10171 - Saudi Arabia: Discovery of the remains of temples dating back 2600 years.

Asharq Alawsat - 7/28/2006, Category: History Level: 2
اكتشاف بقايا معابد عمرها 2600 سنة في السعودية

عَثَرَ بَاحِثُون فِي مُحَافَظَةِ اَلْعُلَا بِٱلسُّعُودِيَّة، عَلَى بَقَايَا مَعَابِدٍ وَتَمَاثِيل تَعُودُ إِلَى عَصْر ٱللِّحْيَانِيِّين قَبْلَ نَحْوِ أَلْفَيْن وَسِتُّمِئَةِ سَنَة. وَقَالَ ٱلدُّكْتُور حُسَيْن أَبُو ٱلْحَسَن ٱلْأُسْتَاذ بِجَامِعَةِ ٱلْمَلِك سُعُود (كُلِّيَةِ ٱلْآثَار وَٱلسِّيَاحَة)، وَأَحَد مَنْسُوبِي وَكَالَةِ ٱلْآثَار وَٱلسِّيَاحَة بِٱلسُّعُودِيَّة لـِ «اَلشَّرْق ٱلأَوْسَط» إِنَّ مَا عُثِرَ عَلَيْهِ فِي جَبَل أُمّ جَرْج يُعَدُّ جُزْءًا مِن مَدِينَةِ دَادَان عَاصِمَةُ مَمْلَكَةِ لِحْيَان، اَلَّتِي تُعْتَبَرُ مِن ٱلْمَمَالِك ٱلْعَرَبِيَّةِ ٱلْوَسِيطَة فِي ذٰلِكَ ٱلْوَقْت، وَتَكْمُنُ أَهَمِّيَتُهُ فِي ظُهُور أَسَاسَات جُدْرَان لِعَدَدٍ مِن ٱلْمَعَابِد أَوْ ٱلْمَبَانِي، اَلَّتِي كَانَتْ تُسْتَخْدَم لِأَغْرَاضٍ دِينِيَّة.


Scholars in the district of Al-Ula in Saudi have stumbled upon [i.e. found] the remains of temples and statues which date back to the Lihyani era about two thousand six hundred years ago. Doctor Hussein Abul Hasan professor in the University of King Saud (Faculty of Antiquities and Tourism) and an affiliate of the Antiquities and Tourism Agency in Saudi said to Asharq Alawsat that what was discovered on Umm Jarj mountain is thought to be part of the city of Dadan capital of the Kingdom of Lihyan which is considered to be one of the Middle Arabian Kingdoms at that time. Its importance lies in the emergence of the foundations of walls to a number of temples or buildings which had been used for religious purposes.

10172 - Iraq: No more Baghdad nights.

Asharq Alawsat - 8/4/2006, Category: Culture Level: 3
لا ليل في بغداد

كَانَ ٱلْلَيْل فِي بَغْدَاد لَيْلًا طَوِيلًا.. لَيْلٌ تُؤَثِّثُهُ ٱلْأَنْوَار وَٱلنَّاس وَٱلسَّهَرَات ٱلْعَائِلِيَّةِ وَٱلْمُوسِيقَى وَٱلْأَغَانِي وَنِيرَان شِوَاء ٱلسَّمَك ٱلْمُصْطَاد تَوًّا مِن نَهْر دِجْلَة فِي جَلَسَات شَارِع أَبُو نُوَاس وَعَلَى ٱلطَّرِيقَةِ ٱلْبَغْدَادِيَّة أَوْ بِمَا يُعْرَف بِٱلْمَسْگُوف. كَان ٱلْلَيْل بِبَغْدَاد لَيْل ٱلْأَغَانِي فِي «خَان مَرْجَان» حَيْثُ يَنْطَلِقُ ٱلْمَقَام ٱلْعِرَاقِيّ مِن ٱلْحَنَاجِر ٱلطَّرُوبَة، وَكَانَ ٱلنَّاس يَتَجَمَّعُون فِي قَوَارِب تَتَهَادَى فِي مِيَاه دِجْلَة ٱلْخَيْر وَهُم يُغَنُّون «عَلَى شَوَاطِئ دِجْلَة.. يَا مُنْيَتِّي وَقْت ٱلْفَجْر» لِأَنَّهُم يَسْهَرُون مَعَ ٱلْغِنَاء وَدِجْلَة حَتَّى ٱلْفَجْر، وَكَانُوا يَطْرُبُون عَلَى أُغْنِيَةِ «ٱلْلَيْلَة حُلْوَة.. حُلْوَة وَجَمِيلَة». لٰكِنّ ٱلْعَمَلِيَات ٱلْمُسَلَّحَة وَٱلْخَوْف وَٱلْرُعْب وَٱلْاِرْهَاب وَٱلْقَتْل ٱلْمَجَّانِي اِخْتَطَفَ لَيْل بَغْدَاد، ضِمْن مَا ٱخْتَطَف.


The night in Baghdad used to be a long night.. A night furnished with lights and people and family evening gatherings and music and songs and the fires of barbeques of fish caught moments before in the River Tigris in the meetings of Abu Nuwas Street and [cooked] in the Baghdadi style or what is known as masguf. The night in Baghdad used to be a night of songs in Khan Marjan where the Iraqi maqam would burst forth from enchanting throats And the people would gather in boats which would rock on the waters of the good Tigris. And they would sing on the shores of the Tigris.. O my desire at dawn time because they would spend the night with song and the Tigris until dawn And they would play the song The night is sweet.. sweet and beautiful. But the armed operations and the fear and the fright and the terrorism and the gratuitous killing has taken away the Baghdad night along with everything else it has taken.

10173 - Lebanon: Family tragedies in the capitals hospitals.

Al-Hayat - 8/2/2006, Category: Health Level: 4
مأساة عائلات في مستشفيات العاصمة

شَاشٌ يَعْلُو شَعْر ٱلنِّسَاء، وَقِطَع قُطْنٍ تَلُفُّ رُؤُوسَهُنّ، لِتَحُلّ ٱلضَّمَادَات مَكَان ٱلْحِجَاب وَتَسْتُرُ شَعْرَهُنّ بِأَنْسِجَةٍ بِيضٍ سَمِيكَة بَدَل ٱلْأَقْمِشَةِ ٱلْحَرِيرِيَةِ ٱلْمُلَوَّنَة. أَنْسِجَةٌ مُمَاثِلَةٌ لَفّت كُفُوف ٱلْأَطْفَال وَأَرْجُلَهُم ٱلصَّغِيرَة، مُضَمِّدَة حُرُوقًا بَالِغَة أُصِيبُوا بِهَا جَرَّاء ٱلْقَصْف اَلَّذِي طَاوَلَهُم فِي مَنَازِلِهِم وَمَلَاجِئِهِم. جُرُوحٌ عَمِيقَة نَخَرَتْ وُجُوه ٱلشُّيُوخ وَٱلْأَطْفَال وَٱلنِّسَاء، فَجَفَّتْ فِي دَاخِلِهَا ٱلدِّمَاء، مُتَحَوِّلَةً إِلَى بُثُورٍ سُود ٱللَّوْن، تَتَوَزَّعُ أَيْضًا فِي مُخْتَلِف أَنْحَاء أَجْسَادِهِم. وَأَطْرَاف مَبْتُورَة مِن شَابٍّ هُنَا أَوْ صَبِيَةٍ هُنَاك. يَتَكَرَّرُ هٰذَا ٱلْمَشْهَد نَفْسُه فِي غُرَف مُسْتَشْفَيَات لُبْنَان اَلَّتِي غَصَّتْ بِٱلْجَرْحَى.


Gauze on top of the womens hair and pieces of cotton wrap their heads the bandages thereby taking the place of the hijab and covering their hair with thick white fabrics instead of coloured silken materials. Similar fabrics wrap the hands of children and their small legs dressing serious burns which they received following the bombardment which caught them in their homes and their shelters. Deep wounds eat into the faces of the elderly and women and children. The blood has dried inside them [the wounds] changing into black coloured pustules which have also spread to different parts of their bodies. Amputated extremities of a young man here or a young girl there. This self same scene is repeated in the rooms of the hospitals of Lebanon which have become packed with the wounded.

10174 - Al-Shurja Iraqs commercial centre suffers from isolation and unemployment.

Al-Hayat - 8/10/2006, Category: Economics Level: 1
«الشورجة» مركز العراق التجاري يشكو العزلة والبطالة

سُوق «اَلشُّورجَة» اَلَّتِي تُعَدُّ مَرْكَز ٱلْعِرَاق ٱلتِّجَارِي مُنْذُ عُقُود، وَتَتَبَوَّأُ مَكَانَةً خَاصَّة لَدَى سُكَّان بَغْدَاد وَٱلْمُحَافَظَات، تَشْكُو ٱلْعُزْلَة وَٱلْبَطَالَة فِي آنٍ وَاحِد. فَعُزْلَتَهَا بَدَأَتْ مُنْذُ ٱلشُّهُور ٱلْأُولَى اَلَّتِي تَلَتْ سُقُوط ٱلنِّظَام ٱلسَّابِق عَام أَلْفَيْن وَثَلَاث، حِينَ دَبَّتْ ٱلْفَوْضَى فِي شَوَارِعِهَا وَأَزِقَّتِهَا وَمَحَالِّهَا، حَتَّى اِنْتَهَتْ إِلَى حَرَائِقٍ عِدَّة طَاوَلَتْ قِطَاعَاتٍ مُهِمَّةٍ مِن تِجَارَتِهَا، آخِرَهَا قَبْلَ يَوْمَيْن، وَأَفْضَتْ ٱلْفَوْضَى هٰذِهِ إِلَى بَطَالَةٍ، سَبَبُهَا عُزُوف ٱلْمُوَاطِنِين عَن اِرْتِيَاد «اَلشُّورجَة»، خَوْفًا مِن ٱلْعَمَلِيَات ٱلْإِرْهَابِيَّة، أَوْ ٱلسَّرِقَة، مَا جَعَلَ قِسْمًا كَبِيرًا مِن رُوَّاد هٰذِهِ ٱلسُّوق ٱلْأَثَرِيَة يَبْحَث عَن أَمَاكِن أُخْرَى لِلتَّسَوُّق.


The Al-Shurja market which for decades has been considered Iraqs commercial centre occupying a special position among the residents of Baghdad and the provinces is suffering from isolation and unemployment at one and the same time. Its isolation started in the first months which followed the fall of the previous regime in the year two thousand and three when chaos spread through its streets and alleys and locales until it ended in many fires which reached important sectors of its trade the last of which was two days ago. This chaos has led to unemployment due to the disinclination of the citizens to frequent Al-Shurja due to a fear of terrorist operations or theft which has made a large proportion of the customers of this ancient market look for other places to shop.

10175 - Abul Gheit: French - American draft resolution on Lebanon is deficient.

Asharq Alawsat - 8/10/2006, Category: Politics Level: 1
أبو الغيط: مشروع القرار الأميركي ـ الفرنسي بشأن لبنان ناقص

وَصَفَ وَزِير ٱلْخَارِجِيَّةِ ٱلْمِصْرِيّ أَحْمَد أَبُو ٱلْغَيْط اَلْقَرَار اَلْفَرَنْسِيّ ـ اَلْأَمِيرِكِيّ بِخُصُوص اَلْوَضْع فِي لُبْنَان، بِأَنَّهُ «قَرَارٌ نَاقِص لأَنَّهُ لا يُطَالِبُ إِسْرَائِيل بِٱلْاِنْسِحَاب مِن اَلْجَنُوب اَللُّبْنَانِيّ». وَٱنْتَقَدَ أَبُو ٱلْغَيْط اَلْقَرَار لأَنَّهُ «لا يَقْضِي بِرَفْع اَلْحِصَار بِشَكْلٍ صَرِيح وَوَاضِحٍ عَن لُبْنَان، وَيَغِيبُ عَنهُ أَيْضًا مَوْضُوع تَبَادُل اَلْأَسْرَى بَيْنَ لُبْنَان وَٱلْإِسْرَائِيلِيِّين». وَلَفَتَ اَلْوَزِير اَلْمِصْرِيّ إِلَى تَنْسِيقٍ شَامِل بَيْنَ بِلادِهِ وَٱلسُّعُودِيَّة فِي كُلّ ٱلتَّحَرُّكَات، مُشِيرًا إِلَى أَنَّ هُنَاكَ تَقْسِيمًا لِلْأَدْوَار فِي مُحَاوَلَةِ حَلّ اَلْأَزْمَةِ وَٱلتَّوَصَّل إِلَى قَرَارٍ دُوَلِيٍّ يَخْدُمُ اَلْمَصَالِح اَللُّبْنَانِيَة.


The Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Abul-Gheit has described the French - American resolution regarding the situation in Lebanon as a deficient resolution because it does not require Israel to withdraw from the Lebanese south. And Abul-Gheit criticized the resolution because it does not require the lifting of the embargo in a clear and unambiguous manner from Lebanon Absent from it also is the topic of the exchange of prisoners between Lebanon and the Israelis. The Egyptian minister drew attention to the total coordination between his country and Saudi in all moves pointing out that there is a division of roles in an attempt to solve the crisis and to reach an international resolution which serves Lebanese interests.

10176 - Lebanon: The people welcome the return of the Lebanese army to the South for the first time in 40 years.

Asharq Alawsat - 8/18/2006, Category: Politics Level: 2
ترحيب شعبي بدخول الجيش اللبناني الجنوبَ لأول مرة من 40 عاما

بَعْدَ غِيَابٍ عَن ٱلْمِنْطَقَة دَامَ أَرْبَعِين عَامًا تَوَاصَلَ نَشْر ٱلْجَيْش ٱللُّبْنَانِيّ جَنُوب نَهْر ٱللِّيطَانِي أَمْس وَعَلَى اِمْتِدَاد ٱلْحُدُود مِن ٱلنَّاقُورَة إِلَى مَرْجَعُيُون وَٱلْعَرْقُوب مَعَ تَسْلِيم ٱلْقُوَّات ٱلْإِسْرَائِيلِيَّة فِي جَنُوب لُبْنَان ٱلْمَنَاطِق اَلَّتِي تَحْتَلُّهَا إِلَى قُوَّات «يُونِيفِيل»، بِٱلتَّنْسِيق مَعَ ٱلْجَيْش ٱللُّبْنَانِيّ. وَلَقِيَتْ عَمَلِيَةُ اِنْتِشَار حَوَالِي ثَمَانِيَةَ آلاف جُنْدِي وَضَابِط فِي وَقْتٍ مُبَكِّر مِن صَبَاح أَمْس، تَرْحِيبًا شَعْبِيًّا وَرَسْمِيًّا شَامِلًا. وَبِمُوَازَاة ٱلْاِنْتِشَار ٱللُّبْنَانِيّ فِي ٱلْجَنُوب وَٱلْاِنْسِحَاب ٱلْإِسْرَائِيلِيّ مِن بَعْض مَنَاطِقِهِ، تَصَاعَدَتْ لَهْجَةُ قُوَى «أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَر آذَار» فِي لُبْنَان فِي اِنْتِقَادَاتِهِم لِتَفَرُّد حِزْب ٱلله بِقَرَار ٱلْحَرْب.


After an absence from the area which lasted forty years the deployment of the Lebanese army continued south of the River Litani yesterday and along the borders from Naqura to Marjayoun and Arqoub with the handing over by Israeli forces in the south of Lebanon of the regions which it has been occupying to the forces of UNIFIL in coordination with the Lebanese army. The operation to deploy around eight thousand soldiers and officers at any early time of yesterday morning received a universal welcome from the people and officially. In parallel with the Lebanese deployment in the south and the Israeli withdrawal from some of its areas the language of the forces of The Fourteenth of Adar [March] in Lebanon escalated in their criticisms of Hizbullah unilaterally taking the decision to go to war.

10177 - Lebanon: "Self guiding" columns of returnees to the south.

Al-Hayat - 8/16/2006, Category: People Level: 1
«تسيير ذاتي» لطوابير العائدين الى الجنوب

يَطُلّ ٱلسَّائِق مِن نَافِذَةِ حَافِلَتِهِ ٱلصَّغِيرَة اَلَّتِي حُشِرَ فِيهَا أَطْفَالَهُ مَعَ أَغْطِيَة وَأَكْيَاس بلَاستِيك مُمْتَلِئَة، وَصَنْدُوق مُسَاعَدَات كُتِبَ عَلَيْه «أَطِبَّاء بِلا حُدُود»، وَيُلَوِّحُ لِسَيِّدَةٍ مُحَجَّبَة جَلَسَتْ إِلَى جَانِب زَوْجِهَا فِي سَيَّارَة تَقِف فِي صَفّ رَابِع مِن طَوَابِير ٱلسَّيَّارَات اَلَّتِي تَكَدَّسَتْ صَبَاح أَمْس عَلَى طَرِيق ٱلْجَنُوب ٱللُّبْنَانِيّ، يَسْأَلُهَا بِٱلْإِشَارَة عَن أَحْوَالِهِم فَتَرُدُّ بِٱبْتِسَامَة وَإِشَارَة مُمَاثِلَة: «إِنَّنَا عَائِدُون». يُعَلَّقُ ٱلسَّائِق بِصَوْت يَسْمَعُهُ كُلّ مَنْ فِي ٱلصُّفُوف ٱلْخَمْسَة اَلَّتِي يَنْتَظِرُ رُوَّادُهَا أَنْ تَدُورُ عَجَلَات سَيَّارَاتِهِم وَلَوْ مِتْرًا وَاحِدًا: «أَمْضَينَا صَيْفًا مُمْتِعًا... أَلَيْسَ كَذٰلِكَ». يَضْحَكُ ٱلْجَمِيع وَبَعْضُهُم يَهُزُّ بِرَأْسِهِ.


The driver appears from the window of his minibus which is packed with his children along with blankets and full plastic bags and a box of aid on which is written Medecins Sans Frontieres and he waves to a lady wearing a headscarf who is sat next to her husband in a car which stands in a fourth line of the queues of cars which accumulated yesterday morning on the south Lebanon road and he asks her with a gesture about their situation and she replies with a smile and similar gesture: Were going back. The driver remarks with a voice heard by everyone in the five lines whose occupants are waiting for the wheels of their cars to turn if only one metre: We had a lovely summer... didnt we? Everyone laughs and some of them shake their heads.

10178 - Trial of Saddam Hussein: Witness tells of "a smell of rotten apples and garlic" after 12 aircraft attacked his village.

Asharq Alawsat - 8/23/2006, Category: Politics Level: 2
شاهد تحدث عن «رائحة تفاح متعفن وثوم» بعد أن أغارت 12 طائرة على قريته

تَسْتَمِعُ ٱلْمَحْكَمَةُ ٱلْعِرَاقِيَّةُ ٱلْخَاصَّة اَلَّتِي تَنْظُر قَضِيَةَ «حَمْلَةِ ٱلْأَنْفَال» ضِدّ ٱلرَّئِيسِ ٱلْعِرَاقِيّ ٱلْمَخْلُوع صَدَّام حُسَيْن وَسِتَّةٍ مِن مُعَاوِنِيهِ بَيْنَهُم اِبْن عَمِّهِ عَلِيّ (ٱلْكِيمِيَاوِيّ) حَسَن اَلْمَجِيد، إِلَى ٱلْمَزِيد مِن شُهُود ٱلْإِدِّعَاء ٱلْيَوْم. وَٱسْتَمَعَتْ ٱلْمَحْكَمَة إِلَى شَاهِدَيْن أَمْس. وَتَحَدَّثَ ٱلشَّاهِدُ ٱلْأَوَّل عَلِيّ مُصْطَفَى حَمَه عَن وَقَائِعِ تَمَّتْ قَبْلَ قُرَابَةِ عَام مِن ٱلْبَدْءِ ٱلرَّسْمِيّ لِحَمْلَةِ ٱلْأَنْفَال فِي وَادِي بَالِيسَان شَمَال ٱلسُّلَيْمَانِيَّةِ قَائِلًا «كَانَتْ ٱلشَّمْسُ تَمِيلُ إِلَى ٱلْغُرُوب. رَأَيْتُ مَا بَيْنَ ثَمَانِ وَإِثْنَي عَشَر طَائِرَة تَجُوبُ ٱلسَّمَاء. كَانَ هُنَاكَ دُخَان يَنْبَعِثُ مِن ٱلْقَنَابِل يَمِيلُ إِلَى ٱللَّوْنِ ٱلْأَخْضَر. وَكَانَتْ هُنَاكَ رَائِحَةَ تُفَّاح مُتَعَفِّن وَثُوم». وَأَضَافَ «كَانَ ٱلنَّاس يَتَقَيَّأُون... أَصَابَنَا ٱلْعَمَى. كُنَّا نَصْرُخ. لَمْ يَكُن هُنَاكَ مَنْ يُنْقِذُنَا.. إِلَّا ٱلله».


The special Iraqi court which is looking at the case of the Anfal campaign against the deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and six of his supporters including his cousin (Chemical) Ali Hassan Al-Majid listens to more witnesses for the prosecution today. The court listened to two witnesses yesterday. The first witness Ali Mustafa Hamah talked about events which happened almost a year prior to the official start of the Anfal campaign in Wadi Balisan north Sulaymaniya saying: The sun was nearly setting. I saw between eight and twelve aeroplanes roaming the sky. There was smoke coming from the bombs which was sort of a green colour. And there was a smell of rotten apples and garlic. And he added the people were vomitting... Blindness struck us. We were screaming. There was no-one to save us.. except God.

10179 - Kuwait: "Unofficial" pictures and slogans banned from cars.

Al-Hayat - 8/24/2006, Category: Politics Level: 1
الكويت: منع الصور والشعارات «غير الرسمية» على السيارات

أَعْلَنَ مَسْؤُول فِي وِزَارَةِ ٱلدَّاخِلِيَةِ ٱلْكُوَيْتِيَّة أَوَّلَ مِن أَمْس أَنَّ دَوْرِيَاتَ ٱلْمُرُور «سَتُوقِفُ وَتَحْتَجِزُ أَيَّ سَيَّارَةٍ تَحْمِلُ شِعَارَات أَوْ مُلْصَقَات غَيْرُ رَسْمِيَّةٍ أَوْ أَيَّ صُوَر» فِي إِجْرَاءٍ فَهِمَتْ أَوْسَاطٌ كُوَيْتِيَّةٌ أَنَّهُ مُوَجَّهٌ لِوَقْفِ «نَاشِطِين مِن ٱلشِّيعَة» عَن تَعْلِيقِ صُوَر ٱلْأَمِينِ ٱلْعَامّ لـِ «حِزْبِ ٱلله» ٱلْلُبْنَانِيّ حَسَن نَصْر ٱلله أَوْ رَايَةُ ٱلْحِزْبِ ٱلصَّفْرَاء عَلَى سَيَّارَاتِهِم. وَعَلِمَتْ «اَلْحَيَاة» مِن مَصَادِرٍ رَفِيعَة أَنَّ إِجْرَاءَات تَنْظِيمِيَة سَتُتَّخَذُ، لِلسَّبَبِ نَفْسِهِ، لِمَنْعِ ٱلْمَظَاهِرِ ذَاتِهَا مِن ٱلتَّكْرَار فِي ٱلتَّجَمُّعَات وَٱلتَّظَاهُرَات اَلَّتِي تُنَظِّمُهَا قُوَى سِيَاسِيَّةٌ مَحَلِّيَّة خُصُوصًا ٱلْأُصُولِيِّين ٱلشِّيعَة.


An official in the Kuwaiti ministry of the interior announced the day before yesterday that traffic patrols will stop and detain any car bearing unofficial slogans or stickers or any photographs in a measure which Kuwaiti circles understand to be directed at stopping activists from the Shia from affixing pictures of the Lebanese secretary general of Hizbullah Hassan Nasrallah or the partys yellow flag onto their cars. Al-Hayat has learnt from high level sources that regulatory measures will be taken for the same reason to prevent similar manifestations from being repeated in the rallies and demonstrations which local political forces especially the Shia fundamentalists organise.

10180 - Mr. Diya al-Musawi: The loyalty of the Gulf Shiites is to their country and not their creed.

Asharq Alawsat - 8/28/2006, Category: Religion Level: 2
السيد ضياء الموسوي: ولاء شيعة الخليج لأوطانهم وليس للمذهب

رَفَضَ رَجُل ٱلدِّين وَٱلْمُفَكِّر ٱلشِّيعِيّ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِيّ ٱلسَّيِّد ضِيَاء اَلْمُوسَوِيّ مَا يُشَاعُ عَن أَنَّ ٱلْعَقِيدَةَ ٱلشِّيعِيَّة مَحْصُورَةٌ بِوِلايَةِ ٱلْفَقِيه، مُؤَكِّدًا أَنّ وَلاءَ ٱلشِّيعَة فِي دُوَل ٱلْخَلِيج هُوَ لِدُوَلِهِم وَلَيْس لِإِيرَان، وَأَنَّ ٱلْأَكْثَرِيَةَ مِنهُم وَلاؤُهَا لِلْبِلاد اَلَّتِي تَنْتَمِي إِلَيهَا. وَقَالَ ٱلسَّيِّد اَلْمُوسَوِيّ إِنَّ ٱلشِّيعَة لَمْ يَصْطَفُّوا وَرَاءَ حِزْبِ ٱلله فِي حَرْبِهِ ٱلْأَخِيرَة مَعَ إِسْرَائِيل «لأَنَّهُ حِزْبٌ شِيعِيّ» مُعْتَبِرًا أَنَّ أَيّ حِزْبٍ أَوْ جَمَاعَةٍ تُحَارِبُ إِسْرَائِيل سَتَجِدُ نَفْس ٱلتَّعَاطُف، لأَنَّ ٱلشُّعُوب ٱلْعَرَبِيَّة فِي حَالَةِ عَدَاءٍ تَارِيخِيّ مَعَ إِسْرَائِيل. وَحَوْلَ مَا يُشَار إِلَيْه مِن وُجُود تَجْيِيش طَائِفِي بَيْنَ ٱلشِّيعَةِ وَٱلسُّنَّة فِي ٱلْبَحْرَيْن، نَفَى وُجُود هٰذَا ٱلتَّجْيِيش.


The man of religion and thinker the Bahraini Shiite Sayyid Diya Al-Musawi rejected what is being rumoured that the Shiite belief is constrained by wilayat al-faqih [i.e. sovereignty of the Islamic jurist] stressing that the loyalty of the Shia in the countries of the Gulf is to their countries and not to Iran and that the majority of them are loyal to the countries which they belong to. Sayyid Musawi said that the Shia did not line up behind Hizbullah in its recent war with Israel because it is a Shiite party considering that any party or group which fights Israel will find the same sympathy because the Arab peoples are in a state of historical enmity with Israel. And about what is referred to concerning the existence of a sectarian military mobilisation among the Shiites and Sunnis in Bahrain he denied the existence of this mobilisation.

10181 - Abbas: "We want a government that can pay its salaries".

Al-Hayat - 8/31/2006, Category: Politics Level: 1
عباس: نريد حكومة قادرة على توفير الرواتب

قَالَ ٱلرَّئِيس مَحْمُود عَبَّاس أَمْس إِنَّهُ يُرِيدُ حُكُومَةً قَادِرَةً عَلَى تَوْفِير رَوَاتِب ٱلْمُوَظَّفِين وَجَلْب ٱلْمُسَاعَدَات ٱلْخَارِجِيَّة. وَحَمَلَ فِي كَلِمَةٍ لَهُ أَمَامَ آلاف ٱلْمُوَظَّفِين ٱلْمُحْتَجِّين عَلَى عَدَم تَلَقِّيَهُم رَوَاتِبَهُم مُنْذُ سِتَّةِ أَشْهُر، قَائِلًا: «أَنْتُمْ (يَقْصُدُ حُكُومَةَ حَمَاس) تُؤَمِّنُون أَنْفُسَكُم، لٰكِن يَجِبُ عَلَيْكُمْ تَأْمِين ٱلشَّعْب كُلِّه». وَفِي إِشَارَةٍ إِلَى إِمْكَان إِقَالَةِ ٱلْحُكُومَة إِذَا وَاصَلَتْ عَجْزَهَا عَن تَقْدِيم ٱلرَّوَاتِب لِمُوَظَّفِيهَا، قَالَ عَبَّاس: «كَانَ لَدَينَا عَمَلِيَةً دِيمُوقرَاطِيَّة، وَنَحْنُ مُلْتَزِمُون نَتَائِج ٱلدِّيمُوقرَاطِيَة، لٰكِنَّ لُقْمَةَ ٱلْعَيْش أَهَمّ مِن نَتَائِج ٱلدِّيمُوقرَاطِيَة». وَعَن حُكُومَةِ ٱلْوَحْدَةِ ٱلْوَطَنِيَّة ٱلْجَارِي ٱلتَّبَاحُث فِي شَأْنِهَا، قَالَ عَبَّاس: «إِذَا كُنَّا نُرِيدُ حُكُومَةً، عَلَيْنَا أَنْ نُفَكِّرَ بِحُكُومَةٍ قَادِرَةٍ عَلَى جَلْب ٱلرَّوَاتِب وَٱلْمُسَاعَدَات».


President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday that he wants a government capable of providing the salaries of employees and bringing foreign aid. And he launched an attack in a speech of his in front of thousands of employees protesting against their non-receipt of their salaries for six months saying: You (meaning the government of Hamas) secure yourselves but you must secure all of the people. And in reference to the possibility of the dismissal of the government if it continued its inability to provide salaries to its employees Abbas said: We had a democratic process and we are committed to the results of democracy but earning a living [lit. the bite of bread] is more important than the results of democracy. And about the national unity government currently being talked about Abbas said: If we want a government we must think about a government capable of bringing salaries and aid.

10183 - Iraq: Barzani threatens to announce the independence of Kurdistan.

Al-Hayat - 9/4/2006, Category: Politics Level: 1
بارزاني يلوح بإعلان استقلال كردستان

تَصَاعَدَتْ أَمْس ٱلْأَزْمَةُ اَلَّتِي فَجَّرَهَا رَئِيس إِقْلِيم كُردِستَان مَسْعُود بَارْزَانِيّ، بِقَرَارِهِ رَفْع ٱلْعَلَم ٱلْكُرْدِيّ بَدَلًا مِن ٱلْعَلَم ٱلْعِرَاقِيّ، فَوْقَ ٱلدَّوَائِر وَٱلْمُؤَسَّسَات ٱلرَّسْمِيَّةِ فِي ٱلْإِقْلِيم. وَأَدَّتْ إِلَى جَدَلٍ غَيْر مُبَاشِر بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ رَئِيس ٱلْوُزَرَاء نُورِي اَلْمَالِكِيّ اَلَّذِي طَالَبَ بِرَفْع ٱلْعَلَم ٱلْعِرَاقِيّ «فَوْقَ كُلّ شِبْر». وَرَدَّ ٱلْمَسْؤُول ٱلْكُرْدِيّ بِٱلتَّلْوِيح بِإِعْلان اِسْتِقْلال كُردِستَان «مِن دُون أَنْ نَخْشَى أَحَدًا». وَفِيمَا عَكَف «مَجْلِس ٱلْأَمْن ٱلْقَوْمِيّ» ٱلْعِرَاقِيّ عَلَى دَرْس وَتَحْلِيل أَسْبَاب اِفْتِعَال بَارْزَانِيّ لِلْأَزْمَة، بَدَأَتْ «ٱلْهَيْئَةُ ٱلْعُلْيَا لِلْمُصَالَحَةِ وَٱلْحِوَار ٱلْوَطَنِيّ» ٱلْبَحْث عَن مَكَانٍ جَدِيد غَيْر أَرْبِيل لِعَقْد مُؤْتَمَرِهَا.


The crisis which the leader of the region of Kurdistan Masoud Barzani triggered [lit. exploded] escalated yesterday with his decision to raise the Kurdish flag in place of the Iraqi flag above government offices and official institutions in the region. This led to an indirect argument between him and the prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki who called for the raising of the Iraqi flag above every inch [lit. span of the hand]. The Kurdish official responded by hinting at the announcement of the independence of Kurdistan without our fearing anyone. And while the Iraqi National Security Council busied itself with the study and analysis of the reasons behind Barzanis intentional fabrication of the crisis the Supreme Committee for Reconciliation and National Dialogue started the search for a new place other than Arbil to hold its conference.

10184 - Saudi Arabia: Archaeologists say the carved palaces in Madain Salih are Nabataean tombs.

Asharq Alawsat - 9/8/2006, Category: History Level: 1
علماء آثار: القصور المنحوتة في مدائن صالح.. مساكن لموتى الأنباط

أَجْمَعَ عَدَدٌ مِن عُلَمَاء ٱلْآثَار وَٱلْمُخْتَصِّين، عَلَى أَنَّهُم لَمْ يَعْثُرُوا عَلَى دَلِيلٍ عِلْمِيٍّ أَثَرِي، خِلالَ ٱلْحَفْرِيَات ٱلْأَثَرِيَة اَلَّتِي قَامُوا بِهَا، يَعُودُ بِهِم إِلَى أَنَّ ٱلثَّمُودِيِّين اَلَّذِينَ بُعِثَ فِيهِم ٱلنَّبِيّ صَالِح عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلام، قَد سَكَنُوا ٱلْمِنْطَقَةَ ٱلْمَشْهُورَة شَمَال ٱلسُّعُودِيَّة بِمَدَائِن صَالِح، اَلَّتِي تَبْعُد عَن شَمَال شَرْق مُحَافَظَةِ ٱلْعُلا بِنَحْوِ إِثْنَان وَعِشْرُون كِيلُومِتْرًا. وَذَهَبَ ٱلْعُلَمَاء إِلَى أَنَّ ٱلْآثَار وَٱلْوَاجِهَات ٱلْجَبَلِيَّة ٱلْمَنْحُوتَةِ قُصُورًا، هِيَ عِبَارَةٌ عَن مَقَابِر نَبَطِيَّة، وَلا يَزِيدُ عُمْرُهَا عَلَى أَلْفَيْن وَمِئَةِ سَنَةٍ تَقْرِيبًا.


A number of archaeologists and specialists have unanimously agreed that they did not discover archaeological evidence during the archaeological excavations which they carried out which would lead them back to the fact that the Thamudis to whom the prophet Salih (peace be upon him) was sent amongst had inhabited the well-known area in the north of Saudi in Madain Salih which is a distance of about twenty two kilometres away from the north east of the district of Al-Ula. The scholars believe that the antiquities and the mountain facades carved in the form of palaces consist of Nabataean tombs [and that] their age is not more than two thousand one hundred years approximately.

10187 - Organization of the Islamic Conference expresses its surprise at the Popes "campaign" against Islam.

Al-Hayat - 9/15/2006, Category: Religion Level: 1
«المؤتمر الاسلامي» تعرب عن دهشتها لـ«الحملة» من البابا على الاسلام

أَعْرَبَتْ مُنَظَّمَةُ ٱلْمُؤْتَمَر ٱلْإِسْلامِي أَمْس عَن دَهْشَتِهَا مِن ٱلْحَمْلَةِ ٱلْمُفَاجِئَةِ لِلْبَابَا بَنَدِيكْتُوس ٱلسَّادِس عَشَر عَلَى ٱلْإِسْلام وَنَبِيّهِ مُحَمَّد عَلَيْهِ ٱلصَّلاةُ وَٱلسَّلام، وَأَمَلَتْ ٱلْمُنَظَّمَة «أَلَّا تَكُونَ هٰذِهِ ٱلْحَمْلَة ٱلْمُفَاجِئَة مُعَبِّرَةً عَن تَوَجُّه جَدِيد لِسِيَاسَات ٱلْفَاتِيكَان إِزَاءَ ٱلدِّين ٱلْإِسْلامِي، خُصُوصًا بَعْدَ عُقُودٍ مِن ٱلْحِوَار جَمَعَتْ رِجَال ٱلْفَاتِيكَان وَرِجَال ٱلدِّين وَٱلْفِكْر فِي ٱلْعَالَم ٱلْإِسْلامِي مُنْذُ عَهْد ٱلْبَابَا ٱلْأَسْبَق بُولُوس ٱلسَّادِس». وَكَان ٱلْبَابَا أَلْقَى ٱلثُّلاثَاء خِلال زِيَارَةٍ لِأَلْمَانِيَا مُحَاضَرَةً لِطُلَّابٍ جَامِعِيِّين عَن ٱلْعَلاقَةِ ٱلتَّارِيخِيَّة بَيْنَ ٱلدِّين وَٱلْعَقْل، أَشَارَ فِيهَا إِلَى أَنَّ ٱلْإِسْلام لا يُدِينُ بِٱلشِّدَّةِ ٱلْمَطْلُوبَة ٱلْعُنْف اَلَّذِي يُمَارَس بِٱسْم ٱلْإِيْمَان.


The Organization of the Islamic Conference yesterday expressed its surprise at the sudden campaign by Pope Benedict the Sixteenth against Islam and its prophet Muhammad (prayers and peace upon him). The Organization hopes this sudden campaign does not signify a new direction in the Vaticans policies towards the Islamic religion particularly after decades of dialogue which has brought together the men of the Vatican and the men of religion and thinking in the Islamic world since the era of the former Pope Paul the Sixth. On Tuesday during a visit to Germany the Pope had given a lecture to university students about the historical relationship between religion and reason in which he indicated that Islam does not condemn with sufficient severity violence which is practiced in the name of faith.

10188 - Iraq: Restaurant "Our Beloveds" in Baghdad ... Our customers are "fighters".

Asharq Alawsat - 9/15/2006, Category: Daily Life Level: 2
مطعم «حبايبنا» في بغداد .. زبائنه «فدائيون»

أَصْبَحَ مَطْعَم «حَبَايِبنَا» أَشْهَر مَطْعَمٍ بِمَدِينَةِ ٱلصَّدْر فِي بَغْدَاد اَلَّتِي يَزُورُهَا ٱلْمَوْت وَٱلسَّيَّارَات ٱلْمُفَخَّخَة وَٱلتَّفْجِيرَات بِٱنْتِظَام، وَلٰكِنَ ٱلْقَنَابِل لَمْ تَتَمَكَّن مِن إِيْقَاف شَيّ ٱلدَّوَاجِن. فَكُلّ يَوْم، يَأْكُل ثَلاث مِئَةِ زَبُون مِئَتَان وَخَمْسُون دَجَاجَة. وَٱلْأَكْلَةُ ٱلرَّئِيسِيَةُ فِي ٱلْمَطْعَم هِيَ «ٱلدَّوَاجِن وَٱلْبَامِيَة وَٱلْأَرُزّ». وَقَبْلَ ٱلظُّهْر وَسَاعَات ٱلذُّرْوَة فِي ٱلثَّامِنَة مَسَاء، يُعِدُّ «ٱلْكَبَابْچِي» أَسْيَاخ ٱلْكَبَاب فِي رُكْنٍ مِن ٱلْمَطْعَم، بَيْنَمَا فِي رُكْنٍ آخَر يُعِدُّ رَجُلٌ آخَر ٱلْفَلافِل. وَفِي ٱلْمَطْبَخ يُعِدُّ ٱلرِّجَال «ٱلشَّاوِرْمَة». وَقَالَ سَمِير جَبَارِيّ، صَاحِب ٱلْمَطْعَم، «زَبَائِنُنَا فِدَائِيُّون يُضَحُّونَ بِأَنْفُسِهِم، يَعْرِفُون ٱلْأَخْطَار، وَلٰكِنَّهُم يَأْتُونَ إِلَى مَطْعَمِنَا». وَجَبَارِيّ فِي ٱلتَّاسِعَةِ وَٱلثَّلاثِين مِن عُمْرِه، وَلٰكِنَهُ يَبْدُو أَكْبَر بِعَشَر سَنَوَات.


The restaurant Our Beloveds has become the most well-known restaurant in Sadr City in Baghdad [a city] which death and booby-trapped cars and explosions visit with regularity. But the bombs havent been capable of stopping the spit-roasting of chickens [lit. poultry]. Because every day three hundred customers eat two hundred and fifty chickens. The main meal in the restaurant is chicken [lit. poultry] and okra and rice. And before noon and the peak hours at eight in the evening the kebab maker prepares the kebab skewers in a corner of the restaurant while in another corner another man prepares falafel. And in the kitchen the men prepare shawarma. Samir Jabari owner of the restaurant says our customers are fighters who sacrifice themselves. They know the risks but they come to our restaurant. Jabari is thirty nine years of age but he looks ten years older.

10189 - Former Lebanese PM Najib Miqati congratulates Saudi on its National Day.

Al-Hayat - 9/22/2006, Category: Culture Level: 4
ميقاتي يهنئ بالعيد الوطني السعودي

وَجَّهَ رَئِيس ٱلْحُكُومَةِ ٱلسَّابِق نَجِيب مِيقَاتِيّ أَمْس، بَرْقِيَةَ تَهْنِئَةٍ إِلَى خَادِم ٱلْحَرَمَيْن ٱلشَّرِيفَيْن ٱلْمَلِك عَبْدُ ٱلله بِن عَبْدِ ٱلعَزِيز لِمُنَاسَبَةِ ٱلْعِيد ٱلْوَطَنِيّ ٱلسُّعُودِيّ جَاءَ فِيهَا: «يُسِرُّنِي لِمُنَاسَبَةِ ٱلْعِيد ٱلْوَطَنِيّ لِلْمَمْلَكَةِ ٱلْعَرَبِيَّةِ ٱلسُّعُودِيَّة أَنْ أَتَقَدَّم لِجَلالَتِكُمْ وَلِلشَّعْب ٱلسُّعُودِيّ ٱلشَّقِيق بِأَطْيَب ٱلتَّهَانِي وَٱلتَّمَنِّيَات، وَأَسْمَى آيَات ٱلْمَحَبَّةِ وَأَعْطَرَهَا، مُتَمَنِّيًا لَكُم دَوَام ٱلصِّحَّةِ وَٱلتَّوْفِيق وَٱلسَّدَاد، وَرَاجِيًا ٱلْمَوْلَى أَنْ يَمُدَّكُم بِعَوْنِهِ لِمَا فِيهِ تَقَدُّم ٱلشَّعْب ٱلسُّعُودِيّ وَرَفَاهِيَتُهُ وَخَيْر ٱلْأُمَّةِ ٱلْعَرَبِيَّةِ وَٱلْإِسْلامِيَة. وَأَغْتَنِمُ هٰذِهِ ٱلْفُرْصَة لِتَقْدِيم ٱلشُّكْر عَلَى ٱلْمُبَادَرَات ٱلْكَرِيمَة اَلَّتِي قَدَّمَتْهَا ٱلْمَمْلَكَةُ لِلُبْنَان وَشَعْبِه وَوُقُوفُهَا بِجَانِبِه لِلْخُرُوج مِن مِحْنَتِهِ سَلِيمًا وَأَكْثَر مَنْعَة».


The former Prime Minister Najib Miqati sent a telegram of congratulations yesterday to the Custodian of the two exalted Holy Places King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz on the occasion of the Saudi National Day which said: it pleases me on the occasion of the National Day of the Saudi Arabian Kingdom to advance to your Majesty and to the brotherly Saudi people best congratulations and wishes and the highest tokens of affection and the most perfumed of them wishing for you continual health and success and soundness [in your actions] and requesting the Lord support you with his help in among other things the progress of the Saudi people and their comfort and the good of the Arabic and Islamic nation. And I take this opportunity to present thanks for the generous initiatives which the Kingdom presented to Lebanon and its people and her [the Kingdoms] standing beside it [Lebanon] until the exit from its ordeal unharmed and stronger.

10190 - Palestinian sources: Five options face Abbas on his return from New York.

Asharq Alawsat - 9/22/2006, Category: Politics Level: 1
مصادر فلسطينية: 5 خيارات أمام عباس بعد عودته من نيويورك

خَمْس خِيَارَاتٍ تَنْتَظِرُ ٱلرَّئِيس ٱلْفِلَسْطِينِيّ مَحْمُود عَبَّاس «أَبُو مَازِن» بَعْدَ عَوْدَتِهِ مِن نيُويُورك، لِلْخُرُوج مِن ٱلْمَأْزِق اَلَّذِي يَعِيشُهُ ٱلشَّعْب ٱلْفِلَسْطِينِيّ، فِي حَال فَشَل مَشْرُوع حُكُومَةِ ٱلْوَحْدَةِ ٱلْوَطَنِيَّة. وَأَوَّل هٰذِهِ ٱلْخِيَارَات، حَسَب مَا قَالَهُ مَسْؤُولُون فِي عَدَدٍ مِن ٱلْفَصَائِل ٱلرَّئِيسِيَة عَلَى ٱلسَّاحَةِ ٱلْفِلَسْطِينِيَّة لِ «اَلشَّرْق ٱلأَوْسَط»، أَنْ يُقِيل أَبُو مَازِن حُكُومَةَ «حَمَاس» بِرِئَاسَةِ إِسْمَاعِيل هَنِيَة، وَأَنْ يُعْلِن حُكُومَة طَوَارِئ. وَثَانِيهَا: أَنْ يَدْعُو إِلَى اِنْتِخَابَاتٍ رِئَاسِيَّةٍ وَتَشْرِيعِيَة. وَثَالِثًا: اَلْإِبْقَاء عَلَى ٱلْحُكُومَةِ ٱلْحَالِيَة وَعَلَى ٱلْوَضْع بِمَا فِيهِ مِن اِحْتِقَانَات وَٱنْفِلاتٍ أَمْنِيّ. رَابِعًا: تَدَخُّل عُنْصُرٍ خَارِجِيّ لِصَالِح فِئَةِ ٱلْمُنْتَفِعِين وَٱلْمُرْتَبِطِين بِٱلْاِحْتِلال. وَأَخِيرًا: حَلّ ٱلسُّلْطَة وَإِعَادَةُ ٱلْوَضْع إِلَى ٱلْمُرَبَّع رَقْم وَاحِد.


Five choices await the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen on his return from New York to escape from the predicament which the Palestinian people would be in in the event of the failure of the project of the national unity government. First of these choices according to what officials in a number of the main factions in the Palestinian arena said to Asharq Alawsat is that Abu Mazen dismisses the government of Hamas headed by Ismail Haniya and that he declares an emergency government. Second of them is that he calls for presidential and legislative elections. Thirdly: Keeping unchanged the current government and situation with all its pent up tensions and insecurity. Fourthly: The entry of a foreign element to the advantage of the group of beneficiaries and people connected with the occupation. And finally: The dissolution of power and the returning of the situation back to square one.

10192 - Lebanon: The South is a jungle of horrors, heroism and flags ... The Lebanese are preparing to lose everything.

Al-Hayat - 9/29/2006, Category: Politics Level: 3
الجنوب غابة أهوال وبطولات وأعلام... واللبنانيون يتأهبون لإضاعة كل شيء

هُنَا آخِر شِبْرٍ مِن ٱلْأَرْض ٱللُّبْنَانِيَّة. قُرْبَ تَلَّةِ اَلْعَبَّاد بَيْنَ حُولا وَمَرْكَبَا. اَلْمَشْهَد يُغْرِيكَ بِٱلْوُقُوف. اَلْمَشْهَد بَالِغ ٱلدَّلالات. عَلَى مَسَافَةِ أَمْتَار جَنُوبًا مَوْقِعٌ عَسْكَرِيّ يَتَحَصَّنُ فِيهِ ٱلْجُنُود ٱلْإِسْرَائِيلِيُّون مِن دُونِ أَنْ تَرَاهُم. عَلَى بُعْد بِضْعَةِ أَمْتَار شَمَالًا عَلَم «حِزْبِ ٱلله» يُرَفْرِف. أَوَّل مَا يَتَبَادَر إِلَى ذِهْنِك سُؤَالٌ بَسِيط: هَلْ يُمْكِنُ لِلْعَلَم وَٱلْمَوْقِع أَنْ يَتَعَايَشَّا طَوِيلًا تَحْتَ خَيْمَةِ ٱلْاِسْتِقْرَار ٱلدَّوْلِيّ وَٱلْقَرَار أَلْفٌ وَسَبْع مِئَةٍ وَوَاحِد أَم سَيُحَاوِل كُلّ مِنهُمَا بَعْد وَقْت، يَقْصُر أَوْ يَطُول، اَلْاِنْفِجَار بِٱلْآخَر لِٱقْتِلاعِه؟ هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ ٱلْمَوْقِع أَنْ يُغْمِضَ جَفْنَيه إِذَا كَانَ جَارَهُ رَمْز ٱلْفَرِيق اَلَّذِي أَدْمَاه فِي ٱلْمُوَاجَهَةِ ٱلْأَخِيرَة؟ وَهَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ ٱلْعَلَم أَنْ يَطْمَئِن وَهُوَ يَشْعُر أَنَّ ٱلْمَوْقِع ٱلْمَجْرُوح سَيَتَحَيَّن أَوَّل فُرْصَةٍ لِلثَّأْر؟


Here is the last inch [lit. span of the hand] of Lebanese territory. Near Al-Abbad hill between Houla and Markaba. The scene makes you stand still. The scene is full of meaning. At a distance of [some] metres south a military position in which Israeli soldiers are fortified without your being able to see them. At a distance of a few metres north the flag of Hizbullah flies. The first thing which comes to your mind is a simple question: Is it possible for the flag and the position to co-exist for long under the tent of international stability and resolution one thousand seven hundred and one or will both of them try after a while (be it short or long) to blast the other in order to uproot it? Is the position able to close its eyes [lit. eyelids] if its neighbour is a symbol of the group which bloodied it in the recent confrontation? And is the flag able to be at ease when it feels that the wounded position is waiting for the first opportunity for revenge?

10193 - Saudi Arabia: Tents for Iftar during Ramadan. One of the most important manifestations of the month.

Asharq Alawsat - 9/29/2006, Category: Culture Level: 1
خيام «إفطار صائم» الرمضانية.. لقاء الغرباء. أحد أهم مظاهر الشهر.

تُمَثِّلُ ٱلْمُخَيَّمَات ٱلرَّمَضَانِيَّة اَلَّتِي تَحْفِلُ بِهَا ٱلْمُدُن ٱلسُّعُودِيَّة، كَوَاحِدَةٍ مِن مَظَاهِر ٱلْبِرّ فِي رَمَضَان، ظَاهِرَةً يَلْتَقِي تَحْتَ كَنَفِهَا آلاف ٱلْعُمَّال ٱلْأَجَانِب اَلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُون فِي ٱلْبِلاد، وَيَتَلَقَّون خِلالَ شَهْر رَمَضَان بَادِرَةً لِلتَّوَاصُل مَعَ ٱلْمُجْتَمَع ٱلْمَحَلِّيّ فِي مُخَيَّمَات ٱلْإِفْطَار، حَيْثُ يُقَدِّمُ ٱلْمُحْسِنُون مُسَاعَدَات غِذَائِيَّة وَمَالِيَّة لِتَوْفِير وَجْبَةِ ٱلْإِفْطَار لِآلاف ٱلْعُمَّال وَمُعْظَمُهُم مِن ٱلْعُزَّاب اَلَّذِينَ لا يَجِدُون وَقْتًا لِإِعْدَادِه، مِمَّا يُعِينُهُم عَلَى تَحَمُّل صِيَام ٱلشَّهْر. وَتُعْتَبَرُ ٱللِّقَاءَات فِي هٰذِهِ ٱلْمُخَيَّمَات أَكْثَر مِن مُجَرَّد إِفْطَار لِلصَّائِمِين، فَهِيَ تُمَثِّلُ مُنَاسَبَةً لِلتَّلاقِي لَدَى هٰؤُلاءِ ٱلْمُغْتَرِبِين اَلَّذِينَ يَجْتَمِعُون كُلّ يَوْم مِن أَيَّام رَمَضَان، حَيْثُ تَنْشَطُ ٱللِّقَاءَات ٱلرَّمَضَانِيَّة بَيْنَ أَبْنَاء ٱلْجَالِيَات اَلَّذِينَ تُوَفِّر لَهُم ٱلْمُخَيَّمَات فُرْصَةً لِتَجْدِيد أَوَاصِر ٱلْمَعْرِفَة وَٱلتَّلاقِي بَيْنَهُم.


The Ramadan camps which the Saudi towns abound with represent one of the manifestations of charity in Ramadan - a phenomenon under whose protection [lit. wing] meet thousands of foreign workers who reside in the country. They have met with [lit. received] during the month of Ramadan the new idea of networking with the local community in Iftar camps where charitable people proffer food and financial help to provide the Iftar meal to thousands of workers most of whom are bachelors who do not have [lit. find] the time to prepare it which helps them to bear the months fasting. The meetings in these camps are considered more than just Iftar for the people who fast as they represent an occasion for meeting each other for these expatriates who meet every day of Ramadan as the Ramadan meetings are lively among the groups of emigrants for whom the camps provide an opportunity to renew bonds of acquaintance and togetherness among them.

10194 - Iraq: Price chaos spreads in the Iraqi poultry market.

Al-Hayat - 10/6/2006, Category: Economics Level: 1
فوضى الأسعار تعم سوق الدواجن العراقية

عَزَا تُجَّار قِطَاع ٱلدَّوَاجِن فِي بَغْدَاد، أَسْبَاب اِرْتِفَاع أَسْعَار لُحُوم ٱلدَّجَاج وَٱلْبَيْض، إِلَى ٱلْفَوْضَى وَٱلْاِرْتِبَاك اَللَّذَيْن يَشْهَدُهُمَا ٱلْقِطَاع، بِسَبَب نَقْص ٱلْمَعْرُوض، وَإِحْجَام ٱلْكَثِير مِن ٱلْمُرَبِّين عَن تَشْغِيل مَزَارِعِهِم اَلَّتِي تَتَجَاوَز عَشَرَةَ آلاف، مُعْظَمُهَا فِي بَغْدَاد، بِسَبَب ٱلْخَسَائِر ٱلنَّاجِمَة عَن اِرْتِفَاع ٱلْكُلْفَة. وَقَالَ طَهَ عَبْدُ ٱلْحَمِيد تَاجِر جُمْلَة فِي سُوق شَرْق بَغْدَاد، إِنَّ ٱلْأَسْعَار تَصَاعَدَتْ عَلَى نَحْوٍ غَيْر مَأْلُوف، إِذ اِرْتَفَعَتْ كَرْتُونَةُ ٱلْبَيْض اَلَّتِي تَحْتَوِي عَلَى إِثْنَي عَشَر طَبَقَة، مِن ثَلاثُون أَلْف دِينَار إِلَى أَكْثَر مِن سَبْعِين أَلْفًا (سَبْعٌ وَأَرْبَعُون دُولارًا)، مَا زَادَ أَعْبَاء ٱلْعَائِلَةِ ٱلْعِرَاقِيَّة، اَلَّتِي تُعَانِي اِرْتِفَاع أَسْعَار ٱلسِّلَع ٱلْأُخْرَى وَٱلْخِدَمَات.


Poultry sector merchants in Baghdad have attributed the reasons of the price rise in chicken meat and eggs to the chaos and confusion which the sector has been witnessing as a result of the shortage in supply and the reluctance of many breeders to operate their farms (which number more than ten thousand most of which are in Baghdad) due to losses resulting from rising expenses. Taha Abdu~l-Hameed a wholesale merchant in the East Baghdad market said that prices have risen in an unfamiliar manner as a carton of eggs which contains twelve layers has risen from thirty thousand dinars to more than seventy thousand (forty seven dollars) which has increased the burden on the Iraqi family which is suffering from price rises in other commodities and services.