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Showing posts from August, 2007

News Concerning Middle East Reform

This is the news section of the latest issue of Arab Reform Bulletin (July 2007) Published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Headlines: Kuwait: Ministers Resign Bahrain: First Income Tax; Press Law; Truth and Reconciliation Committee Saudi Arabia: Government Critic Arrested Yemen: Opposition Journalist Arrested Morocco: Run-up to Elections Algeria: Electoral Law Amendments Libya: Journalists on Trial Egypt: New Islamist Party; Nour Update; U.S. Considers Conditioning Aid Jordan: Former MP Charged; Run-up to Municipal Elections; Child Labor Code Syria: Student Activists Arrested Upcoming Political Events Contents: Kuwait: Ministers Resign Kuwait's oil and transportation ministers resigned on June 30 over a parliament inquiry into corruption allegations. The parliament had scheduled a vote of confidence for July 9 regarding Oil Minister Sheikh Ali al-Jarrah al-Sabah's alleged involvement in the multi-million dollar Kuwait Oil Tanker Company fraud case. Ten MPs

U.S. Reaffirms Support for Lebanon's Sovereignty and Democracy

Bush Blocks Property of Persons Undermining Lebanon's Sovereignty and Reinstating Syrian Control Naharnet 02 Aug 07 U.S. President George Bush on Thursday declared a "national emergency to deal with the threat in Lebanon" aimed at undermining Premier Fouad Saniora's government, reasserting Syrian control and undermining state sovereignty. Bush's move was made in an executive order and informed to congress for immediate application. It aims at blocking property of persons undermining the sovereignty of Lebanon or its democratic process and institutions, according to a White House statement. Bush said the move aims at confronting the "threat in Lebanon posed by the actions of certain persons to undermine Lebanon's legitimate and democratically elected government or democratic institutions, "to contribute to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of law in Lebanon, including through politically motivated violence and intimidation, to reassert Syrian contr

Countering Middle East Totalitarian Axis: Gulf Region Arms Sales

Gulf Region Arms Sales Support Stability U.S. Congress still must approve large weapon purchases By Jacquelyn S. Porth USINFO Staff Writer Washington -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on July 30 announced a military assistance program for Israel, Egypt and the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Saudi Arabia, that is designed to enhance security and stability in the region. "This effort will help bolster forces of moderation and support a broader strategy to counter the negative influences of al-Qaida, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran," Rice said in a prepared announcement. Rice said that she and Defense Secretary Robert Gates will talk to officials from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations during a trip to the region that began July 30. The discussions will focus on what types of military hardware best would help them “secure peace and stability.” Military assistance for the Gulf nations is part of a broad strategy to provide $30 billion to Israel and