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October 6, 2006 |
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***** The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has thanked the minister of culture and information and chairman of 7th session of information ministers of Organization of Islamic Conference Iyad Bin Madani and Organization's Secretary General Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsan Oglu for their cable addressed to the Monarch following the end of the conference's 7th session held in Jeddah on September 13-14. In a reply cable, the Monarch said we thank you, all ministers of information and delegations participating in the session for the noble feelings expressed in their cable, stressing that the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to them is merely our duty towards dear brothers. The king prayed to Almighty Allah for the good, success and glory of our nation, Islam and Muslims. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General has also sent to Minister Madani and Secretary General Oglu a cable of thanks in reply to their cable. Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Dr. Musaed Bin Mohammed Al-E'iban, Minister of State and Cabinet's Member who conveyed to the Emir a verbal message from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz pertaining to brotherly relations binding the two countries and their peoples and issues of mutual interest. The meeting was attended by Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Kuwait's Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister and a number of officials. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received in Jeddah Major General Larry Latobitchel, head of the US military training mission in the kingdom. During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks and discussed matters of mutual concern. The meeting was attended by senior officials of the ministry of defence and aviation and protocol officials of the crown prince's court. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received in Jeddah Dr. Abdullah Bin Omer Naseef, Chairman of the International Union for Muslim Scout (IUMS), accompanied by members of the higher consultative commission for the IUMS. Crown Prince Sultan instructed that the union be granted a land plot to build its headquarters on it and donated One Million Saudi Riyal for that end. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received at his office at the royal court at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah the ambassador-designate of the Swiss Union accredited to the Kingdom Morris Der Peh. During the audience, cordial talks were exchanged and matters of mutual concern were discussed. Ali Bin Ibrahim Al Hadeethi, Chief of the Crown Prince's court, attended the meeting. Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyadh region has endorsed the formation of the tourism development council in Riyadh region which will be in charge of implementing the tourism development strategy in the region. The council is formed of a number of experts from both the government and the private sector. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will soon lay the foundation stone of the Tabuk University, the first center of higher learning in the Kingdom's northern region. In a statement on the occasion, Tabuk Gov. Prince Fahd Ibn Sultan said the new university would change the face of the Tabuk region, acting as a catalyst for the region's overall development. The first phase of the project, spreading over an area of nine million square meters, will cost about SR1 billion ($375 million). The university will have 16 colleges for boys and girls. Prince Fahd inspected the designs and models of the university project including the university building, offices of deans and accommodation facilities for both teachers and students. Ali Suleiman Al-Attiyah, supervisor of administrative and financial affairs at the Ministry of Higher Education, said the ministry would invite tenders for building the Tabuk University campus by the end of Ramadan. He said work on four colleges College of Medicine, College of Science, Community College and College of Applied Sciences would start soon. King Abdullah is scheduled to visit Tabuk, Al-Jouf and the Northern Border Region soon, on the third leg of a nationwide tour after taking over power in August 2005. The next tour will cover the southern regions of Najran, Jizan and Asir. During his last tour, King Abdullah launched two new universities in Qasim and Hail. Earlier this year, the king announced plans to establish two new universities in Tabuk and Baha, bringing the total number of government universities in the Kingdom to 17. Other universities are located in Riyadh (three), Madinah (two), Jeddah, Makkah, Dammam, Dhahran, Abha, Qasim, Taif, Jizan, Al-Jouf and Hail. The Kingdom gives top priority to education and training. The current budget has allocated SR87.3 billion ($23.28 billion) 26 percent of the SR335-billion budget ($89.3 billion) for education. Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari noted King Abdullah's efforts to promote education in the Kingdom by approving new universities and colleges. He said the king had allocated SR4 billion ($1.06 billion) from the budget surplus for higher educational projects across the country. The 2006 national budget includes allocations for the construction of three new universities in Jizan, Hail and Al-Jouf, 2,700 new schools, three new technical colleges and 15 vocational training centers. The government has also announced plans to strengthen existing universities by establishing 85 new colleges. Three new university hospitals will be established while the existing university hospitals will be upgraded, it added. The Minister of Water and Electricity Eng. Abdullah Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Hussein stressed that the approval of the Supreme Economic Council to establish national water company will have a great effect and will be a great turning point on the track of water and drainage system sector in the kingdom. In a press meeting here today, he pointed out that the company will specialize in underground water, noting that its capital ranges between SR 30 and 40 billion. The minister added that the cities targeting in specialization are Riyadh, Madinah, Jeddah and Dammam ( Al-Khubar) representing 50 percent of water and drainage services in the kingdom. The British Council organized in London an exhibition of photographs about the cultural and social lifestyle in Saudi Arabia in presence of academics from Britain and Saudi Arabia. The exhibition comes within the framework of the students exchange program between Saudi and British colleges. Saudi and British supervisors of the program hailed the results of the program due to its cultural and educational benefits for both Saudi and British students. Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland Prince Mohammad bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz attended along with other Arab Ambassadors accredited to UK a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the fringes of the annual conference of British Labor Party which is being held in Manchester. Blair welcomed Arab Ambassadors and briefed them with the relations between Britain and the Arab world, affirming his personal care about the Palestinian issue and his determination to use the time left for him as a Prime Minister to try to establish peace in the Middle East and help the Palestinian State. At the end of the meeting, Prince Mohammad presented a book about Islamic Heritage as a gift to Blair. This book contains the achievements of Muslim scientists throughout the history to all people in various domains which form the focus for works and missions of the Technology and Science Center in Manchester University. A well-informed Saudi source has denied the content of a report published by the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot that there are claimed trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and Israel. In a statement the Saudi source that these claims are fabricated and baseless. Total sums of money approved by the Saudi government as subscriptions to international and regional organizations during the fiscal year 1426/1427 H. reached more than 195 million Saudi Riyals (about 52 US dollars.) In a statement the Saudi permanent representative to the Arab League Ambassador Ahmad Qattan said Saudi subscriptions to these international and regional organizations are based on Saudi awareness of their importance and their important role in serving all countries of the world. The General Commission of the Shoura council held its 7th meeting under the chairmanship of Dr. Salih Bin Abdullah Bin Homaid. The meeting referred to the Shoura Council's agenda the draft agreement of setting up the Islamic international foundation for financing trade and the application for the accession of the kingdom to the first and second protocols of the agreement on protection of cultural legacy in case of dispute. The Shoura Council's Deputy Chairman Mahmoud Bin Abdullah Taiba, Assistant Chairman Dr. Salih Al-Ali and Secretary General Dr. Salih Al Malik attended the meeting. The Makkah-based Muslim World League (WML) will organize an international Islamic conference on "Islam in Latin America: culture and civilization," on Shawwal 8-10 in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. Several prominent Islamic scholars, intellectuals and thinkers from various parts of the world will attend the conference, said MWL Secretary General Dr. Abdullah Al Turki. The conference will be organized in cooperation with the Islamic Organization of Latin America (IOLA). "The conference is aimed at developing the Islamic-Western dialogue through presetting Islam's virtues and refuting false allegations against it. The forum's other goals were strengthening ties between Islamic organizations which would support overall coordination and cooperation, as well as exhibiting the history and efforts of Muslim societies in Latin America," Dr. Turki said in a press statement. The MWL chief said that the three-day event would discuss the role of Islam in Latin America, dialogue between civilizations according to Islam, allegations against Islam, in addition to the current status and future of Islamic societies in Latin America. President Ali Abdullah Saleh was sworn in to a new seven-year term. In a speech to parliament at the ceremony, Saleh vowed to combat poverty and corruption, pursue and preserve democracy, and improve stability and security. He also swore to preserve freedoms, respect human rights, make changes in various executive institutions, and achieve comprehensive agricultural and industrial development through the next presidential period. He called upon all Yemeni people to live a new life in a cooperative atmosphere of brotherhood, and to steer away from hatred and aversion. Saleh was installed as president after a sweeping victory over his chief rival, Faisal bin Shamlan of the Joint Meeting Parties, in the September 20 elections. In his speech, Saleh confirmed his priorities for the coming period. In addition to the efforts mentioned above, Saleh hopes to create more jobs for people through small- and medium-sized projects, dole out land to young people, expand the social security system, encourage foreign, Arab, and local investments, and offer all the facilities needed for these investments, which will provide new jobs for Yemeni people. The president concentrated in his speech on combating corruption, a major theme of his campaign. "We will uproot firmly all the corruptions and corrupted people from all the institutions of the government, and reactivate the role of the legal authority and the central system for monitoring and accounting in this field," Saleh said. He added that the government would also work to shore up the relationships Yemen has with the other strong, friendly countries in the region. Yemen has received promises from the Gulf countries and donor countries to help combat corruption, limit unemploymentwhich contributes to stabilizing peaceand bolster Yemen's efforts to defeat terrorism. The president called at the end of his speech for all the Yemeni people to begin a new life. "I call on all the people to live a new life which is full of cooperation, love, and brotherhood and excludes hatred and repugnance. I am the president for the Republic of Yemen, not for a specific party, so I am the president for all the Yemeni men and women, and I see them all equally and without any discrimination." Finally, he concluded his speech by saying that the future was full of promise. In his comment regarding Egypt's decision to activate research in using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and the importance of building nuclear energy stations to generate electrical power, Egyptian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, mentioned that producing electrical power using nuclear energy is a genuine right to all members of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, according to article 4 of the treaty, which clearly states the right of all countries to benefit from nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In this context, Aboul Gheit highlighted that Egypt signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in June 1968, and ratified it on 26 February 1981, hence Egypt has the right to obtain peaceful nuclear technology to utilize it in achieving development and welfare for its People, especially that Egypt has been completely committed to implementing the comprehensive IAEA Safeguards System ever since it joined the Treaty in 1982. This System is applied by the Agency to ensure that all nuclear activities conducted by countries are for peaceful purposes. Aboul Gheit added that nuclear energy stations have witnessed fundamental modifications throughout the past years, and that the enhancements done in the security levels of operating these stations contributed to introducing a new generation of stations that could be operated in a way that guarantees the maximum level of safety and security. This encouraged many countries, that feared resorting to this option for generating energy, to seriously consider it. Aboul Gheit mentioned that Egypt welcomes the initiatives which have been presented lately by the nuclear and western countries encouraging other countries to use nuclear energy peacefully. The Minister also welcomed the preliminary reactions of the international community towards the new Egyptian decision, and added that Egypt is now keen on reviewing these proposed initiatives. Yemeni authorities announced the arrest of five members of the kidnapping group who had held four French tourists for nearly two weeks. The French tourists were released safely and airlifted from the kidnappers' hideout in mountainous governorate of Shabwa to the capital Sana'a. They flew back home. The five armed men have been interrogated by the security authorities and will be prosecuted, according to Army newspaper website. Several units of the special and anti-terror forces were deployed in the region around the hideout of the kidnappers before the release of the hostages and continued their mission which ended up with the arrest. A senior U.S. military official said Iran tries to spread its largess to militants throughout Iraq. He said Iran is not trying to fuel civil war in Iraq, but rather is trying to make sure it retains some influence with whichever group comes out on top in Iraq. The official, who asked to remain anonymous, briefed reporters about the conflict in Iraq. A good deal of the briefing involved the Mehdi Army, or Jaish al-Mahdi, the militia of the powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The official said that high-grade military explosives and specialized timers are among the "boutique military equipment" moving from Iran into Iraq. The origin of the weapons was easy to discern because of Iranian markings on it, he said. Because Iran maintains tight control over armaments, he said, shipment of the weapons into Iraq had to involve "elements associated with the Iranian government." The official said Iran wants "control of surrogates" in Iraq, not an easy task because Iraqi Arab nationalist groups, not pro-Iranian groups, have more grass-roots support. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora rejected Israeli claims that he held a meeting, with an Israeli official in Strasbourg stating that Lebanon would be the last Arab state to make peace with Israel. Siniora said that Lebanon would be the "last Arab country that could sign a peace agreement with Israel", noting that the Arab peace initiative was the foundation to establish a "just and inclusive" peace with Israel. The Arab Transitional Parliament (ATP) speaker Mohammad Jassim Al-Saqer called on the regional and international parliaments to take up appropriate measures to facilitate regular visits for the Red Cross to Lebanese prisoners in Israel. Al-Saqer also asked for providing medical care for these prisoners in addition to carrying an international investigation on the deterioration of their conditions, an Arab League statement said. The Arab parliamentarian said that he sent urgent letters to speakers of the International and European parliaments, International Human Rights Council, The Latin American Parliament (Parlatino), Russian parliament (DOMA), Asian parliament and the Pan-African parliament (PAP), regarding that matter. He said that in these letters, Israel was demanded to provide mine maps planted in southern Lebanon, the statement said. These letters came as an implementation of the second round meeting session of the ATP held here on the 21st of this month to discuss Arab national security, added the statement. Usama bin Laden is alive and hiding in the Kunar province of Afghanistan, possibly under the protection of a warlord, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said in an interview published in London. "It's not a hunch," Musharraf said in an interview with the Times of London. Musharraf suggested a possible bin Laden link with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the Afghan warlord who fought alongside the Al Qaeda founder against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. Hekmatyar returned from exile to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban. "Kunar province borders on Bajaur Agency" Musharraf said, adding that "We know there are some pockets of Al Qaeda in Bajaur Agency. "In Kunar province it is Gulbuddin Hekmatyar who is operating. There must be some linkages." The Jordanian Senate approved the anti-corruption commission draft law after endorsing an amendment introduced by the Lower House under which the anti-corruption commission would be linked directly to the Prime Ministry. The commission, created upon directives by King Abdullah II, will have a free mandate to pursue current and former officials who are suspected of being involved in corruption. The draft law stipulated that the commission would be autonomous with its officials enjoying absolute immunity from prosecution. Under the bill, the appointment of the commission's executive council members would have been linked to a special committee comprising the minister of justice, the head of the Audit Bureau, a member of the Senate, a deputy and a judge. The Board of Inquiry appointed to investigate the incident at Khiam, Lebanon, in which four UN Military Observers were killed, has now submitted its report to the Secretary-General. UN Patrol Base at Khiam was struck by a 500 kilogram precision-guided aerial bomb and destroyed at 1925 hours on 25 July 2006. The Board of Inquiry notes that the Israeli authorities have accepted full responsibility for the incident and apologized to the United Nations for what they say was an "operational level" mistake. The Board did not have access to operational or tactical level IDF commanders involved in the incident, and was, therefore, unable to determine why the attacks on the UN position were not halted, despite repeated demarches to the Israeli authorities from UN personnel, both in the field and at Headquarters. The report concludes that all standard operating procedures were followed and no additional actions could have been taken by UN personnel that would have changed the outcome. The Secretary-General once again pays tribute to the four who gave their lives in the cause of peace, and reiterates his heartfelt condolences to their families. Evidence suggests that a young, male suicide bomber, probably non-Lebanese, detonated up to 1,800 kilograms of explosives inside a van to assassinate former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in Beirut last year, the head of the United Nations investigation into the killing told the Security Council. Briefing the Council as he delivered his latest progress report on the work of the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC), Serge Brammertz said DNA analysis conducted on human remains found at the crime scene "produced crucial results" about a man whom investigators believe carried out the bombing. The report said a tooth found at the scene, and linked to more than 30 other pieces of human remains from an unknown individual, has been identified as belonging to a man in his early 20s. The tooth has a distinguishing mark on its surface, which investigators have concluded is rarely seen among the Lebanese. Another complete tooth, located nearby earlier this year, is being tested to determine if it belongs to the same person and if that man's regional origin can be identified, according to the panel. The Security Council set up the IIIC in April 2005 after an earlier UN mission found Lebanon's own investigation was seriously flawed and that Syria was primarily responsible for the political tensions that preceded the assassination. Its mandate runs until June next year. Analysis of the explosion indicates that as much as 1,800 kilograms of TNT or its equivalent and not 1,200 kilograms as previously suspected was detonated in an improvised explosive device (IED) from inside a Mitsubishi van close to the convoy transporting Mr. Hariri through Beirut. Mr. Brammertz said his investigating team is looking into evidence that Mr. Hariri was the subject of earlier surveillance and other assassination attempts before the bombing on 14 February last year, which also killed 22 others. "It is likely that the alleged bombing team knew that electronic counter-measures were in place to protect the convoy and Rafiq Hariri, and that they chose a method of attack that would not be impeded by such counter-measures," he told Council members. Mr. Brammertz, a Belgian prosecutor, stressed that his team is examining communications traffic around the attack, especially the probable use of cell phones to coordinate the bombing. The IIIC has been tasked with probing 14 other bombings that have occurred in Lebanon since October 2004, and Mr. Brammertz said the latest evidence only strengthens his earlier conclusions that many of them were connected. In his report, Mr. Brammertz said most UN Member States had responded positively and promptly so far to his requests for assistance, whether facilitating witness interviews, tracking telephone communications or analyzing forensic evidence. He added that Syria has provided "generally satisfactory" assistance to the probe. Mr. Brammertz, who took over the Commission in January from Detlev Mehlis of Germany, urged States to maintain their support for its work, swiftly answer any future requests for help and ensure it has enough staff to carry out its duties. The U.S. Congress moved to block the Bush administration from building permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq or controlling the country's oil sector, as it approved $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The restrictions included in a record $447 billion military funding bill were a slap at the administration, and Republicans have stripped them out of legislation in the past. Democrats and many Republicans say the Iraqi insurgency has been fueled by perceptions the United States has ambitions for a permanent presence in the country. The administration has downplayed prospects for permanent military bases in Iraq, but lawmakers have called on President George W. Bush to make a definitive statement that the United States has no such plans. U.S. officials have predicted a lengthy U.S. military presence in Iraq. The Senate unanimously passed the military spending bill, sending it to Bush for his signature. The House of Representatives passed it earlier in the week 394-22, as Congress rushed to leave town to campaign for November 7 elections that will determine control of Congress. Bush had complained the bill's funding fell short of his request. But he issued a statement saying he would sign the legislation that "will provide our men and women in uniform with the necessary resources to protect our country and win the War on Terror." With this bill, Congress has approved about $507 billion for the wars, with the bulk of that spent in Iraq where costs are averaging $8 billion per month, according to the Congressional Research Service. Lawmakers called the $70 billion a "bridge fund" to last about halfway through the next fiscal year, which starts on October 1. About $23 billion of that is to replace and refurbish equipment worn out in the harsh environments of the two conflicts. The military spending bill provides $377.6 billion for the Pentagon's core programs, $4.1 billion less than Bush wanted but $19 billion above current levels. It funds a 2.2 percent military pay raise, and provides $557 million more for the Army Reserve and Army National Guard than Bush sought. The House also passed a bill setting out policies for the Pentagon and the Energy Department's nuclear weapons programs, but the measure was stalled in the Senate. The $533 billion in programs outlined in the bill comes in appropriations bills for defense and energy. With the military stretched by the Iraq war, the defense policy bill recommends raising the Army's forces by 30,000 to a force level of 512,400, and the Marines by 5,000 to a level of 180,000. The bill blocks a move by the Pentagon to increase health care payments by service personnel. Congress usually passes the defense policy bill before the spending bill. But the policy bill was stalled in a conference with the Senate over a bid by House Republicans to let military chaplains offer denominational prayers at nondenominational events. That eventually was struck from the bill. Head of the Future bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri reaffirmed his commitment to a just and comprehensive peace in the region, based on United Nations Security Council resolutions and on Arab initiatives. He also categorically rejected claims that assassinated Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri had favored the resettlement of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Speaking at an Iftar meal, which marked the end of the Ramadan fasting day, in Koreitem, in honor of families from the Bekaa Valley, and in the presence of officials and dignitaries from the region, head of the Future bloc stressed that the people of the Bekaa had suffered during the previous 'regime of custodianship' and pointed out that the assassinated Premier was prevented from visiting the region and carrying out his agenda of developing the Bekaa Valley. MP Hariri pointed out that the people of the Bekaa Valley paid a heavy price during Israel's recent aggression, including losses in human lives, and destruction to their economic livelihood. He said Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government is not only trying to deal with the consequences of the Israeli military campaign, but is also tackling problems related to the agricultural and industrial sectors, which are central to the Bekaa Valley's economy. Highlighting the late Prime Minister's commitment to the Palestinian cause, head of the Future bloc reiterated his support for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on UN resolutions and Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz's peace initiative that was adopted at the Beirut Arab Summit. Head of the Future bloc made it clear that Lebanon rejects any attempts to resettle Palestinian refugees in the country, adding some are trying to overshadow a crisis of trust with their supporters by fabricating claims that the assassinated Prime Minister had favored a resettlement plan. He said there are also attempts to provoke sectarian and ethnic provocations in Lebanon, adding this is not the way to build 'popularity' and conceal 'alliances' that are not in Lebanon's interests. Sultan Qaboos has sent a cable of greetings to Chinese President Hu Jintao on the occasion of his country's National Day. The Sultan expressed his sincere greetings and best wishes of good health and happiness to the president and wished the friendly Chinese people continuous progress and prosperity. Sultan Qaboos, in a similar cable to President Tassos Papadopoulos of Cyprus on the independence anniversary of his country, expressed his sincere greetings and best wishes of good health and happiness to the president and wished the people progress and prosperity. In another cable of greetings to President Olusegum Obasanjo of Nigeria on the occasion of his country's National Day, Sultan Qaboos wished the president good health and happiness and the friendly Nigerian people further progress and prosperity. LI Zhaoxing, Foreign Minister of China, received in Beijing yesterday Shaikh Abdullah bin Zahir al Hosni, Sultanate's Ambassador to China, at the end of his tour of duty. The ambassador conveyed the greetings of Sultan Qaboos to President Hu Jintao, the leadership and the friendly people on the occasion of the 57th National Day of China. Li asked the ambassador to convey the thanks of the president and the prime minister to the Sultan for his greetings and best wishes. He also praised the role of the Omani leadership in enhancing bilateral relations, commending the ambassador's efforts during his duty in China. Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, Minister of National Economy and Deputy Chairman of the Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council, has said that funds allocated for the wilayats of Al Buraimi and Mahda amount to a total of RO 108 million, of which RO 50 million is put aside for new and ongoing projects approved for the 7th Five Year Plan. Giving a break-up of the sum, Macki said that RO 44.7 million has been approved for the Sohar-Al Buraimi dual carriageway, RO 17 million for water supply in the two wilayats, an additional RO 10 million for internal road paving and lighting, construction of housing units, development of the two wilayats" entrances, construction of a pedestrian overpass, refurbishment of existing parks, completion of all service projects at Al Buraimi Industrial Estate and expansion of Al Rowdha-Al Buraimi road. In a statement to Oman News Agency, Macki explained that the ministerial committee, which visited the two wilayats under the directives of Sultan Qaboos, reviewed a number of projects that the private sector intends to carry out. The projects include a tourist complex costing RO 12 million, in addition to a large shopping mall. The two wilayats are accorded special attention by the Sultan, said Macki. He added that, with effect from today (October 1, 2006), fees at border checkpoints of Wadi al Jizzi and Wadi Saa centres will be cancelled. The aim is to facilitate to ease the flow of trade and transport between wilayats of the Sultanate. "The users of the road to the two wilayats need not pay fees anymore," Macki stressed. Macki pointed out that the ministerial committee conveyed the approval of the government to offer all possible incentives to encourage local and foreign investors wishing to have business in the two wilayats. The panel promised to provide further incentives and support to the private sector to carry out tourist, industrial and commercial projects. The committee also pledged support to higher education and technical projects and the setting up of a sports complex. The committee also met citizens and discussed with them projects under execution and planned projects. The ministers also examined the needs of the citizens and steps taken by the government in enhancing development in the two wilayats under the directives of Sultan Qaboos and his continuous care that serves the interest of the country and achieve prosperity for its people. The visit stems from the overall plan by the government to achieve a balanced development of all wilayats, simplifies the administrative formalities and commercial activities of the citizens at their resident places, which will reflect positively on developing their local communities. Additional medical staff for the Saudi field hospital arrived in Beirut. The new staff included physicians, nurses, technicians and administrators. The fully equipped hospital was established on the directive of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz as part of Saudi Arabia's ongoing humanitarian assistance to the people of Lebanon. Police in Yemen killed two al Qaeda fugitives who had been sentenced to death for killing a solider and planning for attacking oil facilities, according to a source in the interior ministry. The source said that after months of following, the security forces managed to find place where to fugitives, Fawaz al-Rabai and Mohamed al-Daylami in two buildings in Sana'a where the men were hiding. The two men are among the 23 Al-Qaeda members who escaped from prison last January. The exchange fire between security forces and the two al-Qaeda fugitives resulted in killing two fugitives, the source said. He added that a third man was arrested who is suspected to be al-Rabai's aide. The investigations are underway to know more details, the source said. The source expressed thanks for cooperation of the citizens, saying that the security forces would not be tolerance with any one threatens security and stability of the country. Human rights violations at the Guantanamo Bay detention center and Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison have "diminished" America's standing in the world, the European Union's anti-terror chief said. Gijs de Vries, the EU's counterterrorism coordinator, told international experts at a one-day conference on terrorism in Prague that such violations "make it difficult to win the hearts and minds of Muslims." "Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo ... have diminished American standing in the world," he said. De Vries spoke a day after United Nations human rights investigators in Geneva criticized the United States for failing to take steps to close the Guantanamo Bay military prison for terror suspects, which they say facilitates torture and violates international law. According to the Pentagon, about 14,000 detainees, apprehended in Afghanistan and Iraq, are being held at Guantanamo Bay. The Red Cross said its representatives will travel to Guantanamo to visit 14 high-level detainees connected to the Sept. 11 attacks, the USS Cole bombing or the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The detainees - recently transferred from CIA custody to Guantanamo - will be made available to the Red Cross around Oct. 1, U.S. military officials said. In the first U.N.-sanctioned inquiry into U.S. practices at Guantanamo, human rights experts also criticized the Bush administration for a proposed law they said might permit torture in certain circumstances. An agreement on the outlines of that law was reached Thursday on Capitol Hill, winning praise from President Bush and Senate Republicans, but criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union, which is calling on Congress to defeat the bill. In Geneva, a report on Guantanamo and its 450 detainees was presented to the 47-nation U.N. Human Rights Council, a summary of which was released earlier this year. |