Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met on Wednesday with his Eritrean counterpart, Issaias Afeworki, to discuss "settling differences" among countries in the Horn of Africa.

Issaias also met with Arab League chief Amr Moussa. A key issue of concern is the ongoing tension between Sudan and Eritrea. Ministers of the 22-member Arab League on Sunday appealed to Eritrea to "respect the sovereignty and security of Sudanese territory and regional security." EGYPT'S INTELLIGENCE CHIEF MEETS WITH ARAFAT

Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman met with Yasser Arafat on Thursday in the Palestinian leader's battered West Bank headquarters. "This was a very important meeting. It's part of our connection to the Arab world and especially the Egyptians, who can make the meetings between Fatah and Hamas a success," Arafat said.

Suleiman had not comment for the media. SHEIKH CALLS FOR BOYCOTT OF "ZIONIST" PRODUCTS

The head of the world's leading Sunni Muslim authority, the sheikh of Al Azhar, urged Muslims to boycott "products from Zionist businesses," on Wednesday. Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, speaking during a gathering for Ramadan, also discussed "the boycott of other products," but again was not specific, but may have been alluding to US products. MOUSSA ASKS UN ASSURANCE THAT IRAQ RESOLUTION NOT PRETEXT FOR WAR

Arab League chief Amr Moussa formally asked the United Nations on Tuesday to respect "assurances" that a Security Council resolution to disarm Iraq would not be used a pretext for war. Moussa said he had also asked UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in a letter for "Arab experts to be included in the [arms] inspection teams" due to travel to Iraq. EGYPT JAILS EX-TV BOSS 18 YRS IN BRIBERY TRIAL

Egypt has jailed a senior official at its state-run television for 18 years with hard labour for taking bribes to allow guests to appear on the "Good Morning Egypt" breakfast show and being in possession of narcotics. A state security court on Tuesday also fined Mohamed Al Wakil, the ex-state TV news chief, 13,500 Egyptian pounds ($2,900). ARABS URGES LIBYA TO RECONSIDER QUITTING ARAB LEAGUE

Arab foreign ministers urged Libya on Sunday to reconsider its request to quit the 22-member Arab League. It said Libya was needed in "this sensitive period experienced by the Arab nation." Libya has accused the pan-Arab organization of inaction over the Palestine and Iraq issues.