Egypt says it has begun registration for the first Arabic languageInternet domain. The move is part of efforts to let users of non-Latinscript have better access to the Web.


The new domain name will be "dot.msr"(pronounced either misr or masr), Arabic for Egypt, and promises toopen up the Web to millions of Arabic-only readers.

Egypt'sMinister of Communications and Information Technology Tarek Kamelannounced the move at the fourth Internet Governance Forum, under wayin the Egyptian resort Sharm el-Sheikh.

The U.N.-backed forumis building on a decision by the body responsible for domains, theInternet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, to allowWeb site addresses in any language.  

ICANN says about half theInternet users around the world don't use a Latin-based script as theirnative language, adding the change will affect billions of potentialusers.

The group says requests by governments for domain namesshould be approved and come online next year. Individual Web addresseswould then follow.
 
U.N. Under Secretary General for Economicand Social Affairs Sha Zukang highlighted the reason for this year's conference, "Creating Opportunitiesfor All," at Sunday's opening session.

"It will allow us to reexamineand reflect upon the main theme of the IGF: access, diversity,openness, security and critical Internet resources," Sha said.

Media rights groups welcome the end of Latin-alphabet Web domination.

ButSoazig Dollet of Paris-based Reporters Without Borders says it islaughable that Egypt should be in the front of the movement.

"Thefact that Egypt is launching this Arabic domain Monday isironic, really, regarding the situation of freedom on the Internettoday in this country. Egypt is one of the enemies of the Internet. AndInternet governance requires regulations," Dollet said.

ReportersWithout Borders is one of several media and human rights groups thathave expressed concern about Egyptian opposition figures who have beendetained for their Internet writings.

Dollet adds that whilethere are other Arabic-speaking countries that do not control theInternet as much as Egypt, it is not clear how long that relativefreedom will last.