Fundamenta Informaticae XXI (2001) 1001–1024 1001 IOS Press A Framework for Composition and Inter-operation of Rules in the Semantic Web Enrico Pontelli, Tran Cao Son, Omar Elkhatib Department of Computer Science New Mexico State University epontell | tson | okhatib @cs.nmsu.edu Chitta Baral Department of Computer Science and Engineering Arizona State University chitta@asu.edu Abstract. Recent developments in the RuleML initiative have led to the design of several languages for representing rules. In this paper we describe a framework, based on the integration of different flavors of logic programming, aimed at facilitate reasoning with multiple sources of knowledge expressed in an heterogeneity of RuleML languages. The framework allows the derivation of logic programming modules from each rule base, and their inter-operation through a well-defined module interface. In this paper we describe the basic syntax and semantics of the framework, and its preliminary implementation. Keywords: Logic Programming, Rules, Inter-operation 1. Introduction One of the main goals of the Semantic Web initiative [6] is to extend the current Web technology to allow for the development of intelligent agents, which can automatically and unambiguously process the information available in millions of web pages. It has been recognized very early in the development of the Semantic Web [5] that rules are essential for the Web and for Semantic Web applications—e.g., in the description of semantic web services, business rules interchange for e-commerce applications. Address for correspondence: Enrico Pontelli, Dept. Computer Science, New Mexico State University, Box 30001, MSC CS, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA