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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic today announces a new agreement with MSN Arabia, further expanding the presence of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic across the Arab world.

International news seekers can now access ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic content via the MSN Arabia home page. This will complement the direct access audiences have to ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic on TV, radio, online and on mobile phones.

More than 10 million annual users of the MSN regional portal will be able to access fully-branded ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic content, updated 24/7, across genres including current affairs, business, sport, science and technology.

Hosam El Sokkari, Head of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic Network, says: "bbcarabic.com has pioneered the provision of Arabic news and information on the net, and we're proud to extend our services to major portals in the region. The launch of our 24/7 ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic television channel and streamed content on our website has given Arabic-speaking audiences across the globe the opportunity to get ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ content wherever they are. Working with selected partners helps us continue extending this reach."

Mohamed El Sayad, General Manager, MSN Arabia, adds: "The alliance of companies, the diversity of products, and the integration of brands are sometimes the integral part for the success of a business. In this partnership not only will we be achieving success, but we will be providing the Arab world with the content that is really needed, the service that users seek, better solutions, required updates, and most of all better interactivity with the increasing online user experience."

Simon Kendall, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service Head, Business Development Africa and Middle East, says: "The partnership with MSN Arabia is an exciting one. It means that regular visitors to the site have instant, easy access to ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic content. Our ambition is to build on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic's well established direct online audience through partnerships with highly-regarded portals in the region. This important agreement with MSN Arabia is a key part of that strategy."

Users of MSN Arabia can find ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic content by visiting the portal's home page at arabic.arabia.msn.com. Each ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ story, published in full on the portal, includes a direct link to bbcarabic.com, where visitors can access further content and interact directly with ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic.

Notes to Editors

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic is the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s integrated news and information service for the Arab world. It is available on air and on demand 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

It is designed to reach audiences on radio, television, the internet – on bbcarabic.com – mobile phones and handheld computers in whatever way best suits the audience. ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic is both the largest and the oldest of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s non-English language services.

Launched on 3 January 1938, it has evolved into the Arab world’s leading international broadcaster, covering the political, social and cultural issues that matter to its diverse audiences in the Arab world and across the world.

With its new 24/7 TV presence, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic is bringing the world to Arab audiences – reporting the news wherever it leads. The latest news from ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic is now available on mobile phones, PDAs and other wireless handheld devices.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Arabic breaking news alerts are also offered via mobile operators as a subscription service in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Yemen and the Palestinian Territories.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service Publicity