Algerian Authorities Accused of Falsifying Tabbou's Medical Records
Arab World
Algiers - Boualem Goumrassa
Algerian political activist Karim Tabbou. (AFP)
The family of detained political activist Karim Tabbou accused the Algerian judiciary of falsifying his medical records after it claimed that he did not suffer from a stroke. The judiciary had backed its claim with medical examinations, refuting his lawyer’s statements. On March 24, a court of appeals sentenced Tabbou for a year in prison on charges of “weakening army morale” last year after criticizing the then army chief, Ahmed Gaed Salah, who died suddenly of a heart attack in late December. The Tabbou family issued Tuesday a statement to the public, demanding that he be released so that he can receive treatment through doctors of its choice. It clarified that Tabbou’s health condition has improved, but his stay in prison endangers his life. His lawyer, Abdelghani Badi said that Tabbou, 46, had been sentenced to a year in prison, and had been unable to defend himself after suffering a medical problem, which he later revealed to be a stroke. Tabbou’s slammed his trial, citing various constitutional and legal violations it committed, including holding him in solitary confinement for 200 days. It also rejected the official accusation that he was undermining national unity. The media and public and political class are in agreement that Tabbou was imprisoned for his views and activism. The family said it will hold to account everyone responsible for his ongoing detention as he continues to suffer from poor health. It singled out the security forces, who arrested him from his home, and the judge, who sent him to jail in a sham trial.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2210861/algerian-authorities-accused-falsifying-tabbous-medical-records
Aden – Asharq Al-Awsat
Yemeni Information Minister Muammar Al-Eryani
The Yemeni government denounced Qatari “identification” with the Iranian regional project, warning against Doha exploiting Yemen in its row with Saudi Arabia. Information Minister Muammar Al-Eryani accused Qatar and its state-funded broadcaster Al Jazeera of identifying with the Iranian project in Yemen and Tehran’s proxy, the Houthis. According to Eryani, Houthis are receiving political and media coverage from Doha. Warning that history will not forget the bloodshed caused by Iran in Yemen, Eryani advised Qatar to revise its policies and to distance itself from the war in Yemen. “Brothers in Qatar are mistaken if believed they are immune from the Khomeini revolution and the Iranian expansionist, and in turning Yemen into arena to settle score and disregard difficult political, security, economic and humanitarian conditions of an exhausted country that can’t stand more adventures,” Eryani tweeted. “We call Qatar and Al-Jazeera, who endorse Iranian project in Yemen and its Houthi proxy, who obtain Doha’s support political and media coverage, to review its policies and distance itself from the Yemeni bloodshed with mullahs, as history will have no mercy on them,” he also tweeted. Information Ministry Undersecretary Abdelbaset al-Qaadi, for his part, expressed frustration with the Qatari political and media role in supporting Houthi militias. He said that Qatar’s rivalry with Saudi Arabia must not justify Doha’s immorality in the dealing with the Yemeni file. Qaadi called on Qatar to be reasonable and not side with Houthis, who represent a danger not only to Yemen, but also to everyone in the region. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia said its air defenses intercepted two ballistic missiles in an attack that Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group on Sunday said they had launched towards the capital Riyadh and southern areas near the Yemeni border. The attacks came days after Yemen's warring parties had welcomed a UN call for an immediate truce on Thursday to fight the coronavirus outbreak. "Two civilians were slightly injured due to the falling of the intercepted missile's debris as it exploded in mid-air over residential districts," in Riyadh, the Saudi state news agency (SPA) reported, citing a Saudi civil defense spokesman, Lt. Colonel Mohammed al-Hammadi.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2210851/yemen-denounces-qatar-%E2%80%98identifying%E2%80%99-iran
Sisi Says Egypt’s Efforts to Contain Coronavirus Are Reassuring
Arab World
Cairo, North Sinai - Mohammed Nabil, Sawsan Abu Hussein, Asharq Al-Awsat
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi (File photo: Reuters)
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi expressed satisfaction over measures taken by his country to confront the spread of COVID-19. "As I followed-up around the clock on all efforts and measures taken to confront the spread of coronavirus, I believe that what has been achieved so far is good and reassuring,” Sisi wrote on Twitter Tuesday. He also urged both the authorities and Egyptians to continue to “firmly” implement measures being taken to stem the spread of the deadly virus. The Egyptian authorities have taken gradual steps since the announcement of the first coronavirus case in the country on March 05. It suspended schools and universities, canceled exams, halted air traffic, and imposed a partial curfew. Egypt registered a total of 656 cases and 41 deaths, while 150 people had recovered from isolation hospitals. Minister of State for Information Osama Haikal said Egypt may not need to enter the third stage to control the spread of coronavirus due to the precautionary measures imposed. Haikal told Asharq Al-Awsat that most of the cases in the country were due to contact with cases coming from abroad. Many criticized the health sector for not performing enough tests to detect coronavirus cases, however, the minister said Egypt is following the same standards as other countries around the world by testing cases that have a fever of 38 degrees or showing other symptoms. Meanwhile, the North Sinai governorate has closed its markets as part of the measures taken by the state to confront the virus, despite the fact there hasn’t been any cases there yet. Undersecretary of the Health Ministry in North Sinai Tarek Shouka told Asharq Al-Awsat that closing the markets is intended to prevent overcrowding, and increase awareness by avoiding packed markets, especially since the governorate has no cases to date. The Undersecretary stated that all hospitals and operations rooms in North Sinia are prepared and have taken precautionary measures, adding that Bir al-Abd Hospital was set for medical isolation. In addition, several beds have been set for medical isolation in al-Arish, Sheikh Zuwayed, and Nakhl hospitals.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2210786/sisi-says-egypt%E2%80%99s-efforts-contain-coronavirus-are-reassuring
Beirut - Khalil Fleihan
A member of Lebanese security checks a visitor's temperature at the entrance of the governmental serail in the southern city of Sidon. (AFP)
Western countries and international organizations appeared less enthused to meet Lebanon’s appeal for aid to help it fight the coronavirus outbreak. “Circulars that have been sent to Lebanese embassies and consulates have made no mention of any medical equipment,” a Lebanese diplomatic source told Asharq Al-Awsat. He said France was the only European country that responded to Lebanon’s request and sent urgent medical aid. Spain came second after proposing to place an aid plan for neighboring states, specifically Lebanon, the source explained. He noted that late last week, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Arancha Gonzalez addressed this issue with her Lebanese counterpart Nassif Hitti. She informed him about her government’s proposal to ask EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations Oliver Varhelyi to draft an expanded aid program for neighboring countries. The source said Hitti had already discussed EU aid to Lebanon with Varhelyi. They agreed that Hitti would send him a list of aid Lebanon needs and he will in turn make sure that they are provided by the EU. The source spoke of shortcomings on the Lebanese authorities’ end in listing the needs of various hospitals. Another source said authorities have also failed to contact the International Monetary Fund to inform them about the funds it needs. IMF experts have criticized Lebanon for making do with emergency funds, but failing to submit an official request. Last week, IMF officials said they are in discussions with Lebanese authorities who have inquired about Lebanon’s eligibility to receive funds from the $50 billion in emergency funding made available by the IMF earlier this month. Lebanon has requested technical assistance from the IMF in the past but not any broader financial aid that would typically come with conditions. The inquiry about targeted aid to help respond to the coronavirus is separate from that process, the IMF officials said.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2210751/lebanese-european-contacts-secure-virus-aid
Cairo - Mohammed Abdo Hasanein
Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction work (File Photo: Reuters)
Flaws in the design of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) renewed Egyptian-Sudanese concerns over its possible collapse which could cause extensive damage to the two countries. Observers say that the technical problems have been known for some time, believing it’s the reason why Ethiopia disrupted the work of the international committees and refused to complete any impartial studies while providing “misleading information.” GERD has been under construction since 2011 when Ethiopia kicked off building it on the Blue Nile, the main tributary of the Nile water. The conflict over the Dam escalated following Ethiopia's refusal to attend a meeting in Washington in February to conclude a final agreement with Egypt and Sudan regarding the rules for filling and operating the dam. Over the past month, Egypt and Ethiopia exchanged accusations of failing the negotiations, and the two countries tried to mobilize international support through diplomatic efforts. However, signs of a breakthrough are looming on the horizon, as the Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok announced plans to be visit both Egypt and Ethiopia to revive the stalled negotiations. This came during a phone call between Hamdok and US Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin, who is sponsoring the Washington negotiations in partnership with the World Bank. The Sudanese member of the international experts committee to evaluate the Renaissance Dam, engineer Diab Hussein Diab, revealed that the dam studies are not completed yet, adding that only Ethiopia studied the dam site and the designs were implemented over stages. Diab told the Sudanese newspaper Akhbar al-Youm that the committee visited the site to review the construction work more than three times and issued its final report in 2014 with design recommendations for Ethiopia to adopt. Another committee was assigned to review the foundations and excavation methods to prepare a report of its observations and submit it to the experts committee. The report was submitted to the executing company highlighting requirements, including issues of rock sediments, cleanliness, and filling in the main dam, indicated Diab who said there were caves of unknown depths and experts couldn’t’ agree whether there are faults or not. Ethiopia denied the existence of faults or caves at the site, but there may be faults in the lake, 100 km away. The Sudanese expert revealed that Ethiopia did not conduct a detailed water study to figure any possible problems that could lead to cracks and faults. He noted that the water pressure in the lake, with the existence of faults, might lead to a strong movement such as a tsunami that could reach the dam creating high waves leading to its collapse. Meanwhile, the former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for the Nile Basin countries, Ambassador Magdy Amer, said the information documented in the experts’ report prove that the dam project has many risks. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Amer stressed that all Ethiopian studies are not enough, and Ethiopia made it impossible for the French consultancy offices to conduct any studies. The former official also indicated that the report of the experts committee recommended changing the design of the dam which might have huge negative effects on Sudan and Egypt.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2210661/fears-over-gerds-collapse-due-design-defects
Exclusive - Abdul Halim Khaddam: From Vice President of Syria to Exile in Paris
Features
London – Ibrahim Hamidi
Exiled former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam holding a news conference on the political situation in Syria from Brussels on April 7, 2011. (Reuters)
Abdel Halim Khaddam’s biography reads like a significant period of Syria’s history. He started his career as a Baath party member, was appointed governor of Hama in turmoil and Quneitra when it was occupied. He was close to late President Hafez Assad in sickness and in health. He managed Syria’s hegemony over Lebanon for decades and ended his final years in exile. He was ill, just like the country he left behind. He passed away of a heart attack in Paris just as the coronavirus came knocking on the doors of his hometown and former place of power. Khaddam was born in Baniyas in 1932. He studied law at Damascus University and later joined the Baath party that was headed at the time by Michel Aflaq and Salah Bitar. The Baath would assume power in Syria in March 1963. At university, he met a fellow Baathist friend, Hafez Assad, a Syrian air force pilot. They were bound by the same party and geography, despite their different sectarian background. Khaddam returned to Latakia where he worked as a lawyer and became engaged in politics. Besieged Hama When the Baath came to power, Khaddam, a Sunni, was appointed the governor of Hama. The city was known for its opposition to the regime and then president Amin al-Hafez. In his book “Steel and Silk: Men and Women who Shaped Syria”, Sami Moubayed wrote that in April 1964, the Muslim Brotherhood carried out a military coup that started from Hama. Khaddam tried to use diplomacy to resolve the crisis, but failed. Amin Hafez then turned to force to stifle it. Khaddam was later appointed governor of Quneitra in the Golan Heights. He was forced to quit the area in June 5, 1967 when Israel occupied it. At the time, it was said Syria was being ruled by “three doctors”: President Dr. Nureddin al-Atassi, Prime Minister Dr. Youssef Zuayyin and Foreign Minister Dr. Ibrahim Makhous. After the occupation of the Golan Heights, Makhous was famously quoted as saying: “It’s not important to lose cities, because the enemy aims to destroy the revolt” – referring to the March uprising when the Baath swept to power. His statement is particularly significant today when five different armies are embroiled in a power struggle in Syria. In 1968, Atassi briefly appointed Khaddam as governor Damascus and then minister of economy in 1969. A struggle for power ensued between Atassi and Makhous and between Hafez Assad, with the latter eventually prevailing in the “Corrective Revolution” of November 1970. He promptly jailed his “comrades”, save for Makhous, who fled to Algeria. President’s friend When Hafez Assad came to power, he appointed his friend Khaddam as foreign minister, deputy prime minister and lawmaker. Khaddam spearheaded political efforts against the Muslim Brotherhood in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1983, Hafez Assad suffered a heart attack and Khaddam appointed a military-political committee that would run the country and rein in Rifaat Assad, the president’s brother. When Hafez recovered in 1984, he appointed Khaddam as his deputy for political affairs and Rifaat as his deputy for military affairs. Khaddam consequently became one of Hafez’s closest aides alongside late defense minister Mustafa Tlas, who died in exile in Paris in June 2017. Farouk al-Sharaa was appointed foreign minister at the time and Khaddam assumed the position of vice president of Syria. He rose to prominence with his handling of the “Lebanese file” as Syria had deployed its troops to its smaller neighbor. Khaddam managed Syria’s political relations with Palestinian and Iraqi factions and security and military affairs were left to other figures of the regime. He played a significant role in solidifying Damascus’ relations with Tehran after Iran’s 1979 revolution. Ending isolation Moubayed says Khaddam played a major role in ending Syria’s international isolation between 1963 and 1970 and in boosting Syria’s ties with its Arab neighbors, especially Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. In May 1974, he moved against opponents of the Agreement on Disengagement with Israel that was drafted by former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger after the 1973 Arab–Israeli War. In 1978, Khaddam relayed to Arab leaders Hafez’s opposition of Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel. Confronted with new pressure on Damascus, he turned to Iran, boosting ties with the regime after the overthrow of the Shah in 1979. Later that year, he visited Tehran, describing its revolution as “one of the most important developments in our modern history.” He played a central role in coordinating the “alliance” with Khomeini. However, he made sure to maintain a balanced relationship with Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia. Assad’s envoy In 1975, Khaddam became Hafez’s “special envoy” to Lebanon where he mediated between warring parties during the civil war and helped expand the influence of Syrian intelligence in the country. In 1985, he helped mediate the “trilateral agreement” between Walid Jumblatt, Nabih Berri and Elie Hobeika to persuade them to work towards a ceasefire and peace in Lebanon. In 1989, Saudi Arabia and Syria helped draft the Taef Accord that ended the 15-year civil war. Khaddam later negotiated prime minister Michel Aoun’s departure from power and drafted international agreements, including the April ceasefire agreement after Israel’s 1996 operation against southern Lebanon. He was known for adopting a hard line in negotiations with Israel during the 1990s. Historians say that Khaddam, with Hafez’s support, backed Lebanese President Elias Hrawi and late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri during his electoral runs in 1992 and 2000. Khaddam was known in popular circles as “Lebanon’s ruler” from Damascus, referring to his influence over Lebanese politics. Hafez kept the “Lebanese file” under Khaddam’s control until 1998 when he handed it over to his son, Bashar, who had returned to Syria from London after his brother’s death in 1994. The shift did not sit well with Khaddam and his allies in Lebanon. ‘Smooth transition’ Hafez died in 2000 and differences emerged on who should manage Syria during its transition. Khaddam tried to play a prominent role, but he eventually succumbed to pressure and signed the decrees for the “smooth transition” of power between June 10 and 17. Bashar was appointed commander of the Syrian army and in July 2000 he became president. He kept Khaddam in his post as vice president. Khaddam attempted to restore his role as the strongman in Lebanon by boosting relations with late Maronite Patriach Butors Sfeir in 2000. In 2001, he tried to mediate between then President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Syrian analysts have said that Khaddam played the role of “referee” between Lahoud and Hariri from 2000 and 2002 and kept communications open with Jumblatt, whose ties with Damascus had turned sour after Hafez’s death. As his political influence waned, Khaddam released a book on his political views in 2003. In 2005, he announced his resignation as vice president and retained his position in the Baath party. He then chose exile in Paris. He departed from Lebanon where he was seen off by his Lebanese friends. Syria landed itself in Arab and western isolation after Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination, widely blamed on Damascus. In September later that year, Khaddam defected from the Syrian regime, accusing it of murdering his friend, the Lebanese prime minister. In exile, he formed an opposition front against the regime and was later accused of high treason and his properties were seized by Damascus. Khaddam did not play a prominent role after Syria’s 2011 revolt, but he did say that the people needed to take up arms to defend themselves if the world did not intervene to protect them. His health deteriorated in recent years. He spent his time writing his memoirs and died of a heart attack on Tuesday.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2210646/exclusive-abdul-halim-khaddam-vice-president-syria-exile-paris
Ramallah - Asharq Al-Awsat
Palestinians demonstrating in Gaza as part of the Great March of Return. AFP file photo
The internal security apparatus of Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip said on Tuesday that it has arrested a number of collaborators with Israel who have admitted to monitoring events held during weekly protests called the Great March of Return. In a statement released on Tuesday, the apparatus broadcast a short movie documenting the struggle between the security apparatus in Gaza and the Israeli Intelligence on the spies. The movie included a scene on the arrest of a suspect. The video also revealed details about a 60-year-old collaborator, known as M12, who has been linked to the Israeli Intelligence since 1994. M12 admitted that in May 2018, he contacted an officer called “Riad” and offered him information about the location from where rockets were launched. He admitted that “Riad” questioned him about the preparations for organizing the weekly Great March of Return and information about the young Palestinians who were responsible for providing tires during the protests. M12 collaborated with a number of Israeli officers, Hamas said. In 1994, he worked with “Abu Daoud,” in 2009, he was in contact with two officers, “Jalal” and “Jihad,” and in 2016, he worked with “Shafik” while in 2017 he operated with “Zaher” and “Riad." The video showed a photo of Israeli Intelligence officer “Shafik,” who operates with the apparatus of Beit Hanoun, in north Gaza. M12 admitted he first met with Shafik in December 2016 and later in June 2017. His third meeting with the Israeli officer was in the city of Netanya in the Occupied Territories. Another collaborator code-named “R24” admitted that he was in contact with an Israeli officer known as “Abu Amir,” who said in a local accent: “We paid a lot of money in Gaza so the people revolt against the Hamas government. However, all our plans have failed. Instead of demonstrating against the government in Gaza, people went to the border and created problems.” He was referring to the Great March of Return, which are weekly protests on the border with Israel, held by Palestinians seeking to regain access to land, now in Israel, from which their ancestors were forced to flee during the country's creation in 1948. The Gaza internal apparatus did not reveal the number of collaborators that it has recently arrested.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2210631/hamas-says-it-has-detained-israel-spies-gaza
