Chronology February 16, 1977-May 15, 1977

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Source: Middle East Journal, Vol. 31, No. 3 (Summer, 1977), pp. 332-347
Published by: Middle East Institute
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4325649 .
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 CHRONOLOGY
February16, 1977-May
Arab Israeli Conflict
1977
Feb.16: US Secretaryof State CyrusVance met with
IsraeliPremierYitzhakRabinin Israeland said that
unless the Palestine LiberationOrganization(PLO)
revisedits nationalcharterto recognizeIsrael'sright
to exist it had no basis for participationin a re-
convenedGeneva peace conference.[NYT)
Feb. 17: US Secretaryof State Vance met with Egyp-
tian PresidentAnwaral-Sadatin Cairo.[NYT)
EgyptianPresidentSadatsaid that the Palestinians
should form "anofficialand declaredlink"with Jor-
dan before the reconveningof the Geneva peace
talks. [NYTI
A White House spokesmansaidthat US President
Jimmy Carterhad cancelleda sale of CBU-72 con-
cussionbombs to Israel.[NYT]
Egyptian Foreign Minister Isma'il Fahmi met
separatelywith Vance and PLO leader Yasir 'Arafat
about the possibilityof changesin the PLO national
charter.[NYT)
Feb. 18: Vance met with Lebanese President Ilyas
Sarkis and other Lebanese officials in Beirut.
[NYTI
Feb.19: Vance arrivedin Riyadhfor talkswith Crown
PrinceFahd. [NYT]
Feb.20: SyrianPresidentHafizal-Asadmet with Vance
in Damascus.[NYT)
Feb.23: JordanianPremierMudarBedranand a PLO
delegationheaded by KhalidFahumended a 2 day
session of talks. [FBIS]
Feb.24: The New YorkTimescited Jordanianofficials
as saying that Jordan and the PLO had reached
agreement"in principle"on the need for a link be-
tweenJordananda proposedPalestinianstate.[NYT}
Feb. 25: The Israeli LaborParty adopted an election
platform which pledged "readinessfor territorial
compromise"with Egypt,Jordanand Syria.[NYT]
List of Abbreviations
CSM, The Christian ScienceMonitor; FBIS, Foreign Broadcast Information Service Daily Report-Middle East and
North Africa; JP, The Jerusalem Post; MEED, Middle East EconomicDigest; MEES, Middle East EconomicSurvey;
NYT, The New York Times; TDN, The Turkish Daily News; WP,The Washington Post.
332
15, 1977
US President Carter met with UN Secretary
GeneralKurtWaldheimin Washingtonon the Middle
Eastsituation.[NYT]
Mar. 3: The Executive Council of the International
LaborOrganization(ILO)voted 31 to 22 with 2 ab-
stentions to acceed to the request of the ILO
directorgeneralthathe dropan investigationinto the
situation of workers in the occupied Arab terri-
tories. [NYTI
Mar.6: Israelisoldiersusedteargasto breakup demon-
strations by students in the West Bank town of
Ramallah.[NYT]
Mar. 7: Cartertold Israeli PremierRabin that Israel
should have "defensible borders" to insure that
agreements"mightnever be violated."[NYT}
Israeli troops broke up demonstrationsby Arab
youths who were backinga hunger strike by Arab
prisonersin Israelijails. [NYT]
Mar. 8: Rabin rejected any participationby the PLO
at a Geneva peace conference, even as part of a
Jordaniandelegation,and stressedIsrael'sinsistence
on a "realpeace."[NYT]
About 200 Arab inmatesat a jail in Jenin began
a hungerstriketo protestprisonconditions.[NYT]
Shopkeepersconducteda businessstrike and stu-
dents held demonstrationsin Ramallah.[NYT}
Mar. 9: Cartersaid that there would have to be "sub-
stantialwithdrawalof Israel'spresent control over
territories"and that there would probablybe "some
minor adjustments"in its 1967 borderswith Arab
nations.[NYT]
Mar. 12: Vance met with the Ambassadorsfrom
Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Syria to clarify US
policy towardsthe Middle East. [NYT]
The PalestineNational Councilopened in Cairo.
Sadat pledged to the Council that "we will not
cede a single inch of Arabland."[NYT]
Israeli policemen broke up demonstrationsby
Arab students in the West Bank towns of Nablus
and Ramallah.[NYT]
Mar. 13: Rabin said in a taped interviewthat Carter
had called on Israel to return "more territories"
than"wewant to give." [NYT]
 CHRONOLOGY 333
Delegates at the Palestine National Council re- but thatno Arableadercould"cedeeven a centimeter
elected Khilid Fahumto be its President.[NYT} of territoryto Israel."[NYT]
Mar. 16: Cartersaid that 3 prerequisitesfor a Middle PLOChairman'Arafatarrivedin Moscowfor talks
Eastpeace were recognitionof Israel'srightsto exist, with Soviet leaders. [NYTI
establishmentof "permanentborders,"and "ahome- Apr. 5: Sadit met separatelywith Carterand Defense
land for the Palestinianrefugees."[WP) SecretaryHarold Brown. He urged the US to sell
Mar. 17: After delivering a speech before the UN Egyptmilitaryequipment.[NYT)
General Assembly,Cartershook handswith a PLO Apr. 6: Sadatsaid that "everythingwill be normalized"
representativeat a reception.[NYT) betweenIsraelandthe Arabstatesonce a finalsettle-
Mar. 20: The Palestine National Council ended its ment between the 2 sides was signed. [NYT]
final session and by a vote of 194 to 13 adopted a Apr.7: 'Arafatmet withSovietCommunistPartyleader
15 point declarationrejectingrecognitionof Israel, Brezhnevin Moscow. [NYT)
calling for the establishmentof an "independent Aprl. 17: Israeli soldiers used tear gas to break up
nationalstate"on "nationalsoil," authorizingPales- demonstrationsby Arabs in Nablus. The demon-
tinian attendanceat a peace conference and calling strationswere to protest an attempt by the Jewish
for continuation of the "armed struggle" against Defense League (JDL) to build a settlement near
Israel.The PLO Charterwas not amended.[NYT} Nablus. [NYT}
Mar. 21: SovietCommunistPartyleaderLeonidBrezh- Apr. 19: SyrianPresidentAsad ended 2 days of talks
nev outlined a Middle East plan which included with Soviet leaders in Moscow on the Middle East
Israeli withdrawal"in stages"to the 1967 bounda- situation.[NYT}
riesandsaid"demilitarized zones"couldbe createdon Apr. 24: A bomb exploded on a bus headingtowards
both sides of the borders.[JP} Beersheba,injuring28. [NYTI
Mar. 23: Heads of State of Yemen, South Yemen,
Apr.25: King Husaynmet with Carterin Washington.
Sudan and Somalia ended a 2 day conference on They discussedthe questionof Palestinianrepresen-
Red Sea security at Ta'izz, Yemen, by issuing a tationin futurepeace negotiations.[NYT)
joint communiquewhich "underlinedthe need to
consolidate Arab solidarityto confront Israel'sag- Apr. 26: King Husayn and Carter concluded their
gressivepolicy."[NYTT talks.Cartersaid that unless a "strongpossibilityfor
Mar. 25: The UN SecurityCouncilopened a debateon substantialachievements"could be seen it would be
the MiddleEast. WNYTI better "not to have the Geneva conference at all."
Mar. 30: The Jerusalem Post reportedthat 3 Arab and [NYTI
2 West Germanterroristswho hadattemptedto shoot Apr. 27: King Husaynspoke before a luncheonspon-
down an El Al aircraftoutside of Israel in 1976 soredby the MiddleEastInstituteandthe American-
were being held in Israeland would be tried before Arab Associationfor Commerceand Industryand
a militarycourt. [JP} said thatJordanwould "respectthe decision of the
About 10,000 IsraeliArabsanda numberof Jewish Palestinianpeople" as to the type of homelandthey
sympathizersdemonstratedin the Israeli town of wanted.[NYT)
Arraba to protest Israeli policy of expropriating May 1: An Israeli militaryspokesmansaid that JDL
Arabowned land. [NYT) head RabbiMeir Kahanewould not be permittedto
Protests in sympathy for the Arraba demon- visit West Bank towns. [NYT)
strations were held in some West Bank towns. PLO spokesman Firiuq Qaddmiimsaid the PLO
[NYT) would have to be issued with a separateinvitation
Aprl. 1.' West GermanChancellorHelmut Schmidtsaid to the Genevapeace conference.[NYTI
during a visit to West Germanyby Sadat that the May 3: Reports that a Jewish settlement might be
Palestiniansmust take partin a futureGeneva peace founded nearbyresultedin Arab demonstrationsin
conference. [NYT) the West Bank town of Qabatiya.Clashesbetween
Apr. 3: Sadat said in Paris that all Arabs were in demonstratorsand troops left a boy and a woman
agreementthat there should be an "officialand de- dead. [NYT)
clared relation"between the new Palestinianstate The Israeli army reported that 2 SyrianMIG-17
andJordan.[NYT) planes had been fired upon when they flew over
The New York Times reportedthatJordanianKing Israeliterritory.[NYT}
Husayn had called for a delay in the reconvening 'Arafatmet with Saudi ArabianKing Khalid and
of a Geneva peace conferenceto give Arabgovern- Crown Prince Fahd in Riyadhto indicate the PLO
ments more time to work out a unitedstand.[NYT) position on the situationin the MiddleEast. [NYTI
Apr. 4: Sadattold Carterthat the Palestinianquestion May5: TheNew YorkTimescited "Palestiniaft sources"
was the "core and crux"of the Arab Israelidispute as sayingtalksbetween a PLOdelegationand repre-
and that "no progress"could be achievedas long as sentativesof Israel'sCommunistPartyhadbeen held
it remainedunsolved. [NYT) in Pragueduringthe week. [NYT)
Le Monde published an interview with Sadat in May 6: JDL leader Rabbi Kahanewas arrestedafter
which he said that "minorrectifications"could be tryingto enter the West Bank. [NYT)
negotiated on Israel'sborder with the West Bank, TheNew YorkTimes reportedthatAsadhadsaidhe
334 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
would be willing to discuss the concept of "demili-
tarizedzones"in the MiddleEast. [NYT)
May 9: Cartermet with Asad in Geneva and latersaid
there "mustbe a resolutionof the Palestineproblem
and a homelandfor the Palestinians."[NYT)
May 10: Ivory Coast President Felix Houphouet-
Boignymet with IsraeliForeignMinisterYigalAllon
in Paris.[FBISJ
SaudiArabianCrownPrinceFahdsaidhe believed
that Palestinianleaders would be willing to accept
"anypeacefulsolution"to the MiddleEastproblemif
the solution included"the establishmentof a Pales-
tinian state on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip."
[NYT)
May 11: Vancemet with IsraeliForeignMinisterAllon
in LondonandpledgedUS commitmentto a "special
relationship"with Israel.[NYT)
May 12: Cartersaid the US had "specialsecurityre-
sponsibilities"to Israel and that "specialtreatment"
would be given to Israelwith regardto its purchase
and co-productionof advancedweapons.[NYT)
May 15: Israelitroops usingteargas broke up demon-
strationsby Arabsin Nablus. [NYT)
General
(Seealso,Egypt,Iran,Pakistan)
1977
Feb.28: FinanceMinistersof the Organizationof Petro-
leum ExportingCountries(OPEC)met in Viennato
discussaid for developingnationsand other financial
matters.[NYTJ
US Secretaryof State Cyrus Vance said the ad-
ministrationof PresidentJimmyCarterwouldsupport
passageof a law barringUS companiesfrom partic-
ipatingin the Arabboycott of Israel. [NYTI
Mar. 11: The Ambassadorsto the US from Egypt,
Pakistan and Iran took part in negotiations with
Muslim terroristswho were holding hostages in 3
buildingsin Washington.[NYTI
Mar. 20: The New York Times reported that repre-
sentativesof the B'naiB'rithAnti-DefamationLeague
and the BusinessRound Table had met in February
and Marchto work out common "parameters" for
US legislationconcerningthe Arabboycottof Israel.
[NYT)
Mar.21: A summitconferencebetweenAlgeria,Libya,
Chad, Niger and Mali ended in Niamey, Niger.
[MEEDI
Apr.14: TheNew YorkTimesreportedthatCopticPope
ShenoudaIII hadarrivedin New YorkfromCairoon
a visit to North America.[NYTJ
Apr.19: ArabFinanceMinistersfrom21 countriesmet
in Abu Dhabiandagreedto createan ArabMonetary
Fundwith a capitalizationof $875m. [MEED]
Apr.20: The US House of Representativesvoted 364
to 43 to approve a measure to prohibit US com-
panies from complying with the Arab boycott of
Israel. [NYT)
Apr. 24: The New York Times cited a Kuwayti Ministry
of Transport spokesman as saying US companies
would lose much of their Arab markets if US anti
boycott legislation were passed. [NYT]
May 1: Polisario Front guerrillas raided the Mauritanian
iron mining town of Zouerate. Three French na-
tionals working there were killed and 6 captured.
[NYT]
May 2. France evacuated 449 dependents of technicians
working at Zouerate. [NYTI
May 3. Representatives of major Jewish and
business organizations announced agreement on de-
tails of proposed legislation to prohibit US firms
from complying with the Arab boycott. [NYT}
May 5: The US Senate voted by 90 to 1 to approve a
compromise bill that would prohibit US companies
from complying with the Arab boycott of Israel.
[NYT'
Shareholders of the Mobil Corporation defeated
a resolution proposed by 6 shareholders which would
have required Mobil to report its policies towards
compliance with the Arab boycott of Israel. [NYT]
May 8. The New YorkTimes reported that the US State
Department, in a letter to Senator Jacob Javits, had
accused Libya, Iraq and South Yemen of actively
supporting terrorist groups. [NYT]
May 14: Representatives of Iran, Turkey, Britain,
Pakistan and the US opened a meeting of the Central
Treaty Organization (CENTO) in Tehran. [NYTI
May 15: Representatives at the CENTO meeting
pledged "continued support" for the organization and
said that differences between member states were re-
garded as "outside the scope of CENTO." [NYT}
Petroleum Affairs
(See also, Iran)
1977
Feb. 18: The Economic Commission of the Organization
of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) ended a 5
day meeting in Vienna. [MEED]
Apr. 21: Venezuelan President Carlos Perez arrived in
Qatar on the first leg of a tour of Gulf oil producing
nations. [MEES]
May 11: The Chairman of the Arabian American Oil
Company (ARAMCO), FrankJungers, said that Saudi
Arabia planned to raise its capacity to produce oil
to 16m barrels a day by 1982. [NYT]
May 13: Middle East EconomicSurvey reported that 11
OPEC nations had agreed to drop a planned 5% oil
price increase in July at the urging of Venezuelan
President Perez. [NYT]
May 14: Kuwayti Oil Minister 'Abd al-Muttalib al-
Kazimi denied reports that 11 OPEC nations had
agreed to forego a planned 5% oil price rise. [NYT]
 CHRONOLOGY
Afghanistan
1977
Feb.24: President Mohammad Daud promulgated a new
constitution. [FBIS]
Feb.26: President Daud disbanded the Cabinet and the
Central Revolutionary Committee. [MEED]
Mar. 13: It was announced that the following had been
appointed members of a new government:
Ghulam Haydar Rasuli: National Defense
Seyyed Abdol Elah: Finance
Abdol Majid: State
Wafiyullah Sami'i:Justice
Abdol Qadir: Interior
Ghulam Siddiq Muhibbi: Higher Education
Mohammad Ibrahim Majid: Education
Mohammad Khan Jalallar:Commerce
Azizollah Wasefi: Agriculture
Abdol Tawab Asefi: Mines & Industry
Ghausuddin Faeq: Public Works
Abdol Rahim Navin: Information & Culture
Ali Ahmad Khurram: Planning
Abdol Karim Attayee: Communications
Abdollah Omar: Public Health
Emarn Mohammad Mohammadi: Water & Power
Abdol Qayyum: BorderAffairs
Wahid Abdollah: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
[FBIS]
Mar. 19: The members of the new government were
sworn in. [MEED]
Mar. 23: A Soviet trade delegation began a trip to
Afghanistan to hold talks on bilateral trade. [FBIS}
Mar. 29: The Christian ScienceMonitor said Pakistan had
announced that an agreement had been reached in
Kabul to resume air links between Pakistan and
Afghanistan. [CSMJ
Apr. 12: Daud arrived in the Soviet Union for talks on
bilateral relations. [FBISJ
Apr. 15: Daud ended his visit to Moscow. It was an-
nounced that Afghanistan would receive Soviet eco-
nomic aid under the terms of an economic co-
operation agreement. [MEED]
Algeria
(See also, General)
1977
Feb. 25: Voters went to the polls to fill 261 seats in
the Popular National Assembly from among 783
candidates chosen by the Front de Liberation Na-
tionale. [NYT]
Feb. 26: The Interior Ministry said 78.5% of the regis-
tered voters had participated in the elections. [NYT]
335
Mar. 1: Cuban President Fidel Castro arrived in Algiers
and met with President Houari Boumedienne.
[FBIS]
Mar. 5: At the opening session of the Popular National
Assembly, Rabah Bitat was elected the Assembly
President. [MEED}
Mar. 11: A delegation from the Popular Front for the
Liberation of Oman left Algiers after talks with
officials of the Front de Liberation Nationale.
[MEED]
Mar. 30. Eight parliamentary commissions were
set up to deal with economic, social and cultural
policy. [MEED]
Mar. 31: Cuban President Castro arrived in Algiers and
met with President Boumedienne. [NYT]
Apr. 6. Tunisian Foreign Minister Habib Chatti ar-
rived in Algiers for talks with Algerian leaders.
[FBIS]
Apr. 27: A government reorganization was completed:
Houari Boumedienne: President, Premier& Defense
Abdel-Aziz Bouteflika: Foreign
Mohammad Bin-Ahmad Abdel-Ghani: Interior
Belaid Abdel-Salam: Light Industry
Mohammad Liassine: Heavy Industry
Said Ahmad Ghozali: Energy & Petrochemicals
Ahmad Bin-Cherif: Environment
Redha Malek: Information & Culture
Ahmad Draia: Transport
Hajj Yala: Commerce
Mohammad Bin-Yahya: Finance
Boualem Bin-Hamouda: Public Works
Mohammad Aouchiche: Housing & Construction
Mohammad Zerguini: Post & Telecommunications
Ait Messaouedene: Health
Abdel-Latif Rahal: Higher Education
Mustafa Locheraf: Primary & SecondaryEducation
Mohammad Amir: Labor & Vocational Training
Djamel Houhou: Youth & Sports
Mohammad Said Mazouzi: Veterans
Abdel-Ghani al-Uqbi: Tourism
Abdel-Malik Bin-Habilis:Justice
Mohammad al-Taybi al-Arbi: Agriculture & Agrarian
Reform
Kamal Abdallah Khodja: Statefor Planning
Ahmad Talib al-Ibrahimi: PresidencyAdvisor
Mouloud Qassem: Presidency Minister of Religious
Affairs
Ismail Hamdani: Secretary-Generalto Government
Abdel-Majid Allahum: SecretaryGeneral to President
[MEED]
May 3. Libyan General Secretariat member 'Abd al-
Salim Jallid met with Boumedienne in Algeria.
[FBIS]
Bahrayn
1977
Feb. 23: South Korean Finance Minister Yong-hwan
Kim arrived in Manama on a 2 day visit. [FBIS]
336 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
Mar. 8: Three men convicted for their part in the
murderof the editor of Al-Mawaqifwere executed.
[FBIS]
Apr. 6: New Zealand Premier Robert Muldoon left (Seealso, ArabIsraeliConflict,General,Iran,Kuwayt,
Manamaat the end of a 3 day visit to Bahrayn.
[FBIS]
Apr. 14: Premier Shaykh Khalifah bin Salman Al
Khalifahleft Manamafor a privatevisit to London. 1977
[FBIS] Feb. 19: The Soviet Communist Party newspaper
Apr. 21: Bahrayn and France signed a cultural co-
operation agreementand an economic cooperation
agreement.[FBIS]
Cyprus
1977
Feb.17: US Presidentialenvoy ClarkCliffordarrivedin
Athens for talks with Greek leaders on Cyprus.
[NYT]
Feb.21: US Presidentialenvoy Clifford conferredin
Ankarawith Turkish Foreign Minister Ihsan Sabri
and laterwithTurkishpremierSuleyman
Cvag'layangil
Demirel on the Cyprusquestion. [NYTI
Feb. 23: Clifford met with Foreign Minister John
Christofidesin Cyprus.[NYT}
Feb.25: TurkishCypriotleaderRaufDenkta?met with
Clifford.[NYTI
At the end of his fact finding mission Clifford
indicatedthat"realprogress"on the Cyprussituation
had been reached.[NYT}
Feb. 26: Clifford arrived in London for talks with
BritishForeignSecretaryDavid Owen on the Cyprus
question. [NYT]
Mar. 16: The New York Times cited foreign reports
as saying that US PresidentJimmy Carterhad sent
apologies to President Archbishop Makarios for
allegations in the US press that Makarios had
acceptedCIA funds. [NYT]
Mar. 31: Representativesof the Greek and Turkish
Cypriotcommunitiesopened negotiationsin Vienna.
[NYT]
Apr. 1: Turkish and Greek Cypriot negotiatorseach
rejected the proposalsof the other but agreed that
talksshould continue. [NYT]
Apr. 3: ArchbishopMakariossuffered a "mild"heart
attack.[NYT]
Apr. 4. Talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriots re-
sumed in Vienna aftera weekendrecess. [NYT]
Apr. 5: Greek CypriotnegotiatorTassos Papodopulos
said the peace talks had revealed "unbridgeable"
differences between Turkish and Greek Cypriots.
[NYT]
Apr. 7: Talks between the 2 Cypriot communities
ended inconclusively.[NYT]
Egypt
Libya,Qatar,SaudiArabia,Sudan)
Pravda published an editorial accusing President
Anwar al-Sadit of spreading "lies, slander and
falsification" about the Soviet role in Egypt.
[NYT)
Feb.22: Al-Akhbar charged that the Pravda editorial was
an indication of the Soviet Union's "flagrantim-
perialistintention."[NYTI
PresidentSadit met with FrenchForeignMinister
Louisde Guiringaudin Egypt.[NYTI
Feb.27: Sadatsaidthatthe Soviet Union had informed
him that a shipment of 50 MIG-21 fighter planes
would be returnedto Egyptafter overhaul.[NYT)
A bomb blast in an AlexandriaHotel wounded 9
people. Police arrestedan alleged "Libyanagent."
[MEED]
Mar. 3: Foreign Ministers from about 60 Arab and
Africannationsmet in Cairoto work on a program
for politicaland economiccooperation.[NYT)
Mar. 6: Araband AfricanForeignMinistersreacheda
compromiseon the question of financialcontribu-
tions by oil producingArab nations to developing
Africanstates. [NYTI
Mar. 7: A conference of African and Arab leaders
opened in Cairo. The Saudi Arabiandelegate an-
nounced Saudi Arabiawould allocate$1 billion for
assistanceto Africannations.[NYT}
Mar.8: The delegatesof Kuwayt,Qatarand the UAA
to the Arab African Conference in Cairo pledged
$450m in financialassistanceto black African na-
tions. [NYTI
Mar. 9: The conference of Africanand Arab nations
ended in Cairo.[NYT)
Mar. 11: Middle East News Agency reported that 5
personshadconfessedto beingLibyanagentssent to
Cairoto commit sabotage.[NYTI
Mar. 22: Spanish King Juan Carlos ended a 5 day
visit to Egypt during which he had held talks on
bilateralrelationswith Sadat.[MEED)
Mar. 26: Egypt closed its borderswith Libyaand re-
fused entry to Libyannationals.[MEED)
Mar. 30: Singer'Abd al-HalimH5lfi?died in London,
aged 46. [NYTI
Mar. 31: Sadit flew to West Germanyfor talks with
Germanleaders.[NYT]
Apr. 2: Sadatmet with FrenchPresidentVal6ryGis-
cardd'Estaingin France.[NYT}
Apr.3: An economiccooperationandtradeagreement
betweenEgyptand New Zealandwas signedin Cairo
during a visit by New Zealand Premier Robert
Muldoon.[FBIS]
Sadat arrived in Washingtonfor talks with US
officialson the MiddleEastsituation.[WP]
 CHRONOLOGY
Apr. 4: Deputy Premier for Economic Affairs 'Abd
al-Mun'imal-Qaysinireturnedto Cairoafter a fund
raisingtour of 4 Gulf states. [MEES)
Apr. 12: Sudanese Vice President al-Rashidal-Tahir
left Cairoat the end of a visit. [FBIS)
Apr.14: Vice PresidentHusniMubarakbegana 14 na-
tion tour to Middle Easternand Europeannations.
[MEED]
Apr. 17: Indictmentsagainst57 persons allegedly in-
volved in the Januaryfood riots were announced,
bringingthe numberof accusedto 397. [NYT]
Apr. 20: Deputy PremierQaysuinireturned to Cairo
from Abu Dhabi after a 6 day tour to Kuwaytand
the UAA. [FBIS]
Apr. 21: 'Abd al-Razzaq'Abd al-Majidwas appointed
PlanningMinister.[FBISJ
Apr. 25: Vice President Mubarakmet with French
PresidentGiscardd'Estaingin Parison the situation
in the MiddleEastand North Africa.[FBIS]
Apr. 26: British Foreign SecretaryDavid Owen met
with Sadatin Cairoand left for Damascus.[FBIS}
May 1: Sadat said he would send pilots to Zaire to
help put down a rebellion in Shaba Province.
[NYT]
May2: About 50 Egyptianpilotsandmechanicsarrived
in Zaireto aidgovernmenttroopsin Shabaprovince.
[NYT]
May 6: AustrianChancellorBruno Kreiskymet with
Sadatin al-TahirahPalace.[FBIS]
May 11: RumanianPresident Nicolae Ceausescuar-
rived in Cairo on a 3 day visit for talks on bilateral
relations.[MEED]
May 12: Western and Arab nations ended a 2 day
conferencein Parisand pledged "slightlyincreased"
aid to Egypt. [NYT]
Iran
(Seealso, General)
1977
Feb. 25: Iran and India signed an agreement for
cooperationin the peaceful uses of nuclearenergy.
[MEEDI
Mar.2: TheNew YorkTimescited the NationalIranian
Oil Companyas sayingoil exports had risen 30.4%
in Februaryto an average of 5.7m barrels a day.
[NYT}
Mar. 10: The LondonDaily Telegraph reportedthatan
oil deal had been signed giving Iran the option of
supplying20% of Japan'soil needs. [MEED]
Mar. 12: EgyptianPremierMamduh.Silim arrivedin
Tehran on a 5 day visit for talks on bilateral
relations.[MEED]
An agreement to increase bilateral cooperation
was signed in Caracasduring a visit to Venezuela
by Minister of Economy & Finance Huishang-i
An4lri. [MEED]
337
Pakistan,Turkey and Iran, member states of the
Regional Cooperation for Development, met in
Tehranto sign the Izmirtreaty.[FBIS}
Mar. 22: An earthquakestruck southernIran causing
heavydamageto the port of Bandar'Abbas.[NYT]
Mar. 23: Furtherearth tremorstook place along the
southern coast but no further casualtieswere re-
ported. [NYTI
Mar. 24: The official death toll in the earthquake
rose to 130. Further tremors rocked the Persian
Gulf area. [NYT}
Apr.6: An earthquakestrucka mountainregionsouth-
west of Isfahan.[NYT)
Apr. 8: The death toll for the April earthquake
reached352. [NYT}
Apr.11: The US and Iransigneda nuclearcooperation
pact. [NYT}
Apr. 30: Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez
departed from Tehran at the end of an official
visit. [FBIS}
May 13: US Secretaryof State CyrusVance met with
the Shahduringa visit to Iran.[MEED]
Iraq
(Seealso, General,Kuwayt,Libya,Oman,Qatar,
SaudiArabia,Turkey)
1977
Feb. 22: A joint delegation from Yemen and South
Yemen left Baghdad after a 4 day visit to seek
financialaid. [MEED}
Mar. 1: A 545 kilometeroil pipelinelinkingthe Bagh-
dad and Basrahrefinerieswas opened. [MEED)
Mar. 4: MiddleEast Economic Digest reported that a
specialtribunalhad sentenced8 people to deathand
15 to life imprisonmentfor theirpartin disturbances
in the cities of Najaf and Karbala.The court ac-
quitted 87 defendants.[MEED)
Mar. 9: Turkish Energy Minister Salahattin Kilis
ended a 3 day visit to Baghdadduringwhichtalkson
oil matterswere held. [FBIS}
South Yemeni Planning Minister 'Abd al-'Aziz
'Abd al-Waliended a 2 day visit to Iraq.[FBIS]
Mar. 23: The eighth regional congress of the Ba'th
Party held an extraordinarysession and expelled
Fulayyih.Hasanal-Jasimand 'IzzatMus.tafafrom the
regional commandand from the party. Burhanal-
Din 'Abdal-Rah.man andMuhyi'Abdal-Husaynwere
elected as new members of the regionalcommand.
[FBIS]
A decree was issued relieving 'Izzat Mu4tafa
of his duties as Minister of Municipalitiesand
FulayyihHasan al-Jasimas Ministerof State. Taha
Yasin Ramadanwas appointed acting Minister of
Municipalities.[FBIS)
338 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
Mar. 24: Muhyi 'Abd al-Husayn was appointed
Minister of State. [FBISI
Mar. 29: The Kurdistan Democratic Party announced
in London that Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq had
released 7 foreigners they had held hostage. [WP)
Apr. 4: The Iraqi News Agency reported that 10 men
had been executed for their part in an assassination
attempt on a district governor in Sulaymaniyyah.
[MEED]
It was announced that about 40,000 Kurds who
had been resettled in the south in 1975 would be al-
lowed to go back to their homes. [MEED]
Apr. 5. A decree appointed Karim Mahmud as Youth
Minister and Latif Nasif Jasim as Minister of Agri-
culture and Agrarian reform. Burhan al-Din'Abd al-
Rahman was appointed Minister of State for Co-
ordinating Affairs. [FBIS]
Apr. 30: Talks between Venezuelan President Carlos
Andres Perez and President Ahmad Hasan al-Bakr
began in Baghdad. [FBIS]
May 5: A delegation headed by Interior Minister
'Izzat IbrThim returned to Baghdad at the end of a
tour to Gulf states. [FBIS]
Israel
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict, General, Lebanon)
1977
Feb. 16: The Likud Opposition Bloc introduced a mo-
tion in the Knesset to order an inquiry into the Labor
Party's finances. The proposal was referred to com-
mittee. [NYT]
Feb. 17: More than 35,000 engineers and teachers went
on strike. [NYT]
Feb. 20: Rabbi Yisrael Alter, leader of the Gur sect of Apr. 16: Israel and Portugal announced they would
Hasidim, died in Jerusalem, aged 82. [NYT]
Feb. 22: The Labor Party nominating convention
opened in Jerusalem. [NYT]
Feb. 23. The Labor Party convention met in Tel Aviv.
Premier Yitzhak Rabin defeated Defense Minister
Shimon Peres for the party leadership by a vote of
1,445 to 1,404. [NYT]
Feb. 24: Premier Rabin said he would include Defense
Minister Peres in the Cabinet if he were returned
to office. [NYT]
Mar. 2: The pound was devalued by about 2%. [JP]
Mar. 6: Rabin arrived in Washington for talks with US
officials. [NYT]
Mar. 15: Lea Rabin, the Premier's wife, admitted she
had violated currency laws for 4 years by maintaining
a personal dollar account in a US bank. [NYTI
Mar. 20: Rabin said the personal bank account in the
US had been held jointly by himself and his wife.
[NYT]
Mar. 21: The pound was devalued by 1.8%. [JP]
Mar. 22: Employees of Israel's 3 ports began a general
strike. [JPI
Mar. 24: Port workers were issued government orders
to return to work. [JP]
Mar. 28: Former Defense Minister Moshe Dayan an-
nounced he would not run for re-election to the
Knesset on the Labor Party ticket. [NYTI
Mar. 31: French Foreign Minister Louis de Guiringaud
had talks in Jerusalem with Israeli leaders. [FBIS]
Apr. 3: The New York Times reported that prominent
Israeli politicians had been soliciting money in the
US for political campaigns in Israel without register-
ing their representatives as foreign agents. [NYT]
Former Defense Minister Dayan announced he
would support the Labor Party in the upcoming
elections. [NYTI
Apr. 8: Rabin submitted his resignation as Labor Party
candidate for Premier after newspaper reports had
accused him of lying about the amount of currency
in the illegal accounts. [NYT]
Apr. 9: Foreign Minister Yigal Allon said he would not
seek the Labor Party nomination to the Premier-
ship. [NYTI
Apr. 10: Peres was nominated by the Labor Party as
its candidate for Premier. [NYT]
Apr. 11: The Finance Ministry fined Rabin $1,500 for
his part in maintaining illegal bank accounts in the
US. [NYT]
The Mapam Party voted to remain in the Labor
Alignment. [NYT]
Apr. 12: Attorney General Aharon Barak issued an
opinion that the law required Rabin to remain in
office until the elections. [NYT]
Apr. 14: Lea Rabin was formally accused in Tel Aviv
district court of having violated Israeli currency
regulations by maintaining dollar accounts in the US.
[NYTI
Two Israelis occupied part of the West German
Embassy in Tel Aviv to protest the slowness of a
trial of former Nazis in Dusseldorf. [NYT]
establish diplomatic relations. [JP]
Apr. 17: The Histadrut expelled the Marine Officers'
Union after it defied a Histadrut order to end the
port strike and enter into negotiations. [JP]
Rabin announced he would take a leave of absence
for the remainder of his term. [NYT]
Lea Rabin pleaded guilty to violating currency
laws and was fined $27,000. [NYT]
The New York Times reported that representa-
tives of 2 Israeli political parties had registered as
foreign agents with the US Justice Department in
order to continue fundraising activities in the US.
[NYT]
Apr. 22: Rabin began an extended leave of absence and
Peres took over his duties. [NYT]
Apr. 23: A Finance Ministry spokesman said authorities
were investigating possible foreign currency viola-
tions by former Foreign Minister Abba Eban. [NYT}
Apr. 25: Democratic Movement for Change leader
Yigael Yadin filed a libel suit against the editor of
Haolam Hazeh and one of its reporters after being
 CHRONOLOGY
cleared of charges made by the paper of violating
currency laws. [NYT}
Apr. 27: A report by the State Comptroller accused the
Israeli armed forces of slackness and said the
findings pointed to the "need to examine in depth
the current system of command." [NYT]
Apr. 28: European and US intelligence officials said
they were convinced that the cargo of a ship
carrying 200 tons of uranium ore in 1968 had been
diverted to Israel. [NYT}
Apr. 29. A spokesman for the Israeli Atomic Energy
Commission denied any Israeli connection with the
uranium shipment in 1968. [NYT]
May 10: A military helicopter crashed during training
exercises near Jericho, killing 54 soldiers. [NYT}
May 15: Peres and Likud Opposition Bloc leader
Menahem Begin took part in a televized debate.
[NYT}
Jordan
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict)
1977
Feb. 18: The Washington Post said that the US Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA) had been making secret an-
nual payments totalling millions of dollars to King
Husayn since 1957 in return for being permitted to
operate freely in Jordan. [WP]
A government spokesman called the Washington
Post allegations "a combination of fabrication and
distortion" and said the timing of the article indicated
a "deliberate attempt" to deny success to US
Secretary of State Cyrus Vance's visit to Jordan.
[NYT]
Mar. 8: King Ijusayn met with Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) leader Yasir 'Arafat in Cairo.
[NYT}
Mar. 12: It was announced that Jordan and South
Yemen had agreed to establish diplomatic relations
at the ambassadorial level. [MEED]
Mar. 16: Syrian Premier 'Abd al-Rahman Khulayfawi
and Foreign Minister'Abd al-Halim Khaddam arrived
in Jordan for talks on "complementarity and co-
ordination." [MEED]
Mar. 26. Spanish King Juan Carlos ended a 4 day visit
during which talks on bilateral cooperation were
held. [MEED]
Apr. 14: The Foreign Ministry announced that Jordan
and the People's Republic of China had decided to
establish diplomatic relations. [FBIS]
Apr. 24: King Ijusayn arrived in Washington for talks
with US officials on the Middle East situation. [WP]
339
Kuwayt
(See also, General, Petroleum Affairs, Egypt, Oman,
Saudi Arabia, Sudan)
1977
Mar. 28: Turkish Foreign Minister Ihsan Sabri
Caglayangil arrived in Kuwayt for talks on oil mat-
ters. [MEED]
Apr. 3: Defense Minister Shaykh Sa'd 'Abdallah Al
Sabah said Kuwayt had signed an arms deal for
"certain sophisticated weapons" with the Soviet
Union. [WPi
Apr. 5: Egyptian Deputy Premier for Financial and
Economic Affairs 'Abd al-Mun'im al-Qaysiuni ar-
rived in Kuwayt from Aba Dhabi for talks on
economic cooperation. [FBISJ
Apr. 23: Iraqi Interior Minister 'Izzat IbrIhim al-
Durl met with Ruler Shaykh Sabah. al-Salim Al
Sabah.in Kuwayt. [FBIS}
May 1. Foreign Minister Shaykh Sabah al-Ahmad al-
Jabir Al Sabah. left Kuwayt on a tour of Asian
countries. [FBIS}
May 7: Foreign Minister Shaykh Sabih ended a visit to
Peking. [FBIS}
Lebanon
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict, Libya, Syria, Turkey)
1977
Feb. 16. The Central Committee of al-Fath published a
statement blaming "erroneous behavior and con-
temptible practices" by Palestinian groups in con-
nection with fighting between Syrian and Palestinian
forces the week before. [NYTX
Feb. 17: French Foreign Minister Louis de Guiringaud
met with President Ilyis Sarkis and Premier Salim
al-Huss at the Presidential Palace. [FBIS]
Feb. 18: After meeting with President Sarkis, US
Secretary of State Cyrus Vance said $50m in US aid
would be made available to Lebanon for relief
efforts. [NYT)
Feb. 19: Christian forces captured the Muslim town of
Al Khiyam in the south. [MEED}
Feb. 22. Palestinian guerrillas were reported to have
sent reinforcements to southern Lebanon following
the fall of Al Khiyam. [NYT]
Feb. 23: Palestinian guerrilla leaders met with Syrian
President Hahfizal-Asad in Damascus on the situa-
tion in Lebanon. [NYT]
Feb. 26: The New York Times cited "government
sources" as saying that Palestinian guerrillas had
agreed to pull back from areas in the south bordering
on Israel in return for Syrian agreement not to
attack Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut. [NYT]
340 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
Mar. 7: Street fighting in the southern town of
Nabatiyah was reported to have occurred between
the Palestinian groups al-$a'iqah and the Popular
Front General Command. [NYT)
Mar. 8: It was reported that Palestinian "rejection-
ists" of the Popular Front General Command had
been defeated in Nabatiyah. [NYT)
Mar. 12: The New YorkTimes reported that press, radio
and television censorship had been relaxed. [NYT)
Mar. 14: Christian militiamen attacked the Muslim held
village of Kafr Kila in the south. [NYT}
Mar. 16: Progressive Socialist Party leader Kamal
Junblat was ambushed and killed with 2 com-
panions on his way to the village of Mukhtarah.
[NYT}
Mar. 17: Progressive Socialist Party leader Junblat was
buried in Mukhtarah. A general strike in Muslim
areas of Beirut closed shops. [NYT]
It was reported that at least 66 Christians had
been killed in revenge for the assassination of Jun-
blat. The identity of the assassins remained un-
known. [NYT)
Mar. 19: Christian leaders met with Sarkis to deliver
a "formal request" for the punishment of Druze
militants involved in the killings of Christian vil-
lagers. [NYT]
Christian militia forces were placed on alert.
[NYT]
Mar. 20: Walid Junblat toured mountain villages south-
east of Beirut and appealed to Druze members not
to seek revenge for the death of his father. [NYT]
Mar. 23: Heavy shelling, which had begun the day be-
fore, was traded by Christian forces and Palestinians
in southern Lebanon. [NYTI
Mar. 27. The Arab League approved a 6 month ex-
tension of Arab peacekeeping forces in Lebanon and
a 2 month extension of the mandate of the 4 nation
committee to oversee the ceasefire. Arab League
members agreed to provide $90m towards peace-
keeping expenses. [NYT]
Mar. 28: A bomb destroyed a floor of the duplex
apartment of Foreign and Defense Minister Fu'ad
Butrus, but Butrus was unhurt. [WP}
Sarkis named Colonel Victor Khari, to be com-
mander of the Lebanese Army over the objections of
former Presidents Camille Sham'un and Sulayman
Franjiyyah. [NYT]
Syrian troops removed barricades erected by
militiamen of Former President Sham'uinin Beirut.
[WP)
Apr. 3: The New York Times reported that Christian
militia units relying on Israeli support had increased
armor backed attacks on Palestinian forces in south
Lebanon. [NYT}
Apr. 4: An Israeli official reported that Israeli gunners
had silenced a Palestinian mortar battery that had
lobbed shells into Israel. [NYT]
Palestinian and Muslim forces attacked Christian
strongholds in southern Lebanon and captured the
village of Tayyibah. [NYT]
Apr. 5: Palestinian and Muslim forces repulsed a
Christian counterattack on the village of Tayyibah.
[NYTI
Apr. 6: Palestinian and Muslim forces shelled Marj
'Uyun and engaged Christian forces near Qlaia.
[NYTI
Apr. 7: Palestinian and Muslim forces captured the
Muslim town of Al Khiyam from Christian occupiers
and maintained military pressure on the towns of
Marj 'Uyun and Qlaia. [NYTI
Apr. 8: Skirmishing was reported on the approaches to
Marj 'Uyun and Qlaia. [NYT)
Apr. 9: The Syrian representative on the 4 nation
ceasefire committee, Muh.ammad Khuill met with
Sham'un. [NYT}
Apr. 1 1: Sarkis named Ahmad al-Hijjj to be head of the
internal security force. [NYT)
Apr. 12: Israeli Foreign Minister Yigal Allon said
Israel would "neither bear nor tolerate" attacks on
Lebanese Christian villages near the Israeli border.
[NYT}
Apr. 13: Fighting erupted between rival Palestinian
groups in Beirut. [NYT)
Apr. 16: Syrian backed Palestinian guerrillas of the
al-Sa'iqah group clashed with rival Palestinians in the
southern town of Nabatiyah. [NYT]
Apr. 19: The New York Times reported that Sarkis had
resumed negotiations with the 4 nation ceasefire
committee on questions surrounding the 1969
agreement on the status of the PLO in Lebanon.
[NYTI
Apr. 22: Two Syrian soldiers were murdered in a Mus-
lim quarter of Beirut's southern suburbs. [NYTI
Apr. 24: Fighting broke out during the night between
Syrian peacekeeping troops and leftist factions.
[NYT]
May 15: The New York Times reported that Syrian
peacekeeping troop reinforcements had been sent to
the northern village of Bella after armed men had
killed 2 soldiers. [NYT]
Libya
(See also, General, Algeria, Egypt, Pakistan, Tunisia,
Yemen)
1977
Feb.28: The People's General Congress began an extra-
ordinary session in Sabhah. [FBIS]
Mar. 1: Cuban President Fidel Castro arrived in Tripoli.
[FBIS]
Mar. 2: The final session of the People's General
Congress took place in Sabhah. It was announced
that Libya's official name would be the Socialist
People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah. [FBIS)
The People's General Congress adopted a resolu-
tion naming a new government:
 CHRONOLOGY 341

Membersof the Secretariatof the People's General Qadhdhifi at the start of a 5 day visit to Libya.
Congress: [FBIS]
Mu'ammaral-Qadhdhafi,GeneralSecretary; 'Abd al- Apr. 15: Egypt closed its consulate in Benghazi.
Salim Jalliid, Abu Bakr YuinisJabir, Mu.taflaal- [MEED)
Kharr-ibiand al-Khuwaylidial-Humaydi May 2: A Libyanattempted to force an airliner to
Membersof the People'sGeneralCommittee: return to Madridafter it had landed in Rome but
'Abd al-'Atial-'Ubaydi:Chairman he was overpowered.[NYT]
Muhammad al-Jadi:SecretaryofJustice
Miftah.al-Usta'Umar:Health
'Izz al-Din al-Mabruik:
Oil
Mulbammad 'Ali Tabbui:Agriculture & Agrarian Re- Morocco
form
Muhammadal-Manqush:Housing
Tahaal-SharifIbn 'Amir:LiasonSecretary 1977
AbuiBakral-Sharif:Trade Feb.18: MauritanianPresidentMokhtarOuld Daddah
Jadallih'Azziz al-Talhl:Industry arrivedin Rabaton a privatevisit. [MEED]
Muhammadal-ZaruqRajab:Treasury Feb. 25: Foreign Minister Ahmed Larakiannounced
MuhammadAhmadal-Sharif:Education that Morocco had decided to suspend all participa-
'Abd al-Majid al-Qa'id: Land Reclamation & De- tion in the Organizationof AfricanUnity to protest
velopment allegationsthat Morocco had been involved in an
Muhammad al-Fitiri-:Social Affairs & Social Security attemptedcoupin Benin. [NYT)
MuhammadAbu al-Qasimal-Zuwwi:Information& Mar. 1: King Hasanappointedthe followingleadersof
Culture opposition parties to be Ministersof State in the
'Umar al-Muqa?abi: Nutrition & Marine Wealth Cabinet:MohammadBoucetta,Abdel-RahimBoua-
Mangir Muhammad Badr: Marine Transport bid, MahjoubiAherdaneand Abdel-KerimKhatib.
Juma'Salimal-Arbash:Electricity [MEED]
Nuirial-Fituiri
al-Madani:Communications Mar. 14: The ParliamentaryElections Supervisory
AbuiZayd 'UmarDurdah:Municipalities Committeemet to considerdrawingup a new elec-
MiftahKu'aybah:Youth tion registerand to fix a date for elections. [MEED)
'Ali 'Abd al-Salamal-Turayki:
Foreign Mar.25: ZairianDeputy Premierand ForeignMinister
Milad Shumaylah: People'sGeneral Committee Nguza Karl-i-Bondmet with King Hasan on the
MusaAbu Furaywah:
Planning situationin Zaire. [FBIS}
'Umar SulaymanHammudah:Dams & WaterRe- Apr.7: ZaireannouncedthatMoroccowouldbe sending
sources troops to help repel an invasion of Zaire's Shaba
Yunis Abiual-Qasim:Interior province.[NYT}
Muhaammadal-Tahir al-Mah.jub:Labor & Civil Apr. 9: It was reported that a detachmentof 1,500
Service[FBISJ Moroccantroopshad arrivedin Zaire. [NYTI
Mar. 10. Cuban President Castro ended his visit to TunisianForeignMinisterHabib Chattimet with
Libya.[FBIS] King Hasanat Marrakech.[FBIS]
Mar. 12.' Philippineenvoy Imelda Marcosarrivedin Apr. 10: France said it had put military transport
Libyafor talkswith GeneralSecretaryQadhdhafion planes at the disposalof Moroccoto airliftmen and
the situationin the Philippines.[FBIS] materielto Zaire. [NYT]
Mar. 23.' Philippineenvoy Marcosended her trip to Apr. 17. It was reported that Moroccantroops had
Libya.[FBISJ begun participatingin the fightingaround Kolwezi
Mar. 24.' Middle East News Agencyreported that Libyan in Zaire. [NYTI
authoritieswere refusingto allownationalsof Egypt,
Iraq,Lebanonand Syriato enter Libya.[MEED]
Mar.25: TunisianForeignMinisterHabib Chattimet
with Qadhdhaflin Libya.[FBIS]
Mar.27.' TurkishMinisterof IndustryandTechnology
Oman
AbdulkerimDogru arrivedin Tripoli for talks with
Libyanleaders.[FBIS} (Seealso,Algeria,Sudan,United ArabAmirates)
Apr. 3: MiddleEast News Agencyreported that 22 Libyan
officershad been executedin Libya.[FBISJ 1977
Apr. 7: Five people were publiclyhangedfor theirrole
in setting fire to a churchin Benghazi.[MEED] Mar. 15: SudanesePresidentJa'faral-Numayribegan
Apr. 10: Egyptiandemonstratorsin Alexandriaset fire a visit to Oman for talks on bilateral relations.
to the LibyanRelations Office after the Egyptian [MEED)
RelationsOffice in Benghazihad been attackedby Apr. 3: KuwaytiMinister of Labor & Social Affairs
Libyanstudents. [NYTJ $abih al-Salim Al $abah arrived in Muscat on a
Apr.12: Panamanian PresidentOmarTorrijosmet with 5 day visit. [FBIS}
342 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
May 2: An Iraqi delegation led by Interior Minister
'Izzat IbrThim met with Sultan Qabius bin Said in
Oman. [FBIS]
May 14: Sultan Qabus arrived in Riyadh on a 3 day
official visit. [FBIS]
Pakistan
(See also, General, Afghanistan, Iran,
United Arab Amirates)
1977
Feb. 18: Election campaign violence left 3 people Mar. 26: The protest strike began. [NYT]
dead. [NYT)
Feb. 21: UAA Vice President Shaykh Rashid bin
Sa'id Al Maktuim arrived in Lahore on a visit. Mar. 27: President Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry refused opposi-
[FBISJ
Mar. 6: Election campaigning ended and security was
tightened on the eve of national elections. [NYT]
Mar. 8: Incomplete election returns indicated that the
ruling Pakistan People's Party had won a large Mar. 30: A new federal Cabinet was sworn in:
majority in the elections. [NYT)
Premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reimposed emergency
rule, renewing a ban on public meetings of 5 or more
people. [WP]
The WashingtonPost cited government reports saying
that 8 people had died and 130 had been injured in
election day violence. [WP]
Asghar Khan, an opposition leader, accused Premier
Bhutto of rigging the voting "on a very massive
scale." [NYT]
Mar. 9: Elected opposition members of the National
Assembly said they would not take their seats in the
legislature and charged that the election had been
rigged. [NYTI
Mar. 10. The Pakistan National Alliance (PNA), a
coalition of 9 opposition parties, boycotted provincial
elections. Voter turnout was low. [NYT]
Mar. 11.' An opposition strike was held in many
cities. Clashes were reported in Karachi. [NYT]
Mar. 12: The government said more than 200 people
had been arrested during demonstrations the day
before. [NYT]
The PNA called for the resignation of Bhutto
and the holding of new elections under army super-
vision. [NYT]
Mar. 16: It was reported that police had fired on
political protesters in 2 cities during the day and
killed at least 2 people. [NYT]
Mar. 18: More than 20 people were wounded by
police in Karachi during riots over the arrest of
4 opposition leaders during the night. [NYT]
Mar. 19: The government placed parts of Karachi
under military control after a second day of protests
against the election. [NYT]
Mar. 20. The government announced it was releasing Mar. 31: Former Railways Minister Hafizullah Cheema
4 opposition leaders to enable them to attend a
meeting of the PNA. [NYT]
The New York Times said that 55 people had been
reported killed in Karachi in 2 days of political
disturbances. [NYTI
Mar. 21: An opposition leader, Asghar Khan, refused
to leave jail until Bhutto lifted a state of emergency
and freed all political prisoners. [NYT]
Mar. 22. Karachi lawyers began a 2 day boycott of
the courts to protest the elections. [NYT]
Mar. 23: Policemen clashed with demonstrators in
Lahore after the arrest of 3 opposition leaders.
[NYTI
Mar. 25: About 2 dozen opposition leaders were
arrested. The Vice President of the PNA re-
affirmed a call for a nationwide protest strike the
next day. [NYT}
Members of the Parliament were sworn in, but op-
position members boycotted the ceremony. [NYT]
tion demands for new national elections to be held.
[NYT}
Mar. 28: Parliament unanimously re-elected Bhutto
Premier. [NYT}
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto: Premier
Shaykh Mohammad Rashid: Agriculture, Coofperatives
& Land Reforms
Rana Mohammad Hanif Khan: Commerceand Local
Government
Abdul Hafeez Pirzada: Finance, Planning and Provin-
cial Coordination
Afzel Khan: Water & Power
Mumtaz Ali Bhutto: Communications
Maulana Kausar Niazi: Religious Affairs, Minorities
Affairs & OverseasPakistanis
Aziz Ahmed: ForeignAffairs
Yahya Bakhtiar: Attorney General
Syed Hamid Raza Gilani: Industries
Mohammad Haneef Khan: States & Frontier Regions
& Kashmir Affairs
Mir Taj Mohammad Khan: Health & Population
Planning
Mohammad Yasin Watto: Education
S. M. Masood: Law & ParliamentaryAffairs
Abdul Sattar Gabol: Labor& Manpower
Tahir Mohammad Khan: Information & Broadcasting
Arbab Mohammad Jahangir: Housing & Works
Malik Nur Hayat Khan Noon: Culture, Archeology,
Sports & Tourism
Makhdoom Hameed-ud-Din: Petroleum & Natural
Resources
Ghulan Hussain: Railways
Anwar Aziz Chaudhry: Food & Agrarian Manage-
ment
Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan: Production
Niaz Mohammad Wassan: Science& Technology
Mar. 30: The Sind Provincial Assembly opened.
Police clashed with demonstrators. [NYT]
lost his seat in the National Assembly after an inde-
pendent commission had cited voting irregularities
to declare his election void. [NYT]
 CHRONOLOGY
Apr. 3: The PNA charged that more than 150 people
had been killed in anti-government demonstrations
during the past 3 weeks. [NYT]
Apr. 8: Three former members of Parliament from
the ruling Pakistan People's Party said they were re-
signing to form a new party, the Pakistan People's
Democratic Party. [NYT]
Apr. 9. Riots erupted in Punjab Province and the
provincial government said 8 deaths had been
confirmed after confrontations between demon-
strators and police. [NYTI
Apr. 12: Grenades allegedly thrown by anti-govern-
ment demonstrators injured 38 policemen in Lahore.
[NYTI
Apr. 13: Abdur Rahim Khan, Ambassador to Spain,
resigned in protest against the "oppressive and dicta-
torial regime" in Pakistan. [NYT}
A member of the ruling Pakistan People's Party
resigned his seat in the National Assembly and called
for Bhutto's resignation. [NYT]
Anti-government protests were held in major cities
throughout the country. One person was killed in
Hyderabad when police opened fire on an "unruly
mob." [NYT}
Apr. 14: Ambassador to Greece Gul Hassan resigned
and accused Bhutto of failing the country. [NYT]
Apr. 15: An opposition leader said Bhutto had offered
to hold new provincial elections and, if the opposition
won in the provinces, new national elections. The
offer was held to be "not worthy of any considera-
tion." [NYT]
Apr. 16. The election commission invalidated 2 seats
that had been won by the ruling party on the
grounds that rigging had occurred. [NYT}
Apr. 17. Bhutto proposed a program of legal and social
changes, including the banning of alcoholic beverages,
"in conformity with the moral standards of Islam."
[NYT}
Shaukat Hayat, a senior member of Parliament was
expelled from the Pakistan People's Party after having
called for new general elections. [NYT]
Bhutto said he would lift the ban on marches.
[NYT]
Apr. 18: The PNA rejected the program of social
changes and called on Bhutto to resign. Demonstra-
tions resumed in Lahore. [NYT}
Apr. 19. The US State Department said it had
blocked a shipment of tear gas to Pakistan. [WPT
Clashes occurred between government and opposi-
tion supporters in Lahore. Police clashed with opposi-
tion demonstrators in Lyallpur. [NYT]
Apr. 20. Demonstrations took place in several cities.
In Karachi clashes between rival bands resulted in
at least 9 deaths. A curfew was placed on Karachi
"until further notice." [NYT]
The Election Commission of Pakistan invalidated 2
more contests won by Bhutto's party, bringing the
total to 6. [NYT]
Apr. 21. Bhutto assumed emergency powers and
imposed martial law on Karachi, Lahore and
Hyderabad. [NYT]
343
Two people were killed and 2 injured in Hyderabad
for violating the curfew. [NYT]
Apr. 22: A curfew was imposed on Lyallpur. [NYT]
A 1 day general strike brought commerce in much of
Pakistan to a halt. [NYT]
Apr. 24: The government imposed press censorship and
arrested opposition leaders. [NYT]
A new high command was chosen to head the
opposition. [NYT]
Curfews were imposed on the cities of Sialkot
and Bahawalnagar after clashes had taken place
between rival political factions. [NYT}
Army troops enforcing martial law were reported
to have killed 1 person in Lahore and 3 in Hyderabad.
[NYT]
The government said it had dismissed its Ambas-
sador to Cairo for financial irregularities, but the
Ambassador said he had resigned to protest against
government policies. [NYT]
Apr. 25: Curfews in the major cities were lifted for
about 10 hours during the day and no major street
violence was reported. [NYT]
Apr. 26: The acting leader of the PNA met with 8
jailed leaders of the movement in a detention
center. The meeting was arranged by Bhutto.
[NYT]
The National Assembly began its first working
session. [NYT]
The Charge d'Affaires at the Pakistani Embassy in
Paris said he had resigned to protest Bhutto's post
election policies. [NYT]
Apr. 27: General Tikka Khan was brought into the
Cabinet. [NYT]
Public and private gatherings were banned in
Islamabad and Rawalpindi for a week. (NYTI
Apr. 28: Foreign Minister Aziz Ahmed said the British
Broadcasting Corporation had followed a "consistent
policy of encouraging subversion in Pakistan."
[NYT]
Bhutto said that the opposition was being "flooded"
with money to finance its anti-government campaign
by the "superpower"on the losing side of the Vietnam
War. [NYT}
The US protested as "groundless" the allegations of
US financial support for the opposition. [NYT}
Apr. 29. The acting leader of the PNA said that repre-
sentatives of Saudi Arabia and the UAA had offered
to "use their good offices for the betterment of this
country." [NYT]
UAA Foreign Minister Ahmad Khalifah al-Suwaydi
met with confined leaders of the opposition. [NYT]
Apr. 30: Demonstrators clashed with police in Rawal-
pindi. [NYT]
Bhutto met with PNA acting leader the Pir of
Pagaro. [NYT]
May 4. Libyan Foreign Minister 'Ali 'Abd al-Salam
al-Turayki niet with Bhutto in Rawalpindi. [FBIS}
The government sent troops and artillery to camps
on the Karakoram highway where armed Kohistani
tribesmen were surrounding Chinese roadbuilders.
UP]
344 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
May 5: Army troops clashed with Kohistani tribes-
men along the KarakoramHighway.UJP
Detainedleadersof the PNA disclosedtheirnegoti-
atingproposals.Bhutto said the proposalswere "too
numerous"andthatonly "fundamental issues"should
be put forward.[NYT)
Police in Lahorearrestedmost of the leadersof the
PNA not alreadydetained.[NYTI
Curfews to begin at midnightwere imposed on
Lahore,Karachiand Hyderabad.[NYTI
The government said Foreign Minister Ahmed
would not attend a meeting of the CentralTreaty
Organizationthe followingmonthin Tehran.[NYTI
May 6: Demonstrationstook place in major cities
throughout the country. At least 2 people were
killed in Lahore.?NYTI
May 8: The PNA rejected an offer by Bhutto to hold
preliminarytalks on its demands,saying they were
"not negotiable."[NYT}
May 10: Paramilitaryforces killed 2 workers in Mir-
purkhaswhen they tried to take part in a demon-
stration.[NYT)
May 12: A decree withdrewthe power of the national
election commissionto adjudicateelection disputes.
[NYT)
May 13: Bhutto announced that a referendum
would be held to decide if he would remain
Premier.[NYT)
May 14: Street fighting between security forces and
demonstratorstook place in the city of Multan.
At least 4 people were killed. [NYT]
Qatar
(See also, Egypt)
1977
Feb. 23: A joint Yemeni-South Yemeni delegation
left Doha for Abu Dhabi after a 2 day visit.
[FBIS]
Mar. 27: Syrian Foreign Minister 'Abd al-HIalim
Khaddam met with Amir Shaykh Khalifah bin
HamadAl Thmniin Doha. [FBISI
Mar. 29: EgyptianDeputy Premierfor Financialand
EconomicAffairs'Abdal-Mun'imal-Qaysunimet with
Amir ShaykhKhalifahin Doha. [FBIS]
Mar. 31: UAA Petroleum Minister Shaykh 'Abd
al-'Azizbin Sa'ldal-'Utaybahmet with Oil Minister
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz bin Khalifah Al Thani in
Qatar.[FBIS]
Apr. 3: The gas liquids process plant at Umm
Sa'id suffered extensive damage as a result of an
explosionand fire. [MEES)
Apr. 17: UAA President ShaykhZayd Bin Sultan Al
Nuhayya.narrivedin Doha andwas met at the airport
by ShaykhKhalifah.[FBIS]
Apr. 21: Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez
arrived in Doha and met with Shaykh Khalifah.
[FBIS}
Apr. 27: An Iraqi delegation led by Interior Minister
'Izzat IbrThim arrived in Doha on a tour of Arab
Gulf states. [FBIS}
May 3: Shaykh Khalifah returned to Doha after a
visit to Riyadh. [FBIS}
SaudiArabia
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict, Petroleum Affairs,
Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, South Yemen, Yemen)
1977
Feb. 19: Prince 'Abd al-'Aziz Ibn Musayd Ibn Galwi
died, aged 100. [NYT)
Feb. 23: A government statement said that foreign
firms that inflated costs of their goods and services
would be barred from doing business in Saudi Arabia.
[MEES)
Mar. 7: The last in a series of surgical operations
was performed on King Khalid in London. [FBIS]
Mar. 19: Yemeni Premier 'Abd al-'Aziz 'Abd al-Ghani
arrived in Riyadh for talks with Crown Prince
Fahd. [FBISJ
Mar. 23: An agreement with Taiwan on economic and
technical cooperation was concluded. [MEED]
Mar. 24: Turkish Foreign Minister Ihsan Sabri
(:aglayangil arrived in Riyadh for talks with his
Saudi counterpart, Prince Sa'id al-Fay4al. [MEED}
Mar. 30: Iraqi Oil Minister Tayih 'Abd al-Karim
left Riyadh after talks with Crown Prince Fahd
on oil policy. [MEED}
Apr. 2: King Khalid left Wellington Hospital in London
at the end of a 6 week stay during which he had
undergone 2 hip operations. [MEED}
Apr. 3: Kuwayti Oil Minister 'Abd al-Rahman Salim
al-'Atiqi arrived in Riyadh for talks. [MEED}
South Yemeni Foreign Minister Muhaammad$alih.
Muti' left Saudi Arabia after a 1 day visit. [FBIS]
Apr. 16: Crown Prince Fahd met separately with
Syrian Foreign Minister 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam and
Egyptian Vice President Husni Mubarak in Saudi
Arabia. [FBIS]
Apr. 25: Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez
arrived in Riyadh for a 3 day official visit.
[FBIS}
Zairian Vice President Nguza Karl-i-Bond left
Jiddah after a 2 day mission to Saudi Arabia. [FBIS)
Apr. 30: King Khalid returned to Riyadh after a long
stay in London. [FBIS]
May 11: A pipeline "ruptured" and caused a fire to
erupt, causing heavy damage to a major pumping
station and processing equipment southwest of
Dhahran. [NYT)
May 12: The fire was brough under control. [NYT}
May 14: An Arabian-American Oil Company
(ARAMCO) spokesman said that the "last pockets"
of flames from the fire had been put out during
the night. [NYT)
 CHRONOLOGY
South Yemen
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict, General, Iraq, Jordan,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen)
1977
Feb. 16: Presidential Council Chairman Silim Rubayy'
'Arl returned to Aden at the end of a visit to
Yemen. [FBIS]
Feb. 20: Czechoslovak Foreign Minister Bohuslav
Chnoupek arrived in Aden on a 4 day visit.
[FBIS]
Mar. 1: A South Yemeni DC-3 crashed after taking
off from Aden, killing 20 of 21 persons on board.
[NYTI
Mar. 10: Cuban President Fidel Castro arrived in
Aden for talks. [NYTI
Mar. 17: UAA President Shaykh Zayd bin Sultan Al
Nuhayyan began a 3 day visit to South Yemen
for talks on bilateral co6peration. [MEEDI
Mar. 20: Sudanese President Ja'far al-Numaryi arrived
in Aden for a 3 day visit. [FBIS)
Mar. 22: An agreement on economic, technical and
cultural cooperation was signed by Sudan and South
Yemen. [FBISJ
Apr. 4: An agreement was signed with British Petroleum
(BP) under which South Yemen would take over the
Aden refinery. An agreement under which BP
would provide administrative and technical assistance
to run the refinery was also signed. [FBIS]
Apr. 12: Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Sa'ud bin
Faysal left Aden at the end of a 3 day visit.
[FBISJ
Apr. 21: Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Duy
Trinh left Aden at the end of a 3 day visit.
[FBIS]
Sudan
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict, Egypt, Oman,
South Yemen, Yemen)
1977
Feb. 17: Vice President al-Rashid al-Tiahir left a
Kuwayti hospital after undergoing successful medical
tests. A visit to Qatar was postponed due to health
reasons. [FBIS)
Feb. 28: President Ja'far al-Numayri, Syrian President
Ha.iz al-Asad and Egyptian President Anwar al-
Sadat ended 2 days of talks in Khartum. Sudan
joined the Egyptian-Syrianpolitical command. [NYT]
Mar. 17: President Numayri ended a visit to Oman
and left for Somalia. [FBIS]
Apr. 3: The first stage of voting in the popular
referendum for President began. [FBIS]
345
Apr. 11: Ethiopia charged that troops from Sudan
were attacking Ethiopian border towns and appealed
to the Organization of African Unity for help.
[NYT}
Apr. 12: The Sudan News Agency said Sudan had
rejected charges that its troops had attacked Ethiopian
territory. [NYT)
Apr. 20: OmdurmanDomestic Service quoted First Vice
President Muhlammadal-Baqir Ahmad as announcing
Numayri had received 99.1%goof the votes in a
presidential referendum. [FBIS]
Apr. 24: Ethiopia said it had closed the Sudanese
consultate in Eritrea. [NYT]
Syria
(Seealso, Arab Israeli Conflict, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon,
Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen)
1977
Feb. 18: French Foreign Minister Louis de Guiringaud
arrived in Damascus for talks with President
l{afi? al-Asad. [MEED]
Feb. 22: Gunmen killed the president of Damascus
University. [NYT)
Mar. 14: Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Arnaldo
Forlani arrived in Damascus for a 2 day visit.
[FBIS]
Mar. 18: Member of the UAA Supreme Council
and ruler of Sharjah Shaykh Sultan bin Muhammad
Al Qasimi arrived in Damascus on a 3 day visit.
[FBIS)
Apr. 13: President Asad received Lebanese Defense
Minister Fu'ad Butrus in Damascus. [FBIS]
Apr. 18: Asad arrived in Moscow for talks with Soviet
leaders. [MEED]
Apr. 26: Foreign Minister 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam
returned to Damascus at the end of a 3 day visit
to the US. [FBIS]
May 5: Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky met with
Asad during a visit to Syria. [FBIS]
May 8: Asad arrived in Geneva and was met by Swiss
President Kurt Furgler. [JPJ
Tunisia
(See also, Algeria, Libya, Morocco)
1977
Feb. 18: Libyan Interior Minister Khuwaylidi al-Hu-
maydi arrived in Tunis. [MEED}
Feb. 23: Student groups marched through Tunis in
demonstrations against the government. Security men
dispersed the demonstrators. [FBISJ
346 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
Feb. 24: A trade agreement with Sweden was signed
in Tunisia. [MEED]
Mar. 10: Agriculture Minister Hasan Belkhodja
arrived in Paris for talks with his French counter-
part. [MEEDI
Mar. 21: Tunis Domestic Service reported that a secret
anti-government political movement, which it said was
led by former Planning Minister Ahmed Ben Salah,
had been uncovered. [FBIS]
Italian Defense Minister Vito Lattanzio arrived in
Tunis on an official visit. [FBIS}
Mar. 25: Foreign Minister Habib Chatti met with Libyan
Head of State Mu'ammar al-Qadhdifl in Tobruk
and later travelled to Cairo. [MEED]
Apr. 2: Dutch Foreign Minister Max van der Stoel
met with President Habib Bourguiba in Carthage.
[FBISJ
Apr. 4: Premier Hedi Nouira arrived in Moscow
for talks with Soviet leaders. [FBIS]
Apr. 5: Libya and Tunisia conducted an exchange of
prisoners. A total of 6 prisoners were exchanged.
[MEEDI
Apr. 6: Trade and cultural agreements with the Soviet
Union were signed during the visit to Moscow by
Premier Nouira. [MEEDI
Apr. 12: Nouira returned to Tunis from Moscow.
[FBIS]
Apr. 19: Soviet Minister of Justice Vladimir Terebilov
arrived in Tunis for a 5 day visit. [MEED]
May 7: The National Coast Guard Service seized 4
Italian trawlers which were fishing in territorial
waters. [FBIS]
Turkey
(See also, General, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Kuwayt, Libya,
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Amirates)
1977
Mar. 1: General Alexander Haig, Jr., commander of
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization urged the US
Congress to end the arms embargo on Turkey.
[NYT]
The Central Bank devalued the lira against 11
convertible currencies by an average of 6.8%. [MEED]
Mar. 15: Two agreements with the Soviet Union
were signed following 2 days of talks in Moscow
between Foreign Minister Ihsan Sabri Caklayangil
and Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko.
[MEED]
Mar. 18: Foreign Minister Caglayangil returned to
Turkey at the end of his visit to Moscow.
[TDN]
Rival student factions battled in the city of Usak and
1 person died. [TDN]
Mar. 19: A Turkish jetliner on a domestic flight
with 181 people abroad was hijacked by 2 Turkish
passengers and forced to land in Beirut. The hijackers
later surrendered. [NYT}
Mar. 21: Turkey and Greece began naval and air
force maneuvers in different regions of the Aegean
Sea. [NYT)
Mar. 25: An earthquake struck a mountainous section
of eastern Turkey leaving at least 30 people dead.
[NYTI
Apr. 1. A parliamentary committee called for military
legal proceedings against the Chief of Staff and
sought a parliamentary investigation of Premier
Siileyman Demirel and Defense Minister Ferid
Melen in connection with charges of Lockheed
payoffs. [NYT]
Apr. 5: The National Assembly voted to hold elections
in June instead of October. [TDN}
Apr. 10: The following Ministers were appointed:
Zeyyat Baykara:Justice
Sabahattin Ozbek: Interior
Ibrahim Aysoy: Transport [TDNJ
Apr. 12: Nahit Mente?e assumed the duties of Minister
of Tourism following the resignation of the incum-
bent Minister. [TDN}
Apr. 14: The Turkish Daily News reported that Iraqi
crude oil was being pumped through the Kirkuk-
Yumurtalik pipeline after Iraq and Turkey had
reached agreement on the price of oil designated
for Turkey. [TDN)
Apr. 15: President Fahri Koruturk ended a 4 day visit
to Finland during which discussions on economic
cooperation were held. [MEED]
Apr. 17: The Turkish Daily News reported that Vefa
Tanir had become Health Minister. [TDNJ
Apr. 28: A bus carrying Republican People's Party
leader Biilent Ecevit was stoned in Erzincan by
rival groups. Violent incidents had taken place
previously in Niksar and Siran. [TDNJ
May 1. At least 39 people were killed and 200 wounded
after a May Day rally in Istanbul turned into a
gun battle between leftists and police. [NYT}
May 6: Turkey and South Korea signed an economic
and technical cooperation accord in Ankara. [TDN)
May 10. US President Jimmy Carter met with Premier
Demirel in London. [TDNJ
May 11: Demirel told the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) summit meeting in London that
Turkey would have to restrict its contributions
to NATO if the US arms embargo continued.
[TDNI
United Arab Amirates
(See also, General, Egypt, Kuwayt, Pakistan, Qatar,
South Yemen, Syria, Yemen)
1977
Feb. 17: President Shaykh Zayd bin Sultan Al
Nuhayyan returned to Abu Dhabi at the end of a
visit to Pakistan. [FBISJ
 CHRONOLOGY
Mar. 27: Omani Interior Minister Muhammadbin
Ahmad arrivedin Abu Dhabi for talks on security
relations.[MEEDI
Mar. 30: Turkish Foreign Minister Ihsan Sabri
Caklayangilmet with PresidentShaykhZayd in the
UAA. [FBIS]
Apr. 15: The New York Times reported that Muslim
religiouscourtsin AbuiDhabihad been given powers
to try foreignersfor certaincrimes.[NYTI
May 9: Shaykh Khalid bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan, Mar. 17: UAA PresidentShaykhZayd bin SultanAl
brotherof ShaykhZayd, died, aged 70. [MEEDI
Yemen
(Seealso, ArabIsraeliConflict,Iraq,Qatar,
SaudiArabia,South Yemen)
1977
Feb. 16: San'a' Domestic Service reported that Yemen
and South Yemen had agreed to form a ministerial
level councilto meet every 6 months. [FBISJ
347
A cooperation agreement between France and
Yemen was signed in Paris.[FBIS]
Feb. 17: Foreign Minister 'AbdallIhal-A*najarrived
in Londonto meet with SaudiArabianKing Khalid
about Saudifinancialaid. [IMEED]
Mar. 4: Foreign Minister Anaj returned to $an'a
after a 3 week tour to Syria, France, Britain and
Libya. [FBIS]
Nuhayyan ended a 1 week visit to Yemen for
talkson bilateralco6peration.[MEED]
Mar. 20: Premier 'Abd al-'Aziz 'Abd al-Ghani left
Saudi Arabia for London to meet with King
Khalid.[FBIS]
Mar. 22: The Heads of State of Sudan,South Yemen,
Somaliaand Yemen met in Ta'izz to discuss Red
Sea security.[MEED]
Apr. 10: Former Premier al-Qadi 'AbdallIh Ahmad
al-Hajri and 2 other Yemenis were assassinated
in London.[FBISJ
Saudi ArabianForeignMinisterPrince Sa'ad bin
Fay$alended a 1 day visit to San,'. [FBIS}