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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 September 1999 Issue No. 445 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 September 1999 Issue No. 445
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Focus Culture Features Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Vote violence
PRO-INDONESIA militiamen, unchecked by Indonesian troops in the tense aftermath to this week's independence ballot in East Timor, yesterday fired gunshots on around 200 refugees as well as UN officials and journalists fleeing into the UN mission in Dili. Witnesses said the militiamen blocked the street outside the mission, set a nearby house on fire and shot at cars of journalists driving into the compound. Unconfirmed reports say one man was killed.The violence came as the UN began counting ballots in East Timor's referendum, expected to give a landslide victory for independence. One local UN poll-worker was killed and six people died in the militia rampage in the capital Dili last Thursday.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Don Mckinnon told Reuters a non-UN intervention in the territory was possible in a worst case scenario.
Oil aid
THE UN Security Council's sanctions committee has tentatively approved Iraq's proposed $10 million donation in oil to Turkey's earthquake victims, surpassing the $8.8 million earmarked by the US administration. Committee members said Iraq would receive a letter making it clear the donation would not set a precedent and that its oil exports were still subject to sanctions imposed in August 1990.The death toll from the 17 August earthquake stood at 14,494 with more than 25,376 others being treated for injuries suffered in the quake which measured 7.4 on the Richter scale.
Meanwhile, the Turkish daily Hurriyet said guards moved Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan outside his prison on the island of Imrali the night of the quake for fear the building might collapse, AP reported. (see p.6)
Libya day
JORDAN's King Abdullah arrived in Libya yesterday to attend celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the Libyan "Fateh" revolution. The Jordanian monarch was the first foreign head of state to arrive for the celebrations and is due to hold talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on bilateral relations and Arab issues.Several Arab and African countries are due to take part in a military parade as part of the festivities in the coming days, including symbolic military units from Algeria, Sudan and Uganda.
Meanwhile, US political experts believe Libyan-US relations may have passed their lowest point in the 1980s but they still have a long way to go before achieving any meaningful improvement.
Richard Murphy, of the Council of Foreign Relations, told Reuters that no fundamental revision in American policy towards Libya was expected soon. Washington, Murphy added, will be carefully watching the trial of two Libyans suspected in the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland.
First shuffle
A ROYAL decree was issued yesterday finalising a minor reshuffle in the Jordanian cabinet. The cabinet gained two new members while a further two portfolios were split.Mohamed Jumma Al-Wahsh was given the Social Department portfolio, previously held by Faisal Al-Refoua, who shifted to the Culture Ministry, while Sayed Shuqum was given the Sports and Youth portfolio after Mohamed Kheir Mamsar resigned in July over the organisation of the Pan-Arab Games.
