Jeddah, Saudi Arabia  - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) finance ministers on Wednesday approved proposals to set up a monetary union, but the timing of the launch of a single currency was not revealed.

"We have an agreement to set up the monetary union and the monetary council, as well as the basic structure," Qatari Finance Minister Youssef Kamal, who chaired the meeting of GCC countries in the Western Saudi city of Jeddah, told reporters.

London, Sept. 16: A former Saudi diplomat-turned cleric, Sheikh Muhammad Munajid, has described Walt Disney cartoon character Mickey Mouse as "one of Satan''s soldiers" who turns everything around it impure.

The cleric, who worked with the Saudi embassy in Washington D C, said that under Sharia, both household mice and their cartoon counterparts must be killed.

Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Sept. 15 : A Saudi cleric who reportedly issued a fatwa on television programs that he deemed controversial, has said that edict has been misinterpreted and used out of its context.

The Gulf News quoted Shaikh Saleh Al Luhaidan, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Council, as saying that his controversial fatwa permitting the killing of the owners of television networks broadcasting "depravation and debauchery" was wrongly interpreted.

Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Sept. 13: A Saudi cleric has issued a new fatwa against Arabic satellite TV channels that broadcast programs considered immoral.

Amman- Swicorp, a diversified financial services firm based in Saudi Arabia, acquired a 20-per-cent interest in Jordan Aviation for 180 million dollars, the airline's president and CEO Mohammad Khashman was quoted as saying Thursday by Jordanian daily al-Rai.

The takeover is part of Jordan Aviation's expansion plan which also involves the purchase of 16 new aircraft from Boeing and Airbus at an estimated cost of 200 million dollars, he said.

"Two aircraft have already been introduced into the service while eight will start operating in the coming months and six others before the end of the year," Khashman said.

Riyadh - Saudi Arabian police have arrested five men on charges of being involved in preparing internet propaganda in support of al-Qaeda, the Arabic television station al-Arabiya has reported.

According to a statement released by Saudi Arabia's interior ministry, three Saudi nationals, a Syrian and an Egyptian were charged with "spreading misleading propaganda on the internet."

Saudi Arabia has battled with a home-grown insurgency by al-Qaeda