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Democratic Governance >> all countries >> Newsletter [2009]

Lebanon - Lebanese Parliament re-elected Nabih Berri as speaker (25/06/2009)
The Lebanese Parliament re-elected MP Nabih Berri as parliament speaker by 90 votes out of 127. MP Farid Mkari was also re-elected deputy speaker for a second term.
Source: Agencies

Kuwait - The elections of the Municipal Council will be held tomorrow (24/06/2009)
A total of 347,214 male and female voters will head to the ballot boxes on 25 June 2009 to elect the 10 members of the Kuwaiti municipal council out of 72 candidates, including two women, who are competing in the 10 electoral constituencies. The elections are the tenth that are held in Kuwait since independence.
Source: The Kuwaiti News Agency

Mauritania - Summoning the electorate and opening the door for nomination for the presidential elections (24/06/2009)
Senate President Bammdu Ambari, who is serving as acting president of the republic, has issued a decree summoning the electorate to report to the polling stations on Saturday, 18 June 2009, and if a rerun of elections is needed, the electorate should report to the polling stations on Saturday, 1 August 2009, to elect the president of the republic.
The presidential statement says that the decision to summon the electorate to the polling stations to cast their ballots comes in accordance with the Dakar Agreement concluded among the parties concerned. The statement has also declared that the door is now open for the upcoming presidential elections.

Source: Nouakchott News Agency

Lebanon - The Political Scene After the Parliamentary Elections (16/06/2009)
Lebanese parliamentary elections of June 7, 2009 resulted in the triumph of the March 14 Bloc which won 71 seats and was able to maintain its parliamentary majority, while the March 8 bloc (opposition coalition) maintained its share in the parliament (57 seats). The victory of March 14 coalition led by Sa’ad Al-Hariri posed two major and crucial questions on the political scene, namely: would the opposition join the new government? If so, would the opposition link its participation in the government to being given the “assuring third” in the government’s major decision?
This brief overview reviews the current positions of various Lebanese political parties towards the above two issues. The leader of the Change and Reform bloc deputy Michel Oun said on June 9, 2009 that the opposition insists on participating in the next government according to “proportional representation” and hoped that the Lebanese President would support the opposition’s reform program. He added that Nabih Birri is the only candidate to head the new parliament. He also said that the ex-majority bloc (March 14) has won the parliamentary majority, but the opposition bloc still has the support of the “popular majority”. He does not object to giving the “assuring or safeguard third” in the government to the President in line with constitutional parameters. He also favored Sa’ad Al-Hariri as the next prime-minister rather than Fu’ad Saniora because Hariri is the real leader of the majority bloc.
The secretariat of March 14 announced on June 9 that election results were a real referendum over the option of the sovereign, free and independent state. They called on the parliamentary minority to abide by the rules of democratic behavior inside and outside legitimate institutions and to abandon the logic of disruption. They emphasized that they are committed a project state rather than mini-states in Lebanon.
Sa’ad Al-Hariri who won the biggest bloc in parliament (34 deputies) said that he welcomes the speech of Hassan Nasrallah (Hizbullah) that acknowledged and accepted the majority’s victory. He said that he is ready to cooperate with groups in the interest of Lebanon’s stability.
On June 14, prime minister Saniora said that the new government will not have the “safeguard third” which he believes was a transitional stage that was not very encouraging to repeat. He added that the “safeguard third” does not relate to Lebanon’s constitution or to democratic systems. No change in Lebanon could be achieved by any means other than the constitutional structure. He said that the fate of weapons of Hizbullah will be determined through national dialogue. He welcomed the opposition’s participation in government provided they abandon the principle of disruption.
Parliament member Boutros Harb (majority) said on June 11 that the elections resulted in a clear majority whose right to rule cannot be ignored; speaking of two kinds of majority (parliamentary and popular) is a hersey that contradicts the constitution on which the Lebanese political system is based. He considered the “safeguard third” as a coup against the constitution and Ta’if Accords.
Parliament member Sulaiman Franjieh (opposition) said on June 13 that the opposition will not join any government unless it has the “safeguard third” (one third of cabinet members plus one) which enables them to have a say in Lebanon’s major decisions. He added that the opposition will not obstruct the political process, but it prefers to remain out of the government so as not to be false witness to major decisions.
Samir Jaja (Lebanese Forces – majority) welcomed Nasrallah speech and said that he has no objection to the “safeguard third” on condition that it is given to the president and not to the opposition.
Walid Jumblat, leader of the Democratic Parliamentary Forum said on June 14 that there is a need for a new electoral law that gives the elite and professionals, who have no chance to win against “parliamentary bulldozers”, a chance to be represented in parliament. He expressed his sorrow that the last elections pushed back Lebanese society into tribal and sectarian solidarities that cannot be overcome except through an election law that allows national rather than sectarian representation.
Parliament member Amin Jemayel (Phallange Party) said on June 15 that Hizbullah and his allies did not win a majority in parliament should not demand or be given veto power in the next government. He said that the majority invites the opposition to join the government without the “safeguard third”, however if they prefer to stay out of the government he respects their decision. He added that he favors giving President Sulaiman greater role in government.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Arab – Qatar, Al-Hayat.

Egypt - The Parliament Allocates 64 Seats for Women (15/06/2009)
The Egyptian People’s Assembly (Parliament) has approved on June 14, 2009 a legal amendment that allocates 64 parliamentary seats for women (women’s quota) and established 32 electoral districts for women candidates only, while retaining women’s freedom to run in the remaining 222 electoral districts. Women’s quota raised the total number of parliamentary seats to 518. The amendment will be implemented in the parliamentary elections of 2010. The ministry of state for legal affairs and parliaments, Mufeed Shehab, said during the debate that the legal amendment is experimental and will be applied only in two legislative sessions because the original principle is open competition or contest. The parliamentary majority supported the amendment, while 96 deputies who belong to the Muslim Brothers Group, small political parties and independents objected. Muslim Brothers and Al-Wafd parties said that the amendment is unconstitutional because it violates the principle of non-discrimination among citizens on the bases of sex, colour or ethnic origin.
Source: Reuters, Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Hayat.

Sudan - Declaration of the geographic constituencies of the upcoming general elections (13/06/2009)
The National Elections Commission in Sudan decided to distribute the geographic constituencies of the general elections. The list of the distribution of the geographic constituencies indicates that six wilayas of the 25 wilayas in the country were given 50% of the electoral constituencies (one seat for each electoral constituency) while the total electoral constituencies allocated for the southern Sudan was 10 wilayas consisting of the 96 constituencies represented 21.3% of the total electoral constituencies of Sudan according to the population census which fixed the population of southern Sudan at a rate of 21.3% of the total population of Sudan.
Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Newspaper, Khartoum.

Kuwait - Parliamentary Dispute Over Dual Nationality (10/06/2009)
Kuwait’s parliament is witnessing a dispute over holders of dual nationality. Certain parliament members are asking the minister of interior to disclose the names of parliament members who hold other Gulf nationalities, especially the Saudi nationality. Addressing this question to the minister of interior infuriated the Beduin parliament members who responded by asking the minister to disclose the names of parliament members who hold American and European nationalities. One member of the parliament said that he has doubts about women parliament members who hold other nationalities. In fact Kuwaiti law, and all Gulf States laws, forbid holding dual nationality.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar.

Algeria - The Government Rejects any Amendment of the Penal Code (09/06/2009)
The Algerian government rejected a draft law that amends the penal code, including the abolishment of the death sentence. The draft law received official and non-governmental support by many Algerians who thought that it is in accord with Algeria’s international obligations. On June 7, 2009 the Algerian parliament approved an amendment that abolishes the death sentence which had been “frozen” since 1993. However, the government’s representative rejected the parliament’s decision upon instructions by President Boutafliqa. The draft law raises wide scale debate in Algerian official circles following the proclamation of 2 contradictory positions by 2 bodies attached to the President’s office. The Supreme Islamic Council objected to abolishing the death penalty, while the Consultative Committee for Advancing Human Rights approved abolishing that penalty. It seems that President Boutafliqa has bent to the pressures of the president of Islamic Scholars Society, Sheikh Abed Al-Rahman Shaiban, who issued a strong statement emphasizing that the death sentence is explicitly mentioned in the Holy Qoran and the Prophet’s speeches; thus anyone who thinks that a human judgment is better than God’s judgment is an infidel and when he dies he/she would not be buried in Muslim graveyards.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Iraq - The New Regime is Not Held Responsible for the Actions of Saddam Hussein (09/06/2009)
The United States Supreme Court rejected on June 8, 2009 an appeal by 3 American citizens who were imprisoned and ill treated in Iraq between 1990 and 1995. One of the Americans is Bob Simon who was CBS News correspondent in Iraq. The second man was an oil expert and the third aircraft maintenance technician. The three were demanding financial compensation from the current Iraqi government. The US Supreme Court said that first degree courts were mistaken in their approval of the claims. The Supreme Court decision was taken unanimously.
Source: AFP, Al-Sharq – Qatar.

Qatar - A Call to Inflict Severe Sanctions on Journalists who Criticize the State (09/06/2009)
The Shura Council in Qatar called on June 8, 2009 for enforcing the provisions of sovereignty laws against Qatari journalists who criticize the state in a harmful way and who abuse the freedom of the media. 24 Shura Council members demanded inflicting severe sanctions on journalists who cross the red lines of Qatar, namely the religious ideology, the political leadership, state and security and Qatar’s constitution. Shura members asserted that responsible media does not contradict freedom of expression or opinion. The president of the Shura Council referred the request of the 24 members to the cultural affairs and media committee of the Shura Council to study it and submit its recommendations accordingly.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar.

Lebanon - Official Results of the 2009 Lebanese Parliamentary Elections (08/06/2009)
The Lebanese Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ziad Baroud announced on 8 June 2009 the official results of the parliamentary elections held on 7 June 2009 in 26 districts.
The voter turnout in these elections was 54,08% and the March 14 coalition retained the majority by winning 71 out of 128 seats in the parliament while the March 8 coalition won 57 seats.
[Related Link]
Source: News Agencies

Lebanon - Preliminary Statement of the European Union on the 2009 Elections (08/06/2009)
The European Union Election Observation Mission issued a preliminary statement on the Lebanese parliamentary elections held on 7 June 2009. Some two months after conclusion of the process, the European Union will issue a final report offering the Mission’s detailed evaluation of the elections and including recommendations towards improvements for future elections.
[Related Link]
Source: Website of the European Union Elections Observation Mission

Lebanon - Preliminary Statement of Carter Center on the 2009 Elections (08/06/2009)
The Carter Center issued a preliminary statement on the Lebanese parliamentary elections held on 7 June 2009. The statement includes findings and recommendations about the electoral process.
[Related Link]
Source: Website of Carter Center

Ratification of the Monetary Union Agreement Among Gulf Countries (08/06/2009)
The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain signed on June 7, 2009 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia the Gulf Council Countries Agreement re-concerning the establishment of a monetary union. Saudi newspapers quoted a Gulf spokesman who said that it is impossible to launch the unified Gulf currency on time (i.e. in 2010). He expects the unified currency to be launched in 2013. Oman and the Emirates did not join the agreement.
Source: Qatar News Agency, Al-Sharq - Qatar, Al-Hayat.

Jordan - Responding to Criticisms of the Law of Non-Governmental Organizations (07/06/2009)
The Jordanian minister of social development, Mrs. Hala Bssisu, responded to the criticisms of international NGOs that uphold human rights that were directed at Jordan’s draft law of NGOs that will be submitted to the parliament this month. The minister said that the amended law mandates that the goals of NGOs should not interest with or be part of the goals of political parties. The draft law makes clear distinction between the activities of political parties and civil society activities in order to encourage each of them in its own environment. She added that the amended law grants, for the first time, non-Jordanians the right to establish NGOs in Jordan with the approval of the council of ministers. The amended law prevents the dissolution of any NGO if it commits minor violations. The minister emphasized that monitoring funding sources of NGOs is a security necessity that does not contradict with the freedom of NGOs.
Source: Jordanian News Paper, Al-Sharq – Qatar.

Kuwait - Parliamentary Request to Interrogate the Minister of Interior (07/06/2009)
Islamist opposition parliament member Mussallam Al-Barrak submitted a request on June 8, 2009 to interrogate the minister of interior sheikh Jaber Khaled Al-Sabah. Barrak accuses the minister of failing to prevent the sale of votes during last month’s legislative elections. He also accuses the minister of ordering Kuwaiti intelligence service to install cameras to monitor electoral assemblies, and of squandering public funds and not abiding with legal measures in public tenders. The parliament is supposed to hold the interrogation within 2 weeks according to Kuwaiti law.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Hayat.

Oman - A New Tax Law Enforced in 2010 (07/06/2009)
In compliance with Royal Decree No. 28 of 2009, the Sultanate of Oman will enforce the new tax law in early 2010. The new law stipulates cancelling income tax law on companies and profits tax law on firms. It also stipulates exempting locally manufactured products, hotels, touristic villages, farms produce, fisheries, education and medical care. The new law penalizes those who intentionally do not submit income tax statements. The taxes director at the ministry of finance said that the new law was written to keep pace with global economic changes and to meet the needs of Oman during the next phase.
Source: Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Hayat.

Lebanon - EU Preliminary Media Monitoring Results of the 2009 Elections (06/06/2009)
The European Union Election Observation Mission issued the Preliminary Media Monitoring Results of the Lebanese 2009 parliamentary elections held on 7 June 2009. The report covers the period between 29 April and 6 June 2009.
[Related Link]
Source: Website of the European Union Elections Observation Mission

Mauritania - A presidential decree postpones the presidential elections (05/06/2009)
The Acting president of Mauritania, Bammdu Ambari, issued a decree on Friday, 5 June 2009 postponing the presidential election that was due to be held on 6 June 2009. The presidential decree said that the new date of the elections and the summoning of the electorate to the polls will be fixed later on according to a decree that will be issued to this effect. The presidential decree cancels all the earlier arrangements that violated the instructions.
Source: The Mauritanian News Agency

Kuwait - Closure of acceptance of nomination for municipal elections (04/06/2009)
The door for nomination to the municipal council was closed on Wednesday, 3 June 2009. The elections will be held on 25 June 2009. A total of 72 candidates, including 2 women will run for the elections and will compete for 10 seats in the 10 constituencies. The municipal council consists of 16 members including 10 members who will be elected and 6 members who will be appointed.
Source: The United Arab Emirates Dar Al-Khalij

Lebanon - 11,000 employees of those who watched the election process cast their ballots (04/06/2009)
The Lebanese parliamentary elections began on Thursday, 4 June 2009 when more than 11,000 persons of those who watched the election process from the administrative standpoint cast their ballots. They included chief clerks and clerks in 26 electoral constituencies in the various districts and governorates. The ballot boxes will be sealed until the votes of the major election on 7 June 2009 are counted.
Source: News Agencies

Mauritania - Power Sharing and Postponement of Elections (04/06/2009)
Leaders of conflicting political forces in Mauritania have signed on June 2, 2009 a reconciliation document that includes power sharing and delay of the presidential elections. The agreement stipulates the following points: (1) Forming a national unity government that includes equal numbers of ministers from the presidential majority bloc and the opposition, (2) A symbolic return of overthrown President Sidi Ould Sheikh Abdullah to approve the government, followed by his resignation and the appointment of the head of Senate Bambari as President in accordance with Mauritania’s constitution, (3) Organizing presidential elections on July 18, 2009, (4) Establishment of an independent national committee whose chairman and two deputies will be chosen by civil society organizations, while the remaining members will be equally divided between the majority and the opposition. Mauritanians expressed their happiness by the end of the ten-month political crisis.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq & Al-Arab - Qatar, Al-Hayat

UAE - The Emirates Signs Memos of Understanding to Combat Money Laundering (04/06/2009)
The Emirates Central Bank signed memos of understanding with Canadian and Dutch financial institutions concerning combating money laundering. The deputy executive director in the Central Bank, who is in charge of the money laundering unit, said that the Emirates had signed such memos with 17 other countries, including Lebanon, Armenia, Portugal, Nigeria, Monaco, Philippine, South Africa and Brazil. He also said that representatives from other countries will visit the Emirates at the end of June to sign similar memos.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Mauritania - Postponement of the presidential elections until 18 July 2009 (03/06/2009)
The Senegalese foreign minister announced on Tuesday, 2 June 2009 that the presidential elections in Mauritania have been postponed until 15 July 2009. The announcement was made at the end of meetings held at the capital of Senegal for several days between the Mauritanian political parties and the ruling military council.
Source: Reuters

Bahrain - Wider Participation of Women in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (01/06/2009)
The president of Bahrain’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Issam Fakhro, said that the number of businesswomen who joined the chamber increased by 30%. He added that the chamber’s assembly will discuss a draft law concerning applying the Quota system in its board of directors to guarantee wider participation for women. The president of Bahrain’s Business Women’s Association, Mona Al-Mo’ayyed, had called for adopting the Quota system. Business women were represented in the chamber’s board and in its sectoral committees in the two previous sessions.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Iraq - Iraqi parliament fixes a date for the upcoming parliamentary elections (30/05/2009)
The presidency of the Iraqi Parliament in agreement with the Iraqi parliamentary blocs has fixed 16 January 2010 as the date for holding the upcoming parliamentary elections. It was also decided to form a committee for introducing the likely amendments to the Electoral Law of 2005, provided that 15 June 2009 will be the last date for submitting the remarks and proposals on the law.
Source: The Iraqi Newspaper Al-Mada

Lebanon - The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections issues its third report (29/05/2009)
The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) issued its third report on the monitoring process of the Lebanese 2009 parliamentary elections. The report covers the period between 7 April and 29 May 2009.
[Related Link]
Source: Website of the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections

Oman - Conviction of Members of a Network for Trafficking in Persons (28/05/2009)
The Appeals Court in Muscat (Felonies department) had indicted 11 Omanis and Syrians who run an international prostitution network that exploited 13 women from various Arab countries. The convicts were sentenced to 7 years in prison. This is the first case of trafficking in persons discovered and indicted in Oman following the promulgation of Oman’s law against trafficking in persons on November 23, 2008.
Source: German News Agency, Al-Sharq – Qatar.

Jordan - Being Asked to End Administrative Detention (27/05/2009)
Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized the Jordanian government for practicing administrative detention and asked it to end such practice. HRW criticized the Jordanian “Crime Prevention Law” of 1954 which give a governor the power to detain persons who constitute “a threat to public safety” for unlimited periods. On the other hand, HRW welcomed the decision of Amman’s governor taken on May 5, 2009 to release 88 administrative detained persons. There are conflicting estimates of the numbers of administrative detainees in Jordan. A report published this year by the Jordanian “National Center for Human Rights” mentioned that there are 10,000 such detainees according to internal security authorities. However, the HRW spokesman said that they were informed by the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2008 that there were 14,000 administrative detainees compared to 20,000 in 2006.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Inauguration of United Nation Human Rights Center (27/05/2009)
The UN Human Rights Center for South West Asia in the Arab region was opened in Qatar on May 27, 2009. The Center is supervised by the UN Higher Commission for Human Rights. According to the location agreement signed between Qatar and the UN in December 2008, Qatar is to secure premises for the Center and provide the accompanying facilities. The Center has several aims: cooperating with governments in developing human rights policies and enhancing human rights structures; integrating international human rights criteria into local legislation; encouraging the ratification of international human rights conventions; supporting human rights education and strengthening cooperation between governments and civil society organizations.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar, Al-Hayat.

Iraq - Six candidates for the presidency of the Kurdistan Region (26/05/2009)
On Monday 25 May 2009, the Independent Elections Commission in Iraq disclosed that six candidates will compete for the office of president of the Kurdistan region in the elections that will be held on 25 July 2009. These are Mas'oud Al-Barazani, Hallu Ibrahim Ahmad, Kamal Mirawdili, Hsssun Kirmani, Safin Shaykh Muhammad and Ahmad Kurdah.
Source: Sawt Al-Iraq

Saudi Arabia - Higher Rates of Female Unemployment (26/05/2009)
The undersecretary of the Saudi Ministry of Labor, Abdel Hamid, said that unemployment among Saudi Women is 26.9% while overall unemployment rate is 10%. He criticized the private sector for employing cheap labor rather than national workers. He said that foreign workers in Saudi Arabia in 2008 were 7 million, of whom 5.5 million work in the private sector. He also spoke about the negative effects of foreign labor, especially the huge amounts of money they transfer out of the Kingdom which reached $16 billion in 2007. Al-Hamid defended the Saudization policy by saying that it was adapted to help unemployed Saudis and to support local human resources.

Source: Al-Hayat.

Kuwait - Opening the nominations for the Municipal Council (24/05/2009)
The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry has issued a statement opening the nominations for the membership of the Municipal Council starting from 25 May 2009 until 3 June 2009. The statement spelled out the conditions of nomination, the method of obtaining the application for nomination and submitting it, how to withdraw from nomination, and the general rules pertaining to these matters.
Source: The Kuwaiti Newspaper Al-Wasat

Lebanon - The Supervisory Commission on the Electoral Campaign issues its second report (24/05/2009)
The Supervisory Commission on the Electoral Campaign (SCEC) issued its second report on the violations of article 68 of the Electoral Law Number 25 of year 2008. The report covers the period between 7 and 13 May 2009.
Source: Website of the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, Lebanon

Iraq - The Independent Elections Commission issues a code of conduct for candidates in the elections of the president of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (23/05/2009)
The Higher Independent Election Commission has issued a code of conduct for candidates in the elections of the president of the Kurdistan Region which will be held on 25 July 2009 parallel with the elections of the parliament of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
According to the rules, the candidates should comply with the election, civil and criminal laws in force in the region such as the Iraqi constitution and the laws passed by parliament. The candidates should also refrain from speaking in the language of hatred, intimidation or instigation to violence or supporting or exercising terrorism. They should also comply with the regulations and measures issued by the commission and should cooperate with the election officials and adopt the necessary measures needed for their protection against violence, insults or dangers.
The rules also request the candidates to accept and carry out the final results issued by the election commission or the Judicial Election Authority, to accept the results of all the elections approved by the commission, and to respect the right and freedom of the political entities and the other candidates to launch their election publicity.
The rules also asserted that candidates should not publish or promote false, distorted or instigative claims against the competitors or against any other candidate. The candidates should also refrain from all actions that constitute a violation of the various election laws and regulations.
Source: The Website of the Higher Independent Elections Commission

Sudan - Southerners Reject the Census Results (22/05/2009)
On May 21, 2009 the Sudanese government released the preliminary detailed population census data. The census is a prerequisite for next year’s decisive elections. However, ex-rebel leaders in South Sudan rejected the census results arguing that the total number of the population of Southern Sudan is very low. The results show that total population in Sudan is 39 million of whom 31 million live in the North (79%) and 8 million live is the South (21%). Northerners are mostly Muslims and Southerners are mostly Christians and spiritualists. The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Sudan which dominates in the South accused Northern politicians of forging the numbers and of registering less Southerners in the South and in Khartoum. The census was conducted in April and May 2008; it met with boycott, protests and loss of data forms, in addition to the expulsion of 100 Northern observers from the South.
Source: Reuters, Al-Quds Al-Arabi – London.

Yemen - The Unity of Yemen is Threatened (22/05/2009)
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has renewed on May 17, 2009 his warning against re-dividing Yemen, and said that will not allow such plans to emerge. The warning comes after severe clashes in April in the Southern provinces between the army and armed men who were demanding the separation of the South. Tens of persons were killed or wounded on both sides. Ex-Yemeni prime minister, Haider Abu Bakr Al-Attas (Southerner) and the prime minister of United Yemen in 1994 had openly called from exile on May 15 for re-dividing Yemen into two states (North and South). Things got worse when Ali Salem Al-Beed (South Yemen leader) violated his 15 year silence as a political refugee in Oman by calling for disengagement with the North and revoking the Unity Agreement which he personally signed with Ali Abdullah Saleh in 1994. He declared that he will support efforts that will lead to separation. Al-Beed asked Arab governments, in a press conference he held in Munich – Germany, to put pressure on the North to make them withdraw their army from the South. Official Yemeni sources said that they were informed by Omani authorities that Oman has decided to deprive Al-Beed of the Omani citizenship granted to him sometime earlier.
Source: United Press, Al-Quds Al-Arabi – London.

Arab Conference on Population and Development (22/05/2009)
The Permanent Population Committee in Qatar in cooperation with the Arab League, the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) organized the Arab Conference on population and development in Doha, Qatar on May 18-20, 2009. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jabor, head of Qatar’s population committee, opened the conference by reviewing what had been or hadn’t been achieved in this area since the first Arab Population Conference held in Cairo, Egypt in 1994. He referred to the challenges faced by the Arabs today in the area of population and development, including instability, armed conflicts, forced migration and the imbalance in population composition in Arab Gulf countries. The conference made several important recommendations: (1) Adopting the comprehensive concept of material health and protecting females from early marriages, pregnancies and births; (2) protecting teenagers and the more vulnerable groups from health hazards, especially HIV/AIDs; (3)adopting protective measures to improve children’s health; (4) intensifying guidance programs and health awareness raising that target the population; (5) calling to Arab governments to integrate the mechanisms of women’s empowerment in their development strategies and plans; (6) increasing investments in Youth projects and activities, especially in education, training and capacity building; (7) working in correcting the imbalance in population composition in the Gulf Arab countries; (8) limiting internal migration from rural areas to cities, especially youth migration; (9) formulating strategies and programs that protect old-aged Arab citizens; (10) cooperating with the United Nations and other international organizations in the area of population policies and programs.
Source: Al-Sharq & Al-Arab – Qatar, Al-Hayat.

UAE - The United Arab Emirates Withdraw from the Gulf Monetary Union (21/05/2009)
The UAE had on May 20, 2009 officially informed the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council that will not be a party to the Gulf Monetary Union Agreement. A UAE official linked his country’s withdrawal to the GCC decision to host the Gulf Central Bank in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, rather than in Abu Dhabi, UAE which expressed strong desire to host it. The UAE had previously expressed its resentment for not hosting any of the GCC institutions or central organizations. However, a statement by UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted that it is still committed to all other GCC agreements and projects. In fact, Oman had also withdrawn from the Gulf Monetary Union in 2007. Thus, the proposed union will include 4 member states only.
Source: UAE News Agency, Al-Quds Al-Arabi – London, Al-Hayat.

Comoros - The supporters of the constitutional amendment win in the referendum (20/05/2009)
Supporters of the constitutional amendment in the Comoros Islands won in the referendum, which sought to extend the term of the president of the federation, Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, who is an Islamic moderate. The provisional results were made public by the Minister of Justice Mamadi Ali, who was designated to supervise the elections.
Mr. Ali announced at a press conference he held on Monday evening, 18 May 2009 in Moroni, capital city of the Comoros Islands, that the rate of supporters was 93.8% of the votes while 6.2% opposed the amendment. The rate of participation in the referendum was 52.7%. The referendum was held on Sunday, 17 May 2009.
The Constitutional Court will endorse the provisional results within a period not exceeding 72 hours as of the date of the referendum. According to the amendment, the term of the incumbent president will be extended to five more years and will curb the powers of the presidents of the three islands in the Archipelago, turning them into governors instead of presidents.
Source: The French News Agency (AFP)

Egypt - Egyptians Married to Israeli Women Deprived of Egyptian Citizenship (20/05/2009)
Egypt’s Court for Administrative Justice passed on May 19, 2009 a historical verdict that commits the Minister of Interior and the Prime Minister to deprive every Egyptian married to an Israeli woman of his citizenship. The verdict came as a result of a law suit raised by a number of Egyptian lawyers who believe that such marriages pose a threat to Egypt’s national security. Estimates show that around 30,000 Egyptian men got married to Israeli women.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar.

Saudi Arabia - Extension of Municipal Councils Term for 2 Years (19/05/2009)
The Saudi Council of Ministers approved on May 18, 2009 to transfer the provisions contained in the royal decree concerning municipalities and villages to an independent system for municipal councils in order to expand citizens’ participation in local affairs. The cabinet also decided to extend the term of current municipal councils another 2 years starting May 2009.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Saudi Arabia - Postponement of the municipal council elections for two years (19/05/2009)
The Saudi government postponed the municipal council elections and decided on Monday, 18 May 2009 to extend the mandate of the incumbent municipal councils for two additional years. A statement published by the Saudi News Agency, said that the cabinet decided that membership of the incumbent municipal council members will continue for two more years as of 31 October 2009.
Source: Reuters, Riyadh

Iraq - 30 January 2010 is the preliminary date for the parliamentary elections (18/05/2009)
The First Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Sheikh Khalid Al-Atiyah, said on Monday, 18 May 2009, that the Federal Court has decided to fix 30 January 2010 as the date of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
It is noteworthy that the elections were due to be held at the end of 2009. However, some political blocs objected and justified their objection by saying that the council's current session has been delayed for several months. According to the Council’s by-law, the duration of the session should be four full years. This has generated a controversy in the Council of Representatives, prompting the Federal Court to settle the dispute by fixing the date of the upcoming elections.
Source: Kull Al-Iraq newspaper

Lebanon - “Political” Money in Lebanese Elections (18/05/2009)
Several Lebanese political leaders, especially among the opposition, complain about the flow of money into Lebanon for the purpose of purchasing votes in the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, 2009. The prominent Shiite religious leader Mohammad Hussein Fadllalah said on May 18, 2009 that certain countries, which he did not name, spend millions of dollars on Lebanese voters and politicians. He said while receiving the delegation of the American National Institute for Democracy, which came to Lebanon to observe elections, that certain countries and alliances exploit the need of Lebanese for money to have them vote for their candidates. He referred to press articles which mentioned that Lebanese legislative elections is the most expensive in the world in terms of what other countries spend on these elections. Lebanese politicians exchange accusations about receiving foreign funds, especially from Saudi Arabia in the case of the parliamentary majority led by Sa’ad Al-Hariri, and Iran in the case of the parliamentary minority led by Hizbullah. Analysts agree that most of the 128 parliament seats are already determined by the electoral law (i.e. distribution of electoral districts), and by sectarian, political and demographic realities. They believe that the real battle will be over a limited number of seats that will determine the winning bloc, although most probably with a very small margin.
Source: Al-Sharq, Qatar - Al-Safir, Lebanon.

Morocco - Tense Local Elections (18/05/2009)
Observers say that the June 12, 2009 municipal elections in Morocco are a decisive event that will redraw political alliances and determine the sizes of different political forces. Competition is so severe that political parties exchange accusations of financial corruption, as well as leaks on moral and sexual scandals of candidates. One of the fiercest battles is ongoing between ex-minister of interior Fuad A’li Al-Himma, who heads the Originality and Modernity Party, and the Ministry of Interior. The latest confrontation took the form of objection by Mr. Al-Himma to the Ministry’s decision to prevent candidates in this election to run under the name of any political party other than the party they were elected in its name in last elections. Al-Himma considered that the decision targets his political party which was established in August 2008. In addition to determining the size of the political base of various parties, and determining who runs big cities such as Casablanca, Rabat, Fas, Marrakesh and Tanja, the most that municipal elections in cities and rural areas could achieve is replacing one-third of the Council of Counsillors (the second chamber of the Moroccan parliament).
Source: AFP - Al-Hayat - Al-Quda Al-Arabi, London.

Kuwait - Results of the National Assembly Elections (17/05/2009)
The overall turnout in the elections was around 58%. The two mainstream Sunni groups, the Islamic Salafi Alliance and the Islamic Constitutional Movement, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, won three seats compared to seven seats in the previous elections. Sunni Islamists won a total of 11 seats compared to 21 in the previous elections.
The Shia Muslim minority gained nine seats compared to five seats in the previous elections. Tribal candidates won 25 seats and the popular bloc headed by Ahmad Al Saadoon won 3 seats. Four women won for the first time in Kuwait history.

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Source: Agencies

Kuwait - Four women in the National Assembly for the first time in Kuwait history (17/05/2009)
Four women won seats in the National Assembly for the first time in Kuwait history. Maasouma Al-Mubarak, a former minister, came first in the first constituency with 14,274 votes, while Salwa Al-Jassar won a seat to represent the second constituency with 4,776 votes. In the third constituency, Aseel Al-Awadhi came second with 11,860 votes then Rola Dashti came sixth with 7666 votes.
210 candidates including 16 women competed for 50 seats in National Assembly distributed over 5 constituencies. The number of registered voters was 384,790. Of the eligible voters, 175,679 were men and 209,111 were women.
Source: Kuwait News Agency

Workshop on Measurement of Corruption in the Arab Countries (17/05/2009)
The Arab Organization for Democracy had organized in cooperation with the Arab Organization Against Corruption an experts group meeting in Beirut, Lebanon on May 15 and 16, 2009. The experts represented anti-corruption and transparency organizations from Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine and Kuwait. The workshop exchanged views on the problems of corruption, its accesses, types and causes in the Arab countries in order to come up with proposals and directives that support anti-corruption and reform efforts in the administrative, financial and political spheres. The workshop also focused on methods of measuring corruption, assessing its prevalence and monitoring it. Experiences of Arab and non-Arab states were reviewed.
Source: Al-Sharq – Qatar.

Lebanon - Arab League Observers Arrive in Lebanon (15/05/2009)
Deputy Undersecretary of the Arab League, Mohammad Al-Khamlishi, heads a ten-member delegation from various Arab countries who are diplomatic employees in the Arab League. This core group was established a specialized group in monitoring elections in all countries that ask for their services. Arab states are not committed to call-in these observers. The delegation arrived to Lebanon on May 14, 2009. The head of the delegation said that his team is highly experienced in election monitoring and that they deal with the EU and the UN.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Iraq - Parliament approves the extension of the term of the President of Kurdistan and the extension of the second electoral session (14/05/2009)
The parliament of Kurdistan approved on Wednesday 13 May 2009 by a majority of votes a resolution to extend the term of the President of Kurdistan and a bill to extend the second electoral session of the parliament of Kurdistan as well as the bill of the fifth amendment of the Kurdistan electoral law No. 1 of 1992.
Source: The Iraqi newspaper Al-Ittihad

Palestine - A New Government that Includes 5 Women (13/05/2009)
President Mahmoud Abbas had asked on May 12 ex-prime minister Salam Fayyad to form a new government. Fayyad agreed provided that he is supported by Fateh Movement and that he is given a free hand in choosing the members of his cabinet. Fayyad then announced his government which is composed of technocrats who are independent or represent Palestinian resistance factions. The government includes prominent technocrats from Fateh, and other pro-authority factions, in addition to Hanan Ashrawi and Rawiyah Al-Shawwa (Gaza) as independents. Hamas Movement strongly objected against Fayyad and his government considering its formation as a coup against the Cairo dialogue and a preemptive step by Abbas to push the dialogue to a dead end.
Source: AFP, Al-Hayat.

Algeria - Parliamentary elections to be held in December 2009 (12/05/2009)
Preparations are underway for the anticipated Algerian parliamentary elections due to be held in December 2009.
Source: The Algerian newspaper Al-Khabar

Iraq - Election Commission in Kurdistan sets the time for nomination to the post of President of the Region (11/05/2009)
A period of one week extending from 17 to 23 May 2009 was set for the registration of candidates for the post of the President of the Kurdistan Region. Voting for the presidency is expected to coincide with the elections of the Kurdistan Parliament on 25 July 2009.
Source: Sawt al-Iraq

Egypt - The People's Assembly will discuss the amendment of the electoral constituency law next month (10/05/2009)
The People's Assembly will discuss before the expiry of its current legislative session a legislative amendment to be introduced to the electoral constituency law of the People's Assembly and Shura Council and a new division of the constituencies in the governorates of Cairo, Al-Jizah, Hulwan and 6 October.
The People's Assembly will also discuss a legislative proposal on women's seats in the two assemblies according to the stipulation of Article 12 of the constitution and the allocation of two to four seats to each governorate in accordance with the population density and the number of the people registered in the election lists.
Source: The Egyptian newspaper al-Jumhuriyah

Kuwait - 214 candidates run in the Kuwaiti elections on 16 May 2009 (09/05/2009)
Withdrawal from the Kuwaiti parliamentary elections was closed on Friday, 8 May 2009, while the General Administration of the Elections at the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry announced that 214 candidates will run for the legislative elections on Saturday, 16 May 2009, in the five constituencies. A total number of 17 women will run for the elections and a total of 12 male candidates have withdrawn. The most prominent of these is the candidate of the second constituency Khalifah Al-Khurafi and the two candidates Brak Al-Noon and Khalid Al-Shulaymi and female candidate of the first constituency Latifah Al-Ruzayhan, who was instrumental in the formation of the first women union.
Source: The Emirates Dar Al-Khalij

Lebanon - The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections issues its second report (08/05/2009)
The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) issued its second report on the monitoring process of the Lebanese 2009 parliamentary elections. The report covers the period between 7 April and 7 May 2009.
Source: Website of the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections

Palestine - National Reconciliations Depends on Resolving Two Issues (08/05/2009)
Mahmoud Al-Zahhar, one of Hamas Movement leaders, said that achieving national reconciliation through the dialogue sponsored by Egypt depends on agreement over two issues: the composition of the security agencies and activation of the Palestinian Legislative Council. He added that Hamas and Fateh agreed during the last round of dialogue on April 27 and 28 that agreeing on one issue is not final until agreement on all issues is reached. Hamas wants a package deal and Fateh approved that approach.
Source: AFP, Al-Arab - Qatar.

Yemen - The Government Confiscates 6 Daily Newspapers (08/05/2009)
The Yemeni Ministry of Information asked the public attorney to refer 6 private independent daily newspapers to the press prosecution department. The ministry accused these newspapers of threatening national unity and spreading a culture of hate. The ministry confiscated the published issues and banned the only daily newspaper in Aden province in South Yemen. Yemeni Journalists Syndicate expressed extreme concern over the ministry’s action. The syndicate described the ministry’s move as anti-democracy, and called on civil society organizations to defend the last margin of democracy in Yemen. Similarly, political opposition parties considered the ministry’s action as a coup against whatever is left of democratic life in Yemen.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar.

Lebanon - The Supervisory Commission on the Electoral Campaign issues its first report (07/05/2009)
The Supervisory Commission on the Electoral Campaign (SCEC) issued its first report on the violations of article 68 of the Electoral Law Number 25 of year 2008. The report covers the period between 14 and 28 April 2009.
Source: Website of the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, Lebanon

Lebanon - Declaration of a Code of Ethics Concerning Domestic and International Accompanying of the Elections (07/05/2009)
The Lebanese Ministry of Interior and Municipalities issued a decision accrediting the code of ethics stipulated in the elections law. The code provides for the introduction of measures concerning the control of the electoral process and the terms which should be complied with by the concerned international organizations.
The code of ethics allows the observers to have access to polling stations during voting and counting processes. The said access to polling stations shall be organized and shall not interfere in the course of the electoral process. The observers have the right to obtain information on appropriate electoral processes from relevant institutions and meet with any person to obtain information relevant to the goals of their observation mission as long as such meetings are not seen as providing direct support or opposition to any political party or electoral authority. The observers have also the right to interview the voters outside the polling stations to obtain information relevant for their observation missions as long as that information is not related to the voting option or political preference of the voter or disrupting the voting process in any way or by any means.
In performance of their duties, the observers are obliged to respect the sovereignty of the Republic of Lebanon, human rights and fundamental freedoms of voters and the applicable Laws of the Republic of Lebanon, including the ones related to the electoral process. The observers, at all times during the observation process, should refrain from interfering in the political affairs and from obstructing or interfering in the electoral processes and should maintain strict political and religious impartiality.
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Source: Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, Lebanon

Doha Media Declaration (04/05/2009)
Participants in the UNESCO celebration of the International Day of Freedom of the Press who met in Doha have arrived at several recommendations directed at governments and states who are members of UNESCO. Doha declaration considered freedom of expression an essential and necessary right for achieving other human rights. It emphasized the importance of independent and pluralistic media as a means of guaranteeing transparency, accountability and participation – the main components of good governance. The declaration urged governments to set legal frameworks that enable media personnel to carry out their tasks freely and safely. It also called for facilitating access to the media for all citizens, especially women and vulnerable groups. Finally, it called for encouraging dialogue about peace issues, and committing to moral standards in all journalistic work.
Source: Al-Sharq – Qatar.

Iraq - 35,000 Displaced Iraqi Families Return to their Hometowns (03/05/2009)
The Committee for Migration and Displacement in the Iraqi Parliament announced that 35,000 out of 300,000 internally displaced Iraqi families returned to their homes. A member of the Committee, Mrs. Azhar Al-Samara’i, said that some of these families did not receive the $250 allowance per month for a period of 6 months that was approved by the Iraqi government. She asked the government to show more care towards displaced families to protect against the program of resettlement of internally displaced Iraqis.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar.

Yemen - Very Limited Contribution by the Banking Sector to the National Economy (03/05/2009)
A Yemeni banking expert, Dr. Mohammad Saleh, revealed that the contribution of the Yemeni Banking Sector’s contribution to the national economy is very limited due to its focus on imports financing and the commercial sector. Yemeni banks show little interest in financing the industrial, agricultural or service sectors. Dr. Saleh said Yemeni banks practice traditional service of savings, exchange, transfers, letters of credit and lending. Thus, Yemeni banks deal with a very restricted segment of Yemeni society. Official reports show that no more than 4.2% of Yemeni citizens deal with banks.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar.

Iraq - The Iraqi parliamentary elections will be held in February 2010 (29/04/2009)
The presidency of the Iraqi House of Representatives has fixed 1 February 2010 as the provisional date for holding the parliamentary elections. Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Dr. Ayad Al-Samaraai, disclosed during the parliament's session held on Tuesday, 28 April 2009, that talks were held to create a unified opinion on the upcoming elections from their legal and executive aspects during his meeting with the Independent Election Commission on Monday, 27 April 2009.
On his part, the First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sheikh Khalid Al-Atiyah, has said that the term of the House of Representatives is four calendar years beginning with the first session which was held on 16 March 2006. Therefore, the end of this session will be 15 March 2010. The new parliament will be elected on 12 February 2010. He suggested that the matter be discussed with the Supreme Electoral Court so that the court would express its views on this question. Article 56 of the constitution states the following: The electoral term of the Council of Representatives shall be limited to four calendar years, starting with its first session and ending with the conclusion of the fourth year. The new Council of Representatives shall be elected forty-five days before the conclusion of the previous electoral term.
Source: The Iraqi Newspaper Al-Sabah

Kuwait - The municipal elections will be held in June 2009 (28/04/2009)
The Kuwaiti cabinet has approved a decree summoning the electorate to elect the municipal council on 25 June 2009.
Source: Kuwait –The Emirates Gulf House

Yemen - Parliament votes for the postponement of the elections and extends its sessions (28/04/2009)
The Yemeni House of Representatives voted on Monday, 27 April 2009, by the majority of its members for the extension of the term of the incumbent House for two additional years for one time only. The deputies who voted for the extension were 230 out of a total of 232 attending the session. Two deputies, Abdulaziz Jbari and Ahmad Sayf Hashid, abstained from voting.
During the session, the House of Representatives heard the supplementary report of the committee entrusted with the amendment of Article 65 of the constitution and approved the report. Agreement was reached to divide Article 65 into two paragraphs. Paragraph (A) will be the original text of the article. Paragraph (B) of the article will be the extraordinary paragraph which stipulates the extension of the term of the incumbent House of Representatives for two additional years for the purpose of tackling the current situation in accordance with the requirements of the supreme national phase for one time only, particularly that no new article can be introduced to the constitution contrary to the request to amend Article 65, provided that a review of the amendment of this article is made when the time comes for the upcoming constitutional amendments in order to remove the extraordinary provision of the article.
Source: The Yemeni Newspaper Al-Ayyam

Kuwait - Nomination for parliamentary elections closed with 283 candidates, including 21 women (26/04/2009)
Nomination for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Kuwait closed today. There were 283 candidates -262 men and 21 women- who nominated themselves compared to 380 candidates in the 2008 elections that included 28 women.
Source: The website of the Kuwaiti National Assembly

UAE - 70% of Emirate Citizens are Indebted to Banks (26/04/2009)
A recent study has shown that 70% of Emirate citizens are indebted to Banks. The Emirates Daily “Al-Ittihad” published on April 25 a report about personal loans for business purposes which amounted to 43 billion dollars in September 2008. Those loans were only 24 billion dollars in 2006. Personal loans for consumption increased by 100% during the same period. The report criticized banks for encouraging young people to borrow in order to buy new model cars and travel abroad.
Source: German News Agency, Al-Sharq – Qatar.

Iraq - Discussing Human Rights Violations in Kurdistan Region (25/04/2009)
Amnesty International delegation held talks with the prime minister of Kurdistan Region Mr. Nejirvan Barazani with regard to the information Amnesty International has published in its report of mid-April 2009 on human rights violations in Kurdistan and best to support human rights there. The delegation praised Kurdistan government for resolving the detainees’ problems, reducing violence against women, protecting freedom of expression and supporting judicial independence. In response, Barazani said that his government welcomes all sorts of constructive criticism against it. The mid-April report spoke of gross human rights violations committed by Kurdish Security Agency (Asayesh), including arbitrary arrests and disappearance of prisoners. The report called on the Kurdish government to contain or curb the powers and influence of Asayesh as soon as possible.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Libya - Construction of an Intelligent Energy City at a Cost of $5 billion (25/04/2009)
The Libyan “Five Points Company for Construction and Touristic Investment” announced that it will sign a contract with the Gulf Finance House to build an “Intelligent Energy City” in Libya that will cost $5 billion. Libya will bear 40% of the cost and the Gulf Finance House 60%. The project will contain centers for data bases, environmental assessment, renewable energy, in addition to special compounds for oil and natural gas producing companies, energy sector services and manufacturing industries. Moreover, the project will contain residential buildings, a tourist spa and yacht ports
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar.

The First Gulf Corporate Governance Conference (25/04/2009)
The first Gulf Corporate Governance will be held in Muscat, Oman on May 19 and 20, 2009. The conference is organized by the Gulf States chambers of commerce and the Omani Public Commission for the Stock Market and the Omani Chamber of Trade and Industry. The conference will discuss the mechanisms of organizing, managing and governing of companies; activating development programs and creating a market that attracts local and foreign investments; the importance of governance to upgrading economic structures in Gulf States. The conference will also review pioneer Arab and international experiences in applying governance principles.
Source: Oman News Agency, Al-Hayat.

Iraq - 120 Parliament Members Want to Interrogate the Supreme Elections Commission (24/04/2009)
More than 120 Iraqi members of parliament signed a request to interrogate the president of the Supreme Independent Elections Commission with regard to violations committed during the provincial councils election in January 2009.Parliament members who represents the Unified Iraqi Coalition (Shiite), Mrs. Iman Al-Asadi, said that the members of parliament are not demanding the cancellation of local elections results, rather they want to reform the mechanism of those elections and they want to make sure that such mistakes and violations will not be repeated in the coming parliamentary elections. She added, those who will be provided guilty will be dismissed and put on trial. Many parliament members, tribal leaders and politicians accuse the Supreme Election Commission of committing violations during the provincial councils elections that resulted in depriving hundreds of thousands of citizens from participating in those elections.
Source: Al-Hayat

Lebanon - Termination of Elections Candidacy Registration or Withdrawal (24/04/2009)
The official deadline for candidates in Lebanon's parliamentary elections ended on midnight of April 22, 2009. The elections are to take place on June 7, 2009. Minister of Interior Ziad Baroud, said that confirmed candidates are 587, while another 115 candidates withdrew their candidacy in due time. The minister said the number of public employees who are eligible to vote is 11,500 employees who will cast their votes on June 4, 2009. The ballot boxes of these employees will remain sealed and be opened and their votes will be sorted with those of the remaining voters. The minister also announced the uncontested winning of 3 Armenian candidates, 2 in Beirut second electoral district and one in North Meten electoral district.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar

Lebanon - The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections issues its first report (24/04/2009)
The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) issued its first report on the monitoring process of the Lebanese 2009 parliamentary elections. The report covers the period between 7 and 24 April 2009.
Source: Website of the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections

Qatar - Signs the Protocol Against Trafficking in Persons (24/04/2009)
Qatari Crown Prince, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, issued a document thereby approving Qatar’s accession to the protocol against trafficking in persons which complements the UN agreement on combating organized crime across national borders. However, Qatar placed reservations on paragraph (3D) of article (6) and paragraph (1) of article (7) which calls on states to grant temporary or permanent residence to victims, of trafficking incidents that took place within their territories. Moreover, Qatar is not committed to the provisions of paragraph (2) of article (15) which relates to resolving disputes over interpreting or implementing this protocol.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar.

Syria - Establishes a Ministry of Environment (24/04/2009)
Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad issued on April 23, 2009 Decree No. 25/2009 which stipulates the establishment of a ministry for environment affairs. The previous chairperson of the Bureau of Health, Environment and Population in the General Union of Syrian Women, Mrs. Kawkab Al-Daya, was appointed as minister of Environment Affairs.
Source: AFP, Al-Hayat

A Libyan Woman Heads the Transitional Arab Parliament (24/04/2009)
Libyan parliament member Mrs. Huda Bin Amer was uncontestedly elected president of the transitional Arab parliament following the resignation of its previous president Mr. Mohammad Jassem Al-Saqr. Omani member of parliament Mr. Nasser Al-Maouli was also uncontestedly elected as vice-president. The election session was held on April 23, 2009 in Cairo. 59 out of 88 members of parliament attended the voting session.
Source: Al-Hayat

Mauritania - Nomination for presidential elections closed with six presidential candidates (23/04/2009)
The Constitutional Council of Mauritania concluded the acceptance of the presidential candidates’ files at the expiry of the period for submitting these files. Six presidential candidates nominated themselves; General Muhammad Ould Abdulaziz, Kan Hamido Bab, Ibrahim Sabar, Isfir Ould Mubarak, Islim Ould El Mustafa, and Sidi Muhammad Ould El Ghouth.
Leaders from the Front for the Defense of Democracy and the president of the Party of the Grouping of Democratic Forces Mr. Ahmad Ould Daddah did not participate in the nomination and plan to boycott the elections.
Source: Sahra' Media

Iraq - Al-Fadila Party (Islamic) Submits a Statement about the Financial Interests of its Leading Members (22/04/2009)
In unprecedent move by any Iraqi political party "Al-Fadila Party" (Islamic – Shiite) revealed on April 21, 2009 that it had submitted to the Integrity Commission a statement about the financial assets of its leaders. The parties political bureau member and head of the integrity committee in the Iraqi parliament, Sheikh Sabah Al-Saedi submitted to the president of the integrity commission, judge Raheem Al-Oukaili, the financial statements of the parties secretary general, members of the political bureau, the parties parliamentary bloc (15 members) and the ex-chairman of the anti-corruption committee in Basra provincial council, Sheikh Abu Salam Al-Saedi. Sheikh Sabah called on other political parties to do like wise and emphasize that such a measure helps enhancing trust between citizens and political parties and politicians. It also protects politicians against any doubts concerning mishandling of public funds or exploitation of public office. Judge Oukaili thanked Al-Fadila Party for this initiative that will encourage other parties to act in a similar manner. Oukaili raised Al-Fadila's secretary general for being the first leader out of active public service to reveal his financial interests. Revealing financial interests is a program for disclosure of property, moveable and unmovable assets by high ranking state employee, including the prime minister, cabinet ministers, governors, judges and others. Prime minister Maliki had submitted such a statement to the Integrity Commission which revealed that he possess $427,350. Sometime earlier the chairman of the Integrity Commission said that 20 ministers had so far submitted financial statements in 2009. He pointed out that any official who does not submit an annual financial statement will be suspended from work in accordance with existing laws.
Source: Aswat Al-Iraq news Agency Website

Saudi Arabia - A Fund for Supporting Small Business Ventures for Women (22/04/2009)
The Secretary General of Prince Sultan Bin Abdel Aziz Fund for Small Size Business Ventures, Mr. Hassan Al-Jaser, announced that the Fund has given 6 million Riyals ($1.6 million) to support 31 projects that employed 232 women last year. He added that the Fund has received 550 applications requesting support for small-scale enterprises. The Fund is preparing to launch to new programs. The first program is supported by Princess Jawaher Women Development Center (a training and capacity building program). The second is supported by Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Center for Qualifying Saudi Women, whose project targets the creation of young female businesswomen. Prince Sultan Fund works on empowering Saudi women in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern region.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Yemen - A Supreme Committee to Supervise the Economic Reform Program (22/04/2009)
The Yemeni government has approved on April 21, 2009 the establishment of a higher committee to supervise the economic reform program in 2009 and 2010. The reform program entails fostering financial reform, promoting conducive investment and business environment, reforming the judicial system and enhancing judicial independence.
Source: United Press, Al-Sharq – Qatar.

Kuwait - Arrests of Ex-Parliament Members and Candidates for Criticizing the Ruling Family (21/04/2009)
Kuwait security forces had arrested on April 16, 2009 the Islamic ex-parliament member Dr. Daif Allah Bouramia upon an order by the public prosecution office. Bouramia was accused of assaulting the powers of the Emir and criticizing the acting prime minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah who is also minister of defence. Bouramia said in an electoral rally that he objects to appointing Sheikh Jaber as prime minister after the parliaments elections are over. His objection was considered an assault on the powers and will of the Emir. Bouramia was detained at the state security headquarters. The public prosecution released on April 19, 2009 trade union leader Khaled Tahous who was detained for 12 days. Tahous is not allowed to leave the country. Tahous is accused of threatening state security by announcing that he will mobilize the tribes against the government. On the same day, Kuwaiti authorities detained Municipal Council member and parliamentary candidate Mr. Khalifa Al-Khorafi to interrogate him following severe criticism of the ruling Sabah family in a televised seminar. The public prosecution office released on April 20 ex-parliament member Khaled Al-Sultan, leader of the Islamic Fundamentalist Movement in Kuwait, after he was interrogated with regard to criticizing the ruling family. Sultan defended himself by saying that he was simply giving advice to the ruling family. On April 20, the public prosecutor also ordered the arrest of a candidate for next elections, Falah Al-Ajami, accused of holding a seminar without official permit in which he hosted Mr. Bouramia. However, Kuwaiti authorities has allowed Bouramia to run for parliamentary elections and to complete his registration in detention. Syndicate leader Tahous was able to complete his registration to run for elections after his release. Kuwaiti newspapers published several articles by writers who criticized the measures taken by the government against parliamentary candidates. The writers considered the charges over exaggerated.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Arab and Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Hayat

Yemen - The Government Plans to Eliminate 100,000 Jobs in the Coming Two Years (21/04/2009)
The Yemeni government is planning to tackle employment inflation as part of the second phase of administrative reform program in the coming two years. The plan includes eliminating 60,000 cases of duplicate jobs, refining job description and issuing a unified employment card for public employees. It also includes putting 28,000 employees on retirement and placing 15,000 employees on civil service Fund benefits. The government confirmed that its reform agenda includes restructuring 20 public administration units such as the ministries of education, water, environment, public works and urban planning. The aim of this step is to provide better quality public services at lower cost. Available information shows that Yemen’s civil service sector suffers from many ills and distortions.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Iraq - The Parliament Elects a Speaker (20/04/2009)
After 4 months of arguments and unsuccessful voting, the Iraqi parliament was finally able to elect a new speaker, Mr. Iyad Al-Samara'i, on April 19, 2009. Iyad received 153 votes while his contestant received 34 votes, while 45 parliament members dropped blank papers. Mr. Samara'i is president of Sunni bloc in parliament "Harmony Front" and deputy secretary of the Islamic Party, the largest Sunni party represented in government. Samara'i said in a press conference that the parliament needs reform, promised to cooperate with the presidential council and improve the parliament's performance. He also promised to activate the parliament's supervisory function and to pass the controversial oil and gas law.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Hayat

Somalia - Somali Parliament Adopts the Islamic Law (Shari'a) System (19/04/2009)
The transitional Somali parliament has unanimously approved on April 18, 2009 the imposition of Shari'a as the social and political system in Somalia. 340 members were present at that session. The approval meets an essential demand set by Islamic rebels, who actually apply the Shari'a system in region under their control. The youth Mujahideen Movement considered the adoption of Shari'a in the whole country a precondition for ending its rebellion. The speaker of parliament, the president and the prime minister were not in the country at the time of voting.
Source: Reuters, AFP, Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Hayat

Syria - Industrialists Demand Protection of National Production (17/04/2009)
Syrian industrialists asked the government to take rapid measures to confront the critical condition of the national industry caused by the international financial crisis. Ex-official in the Ministry of Industry said that 32 textile factories in Aleppo closed down, while textile exports dropped by 73% compared to their volume in 2007. Most industrial firms in Syria are a self-financed small and medium size firms. The official said that the share of the industry and mining sector of public and private loans was 4.9% in 2007 compared to a share of 48.4% for the commercial sector and 13.5% for the agricultural sector.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Tunisia - Foreign Observers of Elections Are Not Welcomed (17/04/2009)
Tunisian government minister Zuhair Al-Muzaffar said that his country will not accept the presence of international foreign observers during its October 2009 presidential and parliamentary elections because it is not an emerging state in terms of democracy. However, he said that Tunisia accepts observers and guests from Arab and friendly countries. Tunisia will never accept supervision of elections by international legal observers. On the other hand, opposition parties support the presence of international observers to supervise elections.
Source: Reuters, Al-Hayat.

Establishment of the Council of Arab Finance Ministers (17/04/2009)
Arab Ministers of Finance decided to establish their own council with the aim of coordinating their financial policies to confront the consequences of the international financial crisis on Arab economies. The Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) announced the decision on April 16, 2009. Presiding over the Council will be rotational according to alphabetical order. The Jordanian minister of finance was chosen to be the first president of the Council. The AMF will be the technical secretariat of the Council.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Bahrain - Bahrain Issues $663 Million Bonds (16/04/2009)
Bahrain is to issue sovereign bonds worth $663 million over a 3-year period. The new issuance comes weeks after a $500 million issuance. The Central Bank said that the reason for such issuances is to compensate for decline in oil revenues. The first bonds issuance is valued in dollars and will be issued on May 27, 2009. No date was given for the second issuance. Bahrain’s parliament had approved a budget of $4.7 billion for 2009 and $5 billion for 2010.
Source: Reuters, Al-Hayat.

Iraq - Parliamentary Integrity Committee Wants to Interrogate Corrupt Members of Government (16/04/2009)
The chairman of the Integrity Committee in the Iraqi parliament asked the prime minister to replace some cabinet ministers who exhibited poor performance. He added that the Integrity committee intends to interrogate some ministers in the next legislative session with regard to administrative and financial corruption, including the ministers of trade, transport and defence. Iraqi constitution and parliament by-laws allow 25 parliament members to interrogate any minister and withdraw confidence in him/her if his/her replies were not convincing.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Mauritania - Amando Ambari provisional President (16/04/2009)
Mauritanian Senate Speaker Amando Ambari took over as the provisional president of Mauritania. The step was taken following the resignation of General Mohammed Ould Abdulaziz from the chairmanship of the ruling Military Council on Thursday night, 15 April 2009 in order to nominate himself in the presidential elections due to be held on 6 June 2009.
Source: Al Jazeera

Palestine - Israel Refuses to Cooperate with the UN Investigation Committee (16/04/2009)
A high level Israeli official said that Israel will not cooperate with the UN investigation of possible war crimes committed during the invasion of Gaza. He said that Israel has informed the UN Human Rights Council of its decision. The Human Rights Council decided in an extraordinary session held in January 2009 to send an investigation committee to examine possible war crimes committed by the Israeli army. The decision was taken after 33 members voted in favor, one member voted against and 13 members abstained.
Source: AFP, Al-Hayat.

Yemen - $54 Million Loan from the Arab Development Fund (16/04/2009)
The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development approved a $54 million loan for Yemen allocated for developing Ta’iz international airport and major road intersections in San’a. The Fund had previously given $22.5 million for development projects in Yemen.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Gulf Cooperation Countries Lost $350 billion in the Current International Crisis (16/04/2009)
The chairman of the GCC chambers and trade and industry Mr. Abdullah Fakhro said that the GCC countries lost $350 billion in the international financial crisis. He added that loss threatens development programs, financial, economic and investment activities in these countries.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar.

Algeria - President Abdulaziz Bouteflika wins the presidential elections (14/04/2009)
President Abdulaziz Bouteflika won the presidential elections that were held on 9 April 2009. He competed with five other presidential candidates. The rate of participation in the election was 74.56% and President Bouteflika won about 90% of the votes.
Source: The Algerian News Agency

Kuwait - Parliamentary Elections on 16 May 2009 (14/04/2009)
The Kuwaiti council of ministers announced on April 13, 2009 a draft decree for inviting voters to elect a new parliament on May 16, 2009 which means that candidate's registration will commence on April 15. Observers expect low public enthusiasm for these elections and a decline in turn out rate at voting centers. Old parliament members and new candidates unofficially launched their electoral campaigns raising tribal and sectarian issues, while some of them dealt heavy criticism to prominent members of the ruling family and to the government. The Emir headed a special meeting of the resigned government on April 12, 2009 in which he condemned such practices and threatened legal action against such persons. Security forces arrested a new candidate who threatened the authorities by tribal power. The number of voters in Kuwait is around 400,000 out of 1.1 million citizens. The conditions for accepting any person's candidacy are: 30 years of age or more; not newly naturalized and unconvicted of any moral crime.
Source: Al-Hayat

Lebanon - Public Debt Amounts to $47 Billion (14/04/2009)
Monthly report of the Lebanese Banks Association showed that the amount of public debt reached $47 billion in March 2009 with no improvement over 2008. In 2007 Lebanon's public debt was $42 billion and in 2006 was 40.4 billion.
Source: United Press, Al-Hayat

Bahrain - Royal Pardon for 178 Prisoners (13/04/2009)
The King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa Al-Khalifa granted public pardon to 178 prisoners accused of security offenses. The minister of interior said that the pardon fall in line with the King's reform project. Another official said that the pardon covered 2 Shiite political opposition leaders, a Shiite clergyman and 32 other persons detained on charges of committing terrorist acts. Released prisoners, especially younger persons, will undergo a rehabilitation program. A prominent released prisoner is human rights activist Abdul Hadi Al-Khawajah who was accused by court on February 8, 2009 of calling for overthrowing the regime and spreading rumors that could cause instability in the country. The Islamic National Accord Society (Shiite) expressed great gratitude to the King and praised his initiative which helps reform efforts.
Source: AFP, Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Hayat

Sudan - The Ruling Party Rejects the Idea of a Transitional Government (13/04/2009)
On April 11, 2009 the leader of the Sudanese Popular Conference Party (opposition) Dr. Hasan Al-Turabi called for forming a transitional government that will manage the country's affairs, deal with crises, prepare for next year's presidential and parliamentary elections. He also proposed making Darfour one region with a local government, appointing a vice-president chosen by Darfourians, compensating war victims, investigate all war crimes and punish the perpetrators. The Nation Party supported Turabi's proposal. On April 12 the ruling National Conference Party announced its rejection of Turabi's proposal by saying that the present government comprises 13 political parties, enjoys wide popular support and is not in the midst of any political crisis. The ruling party promised that next elections will be monitored by international observers, supervised by an independent commission to guarantee their integrity and impartiality.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Hayat

Iraq - Establishment of a New Political Party (10/04/2009)
A new political party named The National Forces Party was announced in Baghdad on April 10, 2009. The new party said in a statement that it will participate in next parliamentary elections. The statement added that the party is national and pan-Arab and believes that reform of existing distortion in the Iraqi parliament and in the Iraqi political process could be achieved through participation rather than boycott.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar.

Mauritania - Postponement of the Senate elections until a further notice (09/04/2009)
It was officially announced on 9 April 2009 that the election for the renewal of one third of the seats of the senate was postponed. The government issued a decision declaring a postponement of the Senate elections until further notice. It should be recalled that at the end of the period given by the government for submitting nominations to these elections a controversy arose over the one third of the senate to be elected. The session devoted for casting a lot was postponed several times because few senators refused to renew their term in office.
Source: The Mauritanian News Agency

UAE - Ex-Minister Embezzles $26 Million (09/04/2009)
The public prosecutor in Dubai disclosed a corruption case that involves 12 persons led by Ex-minister for financial affairs and industry Dr. Mohammad Khalfan Kharbash who are accused of embezzling no less than 100 million Dirhams ($26 million) from Al-Diyar real estate company. Kharbash was chairman of the board of that company. The defendants were referred to the criminal court in Dubai. The other 2 main defendants are the CEO of Al-Diyar company (an American) and an Indian executive who was able to leave the country.
Source: Al-Sharq – Qatar

Iraq - Postponement of the elections in the Kurdistan Region for a limited period of time (07/04/2009)
The Speaker of the Parliament of the Kurdistan Region, Adnan El Mufti, announced that the elections of the Kurdistan Parliament due to be held on 19 May 2009, are now postponed for a short period without specifying the new date.
Source: Sawt El Iraq newspaper

Iraq - An Official is Accused of Embezzling $ 130 Million (07/04/2009)
Mehdi Saleh who is a member of the council of Diala province (East of Baghdad) said that an arrest warrant was issued on April 6, 2009 against the president of the council Ibrahim Bajlan for embezzling $ 130 million of public funds. Saleh said that the Integrity Committee discovered while auditing the 2008 budget of the Diala Council that there were many illusionary projects and that huge amounts of money were spent without specifying what was it spent on. The committee asked Bajlan to return the money but he refused. Bajlan, who is a member of the Kurdish National Federation headed by Iraqi president Jalal Talbani, denied the charges. The arrest warrant has not been executed.
Source: AFP, Al-Hayat

Saudi Arabia - 3 Million Citizens Under the Poverty Line (07/04/2009)
Statistics published in the annual report of the Saudi Ministry of Social Affairs for 2008 show that 3 million Saudis (22% of total population) fall under the national poverty line. A heated debate took place at the Saudi Consultative Council on April 6, 2009. Council members asked how could there be such a large number of poor Saudis 3 years after the launch of the national project for combating poverty. They also said that the government pours billions of Saudi Riyals in the social security system administered by the ministry of social affairs. Statistics show that 600,000 Saudi families are registered with the Ministry as beneficiaries of social security allowances. The social security funds are taken from Al-Zakat Authority (Islamic alms) and from annual taxes on local and foreign companies.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar, Al-Hayat

Qatar - Qatar Accedes to the UN Convention for Combating Organized Crime (06/04/2009)
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani issued on April 5, 2009 the Decree No. 10 of 2009 approving Qatar's accession to the UN Convention for Combating Organized Crime Across National Borders of the year 2000. However, the Decree registered Qatar's reservation on the provisions of clause "2" of article "35" pertaining to referring the dispute to international arbitration and to the International Court of Justice whose decisions have the power of law.
Source: Qatar News Agency, Al-Sharq - Qatar

Kuwait - High Interest by Women to Run in Parliamentary Elections (05/04/2009)
Four Kuwaiti female activists announced their intention to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections. The four women are: former cabinet minister and professor of political sciences, Ma'sumah Al-Mubarak; activist Rula Dashti who to run in the third district and advocates discarding factionalism; Salwa Al-Jassar after consulting her constituency decided to run in the second electoral district and raises the slogans of development and citizenship rights; and Aseel Al-Awadi. Increase in the number of female candidates is a positive initiative, but their chances in being elected are difficult to forecast and remain to be seen.
Source: United Arab Emirates Dar El Khalij, Kuwait

Syria - Muslim Brothers Withdraw from the Anti-Regime National Salvation Front (05/04/2009)
The Muslim Brothers Group is an outlawed political organization in Syria since 1980. Its members fall under the provisions of law 49/1980 which penalizes them by the death sentence. On March 24, 2009 official spokesman for the Group said that Muslim Brothers in Syria always distinguished between "Syria the state" and "Syria the regime", siding always with Syria the state and supporting its causes. In fact, the Group announced on January 7, 2009 during Israel's war on Gaza that it suspends all its anti-regime activities for the sake of mobilizing all efforts in service of the main battle of the nation against Israel. That announcement gave rise to conflicting views within the National Salvation Front led by Syrian ex-vice president Abdul Haleem Khaddam, especially as the Muslim Brothers Group was a member of the Salvation Front which operates outside Syria. The Muslim Brothers Group submitted an explanatory note to the Front's leaders on February 6, 2009, but the note was rejected by some members of the Front. On April 4, 2009 the Muslim Brothers Group issued a statement in London that announces their withdrawal from the Salvation Front and said that the Front in its current condition is incapable of bearing the burden of the national resurgence project or meeting its requirements.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal – Beirut, AFP, Al-Sharq, Al-Hayat

Mauritania - Postponement of Senate Elections (04/04/2009)
The Mauritanian government issued a decree on April 3, 2009 postponing the May 3 Senate elections without setting a new date. The elections were supposed to replace one third of the Senate's members. An informed source in Mauritania said that the senate elections could be held in July 2009 after the presidential elections of June 6. The two elections are linked since the president of the senate is supposed to take over power from the presidential candidate, the head of the state council (military council) General Mohammad Ould Abd-al-Aziz who must resign from the army and the presidency of the state council 45 days prior to Election Day.
Source: AFP, Al-Hayat

Palestine - Union of Palestinian Communities in Diaspora Holds First Conference (04/04/2009)
The Union of Palestinian Communities in Diaspora-Europe announced that it will hold its first conference on 29-31 May, 2009 in Vienna, Austria. The aims of the Union are: to advocate Palestinian rights at official and public opinion European forums; to respond to Zionist media campaign; to present the civilized, cultural and democratic face of the Palestinian people; upholding the right of return as a collective rather than an individual right that does not become obsolete with time.
Source: Al-Hayat

Palestine - International Committee to Investigate War Crimes in Gaza War (04/04/2009)
The United Nations Human Rights Council announced on April 3, 2009 that it has appointed the ex-public prosecutor at the International Criminal Court for Yugoslavia and Rwanda, Richard Goldstone, to head an investigation committee to document all human rights and international law violations committed in Gaza Strip during Israel's war which lasted from December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009.
Source: Reuters, AFP, Al-Hayat

Tunisia - The Parliament Approves Amendments of the Elections Law and Administrative Procedures of Elections (04/04/2009)
The two chambers of the Tunisian parliament approved amendments of the electoral law that raised the seats of the lower chamber (deputies) from 189 to 212. The number of seats of the councilors chamber (upper house) were not changed. The councilors chamber ratified the amendments on April 3, 2009. Only 3 deputies who belong to the Renewal Movement (ex-communist party) voted against the amendments which included?1) reducing the share of the party which receives the highest votes in legislative elections from 80% of the seats of deputies chamber to 75% (currently occupied by Constitutional Democratic Rally Party led by President Zain Al-Abideen Bin Ali). This reduction will result in raising the number of seats occupied by minority opposition parties from 37 to 53 in next elections. (2) Transferring the censorship authority over the candidates public electoral messages broadcast on state television for a judicial committee to the president of the Supreme Council for Communications. (3) Responding to a major demand by opposition parties to reduce the number of balloting centers to unable these parties to send observers to all centers.
Source: Al-Hayat

Yemen - 80% of Yemeni Females Get Married at the Age 10-19 Years Old (04/04/2009)
The personal status law in Yemen is still being obstructed by conservative Muslim clergymen who oppose the parliament's vote that set the age of safe marriage for females at 17 years old. The law has to be resubmitted to the parliament. An official report prepared by the Yemeni Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor about early marriages in Yemen showed that married Yemeni females of the age-group less than 15 years old comprise 48% of all married Yemeni women. The report also showed that 80.6% of married Yemeni women fall in the age-group 10-19 years old. It also showed that 26.4% of Yemeni women marry at an age of 10-14 years old and 56% marry at an age of 15-19 years old.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar

Sudan - Postponement of the Elections to 2010 (03/04/2009)
The deputy chairman of the Sudanese Elections Commission, Abdullah Ahmad, announced on April 2, 2009 that the Commission has approved moving the date of presidential and parliamentary elections from July 2009 to February 2010. He cited the following reasons for the Commission's decision: non-completion of logistic and technical arrangements; the close arrival of the autumn season which obstructs traffic in most regions of the country and the non-completion of the voter's registry which is linked to the unfinished population statistics. Ahmad said that election in Darfur region will take place if a peace agreement is reached. He noted that Sudanese living abroad will participate in next elections through 15 centers that will be established in various countries. Ahmad strongly denied the existence of political factors behind the postponement. The coming elections are very complicated because they involve presidential and parliamentary elections, as well as electing provincial parliaments, governors of the provinces, the president of the Southern government and the parliament of Southern Sudan. Major opposition parties threatened to boycott elections if they would not be held in Darfur Region.
Source: Al-Hayat

Lebanon - 226 Cases of Money Laundering in 2008 (02/04/2009)
The special committee for investigating money laundering attached to Lebanon's Central Bank mentioned in its 8th annual report for the year 2008 that it had received 226 cases for investigation: 156 cases referred by local parties and 70 by external parties. The types of illegal activities were: 77 cases related to transferring money across borders; 37 cases of forgery; 14 cases of terrorism and terrorism financing; 11 cases of embezzling private funds; 6 cases of drug trafficking; 5 cases of embezzling public funds; 2 organized crimes and 74 undefined cases. The Central Bank Governor, Mr. Riyad Salameh, pointing out the approval of the UN anti-corruption agreement by the Lebanese parliament, said that the parliament passed law No. 32 that expands the jurisdiction of the special investigation committee to cover lifting bank accounts secrecy and freezing the accounts of persons suspected of engagement in corruption operations.
Source: Al-Hayat

Iraq - Kurdistan Parliament Postpones Discussions of Provincial Councils Law (01/04/2009)
The parliament of Iraq's Kurdistan region decided on March 31, 2009 to postpone its discussions concerning the draft provincial councils law upon the request of the majority of its members. The speaker of Kurdistan's parliament, Mr. Adnan Al-Mufti, said that delay was due to two reasons: waiting for passing the provincial councils law by Iraq's central parliament and the unification of the remaining 3 ministries in Kurdistan region (finance, army and interior) and the appointment of a new minister of interior for the Kurdistan region.
Source: German News Agency, Al-Sharq – Qatar

Kuwait - Reports of the Supreme Commission on Elections Transparency (01/04/2009)
Kuwaiti Transparency Organization has established on March 19, 2009 the Supreme Commission on Elections Transparency to monitor upcoming parliamentary elections. The Commission issued 3 reports on 23-30 March that contain critical observations listed below: • Dissolution of Kuwait's Parliament: Kuwaiti parliament was dissolved on March 18, 2009 upon the request of the prime minister and the cabinet. The Commission believes that a resigned government has no legal right to recommend dissolving the parliament. • Urgency Decrees: There was talk about modifying the number of electoral districts. This illegal in the absence of the parliament. Fortunately, the government retained the old districts approved by parliament during past elections. Transparency and other parties demanded the amendment of parliamentary elections law no. 35 of 1962 to enable the disabled, prisoners, hospitalized citizens, and students and employees residing abroad to vote. Together, these groups constitute 15% of voters. However, the government did not respond to this demand yet. • Resignation of candidate ministers: There was and still is a demand for the resignation of government ministers who wish to run in legislative elections on the pretext that they make use of their position to gain the support of citizens in return for rendering them special public services. The government did not respond. However, the chairman of Public Service Bureau issued a circular to all government agencies to freeze employments, transfers and promotions starting March 16, 2009 until a new government is installed. In fact the ministers of Social Affairs and Labor and of Trade and Industry retracted wrong administrative decisions issued by them. • Dual Citizenship: Article 11 of Kuwait's citizenship law stipulates that any Kuwaiti who acquires another citizenship loses his Kuwaiti citizenship. Also, any foreigner who acquires the Kuwaiti citizenship must give up his previous citizenship within 3 months. The Commission said there is talk about 250,000 Kuwaitis who hold dual citizenship and called on the government to examine the situation which affects election results. • Subsidiary Elections: Article 45 of the elections law penalizes anyone who organizes or participates in organizing subsidiary tribal or sectarian elections. Law No. 4 of 2008 added to that article by forbidding holding consultation meetings concerning elections. Transparency Commission called on the minister of interior to immediately take action against such events. The ministry of interior announced on March 31 that it referred 14 candidates from "Iniza" tribe to the public prosecutor for participating in subsidiary elections. On March 29, 2009 public prosecution released on bail members of the Shimmar tribe accused of similar behavior. Both groups will face trial on a later date. • Civil Societies: Elections law No. 35 of 1962 forbids civil society organizations to use their money or premises to support or oppose any candidate. The transparency commission called on NGOs to adhere to that provision. • Political Groups: Transparency Commission called on all political groups to support the democratic process which supersedes tribal and sectarian affiliations, and to be transparent in their electoral campaigns. • The Media: Transparency Commission praised Kuwaiti newspapers and television stations for highlighting election crimes and combating vote purchasing and subsidiary elections. Transparency Commission Functions: - The Commission monitors and reports the following aspects of elections: voters registration, subsidiary elections, vote purchasing, electoral campaigns violations, neutrality of government agencies, acts of violence, and vote casting in balloting centers. - The Commission adopts the following criteria and rules of behavior for volunteer observers: Impartiality, comprehensiveness, transparency, accuracy, professionalism, and revealing any conflict of interest with any candidates.
Source: Kuwaiti Supreme Commission for Elections Transparency

Lebanon - Website on monitoring the 2009 electoral process (01/04/2009)
The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) launched a new website on Monitoring the 2009 electoral process.
Source: Assafir Newspaper

Qatar - Partial Withdrawal of Qatar’s Reservations on Child Rights Convention (CRC) (01/04/2009)
Qatari Crown Prince, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, issued a decree thereby partially lifting Qatar’s reservations on some articles contradicting the Islamic law in the CRC of 1989. However, Qatar has kept its reservations on article (2) and (14). It is worth noting that Qatar had signed the CRC in April 1995.
Source: Qatar News Agency, Al-Arab - Qatar.

Qatar - Accession to CEDAW (01/04/2009)
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, issued a document that approves Qatar’s accession to the convention on Eliminating All Forms of Discrimination Against Women of 1979. However, Qatar expressed the following reservations: Qatar does not commit to the following provisions of CEDAW. 1. Article (1/2) concerning inheritance because it contradicts article (8) of Qatar’s constitution. 2. Article (2/9) because it contradicts Qatar’s nationality and citizenship law. 3. Article (1/15) because it contradicts Islamic Law. 4. Article (4/15) because it contradicts Qatar’s Family Law and norms. 5. Article (1/16) because it contradicts Qatar’s Family Law and norms. Declarations 1) Qatar accept article (1) on condition that it does not mean “regardless of her marital status” because it encourages family relations beyond legal marriages. 2) Qatar declares that change of “patterns” included in article (1/15) should be understood to mean encouraging women to give up their role as mothers responsible for raising children.
Source: Qatar News Agency, Al-Arab – Qatar.

Yemen - Children of Yemeni Mothers Gain the Right to Choose their Nationality (01/04/2009)
The Yemeni parliament has approved on March 31, 2009 an amendment of article (3) of law No. 6 of 1990 which addresses the issue of Yemeni Nationality. The amendment reads: (a) Anyone born to a Yemeni father or mother acquires the Yemeni nationality. (b) Anyone born in Yemen to a woman who carries the Yemeni nationality and a father with no known nationality or stateless also acquires the Yemeni nationality. (c) Anyone born to a Yemeni woman who is unable to legally prove who the father is, and anyone born in Yemen to unknown parents also acquire Yemeni nationality. In addition, any immigrant who was a Yemeni citizen when he first immigrated from Yemen and did not legally give up his original nationality can acquire the Yemeni nationality if he fills in an application to that purpose, even if he had acquired the nationality of the country he emigrated to. Finally, anyone who acquired the Yemeni nationality through his mother has the right when he/she becomes an adult to keep the Yemeni nationality or to acquire the nationality of his non-Yemeni father. The parliament approved this amendment on the basis of the report of the "Constitutional and Legal Affair Committee". The parliament speaker, Mr. Yehya Ali Al-Ra'i, and a representative of the Ministry of Interior were present at the session.
Source: Naba' News – Yemen

Bahrain - Businessmen Protest Labor Market Regulations (30/03/2009)
Hundreds of Bahraini businessmen demonstrated near the premises of the Labor Market Regulation Authority to protest new fees they have to pay for their expatriate employees. The Labor Market Authority has set new fees to limit the number of expatriate workers in Bahrain. The new fee is $27 monthly for every foreign employee or laborer. The protesting businessmen wanted this to be cancelled and called on the State to deport all "free visa" workers (foreign workers who are not attached to any employer) who harm formal businesses. It is worth mentioning that business pay a $530 annual fee for every work permit for their employees and laborers.
Source: AFP, Al-Sharq – Qatar

Jordan - Implementing Decentralization: The Regions' Project (30/03/2009)
The Jordanian government decided to implement the "Developmental Regions" project called for 4 years ago by King Abdullah as part of his vision to engage locals in determining the priorities of development and investment of resources. The project aims to give provinces more powers in assessing their development needs and approving plans that they believe are suitable for their regions, thereby relieving the parliament of the burden of providing services. Prime minister Nader Al-Zahabi said that the government will allocate needed funds for implementing the strategic vision of the regions' project in 2010 budget. He said that the project will be the basis for political and administrative reform that proceeds from the base to the top. However, there two competing views on implementation: the first calls for expanding the financial and administrative powers of the 12 provinces, while the second calls for grouping the 12 provinces in 3 large regions, namely the Northern, Central and Southern regions. Each region will include 4 provinces and each province 10 electoral districts that adopt the one-person one-vote system that elects a consultative council of 10 persons plus one appointed who belongs to minorities. The 4 regions form a parliament with 44 members that will play a supervisory role with regard to the Commissioner General who is appointed by the prime minister. The government is still examining the pros and cons of each alternative. Parliament members who belong to the Islamic Action Front called on the government on March 29, 2009 not to hasty implement the Regions Project before intensive examination and review to guarantee the unity of the country and enhance effective popular participation.
Source: Jordanian News Agency, Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Hayat

Founding an Arab Working Group for Transitional Justice (30/03/2009)
Arab legal activists announced in Bahrain on March 29, 2009 the establishment of the Arab Group for Transitional Justice that will operate in 6 Arab countries as a preliminary step towards establishing an Arab Center for Transitional Justice after 2 years. The Secretary General of the Bahraini Human Rights Society (independent NGO) Abdallah Al-Darazi said that the Group includes experts in transitional justice from 6 Arab countries, namely: Bahrain, Sudan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Iraq and Algeria.
Source: AFP, Al-Sharq – Qatar

Sudan - Two Committees Examine a Proposal for Increasing the Number of Provinces in Darfour (29/03/2009)
The Central Darfour committee was established by presidential decision No. 23/2009. The committee includes 4 sub-committees: South, North, West Darfur and the capital Khartoum. The North and South Darfour committees began a field visits to collect information to assess the possibilities of establishing provinces in these areas. The committees will meet survey the socio-economic, ethnic, tribal composition of these areas, in addition to administration transportation and communications in these areas. The committees will meet with government employees, tribal leaders and civil society organizations to seek their views and feedback.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar.

Iraq - A Unified Electoral List for the Kurdish Alliance (28/03/2009)
The Kurdish alliance bloc comprised of the two major Iraqi Kurdish political parties announced on March 27, 2009 that it will participate in the next elections in the Kurdish region and in the Iraqi parliamentary elections with one unified list. The two parties signed an agreement to that effect one week earlier following rumors about a rift between the two parties.
Source: Al-Arab, Qatar

Iraq - Selectivity in Passing and Implementing Laws (26/03/2009)
The leader of the Iraqi National Dialogue Front, Saleh Al-Mutlak, criticized the Iraqi parliament for its selective behavior towards passing legislation and approving laws. He said that there are pressures within the parliament to pass certain laws and ignore other laws, as well as to disregard any laws that do not suit some political groups even after they are approved. He called that behavior a violation of the rights of the Iraqi people. He cited an important law that was passed but not implemented, namely the public pardon or amnesty law. He also mentioned the detention of suspected citizens for more than 6 months without a judicial order, in clear violation of the constitution which states that no citizen is to be detained longer than 24 hours without a specific legal charge or claim. Then he spoke of the need to implement the political reform document that was approved by parliament, as well the need to amend the Iraqi constitution.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar

Iraq - Ratification of Kurdistan's Electoral Law (26/03/2009)
The parliament of Iraqi Kurdistan ratified on March 25, 2009 the election law which allows Kurds who reside outside Kurdistan Autonomy to vote in parliamentary elections. The law adopts the "closed list" system and provides for a judicial commission to tackle electoral complaints. The decisions of the judicial commission are final. The law allocates a special day for the voting of police, army and hospitalized citizens. Elections are to take place on May 19, 2009.
Source: Al-Hayat

Iraq - Demands for Disclosure of the Possessions of Officials (26/03/2009)
Iraqi parliamentary and political blocs demanded the disclosure of monetary wealth possessed by state officials, including officials in Kurdistan Region. The demands follow prime minister's Nouri Al-Maliki revealing that he possesses $427,000. The Iraqi National List Bloc asked the Integrity Commission and the Financial Audit Bureau to examine bank accounts of officials inside as well outside Iraq. The Bloc also called for re-activating the disclosure bill for parliament members received 2 years ago but suspended for political and technical reasons. A Kurdish parliament member asked for expansion of the central government's disclosure bill to cover officials in the Kurdish region. However, another Kurdish parliament member said it is impossible to do so and that the Kurdish region needs to establish its own integrity commission.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar

Lebanon - Towards a National Strategy for Combating Corruption (26/03/2009)
The Lebanese Society for Enhancing Transparency – No Corruption organized in cooperation with UNDP on March 25, 2009 a one day national conference titled "Towards a National Strategy for Combating Corruption". The conference was attended by Lebanese officials and representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Lebanon, as well as representatives of civil society and professional organizations. Main speakers were Lebanon's Minister of Interior, chairman of the Lebanese Transparency Society Mr. Fadi Sa'ab, and UNDP resident representative Mrs. Marta Reuds. The Minister of Interior, Mr. Ziad Baroud said in his opening speech that corruption in Lebanon is not hidden or disguised, rather it is fully transparent. He added that a culture of corruption is entrenched equally in the public and the private sectors. He referred to a UN report of 2001 which mentioned that the Lebanese state loses $1.5 billion annually as a result of corruption at all levels of government. He also cited the 2008 report of Transparency International on perception of corruption which showed that Lebanon's rank declined from 78 in 2003 to 102 in 2008 (out of 180 countries). He emphasized that corruption is a major obstacle to achieving sustainable development and that the Lebanese election law is the source of political corruption in Lebanon because it replaced citizenship by clientalism. Mr. Fadi Sa'ab pointed out the need to combat corruption through adopting an integrated action plan with effective mechanisms. He called for launching a wide-scale reform workshop after the next legislative elections. Ms. Marta Reuds welcomed Lebanon's ratification of the UN Agreement on Combating Corruption, and emphasized the urgent need for achieving tangible progress and for establishing a national commission for combating corruption in Lebanon. She said that the UNDP had united its efforts with those of the Lebanese Transparency Society in implementing a joint project entitled "Towards National Dialogue about Corruption in Lebanon" some of its activities were already implemented. Participants agreed on the following recommendations: the need for political will to build a state of law and institutions; establishing an independent national organization for combating corruption; implementing the integrated administrative reform plan as soon as possible; amending laws pertaining to transparency enhancement; judicial independence, media independence, civil society's role, corporate governance and disseminating anti-corruption culture as well as including that culture in school curricula.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal Daily – Beirut, Al-Hayat

Kuwait - Parliamentary elections will be held on 16 May 2009 (25/03/2009)
Kuwaiti sources have disclosed that the decree inviting the people to parliamentary elections will be issued on 5 April 2009, one week after the end of the specified period for appealing the election lists. The parliamentary elections will be held on May 16, 2009. The Kuwaiti government declared that the elections will be held in five electoral districts and by the method of manual vote counting.
The government said that the period of the 40 days starting from the date of issuing the decree calling for elections is sufficient for the candidates to meet with their electorate and to hold the seminars and meetings they wish within the bounds of law. The government asserted that it wants to conclude the parliamentary elections before those of the municipal councils due to be held on 30 May 2009.
Source: The United Arab Emirates Dar al-Khalij, Kuwait

Iraq - Crisis of Electing a Parliament Speaker (24/03/2009)
Since the date of resignation of Iraqi parliament ex-speaker of parliament Mahmood Al-Mashhadani on December 24, 2008, the Iraqi parliament has failed in electing a new speaker. Article 12 of the parliament's by-laws stipulates that in case the speaker's position or any of his two deputies are vacant, the parliament elects their replacement by absolute majority in the first session it holds after the resignation. Since the parliament is comprised of 275 members absolute majority is 138 votes. Several attempts were mad before deputy Iyad Smarra'i who represents the "Iraqi Accord Front" (Sunni) received 136 votes of 237 members who attended the voting session on February 20, 2009. The Front considered that he is eligible to be the speaker. However, the parliament's office and certain political blocs insisted on applying article 55 of the constitution which stipulates that the speaker is to be elected by absolute majority of total members of parliament. The dispute in interpreting the two articles and which article applies to Iyad's case was referred to the Supreme Federal Court that will pronounce its final verdict on April 10 before the commencement of the new legislative session on April 14, 2009.
Source: German News Agency, Al-Arab, Al-Sharq – Qatar

Saudi Arabia - Demands for Activating the Anti-Corruption Commission (24/03/2009)
The non-governmental Saudi Human Rights Society has demanded empowering the Anti-Corruption Commission to assume its role through providing it with human and financial resources. The Society said that government measures allowed certain groups to rapidly accumulate wealth through transforming family companies into share holding companies at high prices. Lenient government measures widened the gap among social strata in a way that contradicts economic justice stipulated by Islamic Law and teaching. The Society also called for improving existing economic legislation.
Source: United Press, Al-Sharq – Qatar

Iraq - Interrogation of Former Officials Involved in Corruption Cases (19/03/2009)
The Iraqi Council of Ministers gave instructions to all provincial councils to confiscate diplomatic and service passports from former chairpersons and members of the provincial councils as a measure to prevent suspects accused of financial and administrative corruption from traveling abroad until the investigations have been completed. Government agencies entrusted with combating corruption obtained evidence and documents confirming the involvement of some members in corruption.
Source: Al-Hayat

Iraq - Al Sadr Calls on His Supporters to Reject Violence and Adopt Education as a Weapon (19/03/2009)
The Shiite Leader, Moktada Al Sadr, called on his supporters on March 18, 2009 to reject violence and pursue the path of education as a weapon instead. He also called on his supporters to work hand-in-hand with all constituents of the Iraqi population. Al Sadr had previously ordered, in August 2008, the transformation of Al Mahdi Army (his current’s military wing) to a peaceful cultural movement which was given the name of “The Pavers". Al Sadr requested of his supporters to work on increasing cultural awareness, and spreading knowledge and religious guidance.
Source: Al-Hayat

Iraq - Tender for Power Plant Worth One Billion Dollars (19/03/2009)
Summary (E): An official in the Iraqi Electricity Ministry said that Iraq intends to place a tender for a power plant generating 1000 Megawatts of electricity at a cost of one billion Dollars. The tender is part of the efforts being exerted to fill the gap in electricity supplies that had obstructed reconstruction works in post-war years. The official also stated that Iraq will commence discussions today in Washington D.C. with J.B. Morgan, the American Import and Export Bank, and the World Bank. The discussions will focus on securing a five-year loan worth 2 billion Dollars to fund electricity augmentation. Iraqi banks may also contribute to the loan. The power plant will be exclusively owned by the investors. Iraqis view electricity supplies as an important development indicator in the post-war period following the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. Currently, the highest level of electricity production in Iraq has reached 6750 Megawatts which provide the country with 14 hours of electricity daily. On the same issue, the official said that Iraq has put into effect a program to raise electricity prices as they are central to attracting foreign investors to the sector. Iraq currently subsidizes electricity whereby Iraqis pay 0.5 cents for one kilowatt of electricity; however, many pay more than that amount in charges for private generators. As related to electricity supplies, the years of war, sanctions, and lack of investment led to a severe decline in electricity production in Iraq, and the country currently imports electricity from neighboring Turkey.
Source: Reuters, Al-Sharq - Qatar

Iraq - The Electoral Commission Will Not Adopt the New Population Census (19/03/2009)
The Chairman of the Higher Independent Commission for Elections in Iraq, Faraj Al Haidari, stated that the results of the population census scheduled for October 2009 will not be useful as a data base for the coming parliamentary electoral registry. He indicated that the Electoral Commission has requested from the Parliament to postpone the council districts and suburbs elections scheduled for July 2009 for "technical" reasons.
Al Haidari clarified that the time-period between the population census scheduled for October and the parliamentary elections at the end of the year is not sufficient to make use of the data to be provided by the census. He added that the Commission will use ration cards and data provided by the Ministry of Commerce as major sources for the elections data base. The electoral law stipulates conducting the districts and suburbs elections 6 months from the provincial councils' elections.
Source: Al-Hayat

Iraq - Interrogation of Ex-officials in corruption Cases (19/03/2009)
The Iraqi Council of Ministers issued instructions to provincial councils to take back diplomatic and employment passports from chairpersons and members of the previous provincial councils. The instruction also ordered preventing those members from leaving the country until the investigations of financial and administrative corruption are completed. Government authorities entrusted with fighting corruption had obtained evidence and documents that prove the involvement of some of those ex-officials in corruption cases.
Source: Al-Hayat.

Iraq - Tender for a One Billion Dollars Power Station (19/03/2009)
Iraq intends to put to tender an electricity generation plant of 1000 Megawatt capacity. The tender aims at overcoming the shortage in electricity supplies that afflicted as a result of war. Iraq will seek a group loan of $1 billion from American banks. Iraqis consider electricity supplies as a major development indicator since U.S. invasion of 2003. A spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity said that the government will raise electricity prices to attract foreign investors. Iraq currently imports electricity from Turkey.
Source: Reuters, Al-Sharq - Qatar.

Kuwait - Dissolution of the Parliament and Early Legislative Elections (19/03/2009)
The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, announced on March 18, 2009 that he decided to dissolve the parliament according to dissolve the parliament according to article 107 of the constitution which stipulates that new legislative elections should be held within 60 days of the Emir's decision. The Emir called on Kuwaitis to elect a new parliament that is willing to cooperate with the government in a constructive manner. The Emir severely criticized the dissolved parliament and accused it exhibiting poor democratic practices and obstructing cooperation between the legislative and executive branches as a result of submitting several interrogation requests against the prime minister thereby forcing him to resign. The Emir appointed crown prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah as prime minister. It is worth noting that according to Kuwait's constitution the government does not need to win the parliament's confidence.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq - Qatar, Al-Hayat

Lebanon - Lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 years (19/03/2009)
The Lebanese House of representatives decided in its legislative session held on 19 March 2009 to amend Article 21 of the Constitution lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 years. A total of 98 deputies attending the session voted in favor of the proposal. These deputies represented all the parliamentary blocs and political forces.
It is noteworthy that the passage of the proposal needed the approval of two thirds of the House members.
To become in force, the proposal should be approved by the government within a period of four months. After this, the amendment becomes valid and people who are 18 years old will be allowed to vote in the municipal elections of 2010.
Source: Different sources

Egypt - Revision of Legislation According to Egypt's Commitments to International Conventions (18/03/2009)
The National Council for Human Rights in Egypt decided to review a number of laws in accordance with Egypt's obligations under international conventions and new societal developments. The revision will cover the following laws: personal status, political parties, elections, labor unions and syndicates, social security and freedom of opinion, expression and belief. The Council will submit its proposals and recommendations to the executive and legislative branches, as well as to state agencies. The Council's president, Dr. Butrus Ghali, said at the opening of the seminar on "Legislation and Human Rights" that the aim of that revision is to adopt the best principles and guarantees that protect human rights and are in harmony with the values of the great religions and United Nations conventions.
Source: Al-Ahram Daily - Egypt

Iraq - Monetary Reserves Exceed 70 Billion Dollars (18/03/2009)
The Iraqi Minister of Finance, Baqer Jabr Al Zubaidi, stated that Iraq’s finances exceed 70 billion Dollars divided between the Central Bank reserves and deposits in the Development Fund Account. In a Ministry of Finance statement, Al Zubaidi, had said that he believes Iraq is in good condition as it possesses 44 billion Dollars of foreign currency in the Central Bank and 25 - 30 billion Dollars in the Iraq Development Fund by the end of 2008. He added that if it were not for this reserve, Iraq would have undergone a crisis that many countries have experienced. Iraqi economy is safe up to the beginning of 2010. In this statement, the Minister was responding to numerous criticisms and warnings of Iraq facing a dangerous economic crisis as 94% of state revenues accrue from oil which has witnessed a decline in prices. The Minister also explained that Iraq has formulated a plan for 2009 and 2010 to generate revenues such as a new tariffs and customs law which would generate high revenues, in addition to applying the value added tax (VAT) which is applied in Jordan, Lebanon and most countries. He added that there are projects that will generate high revenues for the state including granting a company a fourth license for mobile-phones.
Source: AFP, Al-Arab - Qatar

Iraq - Financial Reserves Exceed $70 Billion (18/03/2009)
Iraqi Finance Minister Baqer Al-Zubaidi said that Iraqi reserves in the Central Bank and the Development Fund exceed $70 billion by the end of 2008, which enables Iraq to overcome the international financial crisis up to early 2010. Oil Revenues constitute 94% of state revenues. The minister spoke of plans to tap other sources of revenues, such as customs tariffs, value added tax, and a fourth tele-communications license.
Source: AFP, Al-Arab – Qatar.

Kuwait - Dissolution of the Parliament and a decision to hold early elections (18/03/2009)
The Emir of Kuwait in a speech addressed to the nation on Wednesday evening, 18 March 2009, announced the dissolution of Parliament and a decision to hold early legislative elections.
In a televised speech, strong criticism of the parliamentary activity in Kuwait, he said that out of his concern for the national interests of the country, he has decided to dissolve parliament in accordance with Article 107 of the Constitution and to invite the people to elect a new parliament that can take on the responsibility of making the country move ahead in a spirit of cooperation between the legislative and executive branches of government.
A government source announced earlier that the outgoing cabinet has approved a decree to dissolve the parliament and to call for early elections within two months. The source said that the early elections will be held in mid May 2009.
Source: The French News Agency (AFP)

Egypt - African Development Bank Loan to Egypt (17/03/2009)
The African Development Bank (ADB) extended a $450 million loan to Egypt for building an electricity generating plant in the Suez Bay area. The plant will increase Egypt's electricity energy by 4% in 2012. ADB's Loan covers 22% of total cost, while Egypt's Electricity company, international and Arab financial institutions will provide the remaining cost.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

Iraq - Launch of the Fifth National Reconciliation Conference (17/03/2009)
The fifth Iraqi national reconciliation conference was held in Baghdad on March 16, 2009. It was attended by the Iraqi Minister for Reconciliation Affairs, Akram Al-Hakim, and representatives of parliamentary blocks and political parties. The conference was sponsored by the Washington Institute for Sustainable Dialogue and an Italian institute specialized in dialogue. The conference aimed to elaborate and advance the concept of national reconciliation. Previous conferences were held in Beirut, Amman, Istanbul and Washington D.C.
Source: United Press, Al-Sharq – Qatar

Iraq - An Independent Kurdish State is Merely a Dream (17/03/2009)
Iraqi President Jalal Talbani (Kurdish) saw no chance of the rise of an independent Kurdish state. He said in an interview with a Turkish newspaper on March 16, 2009 that the idea of a unified Kurdish state is a dream written in poems. He asked, how can anyone divide Turkey, Iran and Iraq? It is impossible and it needs another World War. Moreover, such a Kurdish state will not survive of surrounding countries close their borders.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Khaleej - UAE, Al-Sharq - Qatar, Al-Hayat

Kuwait - Government Resignation Accepted (17/03/2009)
Kuwaiti Prime Minister, Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah submitted his resignation to the Emir on March 16, 2009 in accordance with article 129 of the constitution which stipulates that the prime minister’s resignation entails the resignation of all ministers. The resignation followed the filing of 3 interrogations addressing the prime minister by Islamic parliament members. The Emir accepted the resignation and asked the government to attend to urgent matters until a new government is formed. Kuwaiti informed sources spoke of 3 scenarios for ending the crisis between government and parliament: Dissolution of the parliament; re-unifying the positions of Crown Prince and Prime Minister thereby placing the Prime Minister beyond parliamentary interrogations; or appointing a new prime minister.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Khaleej Daily – UAE, Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Hayat

Lebanon - Opening of Lebanon’s First Embassy Ever in Syria (17/03/2009)
The Lebanese flag was officially raised on the premises of the Lebanon’s embassy in Damascus on March 16, 2009. This followed the two countries agreement to establish mutual diplomatic relations in October 2008. The Syrian embassy in Beirut was opened in January 2009. The significance of this move lies in the fact that it confirms Syria’s recognition of independence and sovereignty. This is the first diplomatic relations established between the two countries, since Lebanon’s independence in 1946.
Source: News Agency, Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Hayat.

Lebanon - First Lebanese Embassy in Syria (17/03/2009)
The Lebanese flag was officially raised over the premises of the Lebanese Embassy in Damascus on March 16, 2009. The opening of the embassy follows the decision to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries taken in October 2008. This step was preceded by the opening of a Syrian Embassy in Beirut in January 2009. The significance of this step lies in that it confirms Syria's recognition of Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty. It is also the first move to establish between the two countries since Lebanon’s independence in 1946.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq - Qatar, Al-Hayat

Oman - Decline in Inflation in 2009 (17/03/2009)
The Executive Director of the Omani Central Bank. Hmoud Al-Zadjali, stated that inflation in Oman will decrease to one digit figure in 2009 as a result of the waning of inflationary pressures due to the decrease in oil prices. The Omani National Ministry of Economy mentioned that annual inflation has decreased to less than 10% for the first time in a year as food prices have dropped. Al-Zadjali said that inflation reached 12.4% in 2008, however, it is expected to drop to less than 10% in 2009 as oil prices have declined.
Source: Reuters, Al-Sharq - Qatar.

Sudan - “Sudanization” of Charitable Work in One Year (17/03/2009)
Sudanese President Omar Al-Basheer announced in a meeting attended by many military personnel on March 16, 2009 that “Sudanization” of voluntary work will be imposed in a year’s time. He gave his orders to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to accomplish that mission. He also ordered all international relief organization to stop distributing aid products inside Sudan by the end of one year. He said that such organizations may leave these aid materials at Sudan’s ports and airports whereby Sudanese NGOs will distribute them. He also said that relief funds spent by international NGOs in Darfour are no more than $100 million and that Sudan is able to provide this amount through its national organizations.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Jazeera TV Channel, Al-Khaleej Daily – UAWE, Al-Sharq

Sudan - Highest Children Mortality Rate in the World (17/03/2009)
Deputy chairman of the National Organization for Consumer Protection in Sudan, Dr. Jaafar Ibnof, said that 87 out of every 1000 Sudanese children die annually before they complete 12 months of age. He said Sudan has the highest child mortality rate in the World. New born babies suffer 50 death out of every 1000 live births. The causes are illnesses that affect pregnant women and malnutrition. He called for establishing a special babies food industry and awareness raising campaigns that target mothers.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

UAE - Publishing the First Daily Economic Newspaper (17/03/2009)
The first issue of the first Arab daily newspaper that specializes in economic affairs was published in the UAE under the title "Economic Vision" on March 16, 2009. The newspaper specialized in Emirates economy and its relations with the international economy. It discusses economic matters of interest to citizens, investors and big companies. In 2008, an economic daily newspaper "Emirates Business" was published in English.
Source: German News Agency, Al-Sharq – Qatar

Arab Women: Women's Circumcision is Illegal According to Islamic Law (17/03/2009)
A prominent Muslim clergy, Sheikh Youssef Al-Qardawi said that there is no evidence in the Qoran or in Prophet Mohammad's talks of deeds that approves, supports female circumcision or find it a desirable practice. He said that circumcision harms females physically and psychologically and negatively affect their marital life. He added that such a practice is prohibited by Islam because it changes God's creation.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

Iraq - The Government Rejects Settling Christian Iraqis in Europe (16/03/2009)
The Iraqi government affirmed its rejection of calls by Western governments for Christian Iraqis to immigrate to Europe. The undersecretary of the Ministry of Displaced and Migrants said that Iraq stands against such invitations. On the contrary, Iraq support the plea by the International Council of Churches to Western governments not to encourage Christian Iraqi to immigrate. To counter European settlement attempts, the Ministry established an office entrusted with implementing a "Human Security and Stability Program" that supports Iraqi returnees and provides them with material means that facilitate their resettlement.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

Kuwait - Jail Sentence for Vote Purchasing (16/03/2009)
The Kuwaiti Criminal Court passed on March 16, 2009 prison sentence in a case that involves 23 persons who are accused of vote purchase during the last legislative elections. Among the accused is parliament member Issam Al-Dabbous. The verdict carried 2 years imprisonment with hard labor against 19 defendants and acquitted 4 others. The court ordered the convicted persons to pay 1000 Kuwaiti Dinars ($3600) each as an alternative to imprisonment. A female defendant who bought votes for the member of parliament was placed on parole for 2 years.
Source: Al-Sharq – Qatar

Lebanon - Lebanese Democracy is Criticized (16/03/2009)
Lebanese ex-prime minister Dr. Saleem Al-Hoss said that no Arab country was able to establish a democratic system. He said that the Lebanese political regime lacks many ingredients in terms of democracy; the parliament lacks accountability because election results are determined by sectarian considerations. Building a democratic system requires political reform which is blocked by sectarian Lebanese group that have no incentive to change the status quo.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

Palestine - Presidential and Legislative Elections Before the End of January 2010 (16/03/2009)
Palestinian officials who belong to various factions that participate in the Palestinian Dialogue in Cairo said on March 16, 2009 that all factions have agreed to holding presidential and legislative elections simultaneously before the end of January 2010. However, disagreement between Fateh and Hamas persisted over the election law. Fateh wants a law based on proportional representation, while Hamas wants a mixed law, partly based on proportional representation and partly on electoral districts (the lists system). On the other hand, the factions agreed on forming the "central elections committee" according to the election law. The central committee will be established by a presidential decree following consultations with political groups, prominent Palestinians and the consensus government. The factions also agreed on establishment of the "election cases law" according to the Basic Law whereby 8 judges will be chosen from a list of nominees by the Supreme Judicial Council and confirmed by a presidential decree that does not violate judicial independence. In addition, the "Dialogue Committee on Government" reached an agreement over forming a transitional consensus government but remained strongly divided over its political program. Fateh insists that the new government must recognize all political obligations and commitments of the Palestine Liberation Organization, while Hamas refuses to do so because those commitments entail recognizing the legitimate existence of Israel. Finally, President Abbas asserted that there is no room for postponing or obstructing the elections that must take place before January 24, 2010.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq, Al-Arab, Al-Hayat

Algeria - Appointment of 41 Provincial Political Committees for Monitoring Presidential Elections (14/03/2009)
Another 11 provincial political committees for monitoring the coming Algerian presidential elections were appointed on March 14, 2009, thereby bringing the number of appointed committees to 41. The remaining 7 committees will be appointed on March 15 and 16. The national political committee for monitoring presidential elections said that a lot was conducted to allocate time quotas for presidential candidates in public TV and Radio station during the election campaign which lasts from March 19 to April 6, 2009. The national committee said that the lot was drawn in a very transparent way in the presence of representatives of political parties and presidential candidates.
Source: Algerian News Agency

Building the Alliance of Civil Society for Arab Citizenship (14/03/2009)
The Arab Organization for Democracy had organized in partnership with “A-Kawakibi Center for Democratic Transformation”, the “Arab Human Rights Institute” and the “Center for Studying Human Rights and Democracy” seminars in Morocco’s capital Rabat concerning the task of building a civil society alliance for democracy in the Arab region. The seminars were attended by many Arab intellectuals and lawyers, in addition to representatives of civil society organizations. The seminars were a continuation of a seminar held in Tunisia in 2008 which came up with an appeal for citizenship in the Arab Region and a plan of action for civil society to build a vast alliance. Rabat seminars discussed the initial steps for launching the citizenship Movement in the Arab region by civil society organization, politicians, intellectuals, artists and media people. The seminar also discussed establishing local coordination committees in several Arab countries.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar

Qatar - Qatar Accedes to the Protocol for Combating Trafficking in Persons (12/03/2009)
The Qatari Council of Ministers approved on March 11, 2009 Qatar's accession to the Protocol for Preventing, Combating and Punishing Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children.
Source: Al-Sharq, Al-Arab - Qatar

Jordan - 65,000 Victims of Illusionary Stock Markets (11/03/2009)
The State Security Court in Jordan set March 19, 2009 as a final date for submitting complaints against illusionary foreign stock markets. The court is currently investigation 300 Jordanian companies that dealt with non-existing foreign stock markets. It has been reported that around 65,000 Jordanians filed law suits. The amount of deposits is around $ one billion. The state security prosecution froze monetary and physical assets worth $300 million. Over the past 2 years Jordanian commercial companies claimed that they are dealing with international stock markets and paid up to 25% profits on deposits monthly. Thousands of Jordanian were tempted by the profits and mortgaged their houses and other properties to engage in those stock markets.
Source: Al-Khaleej Daily – UAE

Kuwait - Severe Criticism of the Minister of Education (11/03/2009)
Several parliament members severely criticized the minister of education, Mrs. Nouriah Al-Subaih, for resorting to security forces to stop a rally by students and professors of Kuwait University. Parliament member Hassan Jawhar demanded the resignation of the minister, saying that calling the police on campus is a very serious precedent that violates the right of students and professors to express themselves, Kuwait’s constitution and the law of establishing Kuwait University.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

Somalia - Somalian Government Approves the Implementation of Islamic Law (11/03/2009)
The Somalian government voted on March 10, 2009 in favor of implementing Shari’a (Islamic Law) all over Somalia. The minister of information said the parliament is expected to approve the law that will then be added to constitution. Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmad said that Shari’a should be the foundation of Somalian society. He added that the transitional constitution could be amended accordingly.
Source: Reuters, Al-Hayat

Syria - Launch of Syria’s Stock Market (11/03/2009)
Syrian Stock Market officially began its first dealing in stocks on March 10, 2009 after more than 5 decades of suspension. Only 6 companies were registered, some in the formal market and some in the parallel market. The registered companies are: Audi Bank–Syrian; Syria Oversea Bank; Saudi-Syrian Bank; United Group for Publishing, Advertising and Marketing; Arab Bank-Syria. Four other companies have received initial approval. Stock market rules commits the owners of companies registered to submit true financial information on capital and earned profits from sales and purchases, in order to contain tax evasions.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Khaleej Daily - UAE, Al-Hayat

Syria - Thousands of Family-owned Companies (11/03/2009)
Family-owned companies constitute 90% of all companies in Syria. A study conducted by the Council of Directors of Securities Authority estimated the number of family-owned companies to be 10,800 companies of limited liability, 200 closed share-holding companies and 50 share holding companies. The Ministry of Finance offered incentives to encourage family-owned companies to become share-holding companies. One incentive was reducing taxes on profits from 2% to 1%.
Source: Al-Hayat

Jordan - 40% of Judges are Females (10/03/2009)
The Jordanian Minister of Justice, Ayman Odeh, expected that female judges will constitute 40% of judges in Jordan in the coming few years. He said that women constitute 50% of participants in the programs of “Judges of the Future” and “Diploma in Judicial Studies” which are run by the Jordanian Judicial Institute. He added that the Ministry is writing a new law for the public prosecutor’s office that enhances its independence and engages female judges in public prosecution. The Ministry is ready to support all capacity building programs for females in the law profession.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

Kuwait - Recurrence of the Crisis between Parliament and Government (10/03/2009)
On March 2, 2009 a new request to interrogate Kuwait’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah, was submitted by 3 parliament members. The request included 5 issues: (1) contradiction of government’s decisions, retraction of decrees issued, and carelessness in carrying out responsibilities; (2) government failure in adapting a wise financial and economic policy; (3) obstructing the work of parliament and re-instating the same government; (4) violations in the expenditures of the prime minister’s office; (5) violating constitutions provisions concerning the government’s role and the national development plan. On March 4, 2009 some parliament members said that the Emir of Kuwait might dissolve the parliament in the coming few days to avoid the interrogation. Parliament speaker, Jassim Al-Khorafi, said that prominent figures in Al-Sabah ruling family have agreed on dissolution of parliament, but left the final decision to the Emir. On March 9, Islamic member of parliament Mohammad Al-Mtairi submitted interrogation request of the prime minister concerning the demolition of an old mosque by the Committee for Removing Transgression on State Property, which is attached to the prime minister’s office. The committee said that the mosque was built on state land and was unlicensed. Al-Mtairi denied that and said that the mosque was classified by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs as a historical monument outside Kuwait city. The prime minister promised to re-build the mosque, but refused to refer the head of the “Committee” to public prosecution.
Source: Kuwaiti News Agency, Reuters, Al-Sharq, Al-Arab, Al-Hayat

Sudan - A Leader of the Opposition Invites President Al-Basheer to Give Himself In (10/03/2009)
The Sudanese government releases the leader of the Sudanese Popular Conference Party, Dr. Hassan Al-Turabi on March 9, 2009. Al-Turabi was detained 2 months earlier for calling on the government to hand in wanted Sudanese to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Immediately following his release, Turabi held a news conference in which he invited President Omar Al-Basheer to give himself in to the ICC in order to protect Sudan from sanctions and political unrest.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq - Qatar, Al-Hayat

Tunisia - Financial Difficulties Threaten Social Security Funds (10/03/2009)
A Tunisian newspaper published an economic report which warned that financial difficulties threaten the National Social Security Fund and the National Retirement Fund. The two funds carry large deficits and their assets could vanish by 2014 and 2015 respectively if the deficit is not overcome. In 2006 the Social Security Fund had a deficit of $70 million and the Retirement Fund $23 million. The report mentioned several reasons for the deficits: inability of the economy to provide new jobs; continued privatization of public sector institutions; dismissing large numbers of workers and forcing them to retire at an early age from the public and private sectors as part of the economic reform plan.
Source: Qatar News Agency, Al-Sharq – Qatar

Fifth Conference of Arab Human Rights Organizations (09/03/2009)
The conference was held in Amman, Jordan on March 8 and 9. It was organized by the “National Center for Human Rights” in cooperation with the Supreme Commission for Human Rights – Geneva. The conference carried the title of “Elections in the Arab World and their Impact on Human Rights”. It discussed the following Issues: election culture and human rights in the Arab countries; legal guarantees of the right to free and fair elections and its mechanisms; ways of strengthening the culture of democracy through election; and partnership between human rights organization and civil society. A special panel for women was held under the title “Women and the Electoral Process in the Arab World”. In addition to human rights organizations from 16 Arab countries, several Arab Ministers of Justice participated in the conference.
Source: Qatar News Agency, Al-Arab Qatar

First North African Conference on Disabled Women (09/03/2009)
Arab North African countries held early March 2009 in Libya a conference that addressed the condition of disabled women. The conference was organized by civil society organizations active in these countries. In addition, disability experts participated in the conference which discussed the International Convention for the Rights of Disabled Persons. Participants emphasized the need to build the capacities of disabled women and integrate them in society, in addition to supporting their families.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

Palestine - Appointment of Two Female Judges at Islamic courts (08/03/2009)
The Palestinian Authority has appointed a female judge at the Islamic court in Ramallah, West Bank on March 7, 2009. Another female judge was appointed at Hebron Islamic Court in February 2009. The two female are the first Palestinian women to occupy such a position. The president of the Supreme Judicial Islamic Council in Palestine, Sheikh Tamimi, said the appointment was welcomed by citizens. One of the two judges said that her appointment is a step on the road to be fair to women, and it is a moral achievement for women. The judge at Hebron Court was an Islamic law lawyer since 2004 and before that date she worked as a legal advisor to the “Women’s Center for Legal Guidance”.
Source: Qatar News Agency, Al-Sharq – Qatar

Palestine - Resignation of the Acting Palestinian Government (08/03/2009)
Acting prime minister in the Palestinian Authority, Salam Fayyad, submitted the resignation of his government to President Mahmood Abbas on March 7, 2009. The resignation goes into effect as soon as a national consensus government is formed, but no later than the end of March 2009. Fayyad said that his resignation was submitted in support of the efforts directed to forming a national consensus government that reunites the country. Fayyad was appointed prime minister in June 2007 following the forced resignation of the government formed by Hamas Movement. Hamas commented on Fayyad's resignation by calling for putting things back in proper order through enabling the legitimate government to exercise its full jurisdiction in the West Bank and Gaza Strip according to the provisions of the Basic Law, until a new transitional government is formed by the National Dialogue which is proceeding in Cairo, Egypt.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq- Qatar, Al-Hayat

Yemen - Parliamentary and Trade Union Rejection of a Draft Law for Access to Information (08/03/2009)
The Yemeni parliament's leading commission submitted the government's draft law for access to information instead of a draft law submitted by a number of parliament members who objected by saying that whenever member of parliaments submit a draft law the government submits a parallel draft law to block their proposed laws. The government draft law contain 86 articles listed under 6 chapters. Chapter 4 is entitled "Information Security" and contains "scary" articles. Chapter 5 is entitled "Violations and Penalties" which seems to be taken from the penal code. Article 71 stipulates imprisonment for at least 6 years for anyone who extracted or attempted to extract classified information that harms national security, social peace, national unity, national economy and Yemen's relations with other countries or international organizations. Article 10 prohibits establishing electronic Websites without official permit. The first deputy of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate said that the government draft law was written by the National Security Agency.
Source: Quds Press, Al-Sharq – Qatar

Arab Labor Organization’s Rural Employment Project (08/03/2009)
The Arab Labor Organization (ALO) has completed an economic and technical study for establishing a Fund for supporting peasant women’s employment. Dr Ahmad Loqman, Director General of ALO, said on March 7, 2009 that the ALO reviewed other Arab and Islamic funds that provide loans to benefit from them in its own project. He said that the proposed Fund will be financed by Arab governments, donors and popular contributions. The Fund will finance 21 projects in services, business and agriculture.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

Algeria - Designation of the national political committee to watch the presidential elections (07/03/2009)
On 6 March 2009, the national political committee for watching the presidential elections due to be held on 9 April 2009 was designated in Algiers. The committee was given several powers which were stipulated in the Presidential Decree number 9/61 issued on 7 February 2009 on the creation of the committee.
The committee consists of one representative of every recognized political party and one representative of each candidate whose name was included in the main lists of candidates for the presidential elections. A coordinator for the committee, Muhammad Taqiyyah, was appointed by President Abdulaziz Boutaflika on 7 February 2009.
Source: The Algerian News Agency

Libya - A Demand for Writing a Libyan Constitution (06/03/2009)
Al-Kaddafi Institution chaired by Saif Al-Islam, son of the Libyan leader, criticized the shuffle in ministerial posts approved by the People’s General Conference (parliament) for bringing back the same persons. The Institution said the new cabinet was in reality appointed rather than elected by parliament as claimed. The Institution said that there is no way out of this situation except through setting a constitution for Libya and passing a new set of laws. Libya has no constitution.
Source: AFP, Al-Arab – Qatar

Sudan - The International Criminal Court Orders the Arrest of the Sudanese President Omar Al-Basheer (06/03/2009)
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued on March 4, 2009 an arrest warrant against Sudan's President Omar Al-Basheer and accused him of committing crimes of war and crimes against humanity, while dropping the charge of genocide. As soon as the ICC decision was announced, the Sudanese capital Khartoum witnessed huge demonstrations in protest against that decision and in support of Al-Basheer who addressed a gathering of more than 10,000 citizens saying that the decision represents "new imperialism". He declared his rejection of all forms of humiliation and hegemony and called for strengthening the free countries front to defeat the new imperialism. He reiterated his statement that his indictment is "100% a Zionist conspiracy" that aims at creating instability in Sudan. Al-Basheer announced the expulsion of 13 foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) active in Darfour region where the United Nations (UN) is implementing the largest humanitarian relief operation in the world, according to the UN office for coordinating humanitarian affairs. Al-Basheer justified the expulsion order by saying that those NGOs have violated Sudan's laws and did not observe their mandate. The expulsion order applies to more than 200 international relief employees working in Darfour. Around 16500 Sudanese employees who work in the expelled NGOs will lose their jobs. In addition, Sudanese authorities closed down the offices of 2 local organizations, namely: "Khartoum Center for Human Rights" and "Amal Society for Victims of Torture". A government official said the expelled NGOs were providing the ICC with false reports on conditions in Darfour and facilitated the travel of witnesses abroad. The Sudanese government announced its total rejection of the ICC arrest warrant. The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that President Al-Basheer will attend the Arab summit in Doha, Qatar at the end of March 2009 and asserted that he will attend all Arab and African summits. It added that Sudan does not recognize the ICC decisions because it is not a member and ICC has no jurisdiction over Sudan. The arrest warrant was denounced or rejected by many Arab and African countries, as well as by the organization of Islamic conference and Iran. The president of the African Union Commission said that the arrest warrant threatens the stability of Sudan. Russia declared that the arrest warrant is a "serious precedent". Reactions to the ICC warrant ranged from demanding revoking it to postponing its execution for one year. The seriousness of the arrest warrant lies in the fact that it is the first such warrant against a President who is still in office. On the other hand, some rebel groups in Darfour announced their support for the arrest against President Al-Basheer.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq and Al-Arab – Qatar, Al-Hayat

Libya - Progress Achieved in the Dialogue Between the Government and Islamists (05/03/2009)
Dialogue between the Libyan government and imprisoned members of the Islamic Fighting Groups that began 3 years ago has attained good progress. All imprisoned members of the Muslim Brothers Group were released and their exiled leaders returned to Libya and did not face any hardships. Dozens of imprisoned members of the Islamic Fighting Groups were released. Prisoners who were sentenced to 5 years and spent 10 years in prison will be given financial compensation at the rate of 1000 Libyan Dinars for every extra month spent in prison. Those who were rightly imprisoned and spent only the specified term will not be compensated.
Source: Quds Press, Al-Sharq - Qatar

Qatar - Opening of UN Regional Center for Human Rights (05/03/2009)
Permanent Qatari delegate at the UN office in Geneva said on March 4, 2009 that the United Nations Center for Human Rights Training and Documentation for South-West Asia and the Arab Region will be opened in Qatar in May 2009. The Center adheres to international standards of human rights and it will provide support to governments and NGOs on human rights programs.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

The First Arab Conference for Humanitarian and Development Organizations (05/03/2009)
The conference was held in Doha, Qatar on March 3 and 4, 2009. It was organized by the Qatari Charitable Body in cooperation with the Arab League. Participants included heads of Arab humanitarian and developmental organizations, experts and observers from UN organizations and international non-governmental organizations. The conference held 3 workshops. The first workshop discussed the relationship between the Arab League and Arab humanitarian organizations. The second workshop discussed ways of activating Arab League's recommendations and decisions. The third workshop reviewed the challenges that confront relief and humanitarian work in the Arab countries. Participants came up with several recommendations. Major recommendations are: 1. Establishing an Arab relief and emergency fund within the Arab League in partnership with Arab humanitarian organizations. 2. Advancing Arab legislation with regard to organizing and protecting humanitarian and developmental activities. 3. Easing the Arab League's provisions with regard to granting observer status to Arab NGOs on the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League. 4. Placing the issues and concerns of Arab humanitarian and developmental work on the agendas of Arab Leaders summits. 5. Establishing a data base for Arab humanitarian and developmental organizations that monitors and documents Arab humanitarian aid. 6. Publishing a periodical comprehensive report on humanitarian and developmental conditions in Arab countries.
Source: Al-Sharq, Al-Arab - Qatar

Iraq - 17 Government Ministers Disclose their Financial Condition (04/03/2009)
The Public Integrity Authority in Iraq has announced that 17 out of 54 government ministers and holders of an equivalent status had during the past two months submitted individual bank statements that reveal their financial conditions. The law makes it mandatory for public officials who hold the rank of Director General and higher to submit bank statements about their deposits at the beginning and end of every year. The public Integrity Authority then checks the increase in the size of deposits by the end of the year.
Source: German News Agency, Al-Sharq - Qatar

Qatar - Criticism of the USA Human Rights Report on Qatar (04/03/2009)
Qatar's name has not yet been removed from the American Ministry of Foreign Affairs list of countries that are not doing much to combat trafficking in people. The latest human rights report issued by the US criticized Qatar for the new expatriate workers sponsorship law passed in early March 2009. The Director of the Qatari National Human Rights Committee, Dr. Ali Al-Mirri, said that the US report on Qatar is full of false information and does not reflect the real condition of human rights in Qatar and is far from the international criteria used to monitor human rights. Al-Mirri said that the new law is more progressive than previous laws concerning expatriates. Unlike the old Laws, it gives the ministry of labor the power to transfer the sponsorship to another sponsor if the original sponsor refuses to do so. The ministry of interior is empowered to grant an expatriate worker an exist permit if his sponsor refuses to give him such a permit.
Source: Al-Arab, Al-Sharq - Qatar

Qatar - Launch of Media Campaign Against Trafficking in People (04/03/2009)
The Qatari National Human Rights Committee and the Qatari organization for combating Trafficking in People launched on March 3, 2009 a media campaign against trafficking in people that will continue for one month. The campaign has 3 goals: raising awareness and informing Qatari society about various aspects and types of trafficking in people; explaining the legal dimension of trafficking; and striving to coordinate the efforts of state agencies in combating this phenomenon.
Source: Al-Arab, Al-Sharq - Qatar

Qatar - Doha Center for Media Freedom Criticizes Blocking Website in Qatar (04/03/2009)
The above center expressed its worry over the proposal of Qatar's Higher Council for Communications and Information Technology concerning consulting the public with regard to undesired electronic websites. The Doha Center demanded immediate halt of transferring the authority to control the internet to a government body. The demand came after the Higher Council announced on February 28, 2009 that it will conduct a public survey to improve internet security and protect minors. However, Doha Center believed the survey had other implicit goal, namely to provide a powerful mechanism for controlling the contents of internet services. Doha Center called this move "democratic control".
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar

Qatar - The parliamentary elections are awaiting supplementary laws (04/03/2009)
A new emphasis on the democratic option was made in Doha on Tuesday March 3rd, 2009 when the Qatari leadership announced its compliance with the democratic option despite the delay in the legislative elections, which were due to be held in the summer of 2007.
The Deputy Chairman of the Permanent Elections Committee in Qatar, Shaykh Khalid Ibn Jabr Al Thani, said that the holding of the anticipated parliamentary elections in Qatar depends on the issuance of the supplementary laws for these elections.
The Qatari Shura Council had, few months ago, approved a law regulating the elections of Qatar’s Shura Council. However, the government has not yet issued a decision on fixing the date of the elections.
According to the Qatari constitution, the Shura Council undertakes the power of legislation, approves the general budget of the State, and exercises control over the executive branch of government.
The current Shura Council consists of 45 members. Thirty of these members are elected by direct, secret ballot while the 15 other members are appointed by the Emir of Qatar and are chosen from ministers and other senior officials. The membership of those who are appointed to the Shura Council will end by their resignation or dismissal.
Source: The United Arab Emirates Al Bayan Newspaper, Doha

Syria - New Government Campaign Against Corruption (04/03/2009)
In the past few weeks, Syria has witnessed an active government drive against administrative and financial corruption. The drive targeted the Customs Agency whereby a number of employees and the Director (Hassan Makhloof) were arrested. The Ministry of Finance ordered the confiscation of the fixed and movable property, as well as bank funds, of Mr. Makhloof, his extended family and his legal agent. A total of 173 real state properties worth hundreds of millions of Syrian pounds ($1 = 50 Syrian) were confiscated. The amount of frozen funds was not disclosed. Economic experts estimate that the Syrian treasury had lost billions of Syrian pounds as a result of embezzlement by the Custom's Director and his network. The experts demanded a more intensive investigation and arrest of all accomplices who were protecting the Custom's Director.
Source: Al-Khaleej Daily, UAE

Algeria - 70 Arab League observers to watch the elections (03/03/2009)
The Algerian Minister of State Abdulaziz Belkhadem said on Monday March 2nd, 2009, that the Arab League will send 70 observers to cover the Algerian presidential elections due to be held on April 9th, 2009.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Spring parliamentary session, Belkhadem said that his country has extended invitations to the international organizations Algeria is member of such as the Arab League, the United Nations, the African Union, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference [OIC] to attend the upcoming polling.
He added that his country would allow observers from the European Union to attend the polling if the European Union requested so.
Source: Algeria - The United Arab Emirates Dar El Khalee

Bahrain - Bahrain Organizes a Conference on Trafficking in People (03/03/2009)
Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Suzan Mubarak's International Women's Movement for Peace, in cooperation with several UN Agencies, have organized an international conference on trafficking in people on March 2 and 3, 2009. The conference discussed national strategies for combating trafficking in people; coordination of public and private sectors efforts to combat trafficking and judicial, executive and legislative measures for preventing this problem.
Source: AFP, Al-Sharq - Qatar

Syria - Ongoing Campaign on Violence Against Women (03/03/2009)
Two years ago, the Syrian Red Crescent Society had launched a continuous campaign for receiving the complaints of Syrian Women who are subjected to violence. The society then provides help to battered women by female volunteers who specialize in law, sociology and counseling. The campaign publishes periodic bulletins that alert battered women to the existence of an agency that can help them. A spokeswoman for the Red Crescent Society said that women who seek help suffer from physical violence and material deprivation, while some of them suffer acute depression and need psychological treatment. A few women committed or attempted to commit suicide to escape violence inflicted on them by their husbands or fathers. She added that some women bear the violence and do not dare to complain for fear of retaliation by their husbands, fear of scandal or of being divorced because society considers women to be guilty and requires their submission.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

Algeria - 6 Presidential Candidates are Approved (02/03/2009)
The president of the constitutional council announced on Algerian TV on March 2, 2009 that 6 out of 13 persons who submitted their files to run in the coming presidential election had met the candidacy conditions which stipulate that they should collect 75,000 signatures by registered voters or 600 signatures by members of municipal and provincial councils from 25 states. The six approval candidates are: president Boutafliqa and 5 leaders of Licensed political parties, including one Islamic leader and the communist leader Mrs. Louisa Hanoun president of the Workers Party.
Source: Al-Arab, Qatar

Lebanon - The media which has the right to participate in the election publicity (02/03/2009)
The commission supervising the election campaign at the Ministry of Interior has announced the names of the media which have the right to participate in the election publicity, such as the radios, television, newspapers and magazines, provided that these media submit their applications to the commission within the fixed period and that the applications should meet all the conditions set for this purpose.
The commission pointed out that according to the provisions of Paragraph Three of Article 66 of the Parliamentary Elections Law, this right is restricted to the media enterprises included in the announcement. No other media shall be allowed to carry out any publicity campaign during the entire period of the election campaign.
Source: Aliwaa Newspaper, Labanon

Libya - Unemployed Rate is 20.7% (02/03/2009)
The Libyan newspaper "OYA" reported on March 1, 2009 that the most recent population census in Libya showed that unemployment rate is 20.74% which makes it the highest rate among the 5 Arab North African countries whose unemployment rates range from 9% to 15%. "OYA" is an influential newspaper due to its close relations with Saif Al-Islam, the son of the Libyan leader.
Source: Reuters, Al-Hayat

Mauritania - The Senate endorses the amendment complementing some of the provisions pertaining to the election of the president (02/03/2009)
The Senate approved on Monday, 2 March 2009, two draft laws in an open session it held. The first draft law amends and supplements some of the provisions of Law number 1/27 issued on 7 October 1991, which consists of the regular law on the election of the president. The draft law includes new terms, which should be met by those who nominate themselves for this post. The new conditions stipulate the payment of a guarantee amounting to five million Oaks [the local currency] and the collection of 100 signatures of senior figures.
The second draft law is law number 26/9 which spells out the arrangements for the voting of the Mauritanian citizens residing abroad.
Source: Mauritanian news website

Algeria - Algeria is Facing Economic Challenges (01/03/2009)
An International Monetary Fund Report mentioned that Algeria is currently facing explicit local problems that include youth unemployment, heavy reliance of its economy on oil products; the structure of its private sector is focused on the internal market; and retraction of its investment attractiveness. The report said that Algeria is somewhat isolated from the international financial crisis as a result of the public sector's control of its financial system and of prudent management of its international monetary reserves. The report urged Algeria to restructure its economy, diversify its income, create jobs for its citizens and reform its investment environment.
Source: Al-Hayat

Palestine - President Abbas Emphasizes the Two-state Solution (01/03/2009)
President Mahmood Abbas emphasized during discussions with American delegate George Mitchel and European delegate Solana the necessity of stopping all types of Israeli settlements and reconfirmed his commitment to national reconciliation and a national unity or consensus government on condition that such a government commits to the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, a Hamas Movement spokesman said that Hamas refuses any preconditions on forming a national unity government and rejects any government that recognizes Israel.
Source: Al-Hayat

Saudi Arabia - 75% of Companies Expect to Freeze Employment in 2009 (01/03/2009)
A survey conducted by the Saudi-British Bank revealed that 75% of Saudi companies expect to freeze employment during the next two quarters as a result of the international financial crisis. The survey covered 765 companies. Only 42% of these companies expected growth in their business. Until now, Saudi Arabia was less affected by the crisis than the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. However, its large size population makes creating new jobs for its citizens a harder task. Official unemployment rate is 9.8%. The private sector relies on government expenditure which in turn depends on the price of crude oil.
Source: Reuters, Al-Hayat

Algeria - National Reconciliation Compensations Cost $300 Million (27/02/2009)
An Algerian government official said that 12339 files of the civil war victims were settled between February 2006 and December 2008 according to the provisions set by the Peace and National Reconciliation Charter. Compensations were given to poor families who suffered as a result of some of their members were involved in terrorist acts and to those who were dismissed from their jobs as a result of the civil conflict. The compensations paid to those families amounted to $300 million.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar

Oman - Oman Plans to Privatize Water and Electricity Sectors (27/02/2009)
The Omani Minister of National Economy said that Oman intends to privatize a number of state owned projects, specially water and electricity projects, in order to attract foreign investors. He added that privatization will proceed according to a gradual and re-set schedule. Moreover, Oman intends to sell shares in the National Transportation Authority to private investors. A major aim of Oman's 7th development plan (2006-2010) is to encourage local and foreign investors through privatization. Oman has already decided to sell 25% of the state-owned Omani National Communications Company (Omantel).
Source: Reuters, Al-Arab - Qatar, Al-Hayat

Palestine - A Transition National Accord Palestinian Government by the End of March 2009 (27/02/2009)
Palestinian factions held their first dialogue session in Cairo on February 26, 2009. The meeting sponsored by Egypt was held after weeks of preliminary negotiations. The factions agreed to form a transition national government before the end of March 2009. They also established five specialized committees: A government committee; a security affairs committee; a Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) committee; an election committee and a national reconciliation committee. The committees are to begin their work in Cairo on March 10, 2009 and finish it one month later. The committees will discuss forming a new Palestinian government; arrangements for next presidential and legislative elections, including setting its date; reorganizing security agencies on professional criteria rather than on the basis of factional shares; reorganizing the PLO to include Hamas and Islamic Jihad Movements; and accomplish reconciliation among antagonistic factions. The chairman of Hamas delegation Mousa Abu Marzouk said that the preparatory committees will determine the composition of the transitional government. The chairman of Fateh delegation Azzam Al-Ahmad and the foreign minister in the ousted Hamas government Mahmoud Al-Zahhar held a press conference to announce an agreement the two movements signed which includes 3 points: 1) Complete adherence to halting media campaigns against each other. 2) Refraining from carrying out further political arrests in Gaza and the West Bank, in addition to striving to release more political prisoners by both groups. 3) Forming two committees in the West Bank and Gaza to handle political arrests issues and to close the file of political arrests with the conclusion of the national dialogue sessions.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Arab - Qatar, Al-Hayat

Qatar - A New Law That Regulates The Residence of Expatriate Labor (27/02/2009)
Qatar’s Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani has issued on February 26, 2009 Law No. (4) concerning entry and exit, residence and sponsorship of expatriates in Qatar. The new law replaces all previous Qatari Laws pertaining to expatriates’ residence. The new law stipulates that an expatriate who holds a residence permit in Qatar is not allowed to remain outside Qatar longer than 6 continuous months; otherwise he will lose his residence permit unless he receives a prior permission from the proper authority to return to Qatar within 60 days of the date of expiry of his residence permit. An expatriate worker is admitted into the country upon the request of guarantor who could be a government agency, a company, a Qatari businessman or a Qatari or an expatriate family. The guarantee entails the expatriate’s need for a written permission by his guarantor to be able to leave the country. The guarantor must complete residence or renewal procedures within 30 days of the arrival of the expatriate. An expatriate who has a work permit in Qatar and leaves the country for good is not allowed to return to work in Qatar before 2 years of the date of his departure. An expatriate head of family can obtain residence for his wife, unmarried daughters and male children under 25 years of age provided they are enrolled in a university. An expatriate woman who has a work permit can guarantee her husband and children. An expatriate whose residence expires is given 90 days to leave the country. An expatriate worker is forbidden from changing his residence status without a written permission by his first guarantor and the approval of the ministry of labor. An expatriate worker needs a written permission signed by his guarantor to be able to leave the country. If an expatriate worker is dismissed from his job and he does not contest the decision before a relevant court, or if his contest is rejected, then he cannot return to work in Qatar before the passage of 4 years from the date of his departure. The guarantor is obliged to pay the fare of the expatriate’s return to his country whether the expatriate has resigned or was deported. Finally, the guarantor bears the cost of burial of an expatriate who works for him, or the cost of sending the dead worker back to his country or origin or permanent residence if any of the dead man’s inheritors or any other relevant party demand that.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar

Algeria - First Nuclear Power Station In 2020 (25/02/2009)
The Algerian Minister of Energy and Minerals, Shakib Khalil, announced that Algeria will build its first nuclear power plant for commercial purpose in 2020.He added that Algeria will build a nuclear power plant every 5 years thereafter. Algeria had signed energy agreements with Argentina, China, France and USA. It is negotiating similar agreements with Russia and South Africa. Algeria has huge reserves of uranium and owns 2 nuclear research facilities.
Source: Reuters, Al-Hayat

Bahrain - The Financial Sector Contributes 27% of GDP (25/02/2009)
Bahrain Central Bank announced that the financial sector which comprises 400 companies contributes 27% of Bahrain's GDP. The sector employs 14000 persons of whom 9283 persons [57%] are Bahraini citizens. Bahraini women constitute 37% of Bahrainis working in the financial sector which is comprised of banks, insurance companies and other financial companies. Bank employees constitute 69% of employees in the financial sector.
Source: Al-Hayat

Iraq - Unification of Government Ministries In Kurdistan Region (25/02/2009)
The 2 major Kurdish political parties who share power in the autonomous region of Iraq Kurdistan completed the unification of their ministries through unifying the ministries of finance, Beeshmirka [para-military forces] and interior. However, they did not agree on unifying their security agencies. Most ministries in the region were unified after the 2005 elections.
Source: AFP, Al-Sharq - Qatar

Kuwait - 42$ million spent on Information Software (25/02/2009)
A report on information technology programs showed that Kuwait had spent 12.4 Kuwaiti Dinars [$42 million] on information software programs in 2008. The report was published by Microsoft office in Kuwait.
Source: United Press, Al-Hayat

Libya - Libya Opens Up Its Communications Sector (25/02/2009)
Libyan Daily "AL-Jamahirriah" reported on Feb.23, 2009 that Libya has decided to privatize its communications sector. As a first step-in this process, Libya put to tender a dual licence for managing its fixed and mobile telephone networks. Local and foreign investors may participate for the concession. Libya is the last Arab North African country to privatize its communications sector.
Source: Al-Hayat

UAE - Prison term for an ex-minister accused of Fraud (25/02/2009)
On Feb. 24, 2009, a first degree court in Dubai sentenced Ex-minister of State, Khalifa Bakheet, to 2 years in prison. Bakheet and 2 accomplices [an American and An Indian] attempted in 2007 to take over a big company owned by a Lebanese businessman through forging ownership documents. The widow of the Lebanese man sued them and submitted original documents that proved her husband's ownership. When the scandal broke out, the minister of state was dismissed from office. The court decided that the minister's son was not guilty in the fraud case. The 2 accomplices were sentenced to 2 years in prison to be deported after that.
Source: UAE News Agency, United Press, Al-Sharq - Qatar

Yemen - Yemen Asks Russia To Cross Out Most Of Its Outstanding Debt (25/02/2009)
Yemeni Minister of Finance met with Russian counterpart in Moscow to discuss the possibility of crossing out most of the $1.225 billion Yemen owes Russia. Russia had already crossed out 80% of Yemeni debts which amounted to $5billion. The Yemeni Central Bank reported that Yemen's external debt was $5.886 billion by the end of 2008. Most of this debt is in the form of easy loans, and a large part of it had been rescheduled to be paid over 30-40 years free of interest .
Source: Al-Hayat

Yemen - Agreement between the ruling party and the opposition in Yemen to postpone the elections for two years (25/02/2009)
The ruling party and the opposition in Yemen have reached an agreement stipulating the postponement of the legislative elections due to be held on 27 April 2009 for a period of not more than two years and introducing constitutional amendments stipulating a transfer from the presidential system to the parliamentary system on the strength of an initiative which President Ali Abdallah Salih launched in September 2007.
The agreement provides for the amendment of the Electoral Law and changing the electoral system from the closed individual system to the proportionate system of lists. The agreement also provides for amending the law of the local administration to become a local government system with the aim of strengthening administrative decentralization.
Agreement was also reached to appoint a new higher committee for elections, the correction of the lists of voters, and updating the electoral records, provided that legislative and local elections should be held simultaneously after two years.
Source: The French News Agency (AFP), Sanaa

Algeria - The President Asks Algerians to Reject Calls for Boycotting Elections (24/02/2009)
On February 24, 2009 Algerian President Boutafliqa called on Algerians to intensively participate in Algeria's presidential elections in April 2009. He said that he accepts voting against him as long as they participate in elections. He urged Algerians to reject calls by opposition political parties to boycott presidential elections.
Source: AFP, Al-Hayat

Egypt - Draft Law for Criminalizing Customary Marriages (22/02/2009)
In an attempt to confine widespread customary marriages in Egypt, a female member of parliament submitted a draft law for amending the provisions of the law of marriage documentation. The amendment stipulates imprisonment and or monetary fine on the married couple and their marriage witnesses (at least one year imprisonment and a fine of 1000-10,000 Egyptian pounds). Customary marriage in Egypt is legal from an Islamic law perspective. It only requires an agreement between an adult male and adult female to get married and write and sign a paper to that effect without registering the marriage in official Islamic courts or even declaring it to their parents or to the public. Hence, it is more or less a secret marriage. Young people resort to it to have legitimate sexual intercourse when they are unable to start a family or rent a house. Some widows resort to such type of marriage in order to keep receiving their dead husbands' retirement salaries which are terminated as soon as they remarry. However, in many cases involving young couples the female is often the loser from such marriages because she cannot have any claims in court against her male partner. The draft law is meant to protect females against abuse. The proposed law makes it mandatory for any couple who want to get married to obtain a medical certificate from an agency nominated by the ministers of health or justice confirming that they are free of hereditary disease.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq - Qatar

Iraq - Final results of the elections of the Iraqi Councils of Governorates (21/02/2009)
The final results declared by the Higher Commission of Elections of the Councils of the Iraqi Governorates on Thursday, 19 February 2009 have indicated that the list of the Coalition of the State of Law, which is supported by Prime Minister Nori al-Maliki, won 126 seats out of the total number of 440 seats in 14 governorates in which the local elections were held. The list won the top votes in 10 governorates, constituting a rate of 28.5 percent of the total number of the seats of the 14 governorates. Meanwhile, the list of Al-Hadba' in Mosul, which is led by Athil Al-Nujayfi, won the majority seats of the Council of the Ninawa Governorate, or 19 seats out of the total number of the 37 seats of the governorate.
Mr. Hamadryad El Husseini, a member of the Council of Commissioners at the elections commission, said that women have won the quota allocated to them by a rate of more than 25 per cent of the total rate of seats of the Councils of Governorates.
It should be recalled that six seats were allocated for the minorities out of the total of 440 seats in all the governorates, including two seats for the Christians and Al-Sa'ibah in Baghdad, three seats in Mosul for the Christians, Chabak and Azides, and one seat for the Christians in Basra.
Source: The Iraqi Newspaper al-Sabah

UAE - Abu Dhabi Establishes an Economic Development Department (21/02/2009)
The president of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi has passed Law No.2 of 2009 that establishes a department for economic development that replaces the "Planning and Economy" department. The new department is entrusted with building a knowledge-based economy, achieving sustainable development and proposing relevant economic policies and legislation. It is also authorized to supervise all economic activities in Abu Dhabi and to formulate the economic plan in cooperation with other government agencies. The plan is then submitted for approval by the Executive Council.
Source: UAE News Agency, Al-Sharq - Qatar

Algeria - Louisa Hannoun nominates herself in the presidential elections (20/02/2009)
The secretary General of the opposition Labor Party in Algeria, Louisa Hannoun, announced on Friday, 20 February 2009, that she was nominating herself in the presidential elections due to be held on 9 April 2009.
This is the second time in which Ms. Hannoun will nominate herself in the presidential elections after the elections held in 2004. She has managed to acquire 140,000 signatures from citizens supporting her presidential candidacy, qualifying her to become the second candidate who could collect more than 100,000 signatures, after President Boutaflika.
Source: The Algerian newspaper al-Dustour

Iraq - 110 seats allocated for women in the elections of the Iraqi Councils of Governorates (20/02/2009)
The final results of the elections of the Iraqi Councils of Governorates have shown that a total of 110 women won seats out of a total of 440 seats of the Councils of 14 governorates in which the elections were held.
The results, which were announced by the Higher Elections Commission on Thursday, 19 February 2009, have indicated that women won more than one fourth of the seats in the four governorates of Baghdad, Ninawa, Wasit and Diyala and won one fourth of the seats in the Najaf while they won less than one fourth of the seats in the remaining nine governorates.
A total of 16 women will occupy seats in the Council of the Baghdad Governorate, 11 women in Ninawa, nine women in Wasit, and eight women in each of Diyala, Karbla, Thi Qar, and Babil while seven women will occupy seats in each of Basra, Najaf, al-Anbar, and Misan and six women in al-Diwaniyah and four women in each of al-Muthanna and Salah al-Din.
Source: The Iraqi National News Agency

Mauritania - Approval of the election bills (20/02/2009)
The Mauritanian National Assembly and the Mauritanian House of Representatives approved on 19 February 2009 the election bills submitted by the government for the following purposes:
1. To establish an independent administrative commission for elections consisting of 15 members to be chosen from the midst of independent Mauritanian figures known for their competence, honesty, fairness and neutrality.
2. A draft law amending and completing the provisions of the legal order number 91/27 dated 7 October 1991 on the election of the president. The amendment was made for the purpose of introducing new stricter conditions for nomination to bridge the shortage existing in the original law.
3. A bill aimed at identifying the rules pertaining to the voting of the Mauritanians residing abroad which the participants in the Public Platforms of Democracy, or the Consultative Days, decided that it was a right for the Mauritanians residing abroad and a duty of the Mauritanians residing at home toward their compatriots abroad.
Source: The Mauritanian News Agency

Sudan - "Doha Accord" Between the Sudanese Government and the Justice and Equality Movement (18/02/2009)
The Sudanese government and the insurgent Justice and Equality Movement in Darfour region signed on February 17, 2009 a memo of understanding known as "Good Intentions and Trust Building Accord for Settling the Darfour Problem" after 8 days of negotiations under the sponsorship of the Qatari Prime Minister and the UN and African Union mediator Mr. Gibril Basouli. The Accord included the following points: 1) Accepting constructive support for the peace process from neighboring countries and the international community; 2) readiness of the two parties to end the Darfour conflict through giving the peace process priority and adopting a comprehensive approach that tackles the roots of the problem and achieves permanent peace in the country; 3) stopping all sorts of harassment towards displaced persons; 4) ensuring that aid reaches the groups it is sent to without any obstructions; 5) commitment to exchange war prisoners and release other prisoners; 6) the state of Qatar and the international mediator will soon set up a "Framework Agreement" that leads to ending acts of aggression; 7) the two parties are committed to hold serious talks after approving the "Framework Agreement" that will end the conflict within 3 months. However, other Darfour insurgent groups considered the Accord unimportant document between two parties void of content because it did not include them and did not result in cease-fire. The spokesman of the "Movement for the Liberation of Sudan – the Unity Faction" Mr. Mahjoob Hussein threatened to escalate military operations against government forces in Darfour.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar, Al-Hayat

Egypt - Elections of the "Judges Club" Leads to Reconciliation with the Government (16/02/2009)
Elections of the "Judges Club" in Egypt took place on February 13, 2009. Two rival lists contested the elections. The first list "The Change" was pro-government and the second list "Judicial Independence" was anti-government. Election results showed a strong return to power of judges who support the government as they won 10 out of the 14 seats of the administrative council that runs the "club". Moreover, the leader of the "change" list won 54% of votes while the leader of the "Independence" list won 45% of votes. Only 40% of eligible judges and prosecutors participated in the elections. The Judicial Independence Movement that was in power had been in constant conflict with the government during the past 4 years over several issues that include: insisting on retaining judicial supervision on presidential and parliamentary elections; the need for passing a new law for the judicial authority that ends its financial dependence on the Ministry of Justice; and objecting to the government's law of combating terrorism. The result of these elections opens the door wide for a new friendly relationship between the "Judges Club" and the government based on cooperation rather than conflict.
Source: Al-Hayat, Al-Sharq - Qatar

Jordan - Rise in Jordan's Commercial Transactions with other Arab Countries (16/02/2009)
Commercial transactions between Jordan and countries of the Grand Arab Free Trade Agreement (GAFTA) has risen by 26% in 2008 compared to 2007 (5.7 billion Jordanian Dinars versus 4.5 billion). Iraq was the leading importing country, followed by Saudi Arabia and the Arab Emirates. The value of Jordanian imports from these countries was $3.2 billion in 2008. Saudi Arabia was the leading exporter to Jordan followed by Egypt and the Emirates. Jordan's oil imports amounted to $2.6 billion in 2008 compared to $2 billion in 2007.
Source: Qatar News Agency, Al-Sharq

Saudi Arabia - Governance Reform in Saudi Arabia (16/02/2009)
King Abdullah Bin Abd –Al-Aziz Al-Saud implemented on February 14, 2009 a series of reforms that affected various dimensions of governance. These included: the first cabinet change since the King assumed power in 2005 that affected 4 government ministries. The King also appointed Mrs. Noura Al-Fayez as Deputy Minister of Education for Girls Affairs to be the first Saudi Woman to occupy such a high-level government position. Mrs. Al-Fayez earned a Masters Degree in teaching technologies in 1982 from the University of Utah (USA). She had previously occupied several high-level administrative positions in the Ministry of Education. Re-organizing the Shoura Council: The King issued a royal order thereby reorganizing the Shoura (consultative) council. The re-organization entailed replacing 79 of its 150 members and the Council's president. The new president is Dr. Abdullah Bin Ibrahim Al-AlShaikh. Newly appointed members represent all the kingdoms tribes and geographical regions, including 5 Shiite members. Most newly appointed Shoura Council members are young, less than 40 years old. Adjusting the Religious Institution: King Abdullah replaced the president of the "Commission For Good Deeds and Prevention of Foul Behavior "(the religious police) Shaikh Ibrahim Al-Ghaith by Shaikh Abd Al-Aziz Al-Hameen. He also re-organized the "Grand Scholars Commission" (the highest religious authority in the county) and increased its members to 21. A new chairman Shaikh Abd Al-Aziz Al-Alshaikh was appointed to head the Commission. The re-organization indicates a trend of openness towards other Sunni theological schools or sects through the appointment of scholars who belong to other Sunni sects. The term of all members of the Commission, except the chairman, is 4 years. Adjusting the Judicial System: The President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Saleh Bin Hameed, was removed from the position he has occupied since 1992. The King's order also established the first Supreme Public Court. In addition, several judicial agencies experienced staff dismissals and new appointments. These affected the Supreme Administrative Court, the Supreme Administrative Council, the Grievances Bureau and the National Commission For Human Rights whose chairman was replaced.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Arab, Al-Sharq, Al-Hayat

Algeria - Presidents Boutafliqa Announces his Candidacy for a Third Term (15/02/2009)
The Algerian Constitutional Council has set February 23, 2009 as a final date for accepting candidates' applications. On February 13, 2009 President Boutafliqa announced his candidacy for a third term (2009-2014) in the April 9, 2009 presidential elections. He pledged to pursue governance reform, enhance the rule of law, advance economic development and mobilize local and foreign investments. The 3 parties of the Presidential Alliance viewed Boutafliqa's candidacy as a continuation of the national reconciliation path and of comprehensive development.
Source: AFP, Al-Arab – Qatar, Al-Hayat

Jordan - Combating Family Violence is Well Under Way but with Little Success (15/02/2009)
Jordan has passed the law for Protection Against Family Violence in 2008. The National Family Council prepared a strategic plan for protecting the family from violence that covered the period 2005 – 2009. The National Framework for Family Protection was set up in 2007. Despite all these efforts and programs there are still around 5000 cases of family violence, mostly against women annually registered in Jordan. The Secretary General of the National Council for Women's Affairs in Jordan Mrs. Haifa Abu-Ghazalah said that she is preparing to hold a conference that aims to establish an "Arab Network for Family Protection". She added that such a network should adopt a mechanism for partnership and cooperation among stakeholders, set policies, prepare international reports and exchange experiences and expertise. A survey conducted by the National Council for Family Affairs in 2006 showed that 87% of women in Jordan approve the beating of wives by husbands in many situations, especially when the wife disobeys her husband's orders, leaves the house for long hours, show disrespect of her husband's parents and siblings, and when she gets into arguments with her husband.
Source: United Press, Al-Hayat

Somalia - New Prime Minister Wins the Parliament's Confidence (15/02/2009)
Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmad chose on February 13, 2009 Omar Abd Al-Rasheed Ali Sharmarki (son of an ex-President of Somalia who was killed in a military coup in 1969) for the position of prime minister. Sharmarki (48 years old) has previously assumed several positions in the United Nations. He belongs to the "Drood" tribe while Sheikdh Ahmad belongs to the "Hawiyya" tribe. The transitional Somali constitution stipulates that the President, the prime minister and the speaker of the parliament must belong to different tribes in order to share power among major Somali tribes and enhance national unity. The Somali parliament held a special session in Djibouti on February 14, 2009 to vote on Sharmarki's appoint that was approved by 414 deputies and rejected by 9 deputies. Sharmarki then took oath and said that he will form a national unity government that will consider achieving peace and security its top priority.
Source: Reuters, AFP, Al-Arab, Al-Sharq, Al-Hayat

Iraq - Iraqi Churches Urge Christians to Stay in Iraq (14/02/2009)
Iraqi Churches have urged Christians in Iraq to remain in the country and to participate in reconstructing Iraq. The appeal came at the end of a meeting of the International Council of Churches that was held in Lebanon on 9-12 February 2009 to discuss the present condition of Christian Iraqis. The statement also called on Christian Iraqis to consolidate their presence and role in Iraq through building cultural and social institutions and contributing to national reconciliation, peace and stability on the basis of respecting pluralism and the principle of citizenship. The council also called for activating Christian-Muslim dialogue as a means for enhancing shared living.
Source: United Press, Al-Arab – Qatar

Bahrain - Bahrain: Launch of the First Poor People's Bank in the Arab Gulf States (12/02/2009)
Prince Talal Bin Abd Al-Aziz Al-Saud, the President of the Arab Gulf Program for Supporting the United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) has launched on February 10, 2009 the Innovation Bank in Bahrain, to be the first Bank for the poor in the Arab Gulf countries. The initial capital for the first year is $5 million. The bank targets 1000 beneficiaries in its first year and 5000 beneficiaries by the end of its second operational year. The funding coalition comprises AGFUND, the Bahraini Housing Bank and the Bahraini private sector. Sheikha Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim, wife of the King of Bahrain and president of the Supreme Women's Council in Bahrain, praised Prince Talal for his initiative that targets establishing banks for the poor in the Arab world. Prince Talal emphasized the importance of expanding micro-credit programs as they proved their economic and social effectiveness. Professor Mohammad Yunis, the pioneer of poor people's banks and holder of Noble Prize for Peace, expressed his admiration for Prince Talal's developmental initiative and stressed the significance of the partnership between AGFUND and Gramin (Gramin Bank is Yunis's Project) in establishing banks for the poor in a number of Arab countries.
Source: Bahrain News Agency, Al-Sharq - Qatar

Yemen - A Legal Parliamentary Committee Refuses to Forbid Young Girls' Marriages (12/02/2009)
The Committee for the Codification of Islamic Law Provisions in the Yemeni parliament turned down a demand by the Yemeni government to raise the age of wedding and intercourse for females and males to 18 years old. Instead, the committee set the minimum age at 15 years old. The committee also refused to amend some articles in the 1992 personal status law, especially an item in article (12) that will give the first or other wives the right to divorce their husband if he does not inform them in advance that he is going to add a new wife. Legal and civil Yemeni organizations are demanding setting a minimum marriage age in order to prevent marriages of very young girls, which is widely practiced, especially in Yemen's rural areas. The latest study on maternal health showed that one-third of married Yemeni women gave birth to 5 or 6 children before they reached 30 years old.
Source: Al-Watan - Yemen, Al-Sharq – Qatar

Iraq - The Parliament of Kurdistan raises the representation of women to 30% and reduces the age of candidacy for parliament to 25 years (11/02/2009)
The Kurdistan Parliament approved on Wednesday 11 February 2009 new amendments to the law of parliamentary elections to be held on 19 May 2009. The most prominent amendments were; the increase of the women’s rate of representation in the parliament from 25 to 30 per cent and the reduction of the minimum age of nomination to the membership in the parliament from 30 to 25 years.
Source: Sawt Al Iraq, Irbil

Lebanon - Parliamentary Elections Website (10/02/2009)
The Lebanese Ministry of Interior and Municipalities created a new website for the parliamentary elections. The website contains relevant elections-related information for candidates, monitors, journalists and the public. The ministry also launched a four-digit (1790) elections hotline for queries and complaints.
Source: Website of the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities

Jordan - Success of the Poor People’s Bank Pilot Project (09/02/2009)
The “National Bank for Funding Small-Scale Projects” was established in Jordan in 2008 in partnership with the Arab Gulf Program for Supporting United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) and Professor Mohammed Younis the founder of the “Poor People’s Bank” in Bangladesh, and in cooperation with the Jordanian private sector and the Jordanian government. Professor Younis was approached by AGFUND Chairman Saudi Prince Talal Bin Abdel Aziz Al Saud who asked him to replicate his experience in Arab countries. In a very short period this bank was able to hold more than 25% of the Jordanian lending market. The number of loans granted by the bank amounted to 44,616 loans with women comprising 86% of the borrowers. The gross sum of loans amounted to 33 million Dinars (around 47 million dollars), whereas the rate of paying back the loans reached 98%. The bank has 10 branches in Jordan and employs 118 employees, both male and female, that have received specialized training in their domain of work. The success of this pilot endeavor has encouraged the launch of the “Amal Bank for Small Loans” in Yemen, the “Amal Foundation” in Egypt, whereas the “Innovation Bank” is currently being established in Bahrain.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

Mauritania - The Reality of Slavery in Mauritania (09/02/2009)
The Director of the Mauritanian non-governmental organization, “Rescue the Slaves”, stated on February 8, 2009 that slavery is a painful reality in Mauritania and that some families still own salves that are exploited within households and farms in Nouakchott without facing any interference from the government. Similarly, activists from the women leaderships called for assisting Mauritania in getting rid of this ugly and repulsive phenomenon. Despite the Mauritanian government prohibiting slavery in 1984, the slavery prohibition law issued in 2006 has been aborted by influential traditional forces and has not been practically implemented. The Director of the “Women Who Support Families” Society, Aminato Bint Mukhtar, stated that the authorities are doing nothing to end the suffering of many women subjected to various forms of exploitation.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

Algeria - Presidential elections to be held in Algeria on 9 April 2009 (07/02/2009)
A presidential statement announced on Saturday that president Boutaflika has summoned the electorate to vote in the fourth pluralistic presidential election on Thursday, 9 April 2009. President Boutaflika is expected to nominate himself in these elections on Monday, 9 February 2009. The most senior judge in the country has issued a decree appointing former Justice Minister Muhammad Taqiyah as head of the National Political Commission to watch the elections.
Source: Algerian Al Shuruq Newspaper

Iraq - Iraqi Parliament Fails, Once Again, to Name a New Speaker (07/02/2009)
The Iraqi Parliament deferred on February 6, 2009 a voting session to name a new speaker to next Saturday as it failed to reach an agreement concerning naming a candidate, from a number of competing candidates, to replace the former speaker, Mahmoud Al Mashhadani, who resigned from his post on 24 December 2009. The Iraqi Parliament passed a legislation to hold open sessions on the 9th of January 2009 in order to name a new speaker, however, a decisive decision has failed to materialize until now. The candidate running for this post is required to obtain 138 votes from the 275 votes which comprise the total number of Members of the Iraqi Parliament. In this regard, the Iraqi Parliament clarified that it has received a response today from the Supreme Federal Court authorizing the Parliament to discuss currently presented and deferred laws, especially the public budget, despite the absence of a speaker. The eldest member will chair the parliament's sessions. Thus, starting next week the parliament sessions will be regular and legitimate, and no longer open sessions.
Source: German News Agency, Al-Arab

Iraq - Iraq Minister for Women's Affairs Resign in Protest (07/02/2009)
Iraqi Minister of State For Women's Affairs Mrs. Nawal Al-Samera'i submitted her resignation on February 7, 2009 in protest of her unactivated ministry. She said that she resigned because she was unable to render any services to Iraqi women although she tried all possible ways of activating the role of her ministry. She added that Iraqi women do not need an "honorary" ministry, rather they are in need for a ministry that can provide them with services in all spheres of life. She described the condition of detained and imprisoned Iraqi women as inappropriate.
Source: German News Agency, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat and Al-Sharq

Libya - Europe Extends its Financial Cooperation with Libya Until 2013 (07/02/2009)
The European Union has decided to extend its financial cooperation program with Libya until the year 2013. The decision was announced on February 6, 2009 by the European Commissioner in charge of foreign affairs and relaltions with neighboring countries, Beninita Farero Flanderz. The commission stressed Libya’s capability in becoming a significant partner within the Euro-Med Region and in Africa, as there exists common interests in the domains of trade, energy, and development. The cooperation agreement between the European Union and Libya was signed on July 23, 2007 after the case of the medical staff, comprised of Bulgarian nurses and a Bulgarian doctor of Palestinian origin, was resolved. The medical staff were accused by the Libyan authorities of injecting children at the Binghazi Hospital with the HIV virus. The first round of negotiations took place in November 2008.
Source: AFP, Al-Arab - Qatar

Libya - Increase in Losses of Companies and Factories (07/02/2009)
A report issued by the General Popular Committee in Libya, will be presented to the Basic Popular Conferences in their next meetings. The report contains the findings of an evaluation process of companies and factories run by the Ministry of Industry and Minerals. The evaluation process revealed an increase in the level of losses, a weakness in production levels, a decline in productivity and competence, a vast excess in the number of laborers, and a weakness in the competitiveness of some products. Based on the evaluation, the Ministry of Industry implemented a number of measures to manage and rectify these deficits including: subjecting some products to production or consumption taxes, exempting a number of other products from exporting service charges, obliging state agencies to purchase local products to meet their needs, encouraging local investors and placing them on par with foreign investors, settlement of some companies’ debts by the public treasury, and referring some loans to the Fund for the Liquidation of Public Companies and Dissolved Agencies. Similarly, companies that face some difficulties have been partially supported through the Fund for Supporting Local Industries whereby companies with a proven rehabilitation possibility fell under this category. On the other hand, a number of decisions were made concerning companies that were apparently unworthy of continuing operations. The decisions included selling 36 companies and factories or transferring their ownership, whereby a direct negotiations committee was formed that prescribed the selling of nine companies and factories as an initial step, while dissolving and liquidating companies incapable of continuing as they constitute a burden on the national economy. Another 19 production units were referred to the Fund for the Liquidation of Public Companies and Dissolved Agencies, in addition to 40 production units that had been previously referred to the Fund.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar

Mauritania - The Mauritanian parliament to hold an extraordinary session to endorse election bills (07/02/2009)
The Chairman of the Ruling Military Council in Mauritania, General Mohamed Ould Abdulaziz, issued on Friday, 6 February, a decree summoning the parliament to hold an extraordinary session to pass 14 bills. The most important bills are; the bill establishing the Independent Elections Commission, the law amending the law on the election of the President of the Republic, and a bill allowing Mauritanians living abroad to vote in the elections.
Source: Dar Al Khaleej, Nouackchott

Mauritania - Renewal of One-Third of the Senate in May 2009 (07/02/2009)
The Mauritanian government announced on the 7th of February 2009 that elections to renew one-third of the members of the senate will take place on May 3, 2009 in 17 electoral districts. One-third of the senate members are renewed every two years. The last election occurred in 2006. The current senate is comprised of 56 members with majority being loyal to the coup of August 6, 2008. A government statement assured that the elections campaign will begin on 17th of April and end on May 2, 2009, whereas a second round of elections will take place on the 10th of May if there is need to do so.

Source: Mauritanian News Agency, AFP, Al-Sharq, Qatar

Iraq - Iraqi Religious Figures Warn Nouri Al Maliki of Increased Corruption (06/02/2009)
Six Iraqi religious figures warned Iraq Prime Minister, Nouri Al Maliki, of an increase in the corruption phenomenon in the country and called on him to take all measures to combat the phenomenon. In a statement distributed on February 5, 2009, after the end of meetings held in the Jordanian capital Amman from the 2nd to the 5th of February 2009, the Iraqi personalities announced that financial and administrative corruption in Iraq have reached a level constituting a genuine threat to the social fabric and to achieving the goals of a strong state, which is a fact also acknowledged by impartial international reports according to the statement. The statement added: corruption now constitutes a structural phenomenon. It is necessary to combat this phenomenon through the strict activation and implementation of integrity transparency laws and standards concerning contracts and biddings.
Source: United Press, Al-Arab

Kuwait - Reduces Public Expenditures by 36.6% (06/02/2009)
The chairman of the Budgets Committee in Kuwait's parliament said that Kuwait is planning to reduce public expenditure by 36.5% in the 2009/2010 budget which commences on Arpil 1, 2009. (From $64.7 billion this year to $41.7 billion). Kuwait estimates revenues for the next year at $27 billion (compared to $42 billion this year). The estimate is based on oil price of $35 per barrel. The cut in expenditure affects not allocating a fixed sum of $19 billion for the Public Social Security Fund and canceling $4 billion allocated for extraordinary expenditure.
Source: AFP, Al-Sharq

Kuwait - New Questioning of Kuwait's Prime Ministry is Eminent (06/02/2009)
Kuwaiti member of parliament, Ahmad Al-Mulaifee, said that he intends to question Prime Minister Nasser Al-Mohammad next week following the end of the 3 month grace period he gave to the Prime Minister to take action against violations in the expenditures of his office and in the naturalization file. He said that certain persons in the prime minister's office are responsible for expenditure violations should be brought to justice.
Source: Al-Arab.

Algeria - Establishment of a National Committee of Non-partisan Organizations to Facilitate the Success of the Presidential Elections (05/02/2009)
On Wednesday February 4, 2009 a national committee of non-partisan organizations was established to help in the success of the presidential elections. The aim of the committee is to promote strong participation of citizens in coming elections. Mrs. Sa'eeda Bin Hablees, president of the Algerian Women's Movement in Solidarity with the Rural Family, confirmed that the committee will carry our field visits from house to house to explain the right of all citizens, especially women, to vote and to freely choose their candidate.
Source: Algerian News Agency

Iraq - Summary of Preliminary Results of Iraqi Provincial Elections (05/02/2009)
Preliminary results were announced on Thursday February 4, 2009. The results showed the following:
1.The State of Law Coalition led by Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki achieved an overwhelming victory over rival Shiite parties in Baghdad (38% of votes) and in Basra (37% of votes). Although the “Call Party” which is headed by Mr. Maliki is a Shiite religious party, Maliki did not make any reference to religion in his electoral campaign. Al-Sadr party received 9% of votes in Baghdad.
2.The Higher Iraqi Islamic Council, which is a dominant Shiite party of strong relations with Iran heavily relied on religious slogans in its electoral campaign. However, it was not able to win any victory in any province.
3.The Sunni “Harmony Front” list won first place in Diala province that had been under Shiite parties since the occupation of Iraq in 2003.
4.Arab Sunnis regained control over the city of Mousel from the Kurds. Al-Hadba list led by Atheel Al-Nujaifi received 46% of cast votes, while the list supported by the Kurds received 25% of votes. The Sunni “Harmony Front” came in third place.
5.In Anbar province, the National Project list led by Saleh Al-Mutlak (secular) came on top of the Iraqi Islamic Party (Sunni) and the Awakening tribal lists.
6.In Karbala province which is a holy place for Shiites, the list of Mr. Youssef Al-Haboubi occupied first rank (13% of votes) thereby overrunning religious parties. The surprise lies in the fact that Al-Haboubi ran as an independent candidate and that he was a mayor of Karbala city and a deputy governor of Karbala province during the rule of the Ba’ath Party. He belongs to a well-known Shiite family in Karbala and holds a degree in Law. Al-Haboubi’s list came on top of Prime Minister Maliki’s list.
7.Preliminary results of the provincial elections indicate that the trend for a strong or powerful central state has triumphed over the political and administrative decentralization trend which is known as the “autonomous regions” trend led by Abed Al-Aziz Al-Hakim, leader of the Iraqi Higher Islamic Council that used to control the overwhelmingly Shiite Southern Iraq region.
[Related Link]
Source: AFP, Reuters, Al-Sharq, Al-Arab

Iraq - Splinter of Four Kurdish Parties (05/02/2009)
The two main Kurdish parties, the “National Kurdish Union” lead by Jalal Talibani and the “Democratic Kurdish Party” lead by Masoud Barzani, have been trying to persuade four small Kurdish parties not to form an independent electoral list and to join their two main lists instead, as that would preserve Kurdish cohesion in the Iraqi political equation. The four parties that are critical of the two main Kurdish parties’ practices are: the Islamic Union (9 parliament members), the Islamic Group (6 parliament members), the Kurdistan Laborers Party (one parliament member), and the Socialist Democratic Party (2 parliament members). The Kurdish parliament is comprised of 111 seats of which the two main parties occupy 78 seats. The four small parties recently published a detailed report criticizing the widespread corruption within the district. The report also called for the formation of an integrity authority, securing basic services to citizens, and involving citizens in the political decision-making process. The four parties threatened to form an independent list to participate in the parliamentary elections independently.
Source: AFP, Al-Arab

Jordan - Parliament Members and Parties Call for Dissolving the Parliament (05/02/2009)
On the 4th of February 2009, Jordanian Parliament Members and Jordanian political parties called for dissolving the current parliament and conducting early parliamentary elections as the performance of the current parliament does not meet the aspirations of citizens. The “Islamic Movement” and the “Islamic Action Front” called for dissolving the parliament and conducting fair elections based on an election law that is trusted by citizens and which launches genuine reform. In this regard, the Parliament Member, Mrs. Nariman Al Rousan said that a number of parliament members are currently contemplating preparing a memorandum to be presented to the King of Jordan requesting dissolving the current parliament.
Source: Al-Arab - Qatar

UAE - Emirati Journalists Criticize the New Media Law (05/02/2009)
The Emirati National Federal Council approved a new media draft law on February 4, 2009 that replaces the current media law which dates back to the year 1980. The president of the Journalists Association in the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Mohammad Youssef, criticized the new law and denied the government’s claim that the new law is better than the old one. He described the new media law as a step backward, although it cancelled the provision that punishes journalists by imprisonment. The new law retained the punishments of monetary fines and revoke of licence. The Director General of the National Media Council, Mr. Ibrahim Al-Abed, defended the new law saying that it only includes 3 prohibitions on publishing compared to 16 prohibitions in the 1980 law. The 3 forbidden are: criticizing the country's ruler and governors; publishing misleading news that harm the national economy; and criticizing the country's status and heritage. Mr. Abed said that the under new law a journalist is forced to disclose the source of his information, and government agencies should provide journalist with needed information. It is worth mentioning that 11 daily newspapers are published in the Emirates (5 Arabic and 6 English). The Emirates occupied 69th rank on freedom of the press index of the Reporters without Frontiers Organization (based in Paris) in 2008. It came in 3rd place in the Arab region behind Kuwait (61st rank) and Lebanon (66th rank). Finally, the Doha Center for Freedom of the Media criticized the Emirates new media law claiming that it contains gross violations of international legislation that guarantee freedom of expression.
Source: AFP, Al-Sharq

Egypt - Legal Dispute in Egypt Over Exporting Egyptian Gas to Israel (03/02/2009)
The Egyptian government has signed in 2005 an agreement with Israel's Electricity Company to provide Israel with natural gas. The agreement went into effect in August 2008. The agreement states that Egypt will provide Israel for a period of 15 years with 1.7 billion cubic meters of gas annually. The quantity could be increased by 25% and the period could be extended by 5 years. Israel's Electricity Company announced that more than 20% of its electricity in the coming decade depends on Egypt's natural gas. This agreement caused much debate in Egypt, especially since it was not submitted to the Egyptian parliament and it sells gas to Israel at less than the cost of production. Every million thermic units of gas cost Egypt $2.6 but is sold to Israel for $1.5 while its market price is $9. The Egyptian government admitted in March 2008 that it sells gas to Israel at a lower price than market price. In October 2008, Mr. Ibrahim Yusri, ex-deputy undersecretary and director of Egypt's International Law and International Agreements Department, filed a legal complaint with the Administrative Judicial Court demanding the suspension of gas agreement with Israel because it violates Egypt's sovereignty and harms Egypt's interests. The Administrative Judicial Court issued an order on November 18, 2008 that forbids gas exports to Israel. However, the Egyptian government contested that decision before the Supreme Administrative Court which revoked the order of the Administrative Judicial on February 2, 2009 and referred the case to a legal committee to prepare a report on the dispute. It also decided to re-examine the government's complaint on March 16, 2009 after receiving the legal committee's report. The Supreme Court based its decision on the fact that the Egyptian government is a ruling authority and the agreement with Israel is part of its political function, thereby it falls outside the scope of judicial supervision.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq, Al-Arab – Qatar

Iraq - Kurdistan Region Holds Parliamentary Elections in May 2009 (03/02/2009)
The speaker of the Kurdish Parliament in Arbil announced on February 2, 2009 that the next parliamentary elections in Kurdistan Region will take place on May 19, 2009. Last parliamentary elections in Kurdistan region took place on the same date of Iraqi elections in late 2005. The coming elections are the third such elections in Kurdistan region. The first parliamentary elections in Kurdistan took place in May 1992 at a time when the region enjoyed autonomous administration under the regime of the previous Iraqi president.
Source: Middle East Newspaper, Arbil

Mauritania - Mauritania Allows its Citizens Who Reside Abroad to Participate in the Next Presidential Election (02/02/2009)
The Mauritanian government decided to invite its citizens who are residing abroad to vote in the presidential election that will take place on June 6, 2009. Ambassador Babah Sidi Abdallah, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman, said that offices for registering Mauritanians living abroad were opened in all Mauritanian embassies and consulates. The registration is meant to enable Mauritanians overseas to be registered on voter's lists and to participate for the first time ever in elections. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation, Mr. Mohammad Mahmoud Ould Mohamadou, has invited the African Union and the European Union to monitor the coming presidential elections.
Source: Gulf Emirates House

Iraq - The Election Network in the Arab Region (ENARA) monitors the provincial elections in Iraq (01/02/2009)
The Election Network in the Arab Region (ENARA) participated in monitoring the provincial elections in Iraq held on Saturday, 31 January 2009. Earlier ENARA monitored the presidential elections in Yemen in 2006, the presidential elections in Mauritania in 2007 and the Moroccan and Jordanian parliamentary elections in 2007.
ENARA consists of 53 Arab organizations from 15 Arab states active in the field of elections.
[Related Link]
Source: Election Network in the Arab Region

Sudan - An American Relief Group Expelled From Darfour (01/02/2009)
Sudanese News Agency said that an American group active in relief efforts in Northern Darfour was expelled from Darfour. Sudanese local authorities discovered 3400 copies of the Bible in Arabic at the Group's premises. The people in Northern Darfour are all Muslims. The American Group called "Thrust No More", originally from Texas, has violated the law of voluntary work and the regulations of its registration in Darfour which stipulate that relief groups should submit all details about their activities to the Sudanese Government's Humanitarian Aid Commission, and that they have no right to start any new projects without authorization from the province they operate in.
Source: Reuters, Al-Arab

Yemen - 42% of Yemeni Civil Service are Corrupt (01/02/2009)
A field study on the practice of Corruption in the Yemeni Civil Service was published by the official Yemeni News Agency "Saba'" on January 31, 2009. The study has shown that corruption is widespread among 42% of civil servants. The study found an inverse relationship between public office morality and administrative corruption. The least practiced moral values are justice and integrity, while the most practiced values are personal connection and affiliations. Administrative corruption was ranked as follows: personal connections (65%); status and affiliation of customers (51%); blackmailing (45%); commissions (41%); embezzlement and depleting state resources (40%); bribery (36.5%) and forgery (29%). Males were more corrupt than females on all spheres of administrative corruption.
Source: United Press, Al-Arab, Al-Hayat

Bahrain - Bahrainis Demonstrate In Protest Against Naturalization (31/01/2009)
Thousands of Bahraini citizens demonstrated on January 30, 2009 in protest against the government's naturalization policy. The demonstration was organized by 6 political societies of the opposition who accuse the government of illegal naturalization of non-Bahrainis. The number of demonstrators was estimated at 120,000 while the police gave an estimate of 12,000. A statement distributed during the demonstration said that the government has no right to natural whoever it wants without observing the interests of the Bahraini people today or tomorrow. The statement said naturalization costs Bahrain more than 100 million Dinars annually ($266 million).
Source: AFP, Al-Arab

Somalia - Election of Sheikh Sharif Ahmad as Somalia's President (31/01/2009)
The Transitional Somalian Parliament which met in Djibouti on January 31, 2009 has elected Sheikh Sharif Ahmad as Somalia's new President. Sheikh Sharif, who heads the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia, won the majority of votes with 293 votes out of 421. His contester was Muslih Mohammad Siyad Birri, the son of the deceased Somalian President Mohammad Siyad Birri.
Source: Somalian Information Network

Kuwait - New Labor Law in Kuwait (30/01/2009)
The Kuwaiti Parliament approved on the 29th of January 2009 a new draft law for labor that would ensure better conditions for around 2.35 million foreigners that reside and work in Kuwait. However, the new law did not cancel the controversial “sponsorship system”. 43 parliament members that attended the session voted in favor of the law, whereas one parliament member abstained from voting. Ratifying the law requires a second and final review within two weeks, whereby if ratified, it would replace the current labor law that has been implemented for the past 45 years and which is eschewed towards the interests of employers. The new law, which had been discussed in the parliament for an entire decade, grants employees in the private sector additional rights including higher salaries, better conditions for retirement compensation, and annual vacations. The law calls on the government to determine a minimum wage for a number of professions, especially ones that fall within the low-income category. The law also stipulates strict penalties, including imprisonment, to be enforced on employers that trade in work visas, and employers that refrain from paying employees’ salaries -two-thirds of whom are Asian- on a regular basis.
Source: AFP, Al-Arab – Qatar

Mauritania - President of the Military Council May Run in the Presidential Elections (30/01/2009)
General Mohammad Ould Abdelaziz, head of the Mauritanian military council, said there is nothing that prevents him from running in the presidential elections after he resigns from the army. He said that the present situation in his country is not normal, however, things will be back to normal when transparent elections are conducted. The ruling military council set the date for presidential elections on June 6, 2009. (AFP, German News Agency, Al-Arab - Qatar, January 30, 2009).

Somalia - Conflict Among Islamic Groups (30/01/2009)
On the 29th of January, “Ahel Al Sunna Wa Al Jama’a” which is a moderate Islamic group, seized control of a second town (Joreel) that was under the reign of “Mojahideen Youth Movement”. The conflict between the two Islamic groups is over filling the political vacuum created by the withdrawal of Ethiopian army from Somalia.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Arab - Qatar

A 2 billion Dollar Qatari Investment Fund in Jordan (30/01/2009)
The Qatari-Jordanian Economic Committee held its second session in Amman on the 28th and 29th of January 2009. Both parties agreed to establish a joint investment company, and signed an agreement for mutual encouragement and protection of investments. The two sides also agreed to reactivate former agreements within all domains, especially in the domain of energy and gas. Similarly, an agreement was reached to establish a Qatari investment fund in Jordan with an estimated capital of 2 billion Dollars, in addition to increasing the number of weekly flights between the two countries to 21 flights.
Source: Qatar News Agency, Al-Arab, Al-Sharq – Qatar, January 29 & 30, 2009

Iraq - The Higher Elections Commission Completes the Authorized List of Observers of Provincial Councils Elections (29/01/2009)
The Independent Higher Commission for Elections in Iraq has completed authorizing local and international observers and media representatives on January 28, 2009. It granted permits to 425,000 agents of Iraqi political entities; 115,000 local observers; 250 international observers; 2000 local media reporters and 400 foreign media reporters. Authorized personnel were asked to record remarks and report them to relevant authorities as well to the media in order to enhance the principle of transparency and integrity.
Source: The Independent High Electoral Commission

Iraq - Setting Up Elections Centers for Displaced Families (29/01/2009)
An official source in the operations department within the Independent Higher Commission for Elections announced that the commission’s council issued a decision to set up 21 additional voting centers for the displaced. The centers include a 100 stations distributed among all provinces, including Kurdistan Province, and are reserved for displaced citizens that have not registered within the elections registration period and whose names are not included in the electoral lists of displaced citizens. Any displaced citizen whose name is not included in a nearby center would be required to cast his/her vote in the specialized centers on the 31st January 2009, and would be required to provide a rationing card, either original or a copy, and an identification card that carries his/her photograph.
Source: The Independent High Electoral Commission

Jordan - Jordanian Parliament Passes A Law Against Trafficking In Persons (29/01/2009)
Parliament member Mr. Khalil Attiyah said that the Jordanian parliament has approved a law for combating trafficking in persons which provides for severe punishments of traffickers that could reach 10 years imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 Dinars ($70,000). Crimes that fall under this law include: recruiting, transporting or housing persons with the intention of exploiting them in unpaid labor, slavery, extracting their organs, prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation whether such acts are carried out through using force, threats, deceit or kidnapping. The same applies to exploiting persons under 18 years old, even if no force or threats were used to subdue them.
Source: AFP, Al-Arab

Mauritania - Approval of a Draft Law for Establishing a National Independent Elections Committee (29/01/2009)
The Council of Ministers approved on Thursday 29, 2009 a draft law that establishes a national independent elections committee. The committee will be responsible for monitoring, supervising, following-up and organizing presidential election processes and referenda. It will also preserve the respect for the election law in a manner that guarantees the credibility, legitimacy, transparency and integrity of the voting process, as well as guaranteeing fair treatment for all voters and the freedom to practice their voting rights.
Source: Mauritanian News Agency

Iraq - Special Voting in Provincial Councils Elections (28/01/2009)
Special groups that include the military, the police, prisoners and hospitalized persons cast their votes in the provincial elections on January 28, 2009. At total of 614,994 person covered by this category have voted for their favorite candidates out of 14,431 who contested 440 provincial councils seats in 14 Iraqi provinces out of 18 provinces (three Kurdish provinces and the disputed city of Karkouk). International observers were on the ground and performed their task. According to the Commission's chairman, Mr. Faraj Al-Haidari, participation rate was 21% in Basra; 49% in Missan; 55% in Qadisiya; 50% in Najaf and 27 in Karkh area in Baghdad.
Source: News Agencies

Iraq - Voting in the elections of the Councils of Governorates in Iraq begins (28/01/2009)
The official in charge of the Higher Independent Commission of Iraqi Elections, Hamdiyah El Husayni, has announced that 800 international monitors have arrived in Iraq to help in the elections of the Councils of the Governorates which will start today, Wednesday, 28 January 2009. Well over 614,000 voters will cast their ballots in the elections in which members of the security services, patients in hospitals, convicts in prisons who are spending a prison term of less than five years, will vote. This information was released by the Higher Independent Commission of Iraqi Elections. As for the ordinary elections, they will be held on Saturday, 31 January 2009. A total of 14,431 candidates are competing for 440 seats in 14 out of 18 governorates with the exception of the Kurdistan and Kirkuk region. A total of 15 million voters will vote in these elections.
Source: Reuters

Iraq - Women participation in the elections of the Councils of Governorates in Iraq (28/01/2009)
The law of elections of the Councils of Governorates stipulates that political parties should allocate 25% of the seats for women in the Councils of Governorates. An official at the Higher Independent Commission of Iraqi Elections said that a total of 3912 women have been nominated in the elections (27.12%). In the event a list wins one or two seats in the Council of Governorates, the list does not have to appoint a woman for one of these two seats. However, if the list wins three seats, it should give one of these three seats to a woman. If a list wins more than three seats, the share of women will be calculated by dividing the number of seats by three while approving at the end the lesser figure.
Source: Reuters

Kuwait - A Parliamentary Committee Investigates a Number of Oil projects (28/01/2009)
The Kuwaiti Parliament approved on the 27th of January 2009 a proposal to form a parliamentary committee comprised of five members to investigate a number of oil projects. The projects include “Dow Chemical Project” which has been cancelled, the fourth oil refinery to be constructed, and the Kuwaiti Petroleum Company’s deduction of 25% of revenues that had not been transferred to the public treasury. The committee will investigate whether any of these projects have involved illegal gain or profit or the obtainment of any form of commission, directly or indirectly, to the benefit of any party or individual. In the case of such transgressions being identified, they are punishable under the “Law for Protection of Public Funds” No.1 of the year 1993.
Source: Kuwait News Agency, Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Hayat

Morocco - The Moroccan “Justice and Charity” Group denounces the Closure of its Websites (28/01/2009)
The Justice and Charity group, one of the largest Islamic groups in Morocco, condemned the Moroccan authorities for banning four websites that express the group’s thought, trajectories, and forums.
Source: AFP, Al-Arab – Qatar

Somalia - Extension of the period of the election of the new president of the Somali Republic for five days (28/01/2009)
The Somali parliament met in Djibouti on Tuesday, 27 January 2009 and decided to extend the period of the election of the new president of Somalia for five days to provide a bigger opportunity to the new opposition members of parliament to choose their own candidates and to complete other procedural arrangements in accordance with a plan mediated by the United Nations to establish peace in Somalia for the first time in 18 years. The Somali legislators voted on Monday, 26 January 2009, to double the number of parliament members from 275 to 550, in order to include moderate Islamists in a bid to form a national unity government.
Source: Al-Awsat newspaper

Yemen - Yemeni Businesswomen Face Challenges (28/01/2009)
Yemeni women desiring to work in the private sector face a number of societal challenges. Mrs. Fawziya Nasher, the Chairwoman of the “Council of Yemeni Businesswomen” stated that Yemeni women do not enjoy equality in obtaining available economic opportunities. Mrs. Nasher’s statement came during the first conference for businesswomen in Yemen which was opened by the Minister of Industry and Trade on the 26th of January 2009. Nasher called for providing protection, security, services, and stability to women in order to activate their contribution in economic activity. She also called for the development of various funding methods and tools and the establishment of a saving and lending fund as a preliminary step towards the establishment of a women’s bank in the future. Similarly, Nasher requested exempting projects relating to the women sector from taxes for a limited period, in addition to involving women in setting government policies and private sector plans, and to increase women’s representation in ministerial committees and official trade delegations. The number of Yemeni businesswomen is 500.
Source: Al-Hayat

Somalia - Ethiopian Forces Withdraw from Somalia (27/01/2009)
The Ethiopian army completed its withdrawal from Somali territories on January 26, 2009. As soon as the Ethiopian army pulled out, the Mujahideen Youth Movement occupied the city of Bidawa which hosts the premises of the Transitional Somali Parliament.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Arab, Al-Hayat

No Unified Gulf Currency in 2010 (27/01/2009)
Dr. Nasser Al Qaoud, the Under Secretary of the General Secretariat for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), who is also the Minister responsible for the unified currency, stated in private interview with “Al Arab” that there will be not be a unified Gulf currency in 2010. He also mentioned that it will be the responsibility of the monetary council, to be established by the end of the current year, to determine a time-frame to launch the awaited currency. Al Qaoud clarified that the unified currency agreement has been approved by the leaders of the GCC during the last Muscat summit, in addition to the general structure of the monetary council.He also clarified that the agreement assures a commitment to the implementation of the currency council’s stipulations that will be established in 2009 at most. AL Qaoud also elucidated that the Councils Basic Laws grant all the authorities to the monetary council, when it is established, to evaluate a time-frame to issue the unified currency whereby the council will determine the required time to issue a unified Gulf currency.
Source: Al-Arab – Qatar

Algeria - The Algerian Islamic Insurgent Movement “Al Nahda” boycots the Presidential Elections (24/01/2009)
The Algerian Islamic Insurgent Movement "Al-Nahda" announced it will boycott the Presidential Elections in April 2009 stating that lack political atmosphere to participation in these elections, closure of the media and political domains, retraction of public freedoms, absence of dialogue, and the marginalization of the political strata in issues that concern the nation. “Al Nahda” movement is the second largest political party to boycott the elections following a similar step taken by the “Rally for Culture and Democracy” party which announced its decision to boycott the elections last week stating the same reasons. On the other hand, seven Algerian politicians intending to participate in the up-coming presidential elections received forms for collecting signatures provided by the Interior Ministry in order to collect 75,000 signatures from voters approving their candidacy.
Source: AFP, Al-Arab – Qatar, Al-Hayat

Egypt - Demands for Abolishing Emergency Courts in Egypt (24/01/2009)
Lawyers and some members of Egypt's parliament demanded the abolishment of emergency courts which include military courts and supreme state security emergency courts because they constitute a gross violation of the right to a just and fair trial; the right of the citizen to be tried by a relevant judge; the right of citizens to appeal a court's rulings in accordance with the law. These demands were raised during a seminar organized by the Egyptian Organizationf for Human Rights on January 23, 2009. Participants in the seminar also called for lifting the emergency situation imposed since 1981 because it has serious consequences for human rights in Egypt.
Source: Al-Hayat

Mauritania - The Ousted Mauritanian President’s Conditions for Accepting Parliamentary Elections (24/01/2009)
The Mauritanian President, Sidi Ould Sheikh Abdullah that was removed from power in a military coup on the 6th of August 2008, announced on January 23, 2009 that he agrees to the principle of conducting early presidential and legislative elections if a number of conditions are met. The conditions include: the military should give up power once and for all; reactivation of legitimate institutions that emerged from the 2007 election, implying that he recovers his post, and considering the constitution as the only source of reference. Ould Sheikh Abdullah has been residing in his home town, 250 kilometers away from the capital Nouakchott, since the coup. The President had refused to return to reside in Nouakchott in the previous week as the Military Council prevented him from entering the capital in a convey, but allowed the vehicles to enter separately.
Source: AFP, Al-Hayat

Egypt - US$ 8.56 Billion the Amount of Remittances by Egyptian Working Abroad (23/01/2009)
The Egyptian Central Bank's annual buttetin reported that remittances from Egyptians working abroad amounted to $ 8.56 billion during the fiscal year 2007-2008, compared to $ 6.3 billion in the previous year, constituting a 35.4% increase. The remittances mainly came from Egyptians in the United States (32.3%), Kuwait (20.1%), the United Arab Emirates (16.3%) and Saudi Arabia (11.2%). The remaining 20% came from Egyptians working in several European and Arab countries.
Source: Al-Sharq - Qatar

Kuwait - The World Bank Establishes an Office in Kuwait (23/01/2009)
Kuwait's prime minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah inaugurated on January 22, 2009 the opening of the World Bank office in Kuwait in the presence of the World Bank Vice-President for the Middle East and North Africa. Kuwait minister of finance, Mustafa Al-Shamali, said the World Bank office in Kuwait will enhance the Bank's technical assistance to Kuwait that has been going on over the past 3 decades. He said that this step acquires special significance at a time where Kuwait economy is dealing, like other economies, with the negative sequences of the international financial and economic crisis, particularly as Kuwait is striving to become an outstanding regional financial and commercial center. The director of the World Bank office in Kuwait, Sa'eed Radwan, said that the World Bank team in Kuwait will support the economic and social development of Kuwait through focusing on developing human resources, improving the performance of the public sector and building the capacities of the private sector. (Kuwait News Agency, Reuters, Al-Sharq - Qatar, January 23, 2009).

Kuwait - A Parliamentary Committee Demands Granting the Citizenship to Persons Living in Kuwait Who Do Not Possess Any Citizenship (23/01/2009)
This is a very old problem in Kuwait. Historically, thousands of Arab tribal men and women crossed into Kuwait to live and work but do not hold any documents that identify their nationality. They mainly worked for the Kuwaiti army and security forces. Their children and grand children considered themselves Kuwaiti simply because they did not know any other country. But they also were not expelled from Kuwait. Unlike Arabs from other countries they do not need work permits, nor is their residence in Kuwait linked to their work contracts (which are of very limited duration, a maximum of 5 years that are renewable if employers needed them). Kuwaiti human rights organizations estimate that there are 90,000 "citizenless" persons in Kuwait. The plight of this group of people was raised many times by Kuwaiti human rights organizations, parliament members and the media. The Kuwaiti parliament established a special committee to follow up on the condition of these people and propose a final solution to their problem. The head of the committee, Musallam Al-Barrak, addressed the government on January 22, 2009 and stressed the urgency of granting the Kuwaiti citizenship to those who deserve it, thereby putting an end to the suffering of the children of those "citizenless" persons. He said that the committee will demand to get hold of the full data base of "citizens" persons from the ministry of interior. The committee will also request to review the file of the "citizenless" who fought in the battle of liberating Kuwait in 1990-1991 and in the June 1967 and October 1973 wars. (Middle East News Agency, Al-Sharq – Qatar, Al-Hayat, January 23, 2009).

Positive Outcomes of Arab Economic Summit: A $2 Billion Arab Development Fund (21/01/2009)
The Arab economic, developmental and social summit held in Kuwait on January 18 and 19 has issues the “Kuwait Declaration”, on January 20, 2009. the Declaration emphasized the need to consolidate the close Arab relations and common goals that bind the Arab World and direct these relations towards developing Arab societies. The Declaration also emphasized the need for Arab states to increase inter-Arab investments and to adopt monitory and fiscal policies that enhance the ability of Arab countries to confront the repercussions of the international financial crisis, and participate in international efforts directed at securing international financial stability. The Arab leaders praised the pioneer development initiative announced by the Emir of the State of Qatar who called for establishing a $2 billion Fund for supporting small and medium-scale business ventures. Kuwait immediately contributed $ 500 million to that Fund. Arab leaders stressed the need to provide the private sector with appropriate economic support and a legal environment that enable the private sector to conduct its business and to effectively participate in Arab economic development. They also emphasized facilitating the movement of persons, especially businessmen, and Arab capital among Arab states. Similarly, the Arab leaders emphasized the significance of civil society’s role in economic and social development and the necessity to provide the incentives to encourage civil society in fulfilling this role, in addition to strengthening cooperation between governments and civil society organizations. Concerning women’s issues, the Declaration emphasized the significance of empowering women, enhancing women’s economic, social, and legal conditions, and strengthening women’s role in public life. The Arab leaders stressed the necessity to provide all required resources to advance, empower, and educate Arab youth in order to activate their participation in development projects. They also stressed the need to preserve the rights of Arab emigrants, in addition to strengthening ties with their home countries. On another level, the Arab leaders stressed the necessity to speed up the implementation of the Agricultural Development Strategy that was ratified in Riyad in 2007 with the aim of contributing to achieving Arab food security. The Arab leaders also called for designing a strategy for achieving water security as water resources are scarce within the region and this constitutes one of the major challenges the Arab World faces. Similarly, the leaders stressed the need to strengthen and support the Arab league and its institutions, in addition to strengthening the role of Arab countries in regional and international organizations.
Source: News Agencies, Qatari Newspapers

Outcomes of the Arab Economic and Social Development Summit (20/01/2009)
The Arab Economic and Social Development Summit was held in Kuwait on January 18 and 19, 2009. No Pan Arab specific programs for projects were adopted. However, Arab leaders called for strengthening economic cooperation among their countries in order to overcome the challenge of development, underdevelopment and poverty. They emphasized the need to implement strategic developmental programs and projects that will improve the standard of living of Arab citizens and provide productive job opportunities. They also empahsized the need to achieve Arab economic integration and accomplish the Arab electricity network that will give rise to the Arab market for electrical energy. They also called for fulfilling the requirements of the Arab Customs Union that will be launched in 2015 as a step towards the establishment of the Arab Common Market in the year 2020.
Source: News Agencies, Al-Sharq, Al-Arab - Qatar

Egypt - A plan to enhance the capabilities of the management of elections in Egypt (18/01/2009)
As a preparatory step for the parliamentary elections in Egypt, the National Council of Human Rights will begin the implementation of a plan to enhance the capabilities of the competent authorities in charge of the election process at the Interior and Justice Ministries and the Higher Election Commissions for the purpose of preparing international trainers and local monitors for the election process to utilize them in the management and control of elections in Egypt and the Arab and African regions. The implementation of the second phase of the plan will begin on a large-scale in cooperation with non-government organizations, the United Nations Development Program [UNDP] in Cairo, Ifex Organization, and the Australian International Organization for the Management of Elections. These organizations will convey their international expertise in the preparations for elections to the national bodies and the civil organizations involved in elections in Egypt.
Source: Al-Ahram newspaper

Arab States Lose US$ 2.5 Trillion in the International Financial Crisis (18/01/2009)
Kuwait's Minister of Finance, Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, announced in a press conference held on January 16, 2009 that Arab States have lost $ 2.5 trillion in the past 4 months as a result of the international financial crisis. He added that around 60% of development projects in the 6 Gulf Cooperation Council countries were either postponed or cancelled. Major losses resulted from a reduction in the value of Arab investment abroad by 40%, Loss of $600 billionh in stock markets and huge reduction in oil revenues.
Source: AFP, Al-Sharq - Qatar, Al-Hayat

Morocco - A special website was launched to cover the Moroccan local elections of 2009 (17/01/2009)
The Moroccan Interior Ministry has launched a special interactive website for the 2009 local elections. The site makes it possible for the Moroccan citizens to know if they were registered in the election lists or not. The site also provides legal information on the election measures.
[Related Link]
Source: Magharebia

Launch of 103 Arab Satellite Television Channels in 2008 (15/01/2009)
A statistic published by “Good News TV” magazine mentioned that the number of Arab satellite Television Channels launched in 2008 amounted to 103. The Channels distribution was as follows: 20% religious channels, 13% general channels, 12% films and television series, and 5% were dedicated to children’s channels and economic channels respectively. The magazine also mentioned that the number of Iraqi channels launched between the years 2003 and 2008 amounted to 43 various channels.
Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Newspaper

Iraq - 15 million voters allowed to participate in the elections of the Councils of the Iraqi Governorates (14/01/2009)
The Independent Higher Commission for Elections has disclosed that there are 15 million voters who are eligible to participate in the elections of the councils of the governorates, districts and sub-districts, with the exception of the Kurdistan region.
Chairman of the Commission, Faraj El Haydari, said in a statement to the press on 13 January 2009 that this number includes 700,000 immigrants. He added that there are 14,431 candidates, including 3,612 women candidates. He explained that 75 per cent of the political entities that did not participate in the elections held in 2005 will participate in the elections of the Councils of the Governorates which will be held on 31 January 2009.
Source: Al-Sabah Newspaper

Qatar - Allows Issuing Passports to Foreign Women Married to Qatari Citizens (14/01/2009)
Dr. Watheba Al-Sa'adi, the legal consultant to the Qatari Organization For Protection Children and Women said that Qatari Law No. 5 of the year 2007 stipulated in its first article to lift the constraint of article 15 of the Passports Law No. 14 of the year 1993 which demand the consent of the Qatari husband to issue a passport to his foreign wife. Dr. Watheba said that the above mentioned article of the 1993 Passports Law was a clear discrimination against women. She added, that the 2007 law retained the constraint that the husband's consent is still required before issuing passports to under aged siblings (minors) and mentally handicapped siblings regardless of their age.
Source: Al-Sharq, Al-Arab -Qatar

Morocco - Moroccan House of Councillors (Chambre Des Conseillers) elects a new president. (13/01/2009)
The Morrocan House of Councillors elected a new president on January 13, 2009. The election session was attended by 240 out of 268 parliamentary advisors who constitute the total number of the current house. Mr. Al-Mo'ti Binqadour who belongs to the Rally and Modernity Party was elected president in a second round of voting whereby he received 145 votes versus 74 votes received by his contestant Mr. Mohammad Fudaili. Initially, there were five candidates (4 men and one woman). However, the woman and one male candidate withdrew their nomination in the first round and gave their votes to Mr. Binqadour. A third candidate who received 41 votes in the first round withdrew his candidacy in the second round. (Kingdom of Morocco Website: To serve citizens, human and economic development).

Yemen - The Yemeni legislative elections will be held on their due date (08/01/2009)
The ruling General People's Congress Party in Yemen has declared that the legislative elections due to be held in the country on 27 April 2009 will not be postponed and will be held on date because these elections are an important democratic and constitutional event that we will uphold and that we will not relinquish. It added that the elections will be held on their due date as stipulated by the law.
A statement issued by the ruling General People's Congress Party said that the "General People's Congress Party has sought to reach consensus on the elections draft law, on the formation of the Higher Elections Committee, and on other national issues in the manner that serves the supreme national interests and guarantees the holding of free, fair and transparent elections on their due date."
Source: Dar Al Khaleej

Libya - Libya Allocates 260 Billion Dollars to a Five-Year Development Plan (07/01/2009)
The Libyan Planning Ministry estimated the gross amount of investments for the developmental program in the coming five years at 318 billion Dinars (260 billion Dollars), whereby 77% of the amount will be from the state budget and the remaining will be secured from non-state budget sources. A report by the ministry mentioned that the remaining program costs will be secured from non-state budget sources such as foreign investments, loans from commercial banks, and funding from the private sector. The Planning Ministry’s reports also indicated that the majority of requested funding will be allocated to the infrastructure sector with a percentage of 58% of entire allocations to all sectors. The productive sectors of oil, agriculture, industry, and the “Great River” will receive 16% of the funding. The human resources sectors including higher education, labor force, health, environment, social affairs, youth, sports, culture, media will receive 15%, whereas the services sector will receive 11%.
Source: United Press, Al-Hayat

Mauritania - The Mauritanian presidential elections will be held in May 2009 (07/01/2009)
After consultations, agreement was reached to hold the presidential elections in the country in May 2009. Meanwhile, opposition leader Ahmed Ould Dadah announced that he will not comply with the results of the consultations.
He said in a statement published on Tuesday, 06 January 2009, after meetings which lasted several days among the military rulers of the country, the political parties, professional associations, and civil society organizations that the first round of polling in the first elections since the military coup, which was staged in August, will be held on 30 May. He added that the rerun round will be held on 13 June if deemed necessary.
Source: Dar Al Khaleej, Nouackchott

Palestine - Arab Human Rights Organization Sue Israeli Leaders for War Crimes against Gaza (07/01/2009)
The Arab Organization for Human Rights announced that it began formalities in cooperation with a Palestinian Human Rights Center for suing the leaders of Israel at Spanish and British courts for committing war crimes in Gaza. The two countries were chosen because their legal jurisdiction allows them to try perpetrators of crimes committed outside their territories.
Source: Reuters, Al-Sharq - Qatar, Al-Hayat

Yemen - The Yemeni Elections Committee enters well over 829,000 registered voters to the electronic data base (07/01/2009)
The Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum announced on 06 January 2009 that it has entered the names, data and photos of 829,125 voters of the two sexes to the electronic database. These voters have registered recently and they were entered in the lists of voters.
The announcement was made during a meeting which the committee held under its chairman Khalid Abdul Wahhab El Sharif in Sanaa.
Source: Website of the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum, Yemen

Lebanon - The Lebanese parliamentary elections will be held on 7 June 2009 in one day (05/01/2009)
The Lebanese Ministry of Interior issued decree number 1116 on Monday, 5 January 2009 designating Sunday, 7 June 2009 as the day of parliamentary elections in all Lebanon. It is noteworthy that the elections will be held in one day only contrary to the custom. Earlier elections were held in several phases. The new arrangement was one of the reforms introduced to the provisions of the new parliamentary election law number 25 of 8 October 2008.
Source: Ministry of Interior, Lebanon

Oman - The Free Trade Agreement Between Oman and America Goes into Effect (03/01/2009)
The Omani minister of trade and industry Maqbool bin Sultan announced that the Free Trade Agreement between Oman and America signed in September 2006 went into effect on January 1, 2009. He said that it is a balanced agreement and of benefit to both countries. Commercial exchange will increase, Oman will benefit from America's economic, technical and industrial capabilities. The Agreement provides a legal framework that assures American and Omani investors.
Source: Omani News Agency, Al-Arab - Qatar