-Caveat Lector- >From ArabicNews.CoM <<One NOTE: Wasn't Turkey (who is now aligned with Israel) just recently embroiled with Syria over some political issue or another?>> Further escalation between Damascus and Washington, London Syria, Politics, 12/23/98 The US embassy in Damascus has officially decided to indefinitely suspend granting tourism visas in an adverse impact on the bilateral relations between Washington and Damascus for the demonstrations which targeted the headquarters of the US embassy and other affiliated centers in Damascus in objection to the US bombardment of Iraq. This new American step came following the strong US criticism of Damascus over what it called the "failure" of Syrian security forces in controlling demonstrators who attacked the embassy headquarters and caused damage to the consular section of the embassy and to the residence of US ambassador Ryan Crocker and the American school. A statement released by the embassy explained that the embassy's activity "has been relatively restored," but the consulate section which was damaged "has suspended for an indefinite time the granting of visas." Meanwhile, a correspondent from the Lebanese daily al-Nahar in Damascus said that the strong security measures by the Syrian security forces continued on Tuesday around the British and US embassies in Damascus as well as the houses of the two countries' ambassadors. It was rumored that most of the US diplomats moved temporarily to a building in al-Mezza district until Syrian security forces were able to control youths who attacked the US facilities in a Saturday demonstration in protest of the British and US air raids against Iraq. On Tuesday night, diplomatic sources in Damascus said that a statement circulated among embassies accredited in Damascus said the British ambassador to Syria, Basil Eastwood, left Damascus for London. Arab League chief calls for new formula in dealing with Iraq Regional, Politics, 12/23/98 Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid called on Tuesday for a new mechanism to restore confidence between Iraq and the UN Security Council. The AL's assistant secretary general in charge of the Iraqi file, Ahmad Bin Hali told reporters that Abdul Meguid sent a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan over the US-UK strike on Iraq. Bin Hali said the letter called for a new and acceptable formula in dealing with Iraq in line with UN resolutions. He said the new formula might be able to resolve the pending problems between Iraq and the UN and help Iraq in lifting the UN sanctions while safeguarding its sovereignty and regional unity. Bin Hali said that Abdul Meguid assigned the head of the AL mission in New York to coordinate with the Arab group in leading the Security Council "to shoulder its full responsibility towards Iraq." Abdul Meguid sent similar letters to the foreign ministers of China, Russia and France, Bin Hali said. Meanwhile, Abdel Meguid urged the executive office of the Arab ministers of health to provide medical assistance to the Iraqi people in the wake of the U.S.-British strike. Regional efforts continue regarding Arab summit on Iraq Regional, Politics, 12/23/98 Yemeni diplomatic sources said that Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh will direct messages to leaders, kings and presidents of the Arab states, inviting them to convene an urgent Arab summit to deal with the developments in the Arab states, including the US - British attacks on Iraq. It is expected that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdul Qader Bajmal will make an Arab tour in support of Yemen's call to convene the summit. Algerian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Aziz Saba declared his country's support for the Arab summit called for by Yemen after the US - British strikes against Iraq. El-Saba said his country urges convening an organized Arab summit to maintain a minimum of solidarity and guarantee the Arab people's rights that these summits are for the benefit of all the countries. The spokesman referred to his country's position denouncing the strikes, which are outside international legitimacy. He added that the Algerian Red Crescent Society will provide food and medical aid to express the Algerian people's solidarity with the Iraqi people. MAP reported that the Moroccan Chamber of Advisors stressed Tuesday the need to hold an Arab summit over the crisis in Iraq following US-British missile strikes. The upper chamber of the parliament, which held an extraordinary session in solidarity with the Iraqi people, also stressed the importance of reconciliation among Arab states and denounced "the coward aggression" that would not have been possible were it not for the "weakness" of the Arab nation. The Moroccan advisors joined their colleagues at the house of representatives (lower chamber) who called on Monday for an extraordinary Arab summit to adopt a unified position on the anti-Iraq aggression and embargo. The house which held an extraordinary session in solidarity with the Iraqi people called the government to take all measures and initiatives to boost Arab solidarity and lift the 8-year long embargo enforced against Iraq. The representatives, who observed a minute of silence in the memory of the US-British raids' victims, also condemned these attacks as "a blatant violation of international legality and human rights principles." They expressed support for the Iraqi people in this hardship, arguing that the reasons given to justify the aggression are "only opening the way for the law of the jungle and state terrorism." ~~~~~~~~~~~~ A<>E<>R The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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