order encompasses all sectors of the Saudi society and this would enable different areas of improving their services and ended his statement praying God the Almighty to preserve the Kingdom and its security under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his Entrusted Crown Prince. The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to contain polio, and said the measures used to be taken by the Kingdom in this respect prior to Hajj season every year do play a positive role in combating polio at the world arena. WHO said in its annual report, that the measures taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in this connection would prevent the spread of the disease inside and outside the country. Meanwhile the spokesman for WHO said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not only aim at protecting its citizens, but it also aims at enhancing the international efforts which aim at stopping the continuous spread of the virus of polio at the world arena. A French television soundman who was kidnapped in the Gaza Strip in the latest of a spate of abductions in the territory was released unharmed. Mohammed Ouathi, a technician working for the France 3 network and a French national of Algerian origin, was abducted by unidentified armed men outside his hotel in Gaza City on August 14. "I want to thank the Palestinian popular resistance committees who contributed to my freedom. I want to say that I was well-treated and everything went fine," he said after his release. The 46-year-old was in Gaza with a large contingent of international media ahead of Israel's withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territory. His kidnapping was the latest in a series of abductions in Gaza in recent weeks and came just three days after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas ordered security services to protect foreign workers in Gaza. The Saudi Ministry of the Interior pointed out to the urgency that all travellers to Bangladesh must hold entry visas issued by Bengal embassies abroad, in order to avoid embarrassment to visitors, as whoever does not hold a valid visa will be prevented from entering the country. In the same context the Interior Ministry said the Indonesian government has decided that citizens from 13 countries amongst which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must hold valid entry visas to Indonesia. Visas will be granted upon arrival at the airport, those who wish to stay for a period less than 7 days will have to pay $ 10 (Ten US Dollars) and if the visit is planned for 30 days then the visitor has to pay $ 25 ( Twenty Five US Dollars). Kuwait's Cabinet hailed the seriousness and firmness demonstrated by the government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in confronting terrorism and wiping it out. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, who is also acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs, said in a statement following the weekly session of the Cabinet that the Kuwaiti Council of Ministers appreciates the efforts exerted by the security authorities in the Kingdom and hails the marvellous success in wiping out the phenomenon. He reiterated his country's position rejecting all forms of terrorism and supporting any effort that contributes to getting rid of terrorism. Yemen renewed demands for the extradition of Abu Hamza al-Masri, one of the most radical Islamic figures in Britain, who is wanted for terrorism. A judicial source who requested anonymity said that Yemen made a new attempt to win al-Masri's extradition "in light of new British laws allowing the eviction of extremists deemed to pose a threat to British security." Britain introduced the strict immigration laws after the July 7 London bombings, which killed more than 50 people and injured some 200 others. Yemeni authorities are preparing a file containing evidence of al-Masri's involvement in terrorist attacks in Yemen, and are promising to give him a fair trial, the source said. Among the charges against al-Masri is supporting extremist groups such as the Islamic Army of Aden, which is accused of kidnapping foreigners and of conspiring to attack vital national interests. The Japanese Ministry of Defence will form special forces to combat terrorist attacks or military groups on the international level. Media reports confirmed that these forces which will be formed at the beginning of next year will comprise 3000 soldier and unit specialized in both chemical and biological attacks. The report added that 80 specialists will train the special forces, which will participate in operations and activities outside Japan. The step follows the decision of the Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to review the abilities of the Japanese defence to deal with the international changes such as terrorism and the proliferation of banned weapons. Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received at al-Rawda Palace the Iraqi Minister of Transport Salam Awdeh al-Malki. Talks during the meeting dealt with bilateral relations and joint agreements in fields of air, naval and land transport. Al-Malki described as fruitful and successful his meeting with President Bashar al-Assad, saying that President al-Assad underlined Syria will support Iraq and help it in the political and economic process. "We are linked with Syria by many ties, in addition to neighborhoud and pan-Arabism... we have common history and we seek that Syria has a distinguished role in backing Iraq," the Iraqi minister said in a press conference with his Syrian counterpart Makram Obeid. "The aim of my visit is to reactivate the role of joint transportation companies and enhance bilateral ties in the transport field," Malki said, adding that Syria is viewed as an important crossing point for Iraqi goods. Obeid, for his part, said the two sides agreed to run 6 flights weekly between Damascus and Baghdad soon, in addition to the possibility for the Syrian planes to fly over Iraqi airspace eastwards and southwards. He stressed the two states seek to develop joint projects. Syria's Prime Minister Naji Otari and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip. Qurei expressed pride in the Syrian-Palestinian relations, which are based on "full cooperation and consultation." In a press conference just after the meeting with President Al-Assad, Qurei said that he briefed President Al-Assad on the whole situation in Gaza strip after the Israeli withdrawal, the ongoing preparations in the strip and the authority's concept of such preparations in addition to the situation in the West Bank. "Gaza is a part of Palestine, and it will not get rest until the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a capital," Qurei stressed. President Mahmoud Abbas called for the implementation of the US President George Bush''s vision of establishing a Palestinian state lives side-by-side in peace with Israel. In a joint press conference, with David Welch, Assistant US Secretary, held in Presidential HQ in Gaza, Abbas asserted they discussed several issues especially freezing both colonization and the Apartheid Wall. Abbas added that the visit of David Welch reflects the US concern in what is going on in "our land." He added that the US pays a special attention to the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern parts of the West Bank. The President added that the Americans also concerned on the stage after the Israeli withdrawal also, stressing the US administration has paid $50 millions and agreed to pay 30 more millions for housing projects and creating job opportunities in Gaza. On his part, Welch said that the US "views the Israeli disengagement from Gaza as an important opportunity to reenergize the Road Map". He added that through the "good will and hard work" realize a more open, more free and more secure future. "We do this because we believe that the vision of the President Bush laid down, several years ago, for two states living side-by-side in peace and security both democratic, one called Israel and one called Palestine, should be the way forward to the future," Welch said. He affirmed that the US will support the Palestinian economic program with extraordinary assistance. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei expressed pride in the Syrian-Palestinian relations which are based on " full cooperation and consultation." In a press conference just after the meeting with President Bashar Al-Assad, Qurei said that he briefed President Al-Assad on the whole situation in Gaza strip after the Israeli withdrawal, the ongoing preparations in the strip and the authority's concept of such preparations in addition to the situation in the West Bank. "Gaza is a part of Palestine, and it will not get rest until establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a capital," Qurei stressed. The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources Ministry, will host an international seminar on managing and developing water resources. The seminar, entitled Public Participation, Awareness and Information Exchange, will be held from September 26 to 28. Several working papers will be presented by international government and non-government organisations. The U.N. has said its investigation into Rafiq Hariri's assassination "reached an advanced stage" and chief investigator Detlev Mehlis was making steady progress in the direction of catching the assassins although he needs an extension of the probe's deadline. Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari said in New York he will report to the U.N. Security Council that Mehlis wants an extension of his mission. "The fact that he's requesting an extension doesn't mean it's not going well," Gambari said. "What I'm going to report is he's making progress." Gambari stressed that seeking an extension should not be construed "as lack of progress." "He's going in the right direction. He's happy with the deployment of his investigators, and he's making progress, so he needs more time," Gambari said. He said Mehlis, a Berlin prosecutor, will return to New York in September to report to the Security Council on the progress of the investigation. U.N. Beirut spokesman Nejib Friji said the investigation had reached an "advanced stage" and that Mehlis was attaching utmost importance to the Syrian part of the probe. Meanwhile President Emile Lahoud demanded the appointment of top security and legal posts be addressed by the Cabinet, as the country's security void has allowed a bomb blast to rock the capital's Christian suburbs. A lack of consensus on the names of appointees to top administrative and security officials, which has to be approved by both the Cabinet and the President has led to a security vacuum in Lebanon, according to several political sources. The presidential media office issued a statement placing the appointments on the Cabinet's agenda and urged the awarding of positions be based on competency and experience and not according to the political distribution of Lebanon's various confessions. The statement said the president does not have any requirements concerning the security or legal posts but is against any concessions that contradict the Cabinet's decision to appoint officials based on their competency. The controversial issue of administrative and security appointments is not included in the 81 stipulations listed on the agenda, but will be discussed outside the agenda. The statement said the posts concerned are: the president of the higher judicial council, two members in the constitutional council, chief of staff in the army, Surete Generale director general and State Security director general. Pakistan proposed to the United States and the western countries to "build and own" 13 new nuclear power plants in order to help generate the much-needed 8400 MW of electricity in the next 25 years. Informed sources said that the authorities of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) had requested President General Pervez Musharraf to mitigate the concerns of the US and the western world about proliferation by ensuring that the new plants would work under "full safeguards" of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Pakistani government asked the US and western countries to make investment in certain "designated zones and parks" by partly or fully owning the proposed 13 new nuclear power plants in the country. While cooperation with China was going on for developing another 300 MW Chashma-2 power plant, the PAEC wanted such cooperation with some other countries by taking into confidence the US and western world, the sources said. The Lebanese Minister of Works Mohammed Al Safadi has reviewed with the Kuwaiti Minister of Housing and Works Badreddine Al Humaidi bilateral cooperation between Lebanon and Kuwait. The Kuwaiti Minister said in a statement that the meeting reviewed exchanging expertise especially in the fields of bridges and tunnels. He stressed the importance of activating Arab cooperation and the exchange of expertise in all areas. A powerful explosion rocked a shopping center and hotel in the Zalka neighborhood in north Beirut, injuring at least two people and causing extensive damage, security officials said. Heavily armed Lebanese soldiers cordoned off the area, punching and hitting journalists to keep them back. Two workers were seen helping a black-clad, veiled woman down the glass-covered front stairs of the Promenade Hotel. Security forces rounded several suspects, including five men with their hands tied behind their backs. They were taken to a military vehicle. Zalka mayor Michel Murr told the Lebanese Brodacasting Corp. that the bomb was placed in an open area between the Centre Moussa shopping center and the hotel, which was packed with tourists. He said tourists were evacuated and none was injured. Brig. Gen. Darwish Hobeika, commander of Lebanon's Civil Defense Corps, told Lebanese Broadcasting that two people were lightly injured and one Civil Defense rescuer was hurt. Residents said black smoke billowed into the night sky near the hotel. Ambulances and fire engines responded to care for potential victims and put out the fire. Zalka, on the Mediterranean coast, is a mixed residential and commercial area on a main street that leads to Lebanon's Christian heartland. The area has several cafes including a Starbucks coffee shop and restaurants and other nightspots that were full of patrons. British officials are considering the deportation of a Saudi dissident who runs an extremist radio station in the UK and who has been quoted as saying it would be legitimate for Muslims to assassinate Prime Minister Tony Blair. The new get tough policy with the likes of Mohammed Al Massari, who runs the Al Tadjeed radio station, and at least 150 other radical Muslims from North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, follows last month's suicide bombings and attempted bombings in London. Masaari is among those who have attracted the most attention from Britain's security forces because of the extremist language attributed to him. Opposition Conservative MPs have been at the forefront of those demanding action against the man they say has been using his radio station to call for attacks on British troops serving in Iraq. The MPs say they have been encouraged by Blair's comments earlier this month when he told journalists that "the rules of the game are changing" and announced 12 "security measures", including deportation, extending the use of control orders and refusing asylum automatically to "anyone who has participated in terrorism or has anything to do with it anywhere". First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Acting Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of condolences on Monday to Jordanian Interior Minister Awni Yerfas on the terror attack on Aqaba harbor. A press release issued by the Ministry of Interior said that Sheikh Nawaf condemned the attack that targeted innocent lives in the harbor, asserting that such acts contradict all religious teachings and international laws. Sheikh Nawaf also expressed sympathy and condolences on the death of a Jordanian soldier in the attack, and expressed wishes of quick recovery for the wounded. Meanwhile Jordanian Interior Minister said the statement issued by the Jordanian security authorities after the Aqaba terror attack did not say the car used by the attackers carried a Kuwaiti plate number. Yarfas in statements after a cabinet meeting, denied reports that the group of attackers used a car carrying a Kuwaiti plate number to flee the area. Three rockets had been launched at the Jordanian city of Aqaba, where two fell over Aqaba Port and a third on the Israeli Eilat Port, killing a Jordanian soldier and wounding another. Yarfas also revealed that investigations proved that the "terrorists belong to Al-Qaeda organization group of the terrorist Ahmad Fudail Al-Khalaylah" better known as Musaab Al-Zarkaoui. Scotland Yard believes it has thwarted an Al-Qaeda gas attack aimed at ministers and MPs in parliament. The plot, hatched last year, is understood to have been discovered in coded e-mails on computers seized from terror suspects in Britain and Pakistan. Police and MI5 then identified an Al-Qaeda cell that had carried out extensive research and video-recorded reconnaissance missions in preparation for the attack. The encrypted e-mails are said to have been decoded with the help of an Al-Qaeda "supergrass". By revealing the terrorists' code he was also able to help MI5 and GCHQ, the government's eavesdropping centre at Cheltenham, to crack several more plots. The discovery of the suspected Commons nerve gas plot was behind the decision to increase security around parliament this summer. A senior officer said that the scheme had led to the intervention of Eliza Manningham-Buller, head of MI5, to assess parliament's security. The operation to deter the sarin gas attack is referred to in an internal police document obtained by The Sunday Times. It is a minute of a meeting of senior police officers held last month at Specialist Operations 17 (SO17), the unit responsible for protecting parliament, and reveals that the team were waiting to be briefed on the plot. A senior officer disclosed that the thwarted plot mentioned in the document involved a gas or chemical "dirty bomb" attack against parliament. "The House of Commons was one of their targets as well as the Tube," he said. "They were planning to use chemicals, a dirty bomb and sarin gas. They looked at all sorts of ways of delivering it." President Bush urged America to rally behind him in supporting the war in Iraq and the fight against terrorists, who, he warned, "hope to attack our country." In the face of mounting skepticism at home over Iraq, Mr. Bush drew parallels between the country's difficulties in drafting a new constitution and the obstacles tackled by the Founding Fathers at the Constitutional Convention. "Vast oceans and friendly neighbours are not enough to protect us. A policy of retreat and isolation will not bring us safety. The only way to defend our citizens where we live is to go after the terrorists where they live," Mr. Bush said. He vowed a "total victory" over terror. Mr. Bush made the case that the war in Iraq was a necessary component of his three-pronged strategy to win what he is still calling the "war on terror." His aids have started referring to the fight as the "global struggle against violent extremism." "Iraq is a central front in the war on terror," the president said. "It is a vital part of our mission. Terrorists like bin Laden and his ally, Zarqawi, are trying to turn Iraq into what Afghanistan was under the Taliban, a place where women are beaten, religious and ethnic minorities are executed, and terrorists have sanctuary to plot attacks against free people." While Mr. Bush's rhetoric was not new, the speech was significant in light of plummeting poll numbers. According to a Newsweek survey from earlier this month, 34% of Americans approve of the president's management of the war. For the last three weeks, the press has fixated on the mother of a fallen soldier, Cindy Sheehan, who set up a camp outside the Bush family's ranch in Crawford, Texas, and is demanding a meeting with the man she has described as the world's worst terrorist. Mr. Bush reiterated that American soldiers will come home when Iraqi security forces are capable of defending the country against the terrorist insurgency. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has received a verbal message from Sultan Qaboos bin Said dealing with bilateral relations and matters of joint interest. The message was conveyed by Abdul Aziz bin Mohammed Al Rowas, adviser to the Sultan for cultural affairs, when he was received by the Iranian president. Rowas conveyed the greetings and best wishes of His Majesty to the president. The president asked Rowas to convey his greetings and best wishes to His Majesty. Elizabeth L. Dibble, deputy assistant secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, US Department of State said in an interview that she expects that the report on the killing of Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri undertaken by the UN chief investigator Detlev Mehlis will unveil the truth about the atrocious crime. She said that Lebanon recognizes UNSC 1559 and the will of the international community concerning its implementation. She added that the Lebanese government is still new, but stressed the decision must be fully implemented. |