In This Issue

News - Region

LEAGUE SUMMIT IN TUNIS NEXT MONTH, SAYS MOUSSA
"The Arab League's secretary general [Apr 13] said that the Arab summit, which was postponed last month over differences toward a US-backed Mideast reform plan, looks set to be held in May in host nation Tunisia.. ..Tunisia postponed the Arab summit 48 hours before it was to have started last month because of differences between various states over how to further peace efforts with Israel and a US-backed reform plan for the Middle East.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
ARAB LEAGUE WEIGHS RESCHEDULING SUMMIT - GWD Apr 5, 2004

OIC SEEKS TO HOLD EMERGENCY MEETING ON MIDEAST AND IRAQ
"The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) aims to hold an emergency ministerial meeting on the Palestinian issue and Iraq on April 22, assistant secretary-general Abdul Aziz Abu Ghosh said.. ..The meeting, involving a dozen foreign ministers from countries represented in the presidency bureau and various committees, will be held in Kuala Lumpur.." Complete report..

ENVOY URGES U.N.-CHOSEN IRAQI GOVERNMENT
"A U.N. envoy proposed on [Apr 14] that Iraq's U.S.-appointed Governing Council be dissolved when the United States hands over power on June 30 and replaced with a caretaker government of technocrats who would rule until elections are held.. ..Lakhdar Brahimi.. ..said at a news conference that the interim government should have a cabinet of ministers led by a prime minister, as well as a president who would serve as the head of state. Although some Iraqi politicians and officials of the U.S. government have favored handing power to the 25-member Governing Council or an expanded version of that body, Brahimi ruled out that approach because of questions about the council's lack of popular support.." Complete report..
Also:
UN WORKING ON IRAQ HANDOVER PLAN
US AGREES TO SEEK NEW UN RESOLUTION ON IRAQ - GWD Apr 5, 2004

SADR OFFERS PEACE TALKS TO US
"Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr offered the US unconditional talks to spare Najaf a bloodbath as coalition forces tightened their grip around one of Iraq's holiest cities [Apr 14]. Sadr, whom the US has vowed to kill or capture, launched an anti-US uprising this month. He is now holed up in Najaf and had dropped previous conditions for talks with US authorities.." Complete report..
Also:
US FORCES WANT AL SADR DEAD OR ALIVE - SANCHEZ 
SUNNI GROUP ALLIES ITSELF WITH SADR
~~GulfWire Link~~
SADR TELLS BUSH TO WITHDRAW TROOPS OR FACE REVOLUTION - GWD Apr 12, 2004

TOP U.S. MILITARY OFFICER IN IRAQ TO EVALUATE
"Myers, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, was welcomed to Camp Mittica by Italian Brigadier General Gian Marco Chiarini, who heads an army brigade that includes about 3,000 Italian troops responsible for security in Nassiriya.. ..Myers said the U.S.-led coalition occupying Iraq was committed to bringing rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to justice but acknowledged his capture could increase violence on a temporary basis.." Complete report..

IRAQI SECURITY FORCES FALL SHORT, GENERALS SAY
"Top U.S. military commanders in Iraq yesterday acknowledged serious shortcomings in efforts to establish new Iraqi security forces and said the program is being reassessed in light of the failure over the past week of Iraqi units to join U.S. troops in combating militants.. ..As one measure to stiffen the forces, [General] Abizaid said, some former senior members of the disbanded army that served deposed president Saddam Hussein will soon be named to leadership posts in the new army.." Complete report..
Also: 
BREMER: IRAQIS NOT READY TO RUN SECURITY 
~~GulfWire Link~~
RUMSFELD LAUDS IRAQI SECURITY FORCES - GWD Mar 1, 2004

PENTAGON EXTENDS IRAQ-KUWAIT DUTY FOR 20,000 SOLDIERS
"About 20,000 soldiers now in Iraq and Kuwait will serve at least 90 days past their originally scheduled tours of duty.. ..Senior U.S. military commanders, Rumsfeld noted, had recently asked for more troops to mitigate insurgent activity in Iraq, most notably in and around the cities of Fallujah and Najaf.." Complete report..

ANALYSIS: IRAQ'S KIDNAP SCOURGE
Pictures of terrified hostages trussed up at the feet of masked gunmen in a lawless foreign land are guaranteed to dominate every news bulletin and the front page of every newspaper and website. In the last two weeks several dozen foreign hostages have been seized, opening a new chapter in Iraq's deepening security crisis.." Complete report..
Also:
THREE JAPANESE HOSTAGES RELEASED  
INSURGENTS WANT TO TRADE U.S. SOLDIER FOR PRISONERS
FOUR FOREIGNERS FREED IN IRAQ, 2 SEIZED 
IRAQI MILITANTS EXECUTE ITALIAN HOSTAGE
THREAT TO KILL AMERICAN HOSTAGE
ARAB TV NETWORK SAYS IT HAS FOOTAGE OF AMERICAN HOSTAGE

IRANIAN DELEGATION HEADS TO NAJAF BUT MEMBER SAYS IT WILL NOT MEET SADR
"An Iranian foreign ministry mediation team headed on [Apr 16] to the Iraqi city of Najaf where it was to meet Shiite religious leaders but not radical cleric Moqtada Sadr whose supporters have been fighting US-led occupation forces..  ..The delegation's unnamed official rejected comments from the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers, that Tehran's involvement in Iraqi affairs was 'unacceptable'.." Complete report..
Also:
IRAN DIPLOMAT SHOT DEAD IN IRAQ

FOREIGN WORKERS TOLD TO QUIT IRAQ
"Foreign nationals are being urged to flee Iraq as governments and private companies react to growing insecurity and a wave of kidnappings. Coalition civilian spokesman Dan Senor said 40 hostages from 12 countries were currently being held in Iraq.. ..As the kidnap dramas continued to unfold, US military commanders in Iraq asked for two more brigades of mobile combat troops to deal with the volatile situation on the ground.." Complete report..
Also:
MISSING WORKERS DEMONSTRATE IRAQ DANGER 
RUSSIA LAUNCHES IRAQ EVACUATION

REGIONAL ANALYSTS DEFEND ARAB MEDIA'S COVERAGE OF IRAQ CONFLICT
"Arab analysts defended Arab news coverage of the events in Iraq on [Apr. 12] after spokesmen for the US-led coalition accused the outlets of fanning anti-US sentiment in the country.."  Complete report..

WORLD BANK SEES NO DELAY TO WORK IN IRAQ
"The World Bank's drive to revive Iraq's weakened economy should not suffer serious delay because of the spiraling violence in the country, the head of the bank's mission to Iraq said [Apr 15]. Faris Hadad-Zervos told Reuters in an interview that a breakdown in law and order might hamper the bank's efforts to rebuild, but reliance on Iraqis would keep the process going.. ..The World Bank is keeping in close contact with Iraqis working on the emergency rehabilitation program through continued meetings, local staff, videoconferences and other communication links.." Complete report..

FIRST EU-GCC CONFERENCE OPENS
"French President, Jacques Chirac, has said that the first joint GCC-EU conference was a good initiative, which provides the best opportunity for the two sides to review all areas of interest in EU-GCC relations and to forge a unified stance on various issues of interest in the future.. ..The conference.. ..is being held under the theme 'Gulf Countries between Globalization and New World Disorder: Comparing European and Gulf Perspectives'.." Complete report..

THINK TANK: GCC ALLIANCE CAN DETER INVASION FOR 'SHORT WHILE'
"The stability of the Gulf region rests on Kuwait serving as a buffer zone between Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia, and for this reason, the country's territorial integrity must be maintained, said the head of a Kuwaiti think tank. Although the security threat posed by Saddam Hussain has been eliminated, Kuwait's geo-strategic importance in the region, which supplies 66 percent of global oil demand, makes it imperative for the country's national defense to be on guard.." Complete report..

LEGALITY OF GUANTANAMO DETENTIONS QUESTIONED
"Arab and Western lawyers and rights activists called on the United States on [Apr 11] to put an end to the 'vague' legal status of Guantanamo detainees. At the end of a two-day conference under the motto 'Human Rights for All', 26 lawyers from Arab Gulf states, Australia, Canada, the UK and the US issued a 'Sanaa Call' demanding access to lawyers, physicians and families for the detainees.. ..The conference was co-sponsored by the international rights watchdog Amnesty International, and the Yemeni National Organization for Defending Rights and Freedoms, a non-governmental rights group.." Complete report..

UN INSPECTORS ARRIVE IN TEHRAN; IRAN SUSPENDS CENTRIFUGE BUILDING
"Five UN nuclear inspectors arrived [Apr 12] to try to confirm whether Iran has stopped building and assembling centrifuges and get answers to a number of outstanding questions that have raised concerns about the state's nuclear program.. ..The inspectors' visit coincides with a hardening of position by Iranian radicals who have called on their government to defy the UN nuclear agency, expel UN inspectors and resume uranium enrichment.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
U.N. NUCLEAR INSPECTOR HEADS TO IRAN - GWD Apr 5, 2004

ISRAELI STRIKE KILLS ANOTHER HAMAS CHIEF
"The top leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip was assassinated in an Israeli helicopter missile strike on Saturday, hospital officials and witnesses said, setting off large-scale Palestinian demonstrations and calls for revenge. Abdel Aziz Rantisi, 54, who had recently become the Gaza Strip leader of the militant Islamic group, for years launched vitriolic assaults on Israel and its occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.." Complete report..
Also:
ISRAEL ASSASSINATES RANTISSI
HAMAS THREATENS A 'VOLCANO OF REVENGE'

OPENING OF IRAQI PORTS BRINGS INCREASED TRAFFIC TO GULF WATERS
"With the lifting of UN sanctions on Iraq, the post-Saddam Hussein era has brought an end to a decade of smuggling in civilian goods and oil with neighboring gulf countries.."  Complete report..

                                                                   Back to top

News - Bahrain

TOP US GENERAL ARRIVES IN BAHRAIN FOR TALKS ON IRAQ
"General Richard Myers, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived here on [Apr 13] for talks with Bahrain's leaders on the situation in Iraq and to reaffirm US determination to stay the course there.. ..'We'll want to talk about US resolve, how we're going to handle the situation,' Myers told reporters traveling with him from Washington.." Complete report..
Also:
MYERS EXPLAINS U.S. POSITION IN IRAQ TO ARAB AUDIENCE

MINISTERS TO RELINQUISH BUSINESS INTERESTS
"All government ministers are expected to relinquish their private business interests by next week, it was declared in parliament [Apr 14]. This follows an order by Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.. ..Ninety percent of Bahrain's ministers had already stopped their private businesses, to ensure they have nothing else other than their ministerial duties.." Complete report..

BAHRAIN MPS IN BID FOR STATUTE CHANGES
"A group of Bahraini elected lawmakers plans to propose substantial changes to the kingdom's constitution to gain more legislative and monitoring powers, a leading MP said [Apr 17].. ..The proposed changes would give the elected Council of Representatives an exclusive power of legislating, monitoring public funds and would reduce the number of the appointed Shura Council members.." Complete report..

FORUM TO BRIDGE CULTURAL DIVIDE
"Ninety artists, poets, musicians and thinkers from more than 20 countries will take part in the 10-day Bahrain Aseela Art and Culture Forum.."  Complete report..

BAHRAIN HIT BY SANDSTORM
"Gales of up to 39 knots sand-blasted Bahrain [Apr. 18], but are expected to calm down [Apr. 19].."  Complete report..

  Back to top

News - Kuwait

KUWAIT TIGHTENS SECURITY MEASURES
"Kuwait has tightened security measures around key institutions along its borders in precaution of the likely reflections in the country to the situations in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.."  Complete report..

KUWAIT MP HAS TOUGH QUESTIONS FOR HEALTH MINISTER
"An outspoken Kuwaiti lawmaker told parliament on [Apr 18] he wanted to question the health minister in public about allegations including negligence at hospitals, favoritism and breaking medical regulations. It will be the second "grilling" of a cabinet minister in parliament since the new government took office in July.." Complete report..

SOME OF KUWAIT'S 12 DETAINEES TO BE FREED SOON
"Some of the 12 Kuwaiti detainees suspected by the United States of being terrorists will be released from Guantanamo Bay 'soon,' Kuwait's prime minister said.. ..Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah's comments, published in Kuwait's Al Anba daily, came as a delegation was expected to leave for Washington to try broker the release of the Kuwaitis, a Foreign Ministry official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.." Complete report..

KUWAIT MPS DELAY HALLIBURTON-LINKED PROBE FINDINGS
"Kuwait's parliament delayed on [Apr. 19] the submission of results of a probe into a deal to supply fuel to Halliburton Co for the American military in Iraq after the U.S. army declined to testify.."  Complete report..

JAPANESE AIR FORCE IN KUWAIT COMPLETES FIRST ROTATION
"Some 70 Japanese airmen arrived in Kuwait on [Apr. 17] to implement the first rotation of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force contingent that has been participating in humanitarian mission in Iraq.."  Complete report..

  Back to top

News - Oman

GDP RISES BY 6.3 PERCENT
"The value of the Sultanate's gross domestic product (GDP) surged by 6.3 percent last year to RO8,302.4 ($21,580) million from RO7,809.1 ($20,298) million over the year.."  Complete report..

OIL AND GAS EXHIBITION OPENS
"Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Harthy, minister of transport and telecommunications, will preside over the opening of the fourth Oil and Gas West Asia (OGWA) exhibition at the Oman International Exhibition Center (OIEC) [Apr 19].. ..The OGWA exhibition runs from today to April 21.." Complete report..

                                                                        Back to top

News - Qatar

AL-JAZEERA BUREAU CHIEF RECEIVES PRISON SENTENCE IN SUDAN
"[Reporters sans Frontières] has called for the immediate release of Islam Salih, the Qatar-based television news network Al-Jazeera's Khartoum bureau chief. On 10 April 2004, Salih was convicted of 'disseminating false news' and sentenced to one month in prison and a one million Sudanese pound ($3,800) fine.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
AL-JAZEERA WARNED OF INCITING TERROR - GWD Feb 9, 2004

GOVERNMENTS TO ATTEND WORLD LANDMARK TOURISM SUMMIT IN QATAR
"More than 30 governments have confirmed their attendance at this year's most influential tourism industry event of the year, the World Travel and Tourism Council's Fourth Global Summit that will be held in Doha, Qatar from May 1-3.." Complete report..

  Back to top

News - Saudi Arabia

SAUDI AUTHORITIES FIND VEHICLES LOADED WITH EXPLOSIVES
"Saudi authorities say they have found two vehicles loaded with explosives on a highway north of Riyadh.."  Complete report..

KINGDOM ASKS US TO CHANGE MIDEAST STANCE
"Saudi Arabia [Apr 16] asked the United States to rethink its position on Palestinian rights. 'Convinced of the impact of America's attitude to the chances for peace in the region, Saudi Arabia hopes that (the US) will reconsider the situation and do the needful to prevent a total collapse of the peace process,' an official told the Saudi Press Agency. He was reacting to US backing for an Israeli plan to pull out of the Gaza Strip but retain vast stretches of the West Bank occupied in 1967.." Complete report..

SAUDI 'MILITANTS' KILL 4 POLICE
"Suspected Muslim militants have killed four Saudi policemen in separate incidents north of the capital Riyadh. Officers were shot at a checkpoint on the road to Qassim province after ordering a car to stop. The attackers fled in two stolen police cars. Police said the men had probably been involved in a gun battle in Riyadh on [Apr 12] in which one suspected militant and one police officer died.." Complete report.. 
Also: MILITANT, SECURITY OFFICER KILLED IN RIYADH CLASH
TERRORISTS GUN DOWN FOUR POLICEMEN
SAUDI ARABIA ARRESTS EIGHT SUSPECTED MILITANTS
~~GulfWire Link~~
SECOND SHOOTING INCIDENT BAFFLES INVESTIGATORS - GWD Apr 12, 2004

IN SAUDI ARABIA, FRESH RECRUITS FOR AL QAEDA
"Suspected Al Qaeda terrorists have waged a violent campaign in Saudi Arabia since last May's car bombings of a housing compound in the capital. Despite a stiff crackdown against them by authorities, the group continues to gather new recruits and enjoy logistical support from sympathizers, analysts say. Just this week, six security officers and several suspected terrorists were killed in a series of shootouts in and around Riyadh..  ..Many of the terrorism suspects killed in police shootouts are not on the list of wanted men issued by authorities, indicating that new faces are joining the group.." Complete report..

US CONGRESSMAN PRAISES SAUDI POLITICAL REFORMS
"A Republican Congressman has paid tributes to the Kingdom for putting in place political reforms that go a long way in liberalizing the government.. ..These reforms are very helpful in a participatory form of government," Congressman Darrell Issa of California's 49th District, told Arab News in a special interview.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
SAUDI ARABIA'S CLERICS SET BOUNDARIES ON REFORMS - GWD Feb 2, 2004

KERRY ASSAILS BUSH ON RELATIONSHIP WITH SAUDI ARABIA
Democrat Sen. John F. Kerry Monday voiced unwavering support for special U.S. ties with Israel and vowed to end 'sweetheart relationships' with Arab countries like Saudi Arabia that he said funded terror.."  Complete report..

AL-GOSAIBI APPOINTED LABOR MINISTER
"Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi, the minister of water and electricity, has been appointed minister of labor, a Royal Court statement said. Al-Gosaibi is succeeded as minister of water and electricity by Abdullah ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Hussayen. Dr. Ali Al-Namlah, who was minister of labor and social affairs, has been named minister of social affairs.. ..The reshuffle comes after the Council of Ministers last month decided to establish a separate Ministry of Labor and abolish the Manpower Council.." Complete report..
~~GulfWire Link~~
SAUDI SETS UP SEPARATE LABOR MINISTRY - GWD Mar 22, 2004

BIGGEST EVER DRUG BUST IN RIYADH
"Saudi Arabia said [Apr 12] its drug enforcement agency foiled an attempt to smuggle in more than five tons of hashish in the largest drug bust in the Kingdom's history.. ..Maj. Gen. Othman Al-Assaf said police arrested eight suspects - seven from an East Asian country and one Arab - in the act of receiving the drugs at a warehouse. They later arrested three others who took part in the operation.." Complete report..

SAUDIS ARREST RELIGIOUS REFORMIST
"Police in Saudi Arabia have arrested an advocate of religious reform, two days after he appeared on the Arab television station, al-Jazeera. Officers arrested Saeed bin Mubarak al-Zaeer, 57, in Riyadh. He was released a year ago after spending eight years in prison without charge. A family member told the BBC he thought the authorities had used the TV appearance as a pretext for his arrest.. ..Mr Zaeer is an academic in mass communications and a religious reformist who has called for greater transparency within the closely state-monitored Saudi clergy.." Complete report..

13 PERCENT OF SAUDI YOUTH REMAIN JOBLESS
"New figures released after a study of the economy for the first quarter of 2004 show that in spite of massive efforts to boost Saudization, unemployment among Saudi males remains at 13 percent, up 0.5 percent in the first quarter of this year.. ..The unemployment rates went up progressively to 9 percent in 2000, 10.50 percent in 2001, 11.90 percent in 2002 percent and 12.50 percent last year. The expatriate population during the same period rose from 5.02 million to 5.7 million, indicating that the Saudization drive has not picked up the required momentum.." Complete report..

SAMA MAY FREEZE HALF A MILLION BANK ACCOUNTS
"The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) estimates that more than half a million bank accounts will be frozen by the end of the month, said a report.  Khaled Abu Obeid, head of SAMA's committee tackling financial crime and money laundering, was quoted in the press as saying by the end of the month 500,000 personal accounts and 30,000 corporate accounts would be frozen for non-compliance with orders to update account information.."  Complete report..

SMART CARD IDS, IQAMAS SOON
"As part of the Kingdom's introduction of e-government, the Interior Ministry says the long-awaited smart Saudi IDs and family cards, expatriates' resident permits and driving licenses will be introduced 'soon'.."  Complete report..

                                                                                                        Back to top

News - UAE

BRITISH MPS ARRIVE ON UAE VISIT
"A five-member delegation of British Members of Parliament arrived in Abu Dhabi [Apr 17] at the beginning of a weeklong visit to the Emirates. The MPs, including four members of the governing Labour Party, and one from the opposition Conservative party, are members of the UK-UAE All-Party Parliamentary Group, recently established to promote political, economic and cultural ties between the two countries.. ..The MPs will be visiting both Abu Dhabi and Dubai during their stay, as well as the offshore oil and gas terminals on Das Island.." Complete report..

UAE POPULATION CROSSES 4M AT THE END OF 2003
"The UAE's population surged by 7.6 per cent last year to top four million and maintain its position as having one of the world's highest population growth rates. Figures by the Ministry of Planning, obtained by Gulf News yesterday, showed the country's total population stood at 4.041 million at the end of 2003, the second largest population in the six-nation GCC after Saudi Arabia.." Complete report..

WOMEN CONSTITUTE 32PC OF LANDOWNERS IN DUBAI
"In keeping with the increasing participation of women in various sectors and their contribution towards the further growth and development of the UAE society, women constituted 32 percent of the landowners in Dubai last year.."  Complete report..

DUBAI EXHIBITION TO ATTRACT TOP SECURITY FIRMS
"Some of the world's best security specialists will participate in the Middle East Police and Law Enforcement Exhibition at the Dubai Police Academy from May 3-5.." Complete report..

  Back to top

Link of the Week / GulfWire Flashback - Four Years of GW

LINK OF THE WEEK
SAUDI ECONOMIC SURVEY

<<ONE YEAR AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST #193 WEEK OF APRIL 21, 2003

US LOOKS TO REDUCE SIZE OF FORCES IN GULF REGION
"General Richard Myers, the highest-ranking US military officer, said [Apr. 15] that large numbers of American forces might no longer need to be based in Kuwait or Saudi Arabia following the downfall of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.. ..published reports have said that Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah would ask the Bush administration to remove US troops once the war was over.."

<<TWO YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST #144 WEEK OF APRIL 29, 2002

U.S. ENVISIONS BLUEPRINT ON IRAQ INCLUDING BIG INVASION NEXT YEAR
"The planning now anticipates the possible extensive use of bases for American forces in Turkey and Kuwait, with Qatar as the replacement for the sophisticated air operations center in Saudi Arabia, and with Oman and Bahrain playing important roles.." 

<<THREE YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST #94 WEEK OF APRIL 30, 2001

GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF INFORMATION NO LONGER POSSIBLE
"Opening the Arab Media Summit at Jumeirah Beach Hotel yesterday, Sheikh Abdullah said the public will no longer accept media that is seen as being government-controlled and which seeks to provide a biased view of events.."

<<FOUR YEARS AGO>>
GULFWIRE DIGEST #41 WEEK APRIL 17, 2000

SAUDI ARABIA OPENS TO GREATER FOREIGN INVESTMENT
"Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers has adopted a new set of laws and rulings to reform and streamline the country's system for promoting and approving new private sector investment.  For most types of industrial and services ventures, the new system takes major steps to 'level the playing field' and provide 'national treatment' for both local and foreign investors.."