Syrian political prisoner wins UNESCO prize
17 March 2000

The BBC reported today that the United Nations body responsible for education, science and culture (UNESCO) has awarded its annual international press freedom prize to an imprisoned Syrian journalist. Nizar Nayyouf, a former editor of the weekly magazine, Sawt al-Democratiiyya (Voice of Democracy) was sentenced to ten years in prison with hard labor in 1992 for "disseminating false information" and membership in a banned organization, the Committee for the Defense of Democratic Freedom. UNESCO released a statement saying it was concerned about the health of Nayyouf's, who has been weakened by torture and is still held in solitary confinement at Mezze military prison in Damascus.

Jordanian Security Forces Clash with Disaffected Tribesmen
24 March 2000

Jordanian security forces clashed with armed members of the Badul tribe following the government's demolition of a house built without a license in a restricted "tourist area." Three tribesmen were killed and several dozen wounded.

Syria releases Jordanian detainees
26 March 2000

Relatives of Jordanian citizens illegally held in Syria said today that 16 detainees were released over the last month. Imad Sharqawi, a lawyer and spokesman for the families said that six of the freed prisoners have returned to Jordan--the others either lack the necessary travel documents to return or have opted to stay. Some of those released had spent up to 20 years in Syrian prisons, mainly due to their political beliefs. Nearly 700 Jordanians remain illegally imprisoned in Syria, as well as up to 1,500 Lebanese and several thousand Palestinians.

Arab countries are world's largest weapons market
29 March 2000

The International Institute for Strategic Studies published statistics indicating that Arab countries constitute the world's leading arms market, both in absolute terms and in relation to gross domestic product. Military expenditures were $44.4 billion in 1998, a rise of 9.1% from $40.7 billion in 1997, and constituted 7.4% of the Arab world's GDP--significantly above the world average of 2.4%.

New Iraqi opposition group launches attack
4 April 2000

Al-Quds al-Arabi reported today that a hitherto unknown opposition group called the "Islamic Observer's Group Inside Iraq" [majmu'at al-raqib al-islami dakhil al-iraq] claimed responsibility for an attack in a Palestinian neighborhood of Baghdad. According to a statement issued by the group, Qusay Hussein, the son of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and other high officials were the intended targets of the attack, which claimed the lives of eight people.

Hamas upgrades its presence in Damascus
8 April 2000

Palestinian sources said today that Damascus has permitted the militant Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas to increase its political activities in Syria. A senior PA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that Hamas Politburo member Musa Abu Marzook and his aides have been allowed to work from Damascus after meeting last week with Syrian officials. Marzook and other senior Hamas officials were expelled from Jordan last August. The PA official expressed concern that Damascus will sponsor a new wave of armed attacks against Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian rejectionist groups in order to extract greater concessions from Israel.