Headlines, read over a background music: Britain’s Prime Minister says that Iraq does indeed have a military plan for the use of chemical and biological weapons.

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While Iraq has invited U.N. inspectors to return to Baghdad, the British Prime Minister says this does not represent sufficient evidence that they have abandoned military efforts.

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The Baghdad government challenges the claim that it has weapons of mass destruction.

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The American president says that there is no link between the military maneuvers conducted with Kuwait in the Gulf and a strike on Iraq.

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The American president is committed to peace in the Middle East and says that the recent actions of Israel do not help in establishing the institutions needed for the creation of a Palestinian state.

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A U.N. Security Council resolution called for lifting the siege on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat within five days.

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The Jordanian Foreign Minister said in Washington that the U.S. decision to allow passage of the U.N. resolution sends a clear message that it does not approve of Israeli actions.

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The World Now

Voice of George Bush [Translated from the Arabic voice-over]: I thought the Israeli actions were not helpful in terms of the establishment and the development of the institutions necessary for a Palestinian state to emerge.

Announcer: The United States and the Arab world in global politics and news from world capitals.

Reporter: The Palestinian leadership endorsed the U.N. Security Council resolution.

Tony Blair: We need a new conference on the Middle East peace process based on the twin principles of a secure Israel and a viable Palestinian state.

Announcer: The events of a changing world. Newscasts without bias and extreme care in presenting the news, and what passes for news. "The World Now" newscast with a new broadcast style.

Announcer: Will Iraq change its previous view of not allowing inspections?

And will belly dancers disclose hidden secrets? Hello listeners. Here are the details.

The Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharanot reported that, according to sources in Sharon’s office, Israel is studying the matter and taking Bush’s calls [to end the siege of Yasser Arafat's headquarters] seriously. The Israeli newspaper did not offer further details, but it mentioned Bush’s comment that Israeli actions do not help in creating Palestinian institutions and also do not increase hope for the other side.

An advisor for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said that he does not expect the Palestinian Authority will heed calls by the U.N. Security Council to hand over armed individuals for justice. For this reason, Israel has no reason to heed the U.N. resolution calling for the lifting of the siege on Yasser Arafat. He added that the Palestinian Authority does not consider them terrorists, but instead assists them. So Israel will not abide by the resolution alone. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat affirmed that the Palestinian Authority will abide with all aspects of the resolution, and invited the international community to encourage Israel to fulfill the withdrawal and lift the siege.

As the United Nations is ready to send inspectors to Iraq, the United States and Britain are calling the world community to tighten international measures under which inspections will be conducted. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that if those rules are not changed, the inspectors will be delayed and new obstacles will be placed in their path.

He said that the Iraqi's stance is characterized by dishonesty and stall tactics calculated to tie inspectors' hands. He does not expect any change in Iraqi policy in this regard.

In Algeria, the assistant U.S. Secretary of Commerce held talks before going to Egypt and Morocco. More details for our corespondent Haythem Kabbani in the Algerian capital.

Kabbani: Assistant U.S. Secretary of Commerce Dr. Samuel Bodman arrived in Algeria on Tuesday to begin discussions with high-ranking Algerian government officials about cooperation in manufacturing and trade sectors. American sources said that the visit represents a strengthening of economic ties with the countries of North Africa, especially Algeria, which has seen increased American investments. According to American sources, the visit of the assistant secretary of commence brings Algeria in the global economy. The visit of Samuel Bodman in Algeria kicks off a comprehensive visit Egypt, Tunis and Morocco.

In Egypt, a number of former belly dancers are writing their memoirs for publication. Nabil Sharaf Eddin has been following the story and filed the following story from Cairo:

Sharaf Eddin: Cairo is witnessing a fierce competition between publishing houses for a hot book to be authored by former belly dancers. It is likely to be the talk of the Cairene and Arab street—not only for its stories and interesting surprises, but also for the embarrassment it will cause to many famous people, including actors, journalists, and others. The former belly dancers writing their memoirs include Soheir Zaki, Zohar Hamdy, and Zizi Mostafa.

Announcer: Far from Egypt, the U.S. Senate approved the formation of a standing committee to relating to the Sept. 11 [2001] terrorist attacks. Sen. Joseph Leiberman, head of the government affairs committee, said after the vote, that it is still not known how such acts can be prevented.

In Dallas, Texas, two thieves attempted a house robbery, but this time they entered, as they say, into the mouth of a lion. The house they tried to rob is owned by a top police sergeant. The two thieves were arrested. One was shot, wounded, and arrested during the burglary, the other was captured later.

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We give you the events in sound, so that the picture will be complete. [END BROADCAST]