Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa has announced that the Arab foreign ministers will convene for a special session on January 6, 2008 in Cairo to discuss the Lebanese presidential election crisis.
The meeting follows a request by Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, December 31, 2007
A Damascus criminal court today sentenced Faeq Al-Mir, member of the Syrian Democratic People's Party, to 18 months in prison on charges of scheming with enemy elements, attacking the regime, showing public hostility towards the Syrian policy, and conspiring with Lebanon's March 14 Forces.
The National Organization of Human Rights in Syria stated that the sentencing was political, not judicial.
Source: http://nohr-s.org, December 31, 2007
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad stressed during his December 30 meeting with U.S. Senator Arlen Spector (R-PA) and Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), that Syria viewed favorably any measure that would lead to real peace.
He said that Syria had participated in the Annapolis conference because of its belief that the positions and voices heard recently were a suitable climate for advancing the peace process.
Source: Al-Thawra, Syria, December 31, 2007
In response to an announcement by French President Nicolas Sarkoz on France's suspension of relations with Damascus until the Lebanese presidential crisis is resolved, Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal denied any change in relations between the countries.
He said, "Despite the declarations, relations and activity are continuing until this very moment with all energy, in order to extract Lebanon from the crisis."
Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, December 31, 2007
Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, head of the International Council of Muslim Clerics, has permitted Muslims to extend greetings to Christians and to other "people of the book" (i.e. Jews) on their holidays.
He said that changes in the global situation have led him to disagree with Sheikh Ibn Taymiyya, who banned such greetings.
Al-Qaradhawi also called to replace the Islamic term ahl al-dhimma (the people of the dhimma) with the term "civilians."
Source: islamonline.net, December 29, 2007
The London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat has reported that Egyptian security chief 'Omar Suleiman was surprised by the proposal put forward by Ali Larijani, representative of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Iran's Supreme National Security Council, that Iran and Egypt establish security cooperation.
Under the proposal, the two countries would conduct a joint fight against terrorism and would exchange prisoners.
Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, December 28, 2007
As part of its fight against female genital mutilation (female circumcision), a practice widespread in Sudan, the Sudanese government has brought to parliament a bill that would ban it.
Under the new law, anyone who performs female circumcision would be subject to imprisonment, including up to 10 years if the victim dies, and repeat offenders could be subject to life imprisonment.
Source: Al-Sudani, Sudan, December 31, 2007
Muhammad Othman Al-Mirghani, who heads Sudan's Democratic Unity party and the Sudanese opposition party National Democratic Alliance, announced that he will return to Sudan after 17 years in exile in Egypt.
He said that his party will join the Sudanese government under the Cairo agreement, signed by his party and the government two years ago, and that this would lead to closer ties between his party and the ruling National Congress party.
Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, December 31, 2007
The Saudi Interior Ministry recently completed the investigation of Al-Qaeda suicide bombings in Riyadh in 2003 and 2004, in which dozens of Saudi civilians were killed and hundreds wounded.
The Saudi prosecutor submitted indictments against the elements connected to the bombings, and their trial is set to begin in the coming months, before special judicial committees in Riyadh and in Jeddah
The committees will meet in a secret location under heavy security.
Source: 'Okaz, Saudi Arabia, December 30, 2007
Independent MPs in the Egyptian parliament protested against the Egyptian government for wasting public funds on the visit to the country of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his girlfriend Carla Bruni.
A question in parliament by MP Dr. Gamal Zahran to the Egyptian government stated that it was illegitimate for the couple to be alone together because they are not married.
National Democratic Party MPs condemned the oppositionists' statements.
Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, December 30, 2007
