ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER

Wednesday 10 April 2013 29 Jumada I 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5665 Price: QR2

QCB governor Real, Dortmund at Rome in Champions forum League semis

Business | 17 Sport | 28

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Iran’s Bushehr N-plant Emir, PM meet Abbas worries Gulf states Powerful quake near facility triggers alarm

BY MOBIN PANDIT Richter Scale struck close to the facility yesterday. DOHA: A little over three Tremor sparks “We are coordinating with the months after GCC leaders Centre in Bahrain,” Hussein Al expressed concern over Iran’s panic in Doha Qahtani, spokesman for the Saudi Bushehr nuclear power plant Meteorology and Environment posing a threat to their region DOHA: Several buildings Protection Authority, was quoted as it fell in a seismic zone, a pow- were evacuated in Qatar as saying by Al Yaum.com. erful quake hit the area around yesterday as tremors from “We are concerned and we have the facility yesterday, causing a 6.3 magnitude earthquake been talking about the danger fear in the entire region that in Iran’s Bushehr city made from the Bushehr plant in the felt its powerful aftereffects. hundreds panic here. eventuality of a quake for a long The plant is, though, safe — The aftershocks that time…It can cause huge damage as claimed by Tehran — and so reached Qatar around 2.55 to the region.” are the many multi-billion dollar pm lasted for about 30 sec- Colonel Ali Al Qahtani, from energy installations in the GCC onds. The strongest after- the Civil Defense department of states. The question being asked shocks were felt in the West Saudi Arabia’s eastern provinces, here, however, is how long can one Bay, home to Doha’s tallest said their operation room received expect it to resist tremors, located skyscrapers, with many resi- a large number of calls from panic- as it is in a sensitive seismic zone. dents of the area describing stricken people who said they The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Kuwait had raised the issue of the experience as ‘scary’. had felt strong aftereffects of the Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Emiri Diwan yes- the devastation the Bushehr plant THE PENINSULA tremor in neighbouring Iran. The terday. They discussed bilateral relations and the latest Arab Peace Initiative. could cause in the entire region if Full report on page 5 head of the Geology Department it were hit by a powerful tremor, at King Saud University, Dr at the last GCC Summit held in issue of the Bushehr plant that Abdullah Mohamed, said such Manama late last December. had recently begun operating. quakes as the one that hit Iran Emir to leave for Bahrain’s foreign minister, “The plant poses a grave threat yesterday had occurred in 2003, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al to the region’s safety and envi- 2006 and 2008. “But yesterday’s Third private firm to Ethiopia today Khalifa, with the GCC secretary- ronment. Iran has the right to was the most powerful one. It had general, Abdul Latif Al Zayani, use nuclear power but it must more intensity and that was why DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh had said at a press conference abide by global safety stand- people in the GCC region felt its launch taxis in June Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is after the Summit that member- ards. We must keep our region aftereffects,” he said. to leave today for Addis Ababa, countries wanted a say in Iran’s safe from the Bushehr plant and According to him, all energy Ethiopia’s capital. The Emir will talks with the ‘Five Plus One’ to Iran’s nuclear programme,” Al installations in the area were safe DOHA: Petro Qatar, the third customers and improve the qual- hold talks with the Ethiopian raise the issue of the Bushehr Khalifa said. and if more aftereffects are felt, private company selected by ity of the taxi service,” he added. president focusing on bilateral plant and Tehran’s overall nuclear Meanwhile, media reports from they wouldn’t be as intense. Mowasalat to run taxis on a Al Khanji later told The ties and issues of mutual con- programme. Saudi Arabia suggest that a GCC- However, Aljazeera.com franchise basis, is expected to Peninsula that the third fran- cern. QNA He had earlier told London- wide agency based in Bahrain said that western diplomats launch its first fleet of 300 yel- chise company, Petro Qatar will based Arabic daily, Sharq Al and tasked with protecting the based in the GCC region have low-roofed cabs by June-end. start its services by June-end with Complaints against Awsat, in an interview that the environment is urging Iran to expressed deep concern about Al Million and Alijarah, the an initial fleet of 300 taxis and GCC states were working jointly give it a detailed report on the the safety of the Bushehr plant. other two companies that are add another 200 by the end of denial of tickets at the global level to put diplo- Bushehr power plant after a pow- THE PENINSULA operating a fleet of 500 taxis each, this year. This will take the total matic pressure on Iran on the erful tremor measuring 6.3 on the Continued on page 5 have been granted permission by number of private sector taxis to DOHA: The Ministry of Labour Mowasalat to add another 150 1,800. over the past three months taxis each to their fleet. He said Karwa had no imme- received more than 2,000 com- More aftershocks likely Page 5 The two companies yesterday diate plans to reduce its fleet of plaints from workers about Quake hits near Iran’s N-site, 32 dead signed formal agreements with taxis to allow more space to pri- their employers’ not providing Page 6 Mowasalat. vate operators. air tickets. Hamad Al Emadi, CEO of “On the contrary we are add- There were 2,115 complaints — Alijarah, and Abdul Khader ing more vehicles to our fleet. the largest number — related to Mydeen, Managing Director of However, we may reduce the denial of air tickets, followed by Al Million, signed the deals with numbers in future, if there is a late payment of salaries — 1,908, Nasser Al Khanji, Strategy and need, based on an analysis of the said a report posted on the web- Business Development Director market and the supply-demand site of the Ministry. of Mowasalat. factor. “We want to provide qual- The Labour Department at Al Emadi, meanwhile con- ity taxi service but we also want the Ministry also received 1,845 firmed reports that Alijarah was to make our services financially complaints about denial of end going ahead with plans to take viable,” said Al Khanji. of service bonus, 1,765 related to over Petro Qatar. According to statistics released leave allowances, and 42 regard- By the end of this year, Qatar by the company, Karwa taxis ing overtime allowances. will have 1,800 taxis operated by transported 12,000,000 passen- The Department solved 1,717 the three private companies, that gers (assuming that a single jour- labour disputes amicably and will add to the 2,000 plus Karwa ney carried two passengers) and at least 236 complaints were cabs, Al Khanji told a press 11,000,000 people used its public referred to the court. conference. buses last year. Some 88,473 work contracts The franchise firms were ini- For the future, the company were endorsed during the three tially allowed to operate a maxi- sees an effective combination of months and 33,358 contracts have mum 500 taxis each. public mobility beginning from been registered at all branches Mowasalat’s permission to short to medium range foot walks, of the Department (Al Ruwais, expand their fleet is based on the smaller public transport modes on Al Muntaza, Industrial Area, Al performance of the two compa- smaller roads, and linking them Wakra and Al Khor). nies, said Al Khanji. with bus stops, bus rapid transit, The Department also endorsed Employees of Qatar Airways gather outside their office building in Doha after earthquake tremors were felt in “We are keen to promote and metro, train and water taxis. 7,378 documents for recruit- the afternoon yesterday. More pictures on page 5 (SHAIVAL DALAL) healthy competition in the indus- THE PENINSULA ment of new workers, 87,853 try, provide more options to Picture on page 3 job contracts and 440 experi- ence certificates. Professions of 1,218 people were also changed. THE PENINSULA High price of Qatar history books upsets parents Egypt plans to DOHA: Several private schools 10 costs QR126 and the workbook prices are going to be reduced. along with the prices of other and 3) was around QR600,” said change charter have made it compulsory for is priced at QR54. So we have asked our students textbooks. an Indian parent in a letter sent their students to buy textbooks Most schools had been relying to pay the money in advance. Some concerned parents say to The Peninsula. CAIRO: Egypt’s Islamist-led for the newly introduced sub- on photocopies to teach the sub- We cannot place orders without that the prices of Qatar History He appealed to the SEC to government has asked inde- ject — Qatar History, but many ject in view of the high prices of knowing how many students are books alone come to more than 50 reduce the prices saying they are pendent legal experts to propose expatriate parents are upset the books. willing to pay,” said the principal percent of the total prices of all not affordable to 70 to 80 percent amendments to the new consti- because the books are expensive. Some Asian schools had made of an Indian school, which started other text books. The high prices of the Indian families, with chil- tution, the state news agency Teaching Qatar history was an official request to the SEC classes for the new academic year have become a burden especially dren in schools. Enquiries with MENA said yesterday. Members made mandatory for private last year to reduce the prices to early this month. for parents with more than one some other private schools yes- of Egypt’s main opposition bloc schools from last year and the make them affordable to the large The school has set an April 15 child in the school. terday revealed that they had not walked out of the drafting of the Supreme Education Council number of low and middle income deadline for students to make the “I have two children in different received any instruction from the constitution last year in protest (SEC) had issued two books for Asian families with schoolgoing payment. classes and I have to pay QR360 in SEC making it compulsory for at what they saw as its Islamist the subject, which together cost children. Some schools have already total. The total cost for complete students to buy the textbooks. slant. QR180. The reader for grades 1 to “We have no indication that the started collecting the money texts for my children (Grades 8 THE PENINSULA Full report on page 7 WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Qatar University to host Time Bank Funded and supported by British Council, award-winning Qatari youth initiative has grown to 3,500 volunteers

DOHA: The British Council University is now taking over Qatar yesterday handed over responsibility for Time Bank, to the Time Bank project, its provide a Qatari home for this Global Changemakers’ initiative important element of the coun- in Qatar, to Qatar University’s try’s future development. This is a Centre for Volunteerism and very positive example of the kind Civil Responsibility. of partnership between our coun- Time Bank started as a local tries that we are celebrating and Qatari youth initiative in 2010 and seeking to build further this year having been funded and supported in Qatar UK 2013,” said British by the council since then, the Ambassador Michael O’Neill, dur- project has become self-sustaining ing the handover ceremony yes- with 60 full-time members and terday at QU. more than 3,500 volunteers. QU President Professor Al The project has attracted a Misnad said: “I am delighted that number of donors and funders, has Qatar University has been chosen run more than 60 workshops for as the new home for Time Bank. its membership and its members The British Council has supported have participated in more than 25 the development of Qatari young community events. In 2011, Time people for the last two years, and Bank was recognised as the volun- our young people are now ready teer award winner project in Qatar to take the next steps on their by Qatar Foundation’s Social journey. The Time Bank project Development Centre. is an inspiration and an example Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad, President of Qatar University, and Michael O’Neill, British Ambassador, with volunteers for ‘Time Bank’ at Qatar University “I applaud the thousands of of positive activism, not only for yesterday. SHAIVAL DALAL young Qataris who have con- youth but for various segments tributed time as volunteers to of society. I hope this project will Council works with partners support for this project, which British Council in Qatar, Martin with the British Youth Council. the Time Bank programme, and inspire further collaborative ini- to develop sustainable projects will enable these dynamic young Hope said in a statement. This is being co-funded by the congratulate them and the British tiatives in the future.” which have long-term impact. people to continue their efforts Ten Time Bank members will Social Development Centre’s Council on the programme’s suc- “Timebank is an excellent Qatar University is an excellent to develop themselves and their soon visit the UK to take part in award and by Qatar University. cess. It is excellent that Qatar example of how the British partner, and we welcome their communities,” Director of the a capacity-building programme THE PENINSULA UAE minister hails QF activities DOHA: The UAE Minister initiatives, community develop- knowledge economy, Al Hashemi of State, Reem Ibrahim Al ment plans and scientific research said education was the most Hashemi, yesterday toured the programmes undertaken by Qatar important element in the success Qatar Foundation for Education, Foundation, including Sidra and prosperity of any society. “The Science and Community Medical and Research Center, the universities Qatar Foundation Development during a tour of cutting-edge academic medical attracted are the finest in the its Visitors Center. facility, and the Qatar National world, and this is evidence of the After viewing a presentation Research Fund which awards foundation’s focus on the educa- on the vision and mission of Qatar grants to local and international tion factor.” Foundation, Al Hashemi said: “The projects. Al Hashemi also viewed the achievements of Qatar Foundation Acknowledging Qatar impressive 3D model of current are excellent and we are proud and Foundation’s mission to unlock buildings and future construction honoured to be here today.” human potential and drive projects at Qatar Foundation and During the presentation, he the country’s transition from signed the visitors’ book. UAE Minister Reem Ibrahim Al Hashemi during a visit to Qatar Foundation. was introduced to educational a carbon-based economy to a THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 PM’s letter handed over Emir receives to Vietnamese credentials of counterpart four envoys DOHA/HANOI: The Minister DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh of Energy and Industry H E Dr Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada received yesterday the credentials met the Vietnamese Minister of four new ambassadors to Qatar. of Industry and Trade, Vu Huy The Emir received the creden- Hoang, in Hanoi yesterday and tials of Hassan Qassim Najem handed him a written message (Lebanon), Sayyed Hassan from the Prime Minister and Reda (Pakistan), Nizar Hassan Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Al Haraki (Syria) and Shuaib Ahmed Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor (Nigeria). The Emir welcomed the Al Thani, addressed to Nguyen new envoys and wished them success Tan Dung, the Prime Minister in their missions. The ambassadors of the Socialist Republic of were accorded an official reception Vietnam, on relations, coop- at the Emiri Diwan. eration and issues of mutual interest. Dr Al Sada later met Dr Do Emir receives Van Hau, President and CEO of Petrovietnam, and many message from Chad Vietnamese executives of compa- nies in the energy and industry DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh sector. Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Talks covered cooperation in received a written message from the petrochemical sector and Chad’s President Idriss Deby on issues of mutual interest. bilateral relations and issues of The meeting was attended by mutual concern. Muhammad Jaber Abdullah Al The Deputy Prime Minister and Sulaiti, Qatar’s Ambassador to Minister of State of Cabinet Affairs H Vietnam, and the Minister’s del- E Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud egation. Al Sada arrived in Hanoi received the message during a meet- on Monday on a one-day official ing with Chadian Minister of Foreign visit. Affairs, African Integration and THE PENINSULA International Cooperation. Moussa Fekki Mohamed. QNA 1,077 apply for Kahramaa jobs 61pc target achieved in career fair DOHA: Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has received more than thousand applications from job seekers and graduates at Qatar Career Fair 2013 held recently here at Qatar National Convention Centre. A total of 1,077 applications were submitted for 80 exclusively avail- able jobs for Qataris at Kahramaa’s various departments. FROM LEFT: Ali Abdulla Bahzad, This includes employment opportunities for technical jobs in various Director, Taxi and Limo, Mowasalat; engineering areas (electrical, mechanical, civil, and IT, etc), adminis- Hamad Al Emadi, CEO, Alijarah trative, finance and business development-related positions. A large Holding Taxi; Nasser Al Khanji, number of job-seekers showed their interests in the field of Engineering. Director, Strategy and Business Apart from the direct recruitment’s application, 218 applications were Development, Mowasalat; Abdul received under scholarships for educational programmes and Individual Khader Mydeen, Managing Director, development opportunities category. Al Million Taxi; and Tim Garcia, Complying with the necessary procedures and coordinating with Product and Franchise Executive, other concerned departments, Kahramaa’s Human Resource depart- Mowasalat, during the signing of ment has commenced the scrutiny of received applications in all cat- agreements, in Doha yesterday. egories. After the phase, selected candidates will be intimated for the Mowasalat granted permission to interview and through an open recruitment day, the successful appli- Al Million and Alijarah companies cants will be recruited finally. Short listing and interview of aspirants to add another 150 taxis each to will be finished during two weeks. their fleet. By the end of this year, Kahramaa’s Corporate Services Director, Kahmees Al Mohannadi Qatar will have 1,800 taxis operated said that they achieved 61 percent of their target after receiving appli- cations at the fifth edition of the Qatar Career Fair. He said the over- by the three private companies, in whelming response from local talents this year may lead to surprising addition to the 2,000 plus Karwa figures in the corporation’s Qatari recruitments. cabs. THE PENINSULA SALIM MATRAMKOT

PCE to hold emergency mock drill today

DOHA: The Permanent Committee for Emergency (PCE) con- ducted training yester- day for an emergency mock drill to be con- ducted today at Mashaf area in Wakra. The secretary of PCE Brig Hamad Al Duhaimi said that the training was done in the presence of Staff Maj Gen Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi, chair- man of PCE and other members of the commit- tee. The detailed plan of mock drill was discussed in the training session and each authority has been assigned with cer- tain roles. The field drill will be carried out today to meas- ure the preparedness of all participating authorities in emergency plan. Brig Al Duhaimi urged all citizens and expatriates at Mashar in Wakra and nearby areas to cooperate with the authorities for smooth exercise of emer- gency drill. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Egyptian PM arrives Emir appoints DFI to screen new secretary general for SCFA Saudi film five DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani issued yesterday an Emiri decision No. more times 23 of 2013 to appoint Hamad Mohammed Al Fuhaid Al Hajri Wadjda named best film in Dubai fest as Secretary- General of the DOHA: After sell-out screen- Choice award. Supreme Council ings last weekend, critically Wadjda, the first film shot for Family Affairs acclaimed Saudi film Wadjda entirely in Saudi Arabia, and (SCFA). will have five more screenings the first Saudi feature directed The decision is next week as part of the lat- by a woman, is the story of a effective from the est instalment of Katara DFI fun-loving, entrepreneurial date of issuance and is Cinema Series Arab Voices. 10-year-old girl living in a sub- Egypt’s Prime Minister Dr Hisham Qandil is greeted at the Doha International Airport by Minister of Culture, Arts and to be published in the Arab Voices is a programme urb of Riyadh. Heritage HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Head of the Prime Minister’s Protocol HE Ahmed Jassim Al Mulla, Official Gazette. celebrating the diversity of Arab When Wadjda sees a beautiful Qatar’s Ambassador to Egypt Saif Muqqudam Al Buainain and Egypt’s Ambassador to Qatar Mohammed Morsi Awad. QNA culture, featuring contemporary green bicycle for sale, she wants films from leading cinematic it desperately, but her mother voices in the Mena region. won’t allow her to have it, fearing The programme scheduled repercussions from a conservative from April 18 to 22 at Katara society. So Wadjda decides to raise Drama Theatre will also feature the money herself. Just as losing Qatar, Palestine sign MoU on security two showings of Karzan Kader’s hope, she hears of a cash prize for film Bekas. a Quran recitation competition at DOHA: The Minister of State Bekas tells the story of two her school. for Interior Affairs H E Sheikh homeless, orphaned brothers Directed by Haifaa Al Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa inspired to travel to America Mansour, Wadjda won three Al Thani and Palestinian after they see Superman in the awards at the Venice Film Authority Interior Minister Dr city’s first cinema, under the Festival where it premiered last Saeed Bu Ali yesterday signed a oppressive regime of Saddam year. memorandum of understanding Hussein in Iraqi Kurdistan. It has been screened in 12 (MoU) in the security field. They have no passports or countries, winning critical and It was signed within the frame- money and their only means popular acclaim. It was named work of cooperation to serve of transport is a donkey called best film at the Dubai Film common interests, contribute Michael Jackson. Festival in December. to the fight against crime in all With all the odds against them, For tickets, Box Office tim- forms and raise the efficiency of they set out towards their dream, ings and full films listing, log in security services. discovering during their journey to www.dohafilminstitute.com/ It will also spur exchange of that perhaps they were superhe- arab-voices or visit DFI Ticket expertise and information to roes themselves. Outlet in Katara, Building 26, develop law enforcement agen- Bekas was a crowd favourite from April 14 to 22 between 1pm cies and exchange of legislation, at the Dubai International Film and 7pm. studies, research and educational The Minister of State for Interior Affairs H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and Palestinian Festival where it won the People’s THE PENINSULA and training programmes. QNA Authority Interior Minister Dr Saeed Bu Ali signing the MoU.

Participants in the Qatar National Bank training programme. QNB holds management training programme

DOHA: Qatar National Bank and strengthen leadership programme comprises an inte- the ability to increase their (QNB), under its Learning capabilities of its distinctive grated series of training courses efficiency and make a change and Development Center, talents, a press statement said for learning and development. in line with future professional has organised a management yesterday. The programme also aims to developments. training and development QNB is keen to develop and introduce a range of ways that Upon passing three phases, programme in collaboration train its competent staff to high- help in learning and imple- the trainees will receive a cer- with Aon Hewitt Center, a light their potentials and invest menting new abilities and tificate approved by the Aon US-based Human Resource in them to achieve their profes- behavioural skills. Through Hewitt Center. consulting firm, to develop sional aspirations and goals. The workshops, employees will have THE PENINSULA QP Environment Fair from Saturday

DOHA: The seventh edition of the three-day QP Environment Fair 2013 will open on Saturday at the Doha Exhibition Center. It will be formally inaugu- rated by Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry and Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum (QP), a press statement said yesterday. The ceremony will be attended by senior officials from QP’s directorates and departments and the top manage- ment of QP subsidiaries, joint venture partners and other major players in Qatar’s oil and gas industry. The fair, under Dr Al Sada’s patronage, will showcase environmental programmes and initiatives of over 35 companies and organisations in Qatar. The theme of the event this year is ‘Clean Energy for a Sustainable World’. The exhibition will be open to the public from 8am to 8pm for three days. It will also feature a wide range of entertaining and educational activities for students and the whole family. Among the activities is the play What is happening on the island? which will be staged three times daily by Sasol. Book of condolence for Thatcher at UK embassy

DOHA: A book of condolence for the former British prime minister, Baroness Margaret Thatcher, has been kept at the British embassy in Qatar. It will remain open for the public to sign and write messages today, tomorrow and on Sunday from noon to 3pm at British Ambassador Michael O’Neill’s residence, the embassy said in a release yesterday. People wishing to sign can come to the embassy’s main gate with photographic identification where they will be directed to the ambassador’s residence. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Quake: More aftershocks likely No need for fear as Qatar is a low-risk nation, says Meteorology Department DOHA: The Meteorology run down from the stairs as eleva- Department has warned that tors came to a halt in emergency. more aftereffects of the power- Ambulances and Civil Defense ful tremor that hit Iran yester- personnel were rushed to several day could be felt here, hinting parts of the country. that there was no need for fear “My flat is on the 18th floor and as Qatar was a low-risk country I felt the aftershock very strongly. according to international seis- I was sitting at the time and stag- mological classification. gered,” Daniel Perez, a resident of Yesterday’s ripples of the the diplomatic area in West Bay, Iranian quake were felt mostly said. Perez said he was not sure in the north-eastern parts of the whether it was a real earthquake country, the department said in a or he was just feeling dizzy when late night release. the alarms went off. Doha, it added, was located “I stood up and walked to the some 410km from the epicenter couch to lie down. But I still felt of the quake, which was 98 km wobbly and right away the fire south-east of Bushehr, a coastal alarm in the building went off so city. The tremor hit at 2:52:50pm I went down in the elevator which (11:52:50 GMT) yesterday, said was operating normally,” he said. the department. Some 70 residents gathered Meanwhile, several buildings, in the assembly point located in particularly high-rise structures the parking lot of the building in the West Bay area of the city, and were able to return to their were evacuated yesterday as pow- homes only after an hour. erful ripples of the tremor in Iran Sara Morris, who works for the People evacuated at the West Bay waiting outside the buildings. SALIM MATRAMKOT were felt here and that left people Commercial Bank Plaza located in in a state of panic. the West Bay said she was afraid “I was on the 15th floor and I and it remains closed,” Morris building. “I had never felt some- seconds and everyone was very The aftershocks lasted for at first because it was the first felt a pretty strong tremor. Our said, adding that workers ran thing like that so I was scared at calm,” added the British citizen. about 30 to 40 seconds. time she had such an experience. office was evacuated right away down from the stairs of the first, but it only went on for a few THE PENINSULA There was no official confirma- tion of the duration of the afteref- fects with the Ministry Interior briefly saying on its Twitter account that “some people felt Buildings evacuated in West Bay area the aftershocks of an earthquake in Bushehr city of Iran”. DOHA: People working and Corporation (HMC), said. once, first I thought I’m dizzy. But getting ready to go to the air- for an hour like and some people The strongest affects were felt living in some of the tallest “We responded with our the last one was for more than port as he was leaving to Dubai even didn’t want to go back, they in the West Bay, home to Doha’s skyscrapers in the West Bay standby ambulances in the area 20 seconds and then realized it’s yesterday. “I was to step out were so scared,” she added. skyscrapers, with many residents area yesterday experienced and followed other ambulances a tremor and saw my colleagues of office to go to the airport The tremor was also felt in of the area describing the experi- tremors more than others in immediately,” he added. panicking. The buildings were when I felt the tremor. Initially some other areas of Doha. A ence as ‘scary’. Although no dam- the country. The Ministry of Interior (MoI) evacuated and we were asked to I couldn’t figure what was hap- resident in the Doha Jadeed area ages or injuries were reported by Ambulances and Civil Defence confirmed through their social go home,” said a senior execu- pening, I realized it’s a tremor said, “I felt it before 2.56pm. Felt the Civil Defense, this was the vehicles were rushed to the West media channels that no dam- tive working for an Oil and Gas only when we were asked to like my couch was shaking. Just closest many people had come to Bay area following the evacuation ages or injuries took place in the company. evacuate,” he said. to make sure I was not feeling natural calamity in Qatar. although there were no damages country. “We have experienced shaking A European resident of the dizzy, Checked the wall hangings Many expatriates, who said or injuries reported. Meanahile, several other sense during the Tsunami and at west Bay area said: “Felt the and it was swaying. Baby’s hang- they had experienced severe “No specific patients were motorists, unaware of the after- bomb blasts but this was very dif- tremor strongly I could feel the ing cradle was also swaying.” earthquakes in their home coun- treated from the incident,” shocks, were stuck in huge traffic ferent,” she added. building shaking, all furniture “My husband was at the Pearl tries, however said they were Brendon David Morris, Chief jams starting from the West Bay Another employee of an office and utensils were moving. It was Qatar and he has felt the tremor unruffled. Frenzied workers in Operations Office, Ambulance to the Airport area. in the area said he felt the tremor scary.” very strong,” she added. some of high-rise buildings across Service, Hamad Medical “I felt the tremor more than around 3.00pm while he was “We stayed out of the building THE PENINSULA the belt of the Corniche had to

Labourers working at the construction site at West Bay. Met Department Filipinos unfazed to issue official

DOHA: Many Filipinos in the building for a while and went statement today Qatar remained unfazed by home after some instructions,” mild aftershocks yesterday. he said, adding it was a success- Continued from page 1 The Philippines is prone to ful evacuation and no one was constant tremors as it sits at the hurt. The plant is safe though, in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is a Alberto, another Filipino, came aftermath of yesterday’s tremors, vast belt of seismic and volcanic to know of the news about the it added. A spokesman for the activity that stretches all around aftershocks through his daughter Saudi Geological Survey, Tariq Al the Pacific Ocean. who called him from work. Khairi, told Al Yaum.com that the A Filipino working at the Qtel “I did not feel the trem- ripples of the tremor in Iran were Tower in Dafna said the trem- ors because I’m used to strong felt in the GCC region five times ors were not a reason to panic earthquakes in the Philippines,” and they measured 4.1 to 5.3 on because based on his experience he said, adding some earth- the Richter scale. from a country frequented by quakes in his country reach Saudi’s national seismology earthquakes; the tremors were nearly 8 magnitude and have centre said its records showed “not that strong.” claimed many lives. the tremor in Iran struck at “The tremors occurred several Light as they were, the trem- 2.52pm local time (Qatar time minutes before 3pm while we ors might have come as a shock is the same). Its epicenter was were setting up for a video confer- and a cause of panic to many peo- 85 km south-east of Bushehr ence which was cancelled because ple living here because it was a and the quake was 12 km deep of what happened,” he said. rare occurrence in Qatar and the and measured 6.4 on the Richter He said it felt as if the building region, said Alex, another Filipino scale. swung briefly, lasting for about working in West Bay who previ- Saudi cities like Jubail, 15 seconds and not that strong ously worked in Saudi Arabia Dammam and Al Khibar are all since the furniture in their office before coming here. located less than 300 km from did not move and no objects fell He said those who panicked the epicenter. Meanwhile, Qatar’s either. were the ones who were staying Meteorology Department said it “The lift immediately stopped on upper floors of high-rise build- was gathering data and would so the employees of various com- ings where the tremors were felt release an official statement panies in the building took the the most. today. stairs. Everyone waited outside THE PENINSULA ~ THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Quake hits near Iran’s N-site, 32 dead 850 injured as two villages razed; N-plant not affected

DUBAI: A powerful earth- in the normal regime and radi- said army and police units had quake struck close to Iran’s only ation levels are fully within been deployed to maintain order. nuclear power station yesterday, the norm,” Russian state news Water and electricity lines killing 32 people and injuring agency RIA quoted an official at were severed and communities 850 as it destroyed homes and Atomstroyexport as saying. stayed in the streets because of devastated two small villages, Iran informed the UN’s the threat from aftershocks. Iranian media reported. International Atomic Energy In a statement, Iran’s most The 6.3 magnitude quake Agency that there was “no dam- powerful authority, Ayatollah totally destroyed one village, a age to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Ali Khamenei, offered his condo- Red Crescent official told the Plant and no radioactive release lences to the victims and urged Iranian Students’ News Agency from the installation”, an agency authorities to extend all efforts (ISNA), but the nearby Bushehr statement said, adding that it was to save lives and help the afflicted. nuclear plant was undamaged, not currently seeking additional Yesterday’s quake was much according to Iranian officials and information. smaller than the 9.0 magnitude the Russian company that built it. One Bushehr resident said the one that hit Japan two years Many houses in rural parts of quake shook her home and the ago, triggering a tsunami that the province are made of mud homes of her neighbours but they destroyed back-up generators and bricks, which have been known were not damaged. disabled the Fukushima nuclear to crumble easily in quake-prone “We could clearly feel the plant’s cooling system. Three of Iran. earthquake,” Nikoo, who asked the reactors melted down. “Based on the most recent fig- to be identified only by her first Iran is the only country oper- ures on the impact of the earth- name, said. “The windows and ating a nuclear power plant that quake, 32 people have been killed chandeliers all shook.” does not belong to the Convention and 850 injured,” said deputy While initial fears about on Nuclear Safety, negotiated governor of Bushehr province, nuclear fallout receded, nearer after the 1986 nuclear disaster in Shahpour Rostami, Fars news the epicentre the rescue efforts Chernobyl which contaminated agency reported. ramped up into the night in wide areas and forced about Damaged homes in the earthquake stricken town of Bushehr in Iran yesterday. Across the Gulf, offices in search of survivors and to feed 160,000 Ukrainians from their Qatar and Bahrain were evacu- and house hundreds of residents homes. ated after the quake, whose epi- who were traumatised by at least Western officials and the devastating earthquakes in recent Scientists said that “ominously” Bushehr nuclear plant appear centre was 89km southeast of the 14 aftershocks. United Nations have urged Iran years, including a 6.6 magnitude the Bushehr reactor sits at the to have fallen on deaf ears,” the port of Bushehr, according to the A Red Crescent official told to join the safety forum. quake in 2003 which flattened intersection of three tectonic report said. US Geological Survey. The early ISNA that 20 people had been Tehran has repeatedly rejected the southeastern city of Bam and plates. The quake happened on afternoon shock was also felt in saved by rescue teams searching safety concerns about Bushehr killed more than 25,000 people. “Iran’s sole nuclear power plant National Nuclear Technology Day financial hub Dubai. through the rubble. — built in a highly seismic area In August more than 300 peo- is not at risk of a tsunami similar when Iran’s leaders celebrate the The Russian company that Reports in Iranian media spoke — that began operations in ple were killed when two quakes in size to the one that knocked technological advances they say built the nuclear power station, of landslides destroying buildings September 2011 after decades of struck the northwest. A report out the electricity and emergency will reduce the country’s reliance 18km south of Bushehr, said the and crowds gathering in the town delays. published last week by US think- cooling systems at Fukushima. on fossil fuels, leaving more of its plant was unaffected. of Dashti from outlying areas in Iran sits on major fault tanks Carnegie Endowment and But, repeated warnings about abundant oil for export. “Personnel continue to work search of help. Military officials lines and has suffered several the Federation of American the threat of earthquakes for the REUTERS

Gunmen kill 12 peacekeepers Qaeda admits and UN staff in South Sudan role in Syria DAMASCUS: Al Qaeda JUBA: Five Indian peacekeep- in the attack, and some remain in Iraq adm itted yesterday ers and at least seven UN civilian unaccounted for,” she added. Indian to long-held suspicions it workers were killed yesterday in an foreign ministry spokesman Syed is behind jihadists fighting ambush in South Sudan with oth- Akbaruddin blamed unknown “rebels” Syrian President Bashar ers still missing, officials said, a who attacked while the soldiers were Al Assad, as Washington day after warnings about spiralling “escorting a UN convoy”. said it was mulling new violence. The volatile eastern state of Jonglei ways to drive him from Hilde Johnson, the top UN offi- has been the scene of widespread eth- power. cial in South Sudan, “condemns the nic conflict since South Sudan became The rebel Free Syrian strongest terms the killing today of independent in July 2011, with bloody Army kept its distance from Military vehicles take part in clearing Tripoli of armed militias yesterday. The force is part of a campaign launched five peacekeepers and seven civil- battles between rival tribes, including the jihadists, insisting its by the government to impose security and stability in the Libyan capital. ians working with UNMISS (United the Dinka, Lou Nuer and Murle peo- alliance with the key oppo- Nations Mission in South Sudan) in ple. Clashes between the army and a sition fighting force was an ambush by unidentified assailants”, former theology scholar turned rebel purely tactical and that its she said in a statement. called David Yau Yau from the Murle goal was a democratic Syria. “At least nine additional peace- people have devastated large parts of “The Al Nusra Front Libyan parliament passes law keepers and civilians were injured this troubled region. AFP is simply a branch of the Islamic State of Iraq,” the head of the Al Qaeda in Iraq front group, Abu Bakr Al against torture, abductions Baghdadi, said in a record- ing posted online. TRIPOLI: Libya’s national the justice ministry, an attack the arrests, torture and deaths in Describing Al Nusra assembly approved a law crimi- justice minister said took place detention. Tensions have been ris- leader Abu Mohammed nalising torture and abductions after the government ordered the ing between the government and Al Jawlani as “one of our yesterday as the government group to hand control of the jail militias in the last few weeks after soldiers,” he said the two seeks to stamp its authority on over to the authorities. the launch of a campaign aimed groups would merge under a country awash with weapons “Under this transitional jus- at dislodging armed groups from the banner of the Islamic where militias often have more tice law, it is a crime to torture the public buildings they occupy State in Iraq and the power on the ground than state prisoners, kidnap people and hold in the capital, Tripoli. Levant. Baghdadi’s com- security forces. them in illegal detention centres,” The new law was welcomed by ments came a day after Since the end of the 2011 said an official from the general human rights activists despite an Al Nusra-style suicide uprising that toppled Muammar national congress’ media office. acknowledging that ensuring it is bombing in the heart of Gaddafi, Libya’s new rulers have “This law aims to strengthen respected will be a mammoth task Damascus killed at least 15 struggled to control a myriad of personal freedoms in the country.” given Libya’s still weak courts and people and wounded 146. former rebel groups who refuse International campaign groups state security forces. They also came after Al to lay down their arms and often have identified armed militias as “This is a step in the right Qaeda’s global chief, Ayman take the law into their own hands one of the biggest challenges to direction, it establishes basic Al Zawahiri, urged rebels to and detain people. Libya’s stability and human rights human rights,” Dao Al Mansouri fight to establish an Islamic Last week an armed group con- organisations have voiced concern Oun, a Libyan lawyer and human state in Syria. AFP trolling a Tripoli prison stormed over abuses including arbitrary rights activist said. REUTERS 600,000 ‘trapped’ in Mideast jobs: ILO AMMAN: An estimated exponential growth in recent “Reforming the kafala sys- workers” and restrict their 600,000 people have been years,” said Beate Andrees, head tem would significantly improve ability to terminate employ- “tricked and trapped” into of an ILO programme to combat labour migration governance in ment contracts and to change forced employment in the forced labour. “The challenge is this regard,” it said. employers. Middle East, many of them how to put in place safeguards The study addressed the A lack of inspections kept also sexually exploited, the in both origin and destination issue of animal herders, who domestic workers isolated and UN’s labour agency said countries to prevent the exploi- are recruited from many Asian heightened their “vulnerability yesterday. tation and abuse of these work- countries, including Bangladesh, to exploitation,” said the study, The International Labour ers,” she said at the opening of a Nepal and Sri Lanka. warning against “the real risks Organisation (ILO), issuing the two-day conference on the issue “Several migrants interviewed of detention and deportation for findings of a two-year study in Amman, Jordan. by the research team had origi- workers who are coerced into based on 650 interviews, called The 150-page report entitled nally been recruited as domestic sex work”. In male-dominated for an overhaul of employment “Tricked and Trapped: Human workers but later were moved economic sectors such as con- practices in the region, notably Trafficking in the Middle East” on to work as animal herders, struction, manufacturing, sea- an end to the “kafala” system of was based on research carried taking care of sheep, camels faring and agriculture, “workers sponsorships. out in Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and other livestock out in the are routinely deceived with Kafala, mostly prevalent in and the UAE. desert,” it said. respect to living and working Arab states east of Egypt, which “Although data is scarce, the The report said the research conditions, the type of work to are home to more than 12 mil- ILO estimates that there are team found evidence that be performed, or even the exist- lion foreign workers, requires 600,000 forced labour victims showed “the particular vulner- ence of a job at all,” it said. all such labourers to have in- in the Middle East,” it said. ability of Asian and African “Human trafficking can only country sponsors, usually their The study singled out the women migrant workers to be effectively tackled by address- employers, who are responsible kafala system, saying it was deceived and coerced into sexual ing the systemic gaps in labour for their visa and legal status. “inherently problematic” exploitation.” migration governance across the “Labour migration in this because it created an unequal The study criticised as insuffi- region,” said Frank Hagemann, part of the world is unique in power dynamic between employ- cient laws that “reinforce under- ILO deputy regional director for terms of its sheer scale and its ers and workers. lying vulnerabilities of migrant Arab states. AFP WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Kerry wraps up Mideast trip, to meet Syria opposition in London

TEL AVIV: Top US diplomat London where he was to attend a “Each of them made very seri- together,” he said as Netanyahu security. Earlier this week, Kerry During the Ramallah meeting, John Kerry yesterday wrapped summit of G8 foreign ministers. ous and well-constructed sugges- reaffirmed his commitment to said moves to bolster the teeter- Abbas lobbied hard on the issue up three days of “very con- His Jerusalem and Ramallah tions with respect to what the return to talks. ing Palestinian economy “could of freeing Palestinian prisoners structive” talks with Israeli stopover was the second leg of a road forward might look like,” he “I’m determined not only to be critical to changing percep- held by Israel, saying it was a “top and Palestinian leaders, pledg- 10-day trip which will also take told reporters at Tel Aviv’s Ben resume the peace process with tions and realities on the ground” priority” for resuming talks. ing new efforts to help the West him on his first visit to Asia since Gurion airport just before leaving. the Palestinians, but to make a although he did not elaborate. “President Abbas made a pas- Bank economy as he sought to taking over as Washington’s top But “doing it right is more serious effort to end this conflict “We are going to engage in new sionate argument to me about the bring the sides back to the table. diplomat. important than doing it quickly,” once and for all,” the Israeli leader efforts, very specific efforts, to prisoners and I think the govern- Speaking to reporters shortly During the visit, Kerry met he said. said, noting the key issues of secu- promote economic development ment of Israel has a full under- before leaving for London, a cau- Palestinian president Mahmoud On Monday night, Kerry held rity and of Palestinian recognition and remove... bottlenecks and standing of the potency of that tious Kerry said it was more Abbas and then Israeli Prime “very productive” dinner talks of Israel as a Jewish state. barriers that exist with respect issue,” Kerry said. important to find ways of resum- Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in with Netanyahu and the two met Kerry also said the two had to commerce in the West Bank,” The fate of prisoners is a flash- ing the long-frozen negotiations pursuit of what he called a “quiet for a second time early yesterday. discussed “specific steps we he said Tuesday. point issue closely watched by the correctly rather than “quickly.” strategy” for ending decades of “We made progress ... and each could take to break the red tape” It would involve “increased Palestinian street which often On another key Middle East mistrust between the two sides, of us agreed to do some home- hampering Palestinian eco- business expansion and private sparks mass protests that tend to conflict, he said he would meet who have not held direct talks work” with the aim of “seeing how nomic growth in a move he said sector investment in the West turn into clashes with the Israeli members of Syria’s opposition in since September 2010. we can really pull all of the pieces would ultimately improve Israel’s Bank,” he added. army. AFP Egypt plans Iraqis mark decade since fall of Baghdad BAGHDAD: Iraq yesterday quietly marked a decade since US-led forces took control of Baghdad, sealing the ouster of Saddam Hussein’s brutal changes to regime, but the country remains plagued by attacks and mired in crises. Remembered the world over for the iconic images of Iraqis pull- ing down a statue of Saddam in constitution central Baghdad’s Firdos Square — helped in no small part by an American military unit — the fall Govt heeding opposition concerns of the capital is a far more emo- tive day in Iraq than the anniver- sary of the invasion itself weeks CAIRO: Egypt’s Islamist-led was travelling in Africa yesterday. earlier. government has asked inde- The agency quoted Kandil as The day the statue fell on April pendent legal experts to propose saying the proposed amendments 9, 2003, Saddam’s vaunted army amendments to the new consti- would not be binding on a new par- had largely melted away, and was tution, the state news agency liament, expected to be elected late seen as defeated and demoralised. MENA said yesterday, signal- this year, but that he would send But the sense of elation felt ling that it may be heeding con- them to President Mohammed by many Iraqis that day, at see- cerns of the liberal and leftist Mursi for a decision. ing a dictator who had ruled for opposition. “Of course this is a gesture more than two decades fall, was Members of Egypt’s main oppo- to attract us and we are taking matched by a feeling of bitter- sition bloc, the National Salvation it very seriously, but we need to ness among others who felt their A view of Firdos Square, where the statue of Saddam Hussein used to stand, in central Baghdad, yesterday. Front (NSF), walked out of the make sure it is a serious move that country had been occupied by a drafting of the constitution last would lead to something tangible,” foreign power. “Iraqis will remain grateful and coalition forces paid a heavy a key step in that process this year in protest at what they saw as said NSF spokesman Hussein Those divisions is how April 9 is for the US role and for the losses price: Some 4,800 foreign troops month, however, by unveiling its Islamist slant, and have called Abdel Ghani. seen within Iraq have spurred the sustained by military and civil- died in Iraq, more than 90 percent sweeping reforms of laws bar- for changes to enshrine more “That is why we are asking for government to eschew any formal ian personnel that contributed of them American. ring those with links to Saddam’s freedoms and rights, notably for transparent and detailed informa- commemorations, and unlike in in ending Hussein’s rule. These Iraqis suffered even more. regime from participating in pub- religious minorities and women. tion, such as who will be on this previous years, only the autono- losses pale by comparison, of Britain-based organisation Iraq lic life. The draft amendments to Eight people have been killed panel and which articles will be mous northern Kurdistan region course, to those sustained by the Body Count recently estimated at the De-Baathification law, how- and many others injured in the discussed.” is marking the occasion with a Iraqi people.” least 112,000 Iraqi civilians died ever, are likely to face strong last four days in one of the worst The European Union and the public holiday, rather than the Though the war itself was in the decade after the invasion, opposition in parliament, which outbreaks of sectarian violence US have been putting pressure on entire country. relatively brief — six weeks after while thousands of soldiers and needs to approve the proposals. between Muslims and Christians Mursi and the opposition to work “Despite all the problems of foreign troops invaded, then US policemen were also killed. Yesterday’s anniversary also since the uprising that ousted for consensus and stability while the past decade, the overwhelm- president George W Bush infa- And along with the still-present comes at a significant political Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Egypt tries to secure aid from the ing majority of Iraqis agree that mously declared the mission violence, the country continues to juncture in Iraq, barely 10 days MENA said Prime Minister International Monetary Fund to we’re better off today than under accomplished — its aftermath was suffer from near-constant politi- ahead of provincial elections, Hisham Kandil had assigned a ease an economic crisis. Hussein’s brutal dictatorship,” bloody and fractious. cal crises typically attributed to the country’s first polls since US committee of scholars to review ElBaradei set three conditions Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki Caught between Shia militia a stalled reconciliation process. troops withdrew at the end of 10 to 15 articles of the disputed on Monday for the NSF to coop- wrote in the Washington Post. groups and Sunni insurgents, US Ministers appeared to take 2011. AFP charter, which was rushed through erate with Mursi and work for a parliament in December over national consensus: the appoint- opposition protests, and passed in ment of a “neutral and credible” a referendum. government, an independent Tunisians remember martyrs Mohammed ElBaradei, a sen- prosecutor-general and a panel to ior NSF leader, has spearheaded draft a new parliamentary elec- a campaign for amendments, tion law. and called his grouping the Essam El-Erian, deputy leader Constitution Party to underline of Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood the importance of the document. group, called on his Facebook page MENA did not say which arti- yesterday for ElBaradei to be put cles would be reconsidered, who on trial for helping the US gov- would sit on the lawyers’ commit- ernment to launch its 2003 war tee or when it would report. on Iraq, when he was serving as A cabinet spokesman was not head of the International Atomic available for comment and Kandil Energy Agency. REUTERS Satirist under probe for ‘insulting Pakistan’ CAIRO: Egyptian prosecutors are probing new complaints against popular satirist Bassem Youssef, this time for “insult- ing Pakistan” and “spreading atheism,” judicial sources said yesterday. The wildly popular Youssef — whose weekly political satire pro- gramme Al Bernameg (The Show) has spared few public figures of merciless critique — is currently on bail pending investigation into charges of insulting President Mohammed Mursi and Islam. The new lawsuits accuse Youssef of “insulting the state of Pakistan and causing tensions in its relations with Egypt.” He is also accused of insulting religion and “spreading atheism.” In an episode after Mursi visited Pakistan in March, Youssef Tunisians attend a demonstration in Tunis yesterday to mark made fun of a hat worn by the president when he received an Martyrs’ Day marking the deadly repression of a nationalist pro- honorary doctorate from a university in Islamabad. test in April 9, 1938 by troops of then colonial power France. One lawsuit claimed that Youssef was attempting to “spread Since the 2011 revolution that ousted long-time dictator Zine atheism” after he allegedly made fun of the prayer ritual which El Abidine Ben Ali, Martyrs’ Day has also commemorated those constitutes “questioning one of the five pillars of Islam.” AFP killed in that struggle. Turkey delays flotilla raid payout talks ANKARA: Turkey has Arinc, who was due to head Israeli commanders despite the an all-times low in May 2010 delayed the start of talks this the Turkish side during the official Turkey-Israel compensa- when Israeli commandos staged week with Israel over compen- talks, said the meetings had tion talks. Israeli and Turkish a raid on a six-ship flotilla to the sation that the Jewish state to be rescheduled because he officials were originally sched- Gaza Strip, killing nine Turkish will pay to victims of a deadly would be accompanying Prime uled to meet on April 12 for nationals. 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound flo- Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan breakthrough negotiations over The assault severely damaged tilla, the government said. on a trip to Kyrgyzstan this compensation for the raid, for relations between regional allies “The compensation meeting week. The news of the delay which the Jewish state apolo- Turkey and Israel, with Ankara with Israel has been delayed to came a day after the victims gised last month. demanding a formal apology and April 21 or 22,” Deputy Prime of the raid said they would not Ties between Israel and its compensation for the families of Minister Bulent Arinc said. withdraw their lawsuit against closest Muslim ally Turkey hit the victims. AFP WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KHALID AL SAYED [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR E-MAIL: [email protected]

ADVERTISING: TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ANNUAL QR 675 6 MONTHS QR 340 Editorial

An enduring imprint Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

NE CAN agree or disagree with Margaret Thatcher’s iconic policies and controversial actions -- and they are aplenty, even now setting the International protocol needed Oagenda in many British debates on issues ranging from politics to business -- but there will be no disagreement on one thing: that she has left behind a huge, indelible imprint in British politics. Thatcher, who died on Monday to combat sexual violence aged 87, was Britain’s most important peacetime prime minister since the late 19th century. BY WILLIAM HAGUE In life as in death, Thatcher remains a towering figure. dignity. We have to try and stop this Her achievements are unique. She was the first woman abhorrent crime that has affected so to become prime minister of Britain and the first to lead OO often, the world seeks to end many and work to eradicate the use of a major Western power in modern times. She led her a conflict and rebuild war-torn rape as a weapon of war. Rape tends to be treated Tsocieties without addressing the This is not an easy task and there are Conservative Party to three straight election victories and very reasons that make reconciliation many obstacles. as a secondary issue held office for eleven years from 1979 to 1990, longer than so difficult and which contribute to First, there is the fear and shame of by the international any other British politician in the 20th century. Called the renewed violence. the victims themselves. Understandably, Iron Lady of British politics, she had been credited with Wartime rape and sexual violence is often they are reluctant to come for- community when pulling her country back from 35 years of socialism. The one of those reasons. ward because of the stigma attached responding to conflict. Two weeks ago I visited the to being raped. This reluctance is then Financial Times called her the St Joan of free market, saying Democratic Republic of Congo and was made worse by the lack of sensitive As a result, survivors are “she transformed British politics by overturning the ruling handed a photograph of a five year old physical and psychological support neglected. assumptions about the relationship between the state and girl who had been raped. As I moved available to victims. the market.’ from refugee camps, to hospitals, and Second, there is the difficulty of gath- There is no doubt that Thatcher will leave behind a mixed meetings with people fighting for justice, ering evidence that can be used in court will set out agreed standards for investi- political legacy, which was evident I heard more and more appalling sto- cases, which means that few successful gating and documenting sexual violence. ries of lives destroyed, women ostracised prosecutions are ever mounted. Since These measures are designed to in a Guardian/ICM poll that asked from their families, families broken and 1996 as many as 500,000 women have improve evidence gathering and lead to Margaret voters about a range of her most victims given life been raped in the DRC alone, and only more prosecutions, they will empower Thatcher, important and controversial policies threatening ill- a tiny fraction of these cases end up in survivors to come forward, and they will on the afternoon of her death. When nesses after being court. This only reinforces the culture ensure that victims receive the long- who died on asked if Thatcher’s rule was good attacked when of impunity. term support that they need to rebuild for Britain, 50 percent answered in In many of the foraging for fire- Third, rape tends to be treated as their lives with dignity. I am hoping for Monday aged wood. And all this a secondary issue by the international an ambitious agreement in London on the positive, while 34 percent said major conflicts of 87, will leave while the perpe- community when responding to conflict. Thursday. the rule was bad and 11 percent the past twenty trators continue As a result, survivors are neglected, But this is only a beginning. We will behind a mixed said ‘neither good nor bad’. Nearly years, rape has their ‘normal funding is insufficient or simply with- use the support from the G8 as a foun- political legacy. two-thirds, 62 percent, said her lives’ under the held, and perpetrators roam free. dation to build a strong international example played an important part been used as a cover of shameful Finally, there is not enough sup- coalition against wartime rape and impunity. port for the UN agencies, local organi- sexual violence in conflict at the UN in “changing attitudes about the deliberate weapon In many of sations and human rights defenders, and more widely. role in society that women can play”, twice as many as the to scar political the major con- who are assisting the survivors on the The G8 represents some of the world’s 31 percent who believe that she changed little about gender opponents or flicts of the past ground. As a result they are severely largest economies, with huge interna- relations in a wider society. twenty years, under-funded and face real difficulties tional reach and combined influence. As Britain makes preparations for a grand funeral next entire ethnic or from Bosnia to in responding effectively. When its members come together in week for the great leader, experts and the media will dissect religious groups. Rwanda and from All of these are barriers which can common endeavour, they are capable of Libya to Sierra and must be surmounted. bringing about real and lasting change in detail her life and contributions. Thatcher will be given Leone, rape has This week I will be asking fellow G8 in the world. a ceremonial funeral, which is one step down from the been used as a deliberate weapon to Foreign Ministers to agree a historic This week, that lasting change will state funeral given to legendary wartime leader Winston scar political opponents or entire ethnic political statement that sets out our be to begin a process aimed at ending Churchill, but the same honour afforded to the Queen or religious groups. The scars inflicted shared determination to work to end one of the most devastating aspects of Mother and to Princess Diana. Several Conservative leaders do not easily heal, and never disappear. sexual violence in armed conflict, to modern warfare, and addressing one of have called for her to receive a full state funeral but her Instead they often destroy families and tackle the lack of accountability that the main reasons why it is so difficult corrode communities. exists for these brutal crimes, and to for communities to come back together spokesman Lord Tim Bell said Thatcher had specifically Sadly the same story is being repeated ensure comprehensive support for after conflict. It is our duty as politi- asked not to, saying it was “not appropriate”. again in Syria today, where there are victims. cal leaders of free countries and human Across the world, the response to Thatcher’s death horrific reports of civilians being raped I am seeking a wide set of practical beings to shatter impunity for those oscillated between two sides. Many leaders, including US and tortured, and violations being com- commitments that include recognis- who use rape as a weapon of war, and President Barack Obama, hailed her as one of the great mitted with the deliberate intention of ing that rape and serious sexual vio- ensure that its victims are never again terrorising political opponents. lence are grave breaches of the Geneva abandoned. champions of freedom and liberty, while those on the Responding to this challenge is our Conventions; greater funding and long- THE PENINSULA political left spoke with bitterness about what had spread responsibility as political leaders of term support for survivors; and support The author is British Foreign across the world in the name of Thatcherism • democratic states that believe in human for a new International Protocol that Secretary Letters Quote of Qatar history textbook must be subsidised the day ou may be aware that from that we had to compulsorily buy the book as it is not affordable for at least contains minerals and other ingredients last year (middle of the last book prescribed by the Supreme 70-80 percent of the schoolchildren in in proportions that could be hazardous educational year), teaching Education Council for QR180 for each Indian schools. Only a small percentage and might cause harm to the user. The Iraqis will remain Ythe history of Qatar has been child. I have two children in different of parents get a textbook or education high sodium content in some brands of grateful for the US made compulsory in schools. It was classes and I have to pay QR360 in allowance from their companies. bottled water is known to have exacer- an excellent step to make the children total. It has to be noted that the total Umm Ahmed, Doha bated the condition of those suffering role and for the losses aware of the history of the country cost of all books for my children, study- from high blood pressure. Yet, people sustained by military where they live. I myself was very happy ing in the eighth and third standards, is Tap water best continue to prefer bottled water. about it and started studying my kids’ around QR600 (including all craft, art The cost of this — to the users and and civilian personnel notebooks on the same subject. and project books). few years ago, the Supreme the environment — are big. Millions of that contributed in We were informed by the school that The cost of living in Qatar is skyrock- Council of Health stated that water bottles are sold in Qatar every ending Hussein’s rule. we had to buy books on Qatari history. eting, and the huge price of a single tap water in Qatar was safe year. One can imagine the amount of Since it was the middle of the year and book is another blow to those who are Ato drink and that people were plastic waste that is generated by this. These losses pale by the cost of the books was very high, already struggling to make both ends wasting their money on bottled water. It is time the authorities launched a drive comparison, of course, the decision was withdrawn and the meet. However, there seems to be no let to promote the use of tap water and dis- children were given notes instead. Kindly request the authorities con- up in people using bottled water. courage consumption of bottled water. to those sustained by Nouri Al Maliki But this year we received a circular cerned to subsidise the price of the Experts maintain that bottled water Abdul Jaleel, Doha the Iraqi people. Iraqi Prime Minister WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Despair in Pakistan Washington has Islamabad has 185 a foreign policy million people, a large nuclear stockpile and partner in Iraq an array of violent BY NOURI AL MALIKI Further militarisation of the conflict will only increase the suf- n the 10th anniver- fering of civilians and strengthen Islamist groups sary of the overthrow radical groups, including our of Saddam Hussein, common enemy, Al Qaeda. who are terrorising the debate about We have been mystified by what the directions of the appears to be the widespread OUS-Iraqi relationship is influenced belief in the US that any outcome people and Pakistan’s by a pessimistic view that the US in Syria that removes President has lost Iraq. Bashar Al Assad from power will neighbours. Not true. Despite all the prob- be better than the status quo. lems of the past decade, the A Syria controlled in whole or BY JAMES TRAUB overwhelming majority of Iraqis part by Al Qaeda and its affiliates agree that we’re better off today — an outcome that grows more ere is a sad, sad statistics: 6 than under Hussein’s brutal likely by the day — would be more percent of Pakistanis aged 18 dictatorship. dangerous to both our countries to 29 believe their country is Iraqis will remain grateful for than anything we’ve seen up to “heading in the right direction.” the US role and for the losses sus- now. Four years ago, the figure was 14 tained by military and civilian per- Americans should remem- Hpercent. The next generation is sinking into sonnel that contributed in ending ber that an unintended conse- despair. But it’s not just sad, the way it would Hussein’s rule. quence of arming insurgents in be if 94 percent of Somalis or Congolese had These losses pale by compari- Afghanistan to fight the Soviets given up on their future. It’s also dangerous, son, of course, to those sustained was turning the country over to because Pakistan has 185 million people, a by the Iraqi people. Our govern- the Taliban and Al Qaeda. large nuclear stockpile and an array of violent ment emerges from this experi- Iraq’s longest border is with Islamist groups who are terrorising people and Cricket legend and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, Imran Khan, holds a copy of his party ence determined to ensure that Iran, and we don’t want a reprise Pakistan’s neighbours. manifesto for the forthcoming general election, during a ceremony in Islamabad yesterday. these sacrifices contribute to a of the war which left hundreds of There is something viscerally satisfying future of freedom and prosperity thousands dead on both sides in about the prospect of leaving Pakistan to Pakistani territory to kill Osama bin Laden, of US-Pakistan relations when US military for our country. the 1980s. stew in its own juices. Americans are feeling and later killed 24 Pakistani soldiers along the involvement in Afghanistan ends? American Our relationship with the US We would like to see a Middle betrayed by a country they once viewed as a border. The policy failed because it couldn’t officials have been at pains to say: We’re stay- did not end when US troops East without weapons of mass staunch ally in the war on terror. Admiral succeed. ing. If abandoning Pakistan is a bad idea (no departed. destruction, where governments Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint In recent days, I’ve been talking with cur- matter how gratifying) and if at the same time In December 2011, I stood are committed to development Chiefs of Staff and a patient interlocutor rent and former administration officials who Washington has little, if any, ability to make with President Obama while he and cooperation rather than con- with Pakistan’s leadership class, testified deal with the region, and several things have military and intelligence officials in Islamabad spoke of “a normal relationship” flict and competition to obtain in 2011 that the brutal Haqqani network of become clear. First, the deep freeze is over. US comply with its counterterror goals, the best between the US and “a sovereign, nuclear weapons. the Afghan Taliban was “a veritable arm” of military and intelligence officials are meet- solution may be to focus on the war on despair self-reliant and democratic Iraq.” But as with Syria, we seek a Pakistani intelligence and that the country ing regularly with their opposite number. The rather than the war on terror. It is, after all, Iraq is building an inclusive peaceful resolution of this issue. would never be a “respected and prosperous Pakistanis have opened the spigot on diplo- despair among ordinary Pakistanis, not the political system, with free mul- The peoples of Iraq and Iran nation” unless it mended its ways. matic visas, which they choke off at moments brutality of jihadists in Waziristan, which tiparty elections, a multiethnic share historic, cultural and reli- Now, with America’s military engagement of pique. Bilateral working groups on the econ- makes Pakistan so dangerous to itself, its government and an independent gious ties. in Afghanistan scheduled to end in 2014, omy, security, education and defence have been neighbours and the US. judiciary. Our gross domestic While we want our relationship Washington has the chance to disengage from meeting, and issuing soothing press releases. Post-2014, or for that matter starting now, product is expected to grow by with Iran to be stable, it will never Pakistan as well. But the truth is that we can’t The US, as one intelligence official confirmed, Obama should give more authority to US dip- an average of at least 9.4 percent be subservient. Iraq follows an afford to indulge that impulse. has slowed the pace of drone attacks; the lomats and less to the Pentagon and the CIA. annually through 2016. independent foreign policy based Pakistan is the example par excellence of Pakistani side has lowered the rhetoric. It does He should push for trade legislation, which will Last year, we surpassed Iran to on its distinct interests. hopeless predicaments Barack Obama inher- not hurt that Pakistan is preoccupied the May create manufacturing jobs once Senator Lindsey become Opec’s second largest pro- This has been proved by our ited from George W Bush. My shorthand for 11 national elections. Graham, R-S.C., wins his primary against an ducer of crude oil. decision to sign the strategic these snarled knots is: “You have to, but you Temperatures that have cooled, so have expected tea party opponent, and thus can con- Iraq is not a protectorate of framework agreement with the can’t.” You have to persuade Iran to end its expectations. The strategic partnership is template offending the textile industry. the US; it is a sovereign partner. US and our commitment to main- nuclear programme through blandishments history. “There’s a lot of wisdom in having a And the administration should stop doing Partners do not always agree, but tain a strong partnership with the and threats; you have to leave behind a gov- more modest relationship,” one official said. things that play into the hands of Pakistan’s they consider and respect each US on political, security and eco- ernment and an army the Afghan people can “On things like the Haqqanis, our long-term extremists and obscurantists, like issuing ulti- other’s views. nomic levels. believe in; you have to convince Pakistan’s mil- goals don’t align. It’s better to recognise that matums about covert support for extremists and In that spirit, we ask the US Our cooperation with the US itary and intelligence that the Afghan Taliban they don’t and work on what we have in com- authorising drone strikes, save in exceptional to consider Iraq’s views on chal- continues to bear fruit. is their enemy, not instrument. But you can’t. mon.” In a recent article in Foreign Affairs, circumstances. Obama can’t do anything to lenging issues, especially those of While our journey from despot- So you come up with a decent-sounding-if- Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s former ambassa- make most Pakistanis stop hating America, but regional importance. ism to democracy has not been not-terribly-persuasive plan and send it off dor to the US, suggested that both sides admit he can stop doing things that distract Pakistanis Iraq is developing an independ- easy, the Arab Spring has shown with a prayer. This degree-of-difficulty prob- the truth and “explore ways to structure a from addressing their own problems. ent foreign policy. With no inten- that all countries going through lem is why I’ve always been more sympathetic nonallied relationship.” That’s not so far from Right now, there are very few signs that tion of repeating Hussein’s wars, such transitions face turmoil. to Obama than many of his critics on the left what’s happening, though no one would dare Pakistan’s corrupt and feudal political class is we are committed to good rela- The protests in several cities and right. to call it that. The chastened wisdom of 2013: prepared to face those problems. While it’s a tions with all our neighbours. in Iraq reflect the fact that, while Bush never had a vision of US-Pakistan rela- “We can’t, so we won’t.” very good thing that the regime of President We offer the hand of friendship some sectarian elements call for tions much beyond, “You’re with us or against The Obama administration depends Asif Ali Zardari just became the first civil- to Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia violence, the majority of Iraqis us.” Obama has tried to do better, through on Islamabad for its exit strategy from ian government to serve out a full term in and Kuwait. Sharing a 376-mile want to express their demands development assistance, democracy support Afghanistan, because Pakistani intelligence Pakistani history, there is no reason to expect border with Syria and a 906-mile through democratic means. and the diplomacy of Richard Holbrooke, the continues to use Taliban proxies to desta- the next government to be any less feckless border with Iran, we have a vital With provincial elections this late special representative for Afghanistan bilise its neighbour and political reconcili- than his. The only saving grace in Pakistan interest in stable, non-hostile rela- month and general elections next and Pakistan. The “strategic partnership” ation between the Afghans and the Taliban is that few people have fond memories of the tions with these countries, too. year, Iraqis can resolve their Holbrooke forged was supposed to demonstrate will never happen without active Pakistani last era of military rule: former Gen Pervez In Syria, we can conceive of no disagreements with ballots, not a deep and abiding commitment which would engagement. Islamabad has made gestures Musharraf, who has returned to Pakistan in scenario in which a military “vic- bullets. not only improve Pakistan’s economic and secu- towards the reconciliation process, but noth- the hopes of re-starting a political career, tory” by either the government The US has not “lost” Iraq. rity capacity but flatter its leaders into greater ing decisive; Afghan leaders remain sceptical appears to have zero appeal. Democracy in or the opposition can bring peace Instead, in Iraq, the US has compliance with US objectives. of Islamabad’s intentions. The US is withdraw- Pakistan is thus likely to survive its own per- and stability. Only a negotiated found a partner for our shared That didn’t happen. Holbrooke hoped ing one way or another, and Afghanistan will sistent failure. That is a genuinely good thing. solution can lead to such an out- strategic concerns and our com- that US aid through Pakistani institutions cope as well as it can with whatever support Nothing good will happen soon; but per- come. Accordingly, we oppose all mon efforts on energy, economics would help bolster the civilian government from the US and foreign donors it continues haps someday Pakistan’s democracy can begin transfers of weapons, to both the and the promotion of peace and and America’s standing. That didn’t happen to receive. to make inroads on Pakistan’s despair. With government and the opposition, democracy. either. The relationship cratered in 2011, either After 2014, Afghanistan will fade away; but low expectations and a modest investment, and we are working to ensure that WP-BLOOMBERG because Holbrooke died in late 2010 or because Pakistan will still cling to America’s trouser Washington can afford to be patient. our airspace and territory are not (The author is of popular fury when US forces crossed into cuffs like a tenacious burr. What will become WP-BLOOMBERG used for such transfers. Prime Minister of Iraq) UN Arms Treaty: More clear thinking is imperative

BY JONATHAN POWER later there were fresh reports compromise and elections. a State Department brief on used for acts of genocide (none playing field is necessary if the that hundreds more armoured After the great Indonesian this detailed and comprehensive at the moment), crimes against rebels are to overthrow the Assad S presidential can- vehicles had been sold. army massacre in East Timor in section.) humanity and war crimes (eg regime. But is this not creating a didate Jimmy Carter The US defence secretary 1991, the US formally cut its so- Last week an overwhelming the Congo, Myanmar, Israel and level killing field? The dangers of described arms visited Turkey and reportedly called International Military and majority of the world, including Somalia) and terrorism (eg Iran this can be seen in Libya where sales as a “cancer”, lobbied on behalf of American Education Training Programme the US and its Western allies, and Pakistan). the rebel militias, long after but once in office, companies wishing to co-produce for the Indonesian army. (Russia and China did not) “We did it! The world has been the fall of dictator Muammar Uhe achieved little in controlling advanced helicopters there. That But in March 1998, leaked signed a treaty to control the waiting a long time for this his- Gaddafi, control important parts them. year an American company sold documents revealed that the US trade in conventional arms. The toric arms treaty... and now we of the country and make it diffi- During president Bill Clinton’s 10,000 electric shock weapons to government had secretly used Republican-controlled Senate have it,” said British Foreign cult for the government to create first term, Amnesty International Turkish police. another little known aid effort — where the treaty has to be ratified Secretary, William Hague, rep- its standing army. questioned the US government In Angola, the US supplied the Joint Combined Exchange and has said it will be dead on arrival. resenting a country that has Neither in Libya nor Syria did about the use of American mili- arms for many years to UNITA, Training Programme — to train (The pro-gun National Rifle had a bad record in controlling the outside world give much sup- tary helicopters and armoured the guerrilla movement hostile the Indonesian army, including Association has vowed to fight nationals who participate in sell- port to the early non-violent pro- vehicles involved in human rights to the pro-Soviet central govern- its notorious special forces com- against ratification even though ing under-the-table arms and testers who might have built up abuses in Turkey. ment, that helped stoke a war . mand, in close quarters’ combat, until now it has confined itself a terrible record on arms sales a greater head of steam if they Under pressure from Congress, The war became so out of con- sniper techniques and psychologi- to domestic legislation, thwart- corruption. had had outside help and had the the State Department compiled a trol that the country was without cal operations. ing the banning of military-type Russia made a good point at world media not given much more report on human rights violations any central services and became Under Section 502B of the weapons and even background negotiations, but one mostly prominence to armed militias by the Turkish armed forces. the country in Africa, despite its Foreign Assistance Act of 1976, checks on would-be gun owners.) ignored by the media. The treaty than to non-violent protesters. It concluded there was incredible mineral wealth, that the US is required to cut off secu- But on the issue, Obama has an has a major loophole, it argued. It Is it forgotten that the Syrian “highly credible” evidence that was the most ill-fed and disease rity assistance to any government ace up his sleeve. He can imple- doesn’t outlaw rebels being sup- rebellion was triggered by a pro- US-supplied arms and jet fighters prone of all. In Nicaragua, arms which “engages in a consistent ment 502B. plied with arms. test mounted by children? had been used to subdue Kurdish supplied by the Reagan admin- pattern of gross violations of The treaty prohibits states Countries as diverse as Qatar, Undoubtedly, the new treaty is villages. istration in secret defiance of internationally recognised human from exporting conventional Saudi Arabia, the UK and France a big achievement but more clear In 1996, the US temporarily Congressional writ kept alive a rights”. weapons in violation of arms are supplying or want to supply thinking leading to more steps suspended the sale of advanced civil war that could have been In practice, the section has embargoes (eg to Syria and North arms to Syrian opposition groups. forward is an imperative. attack helicopters. But two years ended much earlier than it it, by never been used. (Read on Google Korea) or weapons that could be Their argument is that a level THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Kenya swears France’s Lower in president NAIROBI: Uhuru Kenyatta took the oath of office as House passes Kenyan president yesterday, presenting Western states with the challenge of how to deal with a leader indicted by the International Criminal Court. draft labour bill Kenyatta is charged with crimes against humanity for orchestrating an orgy of intercommunal violence CGT union stages nationwide protests that followed the previous presi- dential election five years ago, an PARIS: France’s Lower House 178 lawmakers abstained, mainly accusation he denies. of Parliament voted yesterday conservatives. Kenyatta pledged to “be faith- to pass a draft law overhauling Members of the CGT, France’s ful and bear true allegiance to the labour system despite wide- second-largest union by mem- the Republic of Kenya” in his spread union protests against the bership, branded the draft law as oath, taken on a Bible used by his bill, opening the way for a debate “traitorous”, splitting with its big- father, Jomo Kenyatta, who was in the Senate later this month. ger rival, the CFDT, which backed Kenya’s first president after inde- The vote came as Socialist the labour overhaul in an accord pendence from Britain in 1963. President Francois Hollande reached after weeks of talks. Ugandan President Yoweri spent the last week fending off In Marseille, marchers bore Museveni told the ceremony in accusations of a cover-up after his banners reading: “No to breaking a Nairobi stadium: “I want to former budget minister admitted the labour code”, against a text salute the Kenyan voters on ... the lying about a secret foreign bank seen as the most comprehensive rejection of the blackmail by the account at a time when the gov- labour reform since World War International Criminal Court”, to ernment is already struggling to Two. “We won’t let anything past cheers from tens of thousands. reverse a rise in unemployment us,” regional CGT chief Mireille “This is a new beginning,” said and meet its economic targets. Chessa told reporters. Elija Toroitich, a 56-year-old Accusations among some on Public opinion on the reforms is President Uhuru Kenyatta waves as he leaves after his swearing-in ceremony at Kasarani Stadium, in Nairobi. farmer who voted for Kenyatta. the left that Hollande has aban- divided. But a survey by pollster REUTERS doned Socialism could drag down BVA in March found 62 percent his already dismal approval rat- of respondents supported the ings, stuck around 27 percent, and bill, making it more popular than hurt his party’s performance in Hollande himself. municipal elections next year. “The point is ... to make workers The National Assembly adopted aware of the impact this is going to the draft bill, which ushers in a have on their daily lives,” Thierry Thatcher to be laid to rest on April 17 series of measures to loosen fir- Lepaon, head of the CGT union, ing and hiring rules, by 250 votes told Canal+ television. In dozens LONDON: Britain stood deeply But “Maggie” remained as polar- Pope Francis was among the Thatcher’s coffin will rest in in favour versus 26 against as of articles, the bill aims to inject divided yesterday over the leg- ising in death as she did in life, with latest to pay tribute to Thatcher, the Houses of Parliament the scores of opposition conserva- more flexibility into a system the acy of former prime minister violence erupting at street parties hailing her “promotion of free- night before the funeral and will tives abstained and thousands IMF, OECD and ratings agencies Margaret Thatcher as it made celebrating the demise of a figure dom”. Similar tributes have come be taken through the streets on a protested outside. say is to blame for chronically high preparations for the grand who critics say destroyed millions from US President Barack Obama gun carriage to the cathedral with Socialist lawmakers and centre- unemployment because it gives funeral next week of the woman of lives with her free-market eco- and dozens of current and former full military honours. left allies backed the bill but the some workers too much job secu- known around the globe as the nomic policies. world leaders including her one- Several Conservative lawmak- Greens Party, part of Hollande’s rity and others too little. “Iron Lady”. Foreign Secretary William time Soviet adversary Mikhail ers have called for her to receive a government and supposed to be Pressure from Brussels to fix Tributes from world leaders Hague, a fellow Conservative, Gorbachev. full state funeral but her spokes- a parliament ally, abstained in a structural brakes on competitive- who hailed her role in bringing told a briefing ahead of a meet- Current British Prime Minister man Lord Tim Bell said Thatcher rebuke to the man they helped ness, from rigid labour markets down communism kept flood- ing with G8 counterparts that David Cameron’s office said the had specifically asked not to, bring to power last year. “This is to tax fraud, compelled leaders ing in as the British government Britain was grateful for the con- government had agreed during believing it was “not appropriate”. a small revolution,” said Annick in Italy and Spain to undertake announced that Thatcher would dolences from around the world. a meeting with Thatcher’s fam- A private ambulance accom- Lepetit, head of the Socialist similar profound reforms despite be laid to rest on April 17 in “She was an inspiration to many ily and Buckingham Palace that panied by police motorcycle out- group in the National Assembly. opposition on the streets. London’s St Paul’s Cathedral. people in other countries, not just her funeral would take place on riders removed Thatcher’s body Thirty-five Socialist depu- Labour Minister Michel Sapin Queen Elizabeth II will lead this country, particularly people Wednesday next week, followed yesterday from the luxury Ritz ties joined Greens dissidents in has said the changes will be the mourners at the ceremo- aspiring to their own freedom and by a private cremation. hotel in central London where she abstaining from the vote, hinting implemented as soon as possible nial funeral, one step down from democracy at a time they didn’t The queen and her hus- spent the last days of her life. at a growing rift in Hollande’s in a bid to combat unemployment, the state funeral given to legen- have it, such as behind the Iron band Prince Philip will attend, Lawmakers have been recalled camp as tens of thousands of which has risen steadily over the dary wartime leader Winston Curtain,” Hague said. Buckingham Palace said. The to parliament to debate Thatcher’s protesters led by the hardline past two years to reach 10.6 per- Churchill, but the same honour Condolence books were set monarch does not usually attend legacy and will vote on a motion CGT union marched against it cent, close to an all-time record afforded to the Queen Mother and up at several British embassies funerals or memorial services of paying tribute to her. in 170 towns and cities. In all, in jobless claims. REUTERS to Princess Diana. around the world. non-royals. AFP

Venezuela poll campaign Chelsea Clinton may enter politics Obama criticises NEW YORK: Just as speculation rises over Hillary Clinton’s presi- Republicans for dential ambitions, daughter Chelsea hinted that she too could enter politics. With ex-president Bill Clinton as her father and the former gun reform ‘stunts’ secretary of state and would-be first female president as mother, Chelsea has politics in her blood. So far, the 33-year-old has kept HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT: out of the family business. However, a foray into television jour- US President Barack Obama nalism and frequent appearances on conference stages are rapidly accused Republicans of stoop- increasing her prominence. Asked by NBC television if she would ing to political stunts to block consider a political future, Chelsea Clinton said: “Right now I’m gun reform, in a fervent appeal grateful to live in a city, a state and a country where I strongly sup- delivered close to the site of the port my mayor, my governor, my president and my senators and my Newtown school massacre. representative.” But, she added: “If at some point that weren’t true At a critical moment for hopes and I thought I could make a meaningful and measurably greater for sweeping action to stem gun impact, I’d have to ask and answer that question.” violence, Obama travelled to Hartford , not far from Sandy Italy’s Bersani meets Berlusconi Hook Elementary School, where 20 children and six adults were ROME: Italian centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani met his cen- gunned down in December. tre-right rival Silvio Berlusconi yesterday to discuss the election In sharp, impassioned remarks, for the next president of the Republic, offering hope of a break- he contrasted the courage of par- through in the deadlock left by elections in February. “It was a good ents whose children were killed by meeting but we’re at the beginning,” Enrico Letta, deputy leader of a deranged gunman with US law- Bersani’s Democratic Party, told reporters in parliament. He said makers he said feared the wrath the meeting had focused only on the election of the next president, of the powerful American gun not on any possible deal to form a government. lobby. “Some folks in Washington Venezuela’s acting president and presidential candidate Nicolas Maduro (left) greets supporters during a cam- are already floating the idea that Bolshoi star sues theatre in attack row paign rally in Cumana, in the eastern state of Sucre. Venezuelans will hold presidential elections on Sunday. they may use political stunts to prevent votes on any of these MOSCOW: A star dancer at the Bolshoi ballet yesterday reforms,” Obama told a raucous launched legal action against the venerable Russian theatre in crowd during his second gun con- a bitter row over interviews he gave following the acid attack on trol rally in a week. artistic director Sergei Filin. Nikolai Tsiskaridze, 39, is a big- “They’re not just saying they’ll haired media personality who has taken part in celebrity televi- UN warns of Mali war spillover vote no on ideas that almost all sion shows and makes no secret of his dislike for the Bolshoi Americans support. They’re say- Theatre management led by long-term director Anatoly Iksanov. UNITED NATIONS: The con- infiltrations” from Mali by Islamic spill over into the neighbour- ing they’ll do everything they can Yesterday, his lawyer Svetlana Volodina went to a Moscow court flict in Mali threatens to spill militants, Ban said in a report to ing countries and contribute to to even prevent any votes on these to demand the theatre cancel official reprimands against him over into the disputed terri- the 15-nation Security Council. radicalising the Western Saharan provisions. “What’s more impor- that leave him at risk of being fired. tory of Western Sahara, with “Possible armed infiltrations, refugee camps,” Ban’s report said. tant to you — our children or an the possibility of infiltration by gaps in regional security coordi- One government called the situa- A grade from the gun lobby?” 13 people shot dead in Serbian village foreign militant groups, the UN nation and resource shortages for tion in Western Sahara a “ticking As Congress returns from a chief warned in a report. effective border controls expose time bomb”, Ban said. recess, some Republicans have VELIKA IVANCA: Thirteen people, including a two-year-old Secretary-General Ban military observers to risk,” the Rabat has long tried to con- pledged to use Senate filibuster child, were shot dead when a gunman went on pre-dawn killing Ki-moon also called for “sus- report said. France launched vince Polisario, which represents tactics to prevent a gun reform spree in a tiny Serbian village, police said. The 60-year-old war tained” independent human rights a military offensive in Mali in the Sahrawi people, to accept its bill likely to be placed before law- veteran, identified as Ljubisa Bogdanovic, shot most of his vic- monitoring for Western Sahara, January against Islamist militants plan for Western Sahara to be an makers in the next few weeks from tims in the head as they slept before trying to kill himself and something Morocco opposes but threatening the capital. That autonomous part of Morocco. coming to a final vote. They say a his wife. He said the victims who died — six men, six women and human rights groups and the drove the insurgents out of the Polisario instead proposes package prepared by Democratic the child — include Bogdanovic’s mother and his 42-year-old son. Polisario Front independence towns they had seized, but they a referendum among ethnic Senate Majority leader Harry Reid movement have long advocated. have since hit back with suicide Sahrawis that includes an option would infringe the constitutional Norwegian teen raped in Cape Town Morocco took control of most attacks and guerrilla-style raids. of independence, but there is no right to bear arms. of Western Sahara in 1975 when Western powers are concerned agreement between Morocco and The president contrasted the CAPE TOWN: A Norwegian teenager has been raped and robbed colonial power Spain withdrew, that Mali’s vast and lawless Polisario on who should partici- bravery of Nicole Hockley, mother at gunpoint by two armed men in South Africa’s top tourist city prompting a guerrilla war for Saharan desert could become a pate in any referendum. of 6-year-old Dylan who was killed of Cape Town, police said yesterday. Police said the 19-year-old independence that lasted until launchpad for international mili- Ban also recommended renew- at Sandy Hook, who has become a exchange student was with a South African male friend when 1991 when the United Nations tant attacks. Other European ing the mandate for the UN vocal campaigner for gun control they were attacked at the 300-metre-high Signal Hill. They were brokered a ceasefire and sent in governments have ruled out send- peacekeeping mission in Western with the behaviour of his politi- forced into their car and ordered to drive to a nearby residential a peacekeeping mission. ing combat troops but are backing Sahara for another year until cal foes in Washington. “If Nicole area known as Summer Greens. “En route to Summer Greens, “During meetings with a military training force. April 30, 2014, as well as adding can summon the courage to do the female was raped by both suspects,” regional police spokes- MINURSO (the UN mission), “All governments consulted 15 military observers and six UN that — how can the rest of us do man Andre Traut said. The couple were also robbed of their per- Frente Polisario command- raised serious concern over the police officers to the force. any less?” Obama asked the 3,100 sonal effects. No arrests have been made yet. AGENCIES ers have not ruled out terrorist risk that the fighting in Mali could REUTERS strong crowd. AFP WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 ASIA/PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Japan deploys Patriot missiles Two PAC-3 stationed at Defence Ministry; Abe says the government is exerting efforts to protect people TOKYO: Japan has deployed some people gave voice to that launchers on its east coast and Patriot missiles in its capital as disquiet. plans a test-firing before the April it readies to defend the 30 mil- “If they fire a missile, there’s 15 birthday of late founding leader lion people who live in greater definitely going to be some dam- Kim Il-Sung. Tokyo from any North Korean age. I am quite scared,” Yoshiharu But Toshimitsu Shigemura, attack, officials said yesterday. Urata said. professor of international rela- Two Patriot Advanced PAC-3 batteries will also be tions at Waseda University, said Capability-3 surface-to-air mis- installed in the semi-tropical Tokyo’s measures were purely sile launchers were stationed at island chain of Okinawa, Onodera precautionary and it was unlikely the defence ministry in Tokyo said last Monday. that Pyongyang would actually before dawn, a ministry spokes- He said Okinawa was “the place target Japan. “This is a verbal war man said, while Defence Minister that is most effective in respond- and it’s not accompanied by actual Itsunori Onodera said “we ing to emergencies... so we should military actions,” he said. are proceeding with measures deploy the unit in Okinawa on a “Government officials know including deployment of PAC-3 permanent basis”. from satellite images that as we are on alert”. Japan’s armed forces are Pyongyang has not mobilised its Local reports said batteries authorised to shoot down any troops or weapons on the front- would be deployed in another North Korean missile headed line, except that they moved two locations in the greater Tokyo towards its territory, a defence mobile missile launchers to the area. “The government is making ministry spokesman said last east coast.” utmost efforts to protect our peo- Monday. He said a mis-targeted missile ple’s lives and ensure their safety,” In addition to the PAC-3s, that might end up falling uncon- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Aegis destroyers equipped with trollably towards Japanese terri- yesterday. sea-based interceptor missiles tory was most likely what Tokyo “As North Korea keeps mak- have been deployed in the Sea was readying for. ing provocative comments, Japan, of Japan (East Sea), the defence Narushige Michishita of the cooperating with relevant coun- official said. National Graduate institute For tries, will do what we have to do. North Korea’s bellicose rheto- Policy Studies said Pyongyang’s “For the moment, the most ric has reached fever pitch in plan this time was to test-launch important thing is to implement recent weeks, with near-daily a mid-range ballistic missile. sanctions under the UN Security threats of attacks on US mili- He said North Korea’s lack of Council resolutions,” Abe said. tary bases including in Japan experience meant there was a Tokyo’s response thus far to and South Korea in response to “risk of its ending in failure”. the threats emanating from ongoing South Korea-US military “In that case, the rocket is Pyongyang has been low key and exercises. likely to fall towards Japan’s west- Tuesday’s moves are the most vis- Intelligence reports suggest ern region, instead of its possi- Japan's Ground Self-defence Force soldiers prepare Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile interceptor units to ible yet that it is rattled. Pyongyang has readied two ble target of the US territory of counter North Korea's possible launch of ballistic missiles at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo yesterday. On the streets of the capital, mid-range missiles on mobile Guam,” he said. AFP Chinese ships in ‘Manila can’t seek more Taiwan’s Su to visit Singapore disputed waters TOKYO: Chinese govern- TAIPEI: Taiwan’s opposition Taiwan’s close ties with had later been forced to scrap his ment ships were in the ter- than $1.4m damage’ leader Su Tseng-chang is visit- Singapore stretch back to the planned visit. ritorial waters of disputed ing Singapore and expected to 1960s when it sent air force and Despite the lack of diplomatic Tokyo-controlled islands yes- PHILIPPINES: Malacañang agency in-charge of Tubbataha meet Prime Minister Lee Hsien naval officers to the city-state. ties, Taiwan has provided training terday, Japan’s coastguard believes the government cannot Reef was the one issued the fine.” Loong during a trip kept low- But Singapore, which recog- venues for Singapore’s artillery, said. The three surveillance demand from the US Navy more They are not aware yet as to profile because of likely objec- nises China rather than Taiwan, armoured vehicle and infan- ships were navigating in the than the $1.4m fine provided the procedure to collect the fines tions from China, reports said has been extremely cautious in try units under a programme 12-nautical-mile limit around under the law for the damage imposed, Lacierda said. yesterday. the handling of any meetings of military cooperation known the Senkakus, which Beijing caused on Tubbataha Reef. Jamby Madrigal, a principal Su Tseng-chang, from the between government officials and as Operation Hsing Kuang or claims and calls the Diaoyus, In a press briefing, presidential author of Republic Act 10067 or China-sceptic Democratic politicians from the two sides for Starlight. at around 10am, the coast- spokesman Edwin Lacierda said: the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Progressive Party, will also visit fear of irking Beijing. China still claims Taiwan as guard said. Chinese govern- “Based on that formula provided Park Act of 2009, said the gov- the city-state’s founding father In the past, visits by top part of its territory awaiting uni- ment ships have frequently in the law itself and based on the ernment should have imposed Lee Kwan Yew, the United Evening Singaporean officials to Taiwan fication, by force if necessary, even spent time around the dis- area that was damaged by the higher penalties on the US Navy. News said. triggered strong protests from though ties have improved mark- puted island chain since USS Guardian, that became the “While there is a set formula for Party spokesman Lin Chun- China. edly since a Beijing-friendly gov- Tokyo nationalised three of basis of the computation for that.” computing damage under the law, hsien declined to comment. Last year the disclosure of a ernment came to power in Taipei the isles last September. Lacierda sees no reason to I believe the Philippine govern- The News said that despite visit by Taiwan’s defence minister in 2008. question the assessment of the ment should impose more by way his political affiliations, Su has Kao Hua-chu sparked a backlash Su is a Taiwanese politician of Pregnant wife Tubbataha Management Office. of exemplary damages.” Madrigal maintained a cordial friendship from Singapore. the Democratic Progressive Party. “That was done in conjunc- said. The fine imposed on the US with the Lees and has met Lee A source close to the defence He is the former Premier of the burnt alive tion with the Philippine Navy,” Navy is based on RA 10067. Kuan Yew four times in the last ministry confirmed at the time Republic of China. he said. “That’s the law… The THE PHILIPPINE STAR 10 years. that a Taiwanese army general AFP KATHMANDU: Police have arrested a man in rural Nepal after he allegedly killed his Bird flu check 22-year-old pregnant wife by stuffing her into a hay bale and setting it alight, an officer US to pressure said yesterday. “We received Death looms over 3 a call from the husband that Sri Lanka on the woman had gone missing, but when our officers arrived on the scene they saw the probe into Filipino drug mules body and were suspicious,” Morang police superintend- ent, Niraj Jha, said. He said rights abuse JAKARTA: Three Philippine drugs, which the official said had that the man was arrested COLOMBO: The United States men could face the death pen- a street value of $2.1m with them on suspicion of murder and will keep the pressure on Sri alty in Indonesia after being in their hand luggage. would be presented in a local Lanka to allow an independ- caught trying to smuggle meth- The men, one aged in his 40s, court later yesterday. Maina ent investigation of accusations amphetamine with a street one in his 50s, and the third 61, Bardewa Bhitrikoti, who was of human rights violations in value of $2.1m into the country, admitted having previously smug- four-months pregnant, sus- the final stages of the civil war an official said yesterday. gled drugs into other countries, tained more than 50 percent and speed up reconciliation, its The trio were arrested last according to Irianto. burns. ambassador said. week with the 15.3 kilogram (33.7 “They are professional couriers Michele Sison said concerns pound) drugs haul after arriving and this was their first attempt Driver killed in over human rights and dete- from Hong Kong at the main air- to smuggle drugs into Indonesia,” riorating democratic values had port serving the capital Jakarta, Irianto said. Police are quizzing Bangla strike prompted her country to sponsor customs official Okto Irianto said. them to find out more details a second resolution condemning “They hid the crystal meth- about the drug-smuggling gang DHAKA: A truck driver died the Indian Ocean nation at the amphetamine in 15 boxes of milk they worked with. They could face in a northern Bangladesh city U N Human Rights Council last powder. Each brought five boxes the death penalty if found guilty yesterday as clashes erupted month. An airport security personnel takes a body temperature reading of a boy in their suitcase,” he said. under Indonesia’s tough drugs during a nationwide strike “As we examine next steps, we as he arrives at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday. A strain of The trio, whose names were laws, Irianto said. called by the opposition to will renew our consideration of bird flu that has been found in humans for the first time in eastern China not released, allegedly carried the AFP protest against the arrests all mechanisms available, both in is no cause for panic, World Health Organisation said, as cases rose to of their senior leaders. Police the Human Rights Council and 24, including seven deaths. said the 35-year-old driver was beyond,” Sison told foreign cor- hit by rocks thrown by oppo- respondents late on Monday. sition activists in Bogra when She did not elaborate. he was driving a cargo-laden Since the end of the war with truck in defiance of a 36-hour the Liberation Tigers of Tamil China boat runs aground in Philippines strike by the Bangladesh Eelam in May 2009, Sri Lanka Nationalist Party and its allies. has repeatedly rejected calls for MANILA: A Chinese fish- strayed into Tubbataha. Apart comes as the Philippines and However Tubbataha reef is in an independent, international ing boat has run aground on a from illegal entry, we are investi- China are locked in a bitter dis- the Sulu Sea, which is further Moderate quake probe into accusation of rights World Heritage-listed coral reef gating them for possible poaching pute over competing territorial southeast and not claimed by abuses. Tens of thousands of civil- in the Philippines, roughly 1,600 as well,” Balilo said. claims to the South China Sea. China. hits Java ians, mostly Tamils, were killed in kilometres (1,000 miles) from Balilo said the boat was to be China claims nearly all of the The reef is about 1,600 kilome- the final months, according to a China’s nearest major landmass, pulled off the reef yesterday and sea, even waters approaching the tres southeast of Hainan island, JAKARTA: A 5.6-magni- U N panel. authorities said yesterday. then towed to the nearby island coasts of the Philippines, Vietnam China’s nearest major landmass. tude quake jolted Java, the Last month, the U N adopted The vessel, with 12 crew mem- province of Palawan, where the and other countries in Southeast Balilo said he did not want to US Geological Survey said. the second U S-sponsored resolu- bers, was found stranded in the fishermen would be detained and Asia. speculate how the Chinese fisher- The epicentre, with a depth tion calling on majority-Sinhalese shallows of Tubbataha Reef in the questioned by authorities. The Philippines accused China men reached Tubbataha. of 46.7km, was initially deter- Sri Lanka to carry out credible Sulu Sea just before midnight last Balilo said Chinese fishermen of occupying a shoal, which is But one navy official said the mined to be at 7.1508 degrees investigations into killings and Monday, coast guard spokesman frequently strayed into Philippine home to a rich fishing ground, fishermen likely sailed through south latitude and 106.0700 disappearances during the war, Lieutenant Commander Arman waters, but this was the first time near its main island of Luzon last the South China Sea and then a degrees east longitude. There especially in the brutal final Balilo said in recent years that they had been year. The Philippines has asked a narrow strait at the southern tip were no reports of damage or stages. “This is a small fishing boat, detected as far south as Tubbataha. United Nations panel to rule that of Palawan. injuries. AGENCIES REUTERS but we are wondering how they The grounding of the vessel China’s claims are invalid. AFP WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN Musharraf backed Ready for combat by British politician Kahlon instrumental in ex-general’s quest for top post

LONDON: A British Pakistani Moinuddin and Musharraf at his National Assembly constitu- politician was instrumental in residence in Cambridge and in ency NA-32 Chitral holds sig- paving the way for former mili- Dubai where the political deal to nificance for Musharraf as this tary ruler General (retired) support Musharraf was formed. is the only constituency in which Pervez Musharraf to stand in When contacted, he said: “I his nomination papers were the upcoming Pakistani elec- also spoke to other key political accepted. In other constituen- tions from the northern district stakeholders in Chitral and was cies, Musharraf’s nomination of Chitral. able to get a guarantee that they papers have been rejected by the Sarfraz Kahlon, who is the would back Musharraf’s efforts to Returning Officers of the Election former lord mayor of Cambridge win from Chitral.” Commission of Pakistan and he and a loyal friend of All Pakistan Kahlon, who accompanied has now been put on the Exit Muslim League (APML) Musharraf in his return to Control List too. President Musharraf, played a Pakistan, arranged for two APML Kahlon credited Musharraf vital role in ensuring that the provincial assembly tickets to be with initiating widespread devel- former member of National given to Khalid Pervez, son of opment work in Chitral and for Assembly Shahzada Moinuddin Moinuddin, and former mem- “speaking out loudly to project of Chitral vacated his parliamen- ber of provincial assembly from Pakistan’s positive image in the tary seat in favour of the former Chitral Ghulam Muhammad, who world.” He added: “Musharraf is president who has returned to will both contest from Chitral. the right man to lead Chitralis Pakistan after ending exile in Kahlon is a loyal aide who as he has a special bond with the London and Dubai. has publicly stood by Musharraf people and could advance the wel- Kahlon is known to have key throughout his time in exile. fare and well-being of Chitralis. political and personal connections Musharraf’s first public appear- Moinuddin agreed as he believed in Chitral and his son Raza Anjum ance in the UK, after leaving this was in the best interests of is married into a local influential Pakistan, was at the wedding of the people of Chitral and I am family. Anjum arranged sev- the son of Kahlon in the British thankful to him.” Afghan National Army soldiers march during a training session in Mazar-e-Sharif, yesterday. The Army Chief eral private meetings between Houses of Parliament. INTERNEWS of Staff, Sher Mohammad Karimi, said his 195,000-strong force was prepared to combat insurgents after the 2014 drawdown of international troops.

Kabul remains Two US troops die Musharraf case adjourned ‘very violent’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top the treason hearing until April 15 home to “save” nuclear-armed WASHINGTON: in chopper crash court yesterday granted former to give Musharraf’s lawyers time Pakistan, which is afflicted by an Afghanistan remains a very dictator Pervez Musharraf a to prepare a response, rejecting economic malaise and near-daily violent place, White House KABUL: A Nato helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan yes- breathing space in his battle their plea to put the matter off attacks by the Taliban and other Spokesman Jay Carney said at terday killing two US troops, officials said, adding there was no against treason allegations dat- until after the election to allow militants. a press briefing. To a question insurgent activity in the area at the time of the incident. ing back to his time in power. him time to campaign. But the retired general has on the US stance over the kill- Taliban militants said they had shot down the helicopter, but the Lawyers are petitioning the “The cases are very simple in had a muted homecoming and ing of five Americans, includ- group often makes exaggerated claims of success on the battlefield Supreme Court to have the nature and the matter that needs in addition to the treason allega- ing a 25-year-old diplomat, he against Nato forces and the US-backed government. 69-year-old retired general put to be looked at is straightforward tions faces a host of other legal said: “What is absolutely the “Two International Security Assistance Force service members on trial for treason for subvert- enough,” the judge said. challenges. case is Afghanistan remains died following a helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan today,” ISAF ing the constitution during his “We therefore consider it will He has been bailed over the a very violent place. It is also said in a statement. “The cause of the incident is under investigation, 1999-2008 rule. be sufficient to meet the ends of 2007 killing of former prime min- true that we have made great however initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the Musharraf returned to justice if the cases are adjourned ister Benazir Bhutto and a Baluch strides in our efforts to train area at the time of the crash.” Pakistan last month from four to April 15.” rebel leader in 2006, and for sack- up the Afghanistan National Witnesses said the accident happened in Nangarhar province border- years of self-imposed exile to Musharraf has been approved ing and arresting judges during Security Forces as they take ing Pakistan, with the helicopter crashing into farmland in the district stand in the May 11 general elec- to stand as a candidate in the emergency rule in 2007. increasing responsibility for of Pachir Wa Agam. A Taliban spokesman said a specially-trained group tion, which will mark the first remote northern area of Chitral, Musharraf dismissed around 60 the security in their country, of militants had shot down the helicopter. Helicopter crashes are fairly democratic transition of power although a lawyer has vowed to top judges including Chief Justice and that process continues.” frequent in Afghanistan, where the 100,000-strong international mis- in the country’s troubled 66-year contest that decision, but he has Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, sion relies heavily on air transport as it battles the insurgency across history. been rejected in three other seats. who was held under house arrest. Second French the south and east of the country. AFP Judge Jawad Khawaja adjourned Musharraf has said he came AGENCIES hostage freed Pakistan gems KABUL: A second French hostage has been released in Afghanistan, the foreign ministry said in Paris, hours Zardari’s party in after it was announced that a French photographer had been freed in the war-torn country. The ministry gave leadership crisis no details about the second release. The French embassy in Kabul said earlier Pierre ISLAMABAD: President Asif Though two former Prime Borghi, who was trying to Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Ministers Yousuf Gilani and establish himself as a photog- Party is still undecided as to Pervaiz Ashraf were given the rapher, was freed in Wardak who will lead their party cam- responsibilities in South Punjab province on Sunday after paign in next month’s general and Upper Punjab yet both are four months of captivity. elections as it lacks leadership facing the problems to lead the charisma to take the party into party in the election as both lack 13 Pakistani wining position. leadership charisma. Senior leadership of the PPP leader Amin Fahim may soldiers killed party also seems confused as also not able to lead the party they come up with no clear campaign even in Sindh as he PESHAWAR: Heavy fight- answer to the vital question of is facing a case in the Supreme ing between Pakistani troops party leadership, saying that it Court relating to an alleged and militants killed 13 sol- will be decided within next few receipt of funds. Other leaders diers and scores of rebels days once the process of scru- say it would be difficult for PPP near the Afghan border, tiny is completed and final list Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari officials said yesterday. The of the candidates is displayed to lead the party campaign clashes signalled a fresh mili- by the Election Commission of throughout the country due to tary push in the Tirah val- Pakistan. security concerns. INTERNEWS ley of Khyber district, where A Pakistani man crafts gemstones at a workshop in Peshawar, yesterday. the army has been targeting Taliban and militia Lashkar- e-Islam who threaten the northwestern city of Peshawar. “Ground forces have intensified operations,” a military official said, adding Panel ponders best use of limited resources more than 100 militants were also killed and the town of ISLAMABAD: The Budget the Rs627bn defence budget, percent higher than this year’s Rs350bn development budget. before its presentation at the Tut Sar had been “captured” Priorities Committee of though officials of the Ministry current and development budget However, the finance minis- highest levels. back from militants. Pakistan’s caretaker govern- of Finance say this part of the of Rs621bn. It is also higher than try gave Rs10bn in additional “The Priorities Committee is ment has started delibera- budget will also come up for dis- the projected inflation rate of 9 grant to facilitate former prime the only forum where current, Indus Highway tions on how best to allocate cussion on April 16. percent for the next year. minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in development and foreign loan proposed Rs744bn to various The committee, comprising A major increase is on account his spending spree in his con- components of the budget are dis- crash claims 10 government agencies for cur- federal secretaries of finance, of development spending that is stituency NA-51 that eventually cussed in an effort to make best rent and development spending planning and economic affairs, likely to be increased by 25 per- became a reason for rejection of use of limited resources,” says ISLAMABAD: Ten people next fiscal year amid increas- will finalise budget proposals for cent while current spending is his nomination papers for May 11 Assad Amin, spokesman for the were killed and 22 injured ing pressure from ministries both current and development expected to go up by 12 percent. elections. finance ministry. in a coach-truck collision on to get a maximum share in the spending by various government Usually, slight changes are made Apart from Rs744bn in cur- The committee will propose Indus Highway in southern limited pie. agencies, except the defence in the proposed and final alloca- rent and development spending, current budgets out of Rs294bn, Pakistan. The passengers in The first meeting of the budget. tions for the departments and roughly a trillion rupees will go which is Rs33bn or 12.6 percent the coach were on their way Priorities Committee held this It will examine and try to ministries. to the defence budget (which is higher than the outgoing year’s from Karachi to Larkana, week marked the formal begin- strike a balance between the For the current fiscal year more than the allocated amount) current budget, according to the when the accident occurred ning of the budget-making proc- ambitions of 68 government 2012-13, the previous National and another Rs1.1trn will be ear- finance ministry’s documents. For due to allegedly reckless driv- ess for 2013-14 that will culminate departments and agencies Assembly had approved a budget marked for interest payments. development spending, the pro- ing near Aliabad, killing eight with the approval of fiscal policy and the available envelope of of Rs621bn - Rs261bn for cur- The Rs744bn amount is probably posed ceiling is Rs450bn, higher on the spot. Two of injured framework by the next parlia- Rs744bn, according to officials rent expenditure and Rs350bn the only chunk of the proposed by 25 percent or Rs90bn over this died at Taluka Hospital ment in June this year. of the finance ministry. for development spending. budget of Rs3.5trn for 2013-14 year’s budget. Sehwan. AGENCIES The amount does not include The proposed amount is 20 Parliament also approved the that will be discussed threadbare INTERNEWS WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Kite strings Special court BSP leader’s to try Italian murder solved, marines soon NEW DELHI: India told Italy yesterday preparations to set up a special court to try two Italian marines facing murder son arrested charges over the deaths of two fishermen were at “an advanced stage”, official sources said. Rs5 crore contract given to lawyer Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave the reas- NEW DELHI: Fourteen days was stuck. Sehrawat then con- surance to his Italian counterpart after the sensational mur- tacted Swami Pratibhanand, who Mario Monti who had called him der of BSP leader Deepak is also known as Machhinder Nath. for an update on plans for the trial Bhardwaj, Delhi Police yester- Police said the Swami wanted of the two marines, Massimiliano day arrested his younger son money to buy a plot to build an Lattorre and Salvatore Girone. Nitesh for allegedly giving a ashram and agreed to be part of Singh told Monti the process of Rs5 crore contract to a law- the conspiracy for Rs2 crore. setting up the special court was “at yer to eliminate his estranged Later, the Swami contacted a fairly advanced stage”, and more business-tycoon father. his long-time disciple and driver details would be known next week Police said it is one of the biggest Purushottam Rana, also known when Supreme Court is due to hold contract killings in the capital’s as Monu, and introduced him to a hearing into the matter, sources history. Nitesh, 36, was arrested Sehrawat, who promised to give Rs1 said. The attorney-general is due to along with an advocate-cum-prop- crore for the killing. Rana took the report back to the Supreme Court erty dealer Baljeet Singh Sehrawat, help of his associates Sunil Mann A youth prepares manja, a strong string used to fly kites, in Allahabad yesterday. The string, which is coated on April 16 on the setting up of the 51, for the March 26 murder of also known as Sonu and Amit. with powdered glass or other abrasives, is used in fighter kites where fliers attempt to cut the string off their special court in New Delhi to try Bhardwaj at his sprawling, 35-acre Police said Nitesh gave a token opponent’s kite. the marines. AFP south Delhi farmhouse. amount of Rs50 lakh to Sehrawat, Giving the chain of events, police who gave Rs3.5 lakh to Rs4 lakh said Nitesh wanted to eliminate to the Swami. Pratibhanand then his father, the richest candidate in gave Rs200,000 to Rana for buy- the 2009 Lok Sabha elections with ing car, weapon and ammunition. declared assets of over Rs600 crore, While Rana and Mann entered the due to property dispute. The father farmhouse and gunned down the Modi flays Left, UPA in Mamata’s land and son shared strained relation- billionaire, meeting him on the pre- ship and it became bitter when the text of booking the place for a func- KOLKATA: Making a political by the people (to run the state), UPA government has been con- and my priority is to learn.” senior Bhardwaj told his younger tion, Amit drove the getaway car. point in West Bengal, Gujarat one does not know how many stantly discriminating between Modi refused to draw any com- son six months back not to enter According to Deputy Chief Minister Narendra Modi years and how much effort will states ruled by the parties in the parison between his state and the farmhouse, which was named Commissioner of Police Chhaya yesterday blasted the Left and be needed to fill the potholes.” UPA coalition and those run by West Bengal. “The media only The Nitesh. Sharma: “Nitesh had given Rs5 accused the UPA of discrimi- Trinamool Congress leader non-UPA parties,” Modi said. wants Modi to talk on one aspect... Nitesh was also peeved about crore contract to the lawyer and nating against non-Congress Mamata Banerjee became chief “People have elected them (the I have not come here for this. I do the way his father was planning gave him an advance of Rs50 lakh. ruled states. minister in May 2011, ending 34 UPA). But that does not mean that only during elections.” to share his property, police said. The remaining amount was to be Addressing a meeting of busi- years of Left Front rule of West they have the power to discrimi- Comparison with Gujarat has An angry Nitesh hatched a plot paid after the murder.” ness chambers here, Modi said the Bengal. “I am confident about the nate.” He said the bias of the cen- been an anathema for Banerjee. to kill his father in January this Police have so far arrested six Congress-led United Progressive efforts being made now to fill up tral government was threatening Her government drew much year, police said. people for the murder and are Alliance’s bias was “shattering the the potholes. The dreams of the national integrity. flak during the investor summit Police said Sehrawat became looking for the Swami. Sharma dreams of many states like West people of Bengal will be fulfilled,” he He said people of Gujarat have Bengal Leads a few months back part of the plan as he had political said Nitesh had divorced his wife Bengal”. Referring to Gujarat, said in implicit praise of Banerjee. more strength to withstand such as industrialists, media and the ambitions and wanted Nitesh to and was living with his mother Modi said it took him 10 long years Modi, widely seen as the BJP’s “discrimination”. “But for 34 opposition compared the event fund his election campaign in the Rakesh Kumari at his flat in to “fill the potholes” left behind by prime ministerial candidate, dwelt years people of Bengal have suf- with Modi’s investor conclave upcoming Delhi assembly elections Dwaraka Sector 11 after his fight the previous Congress regime. on how the UPA government dis- fered so much, their strength to Vibrant Gujarat. from Mahipalpur constituency in with his father. His wife was a Attacking Banerjee’s rival, criminated against states run by withstand it is now very low.” Banerjee had been with the south Delhi. But, later Sehrawat relative of Bollywood actor Shah the Communist Party of India- parties opposed to the Congress, Modi adroitly parried a question BJP-led National Democratic changed his mind about Nitesh Rukh Khan. Nitesh was detained Marxist (CPI-M), Modi said: an issue on which Banerjee has by an industrialist about the advice Alliance between 1999 and 2006, funding his poll campaign, and on Sunday and was formally “They left the state with so many been vocal since walking out of he would give Banerjee to develop with a few months’ break in 2001. agreed on Rs5 crore for carrying arrested yesterday afternoon. potholes! They left the state in the UPA in September last year. tourism in the state. “This time I She later joined the UPA in 2009, out the killing, police said. The deal IANS ruins. Whoever may be entrusted “Defying the constitution, the have come to Bengal as a student before quitting last year. IANS Virtual office @Kochi for just Rs500

KOCHI: You can open a vir- Spacelance.com will provide a The standard plan is Rs1,000 tual office in Kerala’s com- prestigious address at the heart per month which gives an addi- mercial capital Kochi paying of Kochi, a dedicated virtual tional dedicated virtual phone and just Rs500 a month, thanks to landline number with a Kochi fax number. Spacelance.com. STD code, a virtual Kochi fax The ultimate plan, priced at “With the intention of provid- number, a live receptionist to Rs1,500 per month, gives every- ing affordable office space solu- answer and forward your cus- thing in basic and standard plans tion for free lancers, start-ups, tomer calls and mail handling along with a live receptionist and home-based businesses, NRIs and and office support facilities. office support facilities. student entrepreneurs to show Any interested person can The company is offering a one their business presence here, we choose a virtual phone number week, free trial for all plans. came up with this idea. We offer from a pool of available numbers According to a report in service at affordable cost without and have the option to forward it November 2012, over 27,000 busi- compromising the quality,” said to the personal phone number or nesses use virtual offices in India Boby Thomas, founder and Chief to a voice-mail. and the requirement is estimated Executive of the company which The service also allows set- to increase at a rapid pace of up launched this cost-effective serv- ting up a customised greeting to 300 percent every year. ice here yesterday. for virtual number with your Spacelance is currently focus- “Our service gives a virtual company name before redirect- ing on providing the service in platform for businesses to oper- ing the call to you. Kochi but has plans to expand its ate remotely and still show their Spacelance basic plan starts services other cities in the coun- presence in the city. We have at just Rs500 a month, which try. Virtual offices are popular in plans starting from as low as includes a virtual address and countries like the US and Britain. Rs500 per month,” added Thomas. mail handling services. IANS

Autism Awareness Walk All-party meet on land takeover bill put off to April 18 NEW DELHI: Consensus eluded an all-party meeting on the land acquisition bill yester- day, forcing the government to fix another meeting April 18. “We have some minor differ- ences and have decided to meet again on April 18,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said after the meeting at Parliament House. He said all parties were asked to give their suggestions by April 15. These would be cir- culated on April 16, ahead of the next meeting. The Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011, seeks to address prob- lems of the industry regarding acquisition of land for setting up projects. The bill provides for land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced people. It proposes to replace the Schoolchildren carry placards as they participate in an Autism Land Acquisition Act, 1894. Awareness Walk 2013 at India Gate, in New Delhi yesterday. Autism Nath said though parties were is a neuro-physiological disorder which affects the social and emo- largely of the opinion that the bill should be passed at the earliest, tional areas of the brain. they had some suggestions. IANS

WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Nepalese News in Numbers QATAR ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 2013 3 Fajr (Dawn) 3:59 to hold Shorook (Sunrise) 5:17 Zuhr (Noon) 11:35 longest TV Asr (Afternoon) 3:05 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:55 talk show Isha (Night) 7:25 KATHMANDU: A Nepalese presenter will attempt to set the world record for the longest WEATHER television talk show this week by staying on air for 60 hours, Today Thurday Friday Weather organisers said yesterday. Conditions: Rabi Lamichhane, a 36-year- Spot oil prices generally fell in late October and early November Clear Clear Clear old based in the US, has returned Partly cloudy to Kathmandu to stage the “Lord 2012. (Futures prices have also fallen.) In its October 2012 WEO, and hazy. Buddha Was Born in Nepal” pro- the IMF expected the 2012 annual average oil price to be marginally High: 33° High:32° High:32° gramme, and try to capture the above 2011’s at close to $106, coming down a little to just over Low: 23° Low: 24° Low: 26° Guinness world record. “Through the talk show I $105 in 2013 . These prices—though still elevated and likely to act want to spread the word about as a drag on recovery—are lower than the IMF forecast in April, but Nepal and promote tourism,” Lamichhane, a former journal- higher than its revised forecast of July. Price volatility is likely to stay DOHA - SUN & SEA ist who is now a manager at a a feature of the market given lingering economic and geopolitical Subway fast-food sandwich outlet uncertainties. SUN TIDE SEA in Baltimore, told AFP. SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND “I am inviting politicians, sport- spersons, film actors and social 05:15 17:55 04:30 & 17:30 10:45 & 23:00 07-15/20 KT workers.” According to Guinness World Average crude oil price ($ per barrel) THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW Records rules, Lamichhane will HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER be allowed five minutes every Average crude oil price Growth hour for a break. MUSCAT 33/26 Partly cloudy 33/27 Clear “I will use whatever time I Forecast MAKKAH 33/26 Partly cloudy 33/27 Clear accumulate for lunch and dinner KUWAIT 32/21 Clear 34/21 Clear breaks,” he said, adding that he might even take a nap if the situ- BAHRAIN 31/23 Partly cloudy 32/22 Clear ation allows. SANAA 28/11 Fair 28/13 Clear The producers say they have RIYADH 36/19 Clear 34/19 Clear prepared back-up electricity sup- DUBAI 33/22 Partly cloudy 35/23 Fair plies to guard against Nepal’s fre- BAGHDAD 29/16 Clear 29/18 Partly cloudy quent power cuts, which can hit for up to 14 hours a day. THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW The show, to be recorded in the HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER Nepali language with English sub- titles from tomorrow at News24 ATHENS 21/07 Fair 22/09 Partly cloudy Television, will be live-streamed on the channel’s website and several WASHINGTON 30/18 Partly cloudy 29/17 T-storms partner websites. SYDNEY 26/13 Clear 24/13 Fair The current record for the LONDON 12/06 Sprinkles 14/07 Showers/clear world’s longest talk show, accord- PARIS 14/09 Showers 15/07 Rain ing to Guinness, is held by Pavlo ISTANBUL 19/08 Clear 19/06 Fair Kuzheyev and Tetiana Danylenko MANILA 36/25 Fair 36/26 Partly cloudy for a 52-hour broadcast to cele- DHAKA 39/26 Fair 37/27 T-storms brate the twentieth anniversary DELHI 37/21 Partly cloudy 36/19 Partly cloudy of Ukraine’s independence in 2011. ISLAMABAD 27/15 Showers/clear 29/16 Fair The webcast can be accessed Source : http://www.qsa.gov.qa/ at http://www.news24nepal.tv/ AFP Historical Chinese Floral beauty Urine, faeces in lifts drive bowl sold for $9.5m Singaporeans HONG KONG: A rare red The auctioneer said the bowl “lotus bowl” from the Chinese broke a previous Qing Kangxi crazy: Report emperor Kangxi period of porcelain record in 2006, when a 1662-1722 has been sold for blue and white “Dragon” vase was SINGAPORE: Elevators in an eye-popping $9.5m at a sold for HK$22.52m. Singapore public-housing blocks Hong Kong sale, auction house Hong Kong has emerged as one are still sometimes being used Sotheby’s said. of the world’s major auction hubs as toilets, infuriating residents The price set a new world in art thanks to cash-rich main- despite a long government cam- record for any Chinese porcelain land Chinese buyers who have a paign to eradicate the dirty from the Kangxi period during growing appetite for luxury items habit, a report said. the Qing dynasty after it was amid the country’s economic A suburban town council has bought by a Hong Kong ceram- boom. A flower-shaped Chinese put up notices showing a bare- ics dealer for HK$74m ($9.5m) porcelain bowl from the Northern bottomed woman apparently on Monday, Sotheby’s said in a Song dynasty (960-1127) fetched urinating in a lift and a man statement. nearly $27m at a Hong Kong auc- smoking in another, the Sunday The ruby-ground “falangcai” tion last year. A 28.86-carat round Times newspaper said. bowl decorated with pink, yellow white diamond meanwhile was The incriminating images were and blue lotuses was originally sold for HK$53.88m, or HK$1.87m captured by closed-circuit cam- expected to fetch HK$70m at ($239,352) for each carat, setting eras and published blurred as a the sale, part of Sotheby’s six- a new per-carat auction record warning. The Tampines Town day spring sale in the southern price for its category, Sotheby’s Council said that if similar “anti- Chinese city that concluded on said in a separate statement. social” acts continue, it will pub- Monday. AFP Icicles on a flower plant in a garden in Hami, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The area lish clear pictures of offenders and has seen temperatures fall sharply. submit them as evidence for pros- ecution under the Environmental Public Health Act. Singapore is obsessed with cleanliness and wages regular Hollande’s gift campaigns to promote social Bird flu takes a toll on shuttlecocks graces, with sales of chewing camel consumed gum banned and recalcitrant lit- JAKARTA: Badminton-crazy yesterday that Indonesia had terbugs shamed by being made to by carers Indonesia is concerned a deadly decided to halt the import of all pick up trash in public. bird flu outbreak could claim poultry products from China. But before mass public housing PARIS: The camel that grate- an unlikely victim — the shut- A second agriculture ministry was launched in the 1960s, many ful townsfolk in Mali presented tlecock — officials said yes- official said Indonesia imported Singaporeans lived in slums with- to President Francois Hollande terday after the government dried duck feathers and several out indoor plumbing and carried for sending in French troops to banned imports of Chinese duck other Chinese poultry products. unsanitary habits with them after chase away Islamist extrem- feathers. He added the ban was not in moving to high-rise apartment ists has likely been eaten by the Jakarta is to halt the import place yet but would come into blocks. The Sunday Times said the family that was supposed to be of all Chinese poultry products, force soon. smell of urine and cigarette smoke looking after it in Timbuktu. including dried duck feathers No cases of H7N9 have been is the most persistent problem in French defence officials said used to make shuttlecocks, after reported in Indonesia but offi- lifts — but it can get worse. they were informed of the beast’s the new H7N9 bird flu strain cials said they were stepping “Sometimes there’s faeces as ignominious demise during a killed seven people and made 24 up monitoring of poultry deaths well,” housewife Jo Neo, 40, told visit to the war-torn African ill in eastern China. and influenza-related illnesses in the newspaper. “What happened state last month, while Valeurs The Indonesian Badminton humans. to civic-mindedness?” Actuelles magazine reported that Association (PBSI) said the The country has been the hard- People who smoke in prohibited the defence minister broke the decision could lead to a dearth est hit by the H5N1 strain of bird places are normally fined Sg$200 bad news to the president during of shuttlecocks as 40 percent of flu, with 160 fatalities reported ($161), while those who urinate a recent cabinet meeting. those used in the country are between 2005 and 2012 out of in public places are fined Sg$150, The camel caused Hollande imported from abroad, mainly more than 365 deaths world- the report said. Repeat offenders some embarrassment when it was from China. wide, according to World Health and those who defecate in public presented to him on February 3 in “I hope the ban won’t last long Shuttlecocks on a badminton court in Indonesia. Organization figures. places can be charged in court. Timbuktu, which French troops as I’m afraid that it will have an The WHO said on Monday “As the lift is a communal had recently freed from the grip impact” on the supply of shut- there was no evidence that H7N9, facility, it is important for our of Al-Qaeda-linked militants. tlecocks, PBSI spokesman Ricky China. Indonesia is a former shuttlers now dominating the which China revealed just over residents to treasure it and be The animal bleated and shied Subagja told AFP, adding pro- badminton powerhouse but has sport. a week ago had been found in considerate to other users,” a away as he tried to caress it. fessional players in the country seen its fortunes on the interna- Deputy Agriculture Minister humans for the first time, was spokesman for the town council AFP mainly used shuttlecocks from tional stage wane, with Chinese Rusman Heriawan confirmed spreading between people. AFP was quoted as saying. AFP Wednesday 10 April 2013 29 Jumada I 1434 Volume 18 Number 5665 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Doha Bank seeks Qatar banking system outlook stable to double foreign profits by 2015 Lending expected to grow between 20 and 25 percent over 18 months: Moody’s DOHA: Doha Bank, Qatar’s fifth-largest lender by market DOHA: The outlook for Qatar’s these positive factors are counter- the longer term, the impact of the government-related projects the rating agency’s “adverse” sce- value, plans to nearly double its banking system remains sta- balanced by (1) an undiversified adverse changes in oil and gas financed by the banks; (3) rapid nario, which considers the impact profits from international oper- ble, unchanged since 2010, and economy heavily reliant on the oil prices (the hydrocarbon sector credit expansion, which raises of a sustained drop in oil and gas ations by 2015. banks’ lending is expected to and gas sector; (2) the system’s accounts for around 60 percent questions about banks’ under- prices and significant contraction The lender, which raised nearly grow between 20 percent and 25 relatively high dependence on of the country’s GDP). writing standards and ability to in economic activity. $430m from a rights issue last percent over the next 18 months, short-term foreign funding; and Qatari banks’ asset quality will manage related risks; and (4) the Moody’s expects that Qatari month, aims to increase its share says Moody’s latest annual (3) a still-developing corporate- be supported by the country’s moral hazard that past govern- banks’ 2013 bottom-line prof- of profits from overseas business to Banking System Outlook report governance and risk-management strong economic environment, the ment interventions have created. itability metrics will remain 15 percent, from eight percent cur- on Qatar published yesterday. culture. substantial government spend- In addition, the banks’ still-high broadly stable, with the return- rently, Chief Executive Officer R However, the report notes that Moody’s expects that the gov- ing and the sizeable proportion dependence on short-term for- on-average-assets ratio ranging Seetharaman said in Doha yesterday. banks’ still-high dependence on ernment’s extensive infrastruc- of government-related loans (43 eign-market funding leaves banks between 2.2 percent and 2.4 per- “We will set up a representative short-term foreign market fund- ture investment programme will percent of the total). As such, vulnerable to market conditions. cent. Higher lending volumes, low office and then look to convert it. ing leaves them vulnerable to boost banks’ business opportu- Moody’s expects that the system’s The system’s Tier 1 ratio will provisioning requirements and I am not J P Morgan, so I have to market conditions. nities over the 12 to 18 month NPLs will remain at around two likely trend down to 15 percent banks’ low cost bases will support gradually scale up,” he said. The outlook reflects Qatar’s outlook period and lead to lend- percent of gross loans over the to 16 percent by the end of 2013, the system’s overall profitability. The bank plans to open a rep- benign economic environment ing growth of between 20 per- next 12 to 18 months. as banks continue to finance However, the banks’ net interest resentative office in Sharjah in and the rating agency’s expec- cent and 25 percent. However, However, the banks’ asset qual- their fast-growing balance margins will likely decline, due the coming months, the third- tation that Qatari banks will the rating agency acknowledges ity remains exposed to event risk sheets domestically and abroad. to the regulator’s imposition of largest emirate in the United maintain strong financial met- that downside risks to the sup- given (1) the high single-party However, Moody’s notes that interest-rate caps on retail lend- Arab Emirates, as part of the rics, including low levels of non- portive operating environment exposures and opaque transpar- projected capitalisation metrics ing and banks’ increased exposure expansion plans, Seetharaman performing loans (NPLs), robust stem from increased geopoliti- ency surrounding local conglom- are sufficient to absorb losses and to lower-yielding project finance said. It recently opened an office earnings and sound capitalisation. cal tensions that could threaten erates; (2) the still-questionable remain above the regulatory min- lending. in Australia, becoming the first However, the report says that Qatar’s export capacity and, over commercial rationale for many of imum of 10 percent even under THE PENINSULA Qatari lender to establish a pres- ence in the country. QCB governor at Rome forum QIC ties up with Wyman for Target Turkish Airlines to buy Operating Model

DOHA: Qatar Insurance Group 95 more Boeing planes and Oliver Wyman, a leading consultancy firm, have signed ISTANBUL: The Turkish Turkish Airlines is planning to a contract to encompass the national carrier Turkish double its current fleet of 215 design of a new group “Target Airlines (THY) said yester- Airbus and Boeing planes and Operating Model”, a press day that it would buy 95 more expanding the destinations it statement said yesterday. planes from US aerospace giant serves by 50 percent. The QIC Group now comprises Boeing as the airline pursues The airline, twice selected as of a number of operating compa- a shopping spree launched in the best European airline, posted nies and business units cover- December. a 20-percent rise in passengers ing insurance, reinsurance, real “Our board of directors has last year to 39 million. estate and asset management. decided to buy 20 planes in 2016, It aims to reach 46 million Concurrent with this expansion 20 in 2018, 15 in 2019, 30 in 2020 passengers in 2013, generating a and diversification has been an and 10 in 2021 from Boeing to turnover of $9.7bn. extension of its global reach and meet the need for narrow-body Unlike many European carriers it now undertakes reinsurance on planes,” a THY statement said, which are suffering from a down- a global basis through its subsidi- adding that 70 of the orders were turn in their market, Turkish ary Q-Re LLC. QIC Group now firm ones, and 25 were options. Airlines is in an aggressive push has representation in Qatar, UAE, A breakdown of the aircraft on to become a global airline player, Kuwait, Oman, Malta, Zurich, order showed that 20 were B737- putting itself in direct competi- Qatar Central Bank Governor and Chairman of the Islamic Financial Services Board H E Sheikh Abdulla bin London and Bermuda. 800, 65 were B737-8 MAX and 10 tion with Middle Eastern rivals Saoud Al Thani (right) greets Italian Governor of Banca d’Italia, Ignazio Visco, at the 4th Islamic Financial THE PENINSULA/REUTERS were B737-9 MAX. Emirates and Qatar Airways. Services Forum: ‘The European Challenge’ at the Banca d’Italia in Rome, yesterday. Financial details were not pro- To boost the expansion in the vided, but a Boeing official said Turkish aviation industry, the that the firm order for 75 planes government last year moved to would cost $6.9bn at catalogue ban strikes in the sector, resulting prices, while the options added in massive demonstrations by the $2.5bn to the bill. THY workers and the dismissal of Saudi firm to buy out Indian partner Discounts are common for air- 305 of them, who are still waiting craft orders however, especially to be rehired. DUBAI: Saudi Arabian family options, including a potential sale. spokesman in Mumbai declined conglomerate, Alhamrani Group, when large numbers are involved. Turkey’s aviation union Hava-Is firm Dabbagh Group is in the Dabbagh Group, which has to comment. Petromin did not was considering the sale of its “At the moment it is a commit- said yesterday it was planning to advanced stages of buying out interests in food, real estate and respond to an email request approximate two-thirds stake ment order,” the official said on stage another strike and refuse its Indian partner’s stake in a automobile services among others, seeking comment, while Dabbagh in a lubricant joint venture condition of anonymity. “We look any settlement proposals from lubricant venture in the king- is partly financing the purchase Group could not immediately be with Germany’s Fuchs Petrolub, to finalise the deal in the coming the giant carrier “that do not dom, a deal prompted by strat- through debt and has decided reached for comment. sources said in May last year. weeks,” he said. involve the reinstatement of the egy differences between the not to engage another party in The deal highlights the chal- Petromin, the oldest lubricant The announcement came less 305 workers,” in a statement. partners, three sources aware the venture for the time being, lenges faced by international company in the Middle East and than a month after the airline The government was quick to of the matter said. one of the sources said, speaking investors in the largest Gulf Arab formed by royal decree in 1968, said it would buy up to 117 planes respond to the plans although Jeddah-based Petromin is a on condition of anonymity as the economy where relationships with makes more than 150 lubricant from Boeing’s main rival, the Hava-Is is yet to announce a joint venture between Gulf Oil matter is not public. influential local partners and gov- products and exports to over 35 European manufacturer Airbus, date for the strike that is likely to International Group — a unit “It’s pretty much a done deal ernment can determine the even- countries in the Middle East, Africa with those deliveries scheduled involve thousands of THY work- of family-owned Hinduja which now and they are waiting for tual fate of businesses. and Asia, according to its website. between 2015 and 2020. ers who are signed up with the owns a 49-percent stake, and some formal processes before On Monday, Malaysian con- Dabbagh Group and Gulf Oil In December, THY passed union. “We will do what is nec- Dabbagh with a majority 51 per- signing it. Petromin is a profitable struction firm MMC Corp Bhd International Group paid $200 orders for 15 long-haul A330 essary to prevent any initiative cent stake. business and it makes sense for said the Saudi government had million to buy Petromin in 2007 planes from Airbus and 15 777- that would interrupt the opera- The strategic differences over the Saudi family to keep it within terminated the rights of its joint from a joint venture between 300ER from Boeing. In February tions,” Finance Minister Mehmet the business, which sources say is the group,” the source said. venture with Saudi Binladin Saudi Aramco and Mobil the airline followed up with a firm Simsek was quoted as saying by valued at about $700m, prompted The sources were not aware Group to develop the $30bn Jazan Investments, an ExxonMobil order for two more A330-300s. the Anatolia news agency. Hinduja Group to hire Deutsche of the valuation of the stake Economic City in Saudi Arabia. affiliate. With the latest purchases, the AFP Bank last year to help review being bought. A Hinduja Group Another Saudi family REUTERS Oil prices near eight-month low on demand worries LONDON: Brent crude oil Western nations, raising fears of a demand in the world’s second big- there seems to be little basis for for the first time in nine months, crude at the Cushing, Oklahoma, steadied below $105 per bar- possible disruption to fuel supplies gest oil consumer. a strong, sustained rally,” said throwing the front of the price hub for U S oil, and keep the US rel yesterday, close to an eight- from the Middle East. China’s annual consumer infla- Carsten Fritsch, senior oil analyst curve into “contango”. crude contract well supported. month low, as investors worried Brent was unchanged at $104.66 tion eased to 2.1 percent in March at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. Brent’s premium over U S light Oil markets await U S inven- faltering global growth and per barrel by 1415 GMT, not far from 3.2 percent in February, Brent has fallen from a peak crude, also known as West Texas tory data for the week ended recession in some developed above a low of $103.40 reached while producer price deflation above $119 at the beginning of Intermediate or WTI has also April 5. Data last week showed economies would cap energy on Monday, its weakest since deepened, data showed yesterday. February, with nearby North Sea narrowed to about $11 from $23 an inventory build last seen in demand at a time of increasing last July. US crude futures was But the short-covering rally crude futures bearing much of the over the last two months. 1990, dragging oil prices down to global supply. unchanged at $93.36 per barrel. quickly petered out and analysts pressure as investors switched Analysts say the Brent-WTI an eight-month low on Friday. A Oil prices found some support Both crude contracts strength- said further losses could be in into other assets. spread could narrow further as Reuters analysts’ survey showed from worries over increasing ten- ened earlier yesterday after news prospect. “With oil stocks so high, The prompt Brent futures European concerns weigh on crude stockpiles were expected to sion in North Korea and a stale- of lower-than-expected Chinese supply improving and the out- contract slumped last week to a Brent, while the start-up of a new rise by 1.5 million barrels. mate in talks between Iran and inflation which could help bolster look for oil demand so uncertain, discount below the second month pipeline will alleviate a glut of REUTERS WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Kuwait oil workers protest Austria joins FBI probe into Luxembourg for EU bank insider trading secrecy talks VIENNA/LONDON: Austria will join Luxembourg for talks with the European Union on rattles KPMG how to crack down on cross- border tax cheats, Chancellor Werner Faymann said yes- Firm quits as auditor for two companies terday, signalling an easing of Vienna’s hardline stance on WASHINGTON: In a case that that information in stock trading. coveted bank secrecy. could shake one of the world’s “The partner was immediately Faymann, a Social Democrat, largest accounting firms, separated from the firm,” KPMG stressed that Austrians’ domes- KPMG said it resigned as audi- said in its statement. “This indi- tic bank accounts would remain tor of two U S companies as the vidual violated the firm’s rigorous shielded from the taxman’s prying FBI yesterday began investigat- policies and protections, betrayed eye, but foreigners’ wealth in local ing insider trading allegations the trust of clients as well as col- banks could face unprecedented involving a former KPMG sen- leagues, and acted with deliberate scrutiny if the talks with Brussels ior partner. disregard for KPMG’s long-stand- go well. The companies, nutritional ing culture of professionalism and As momentum for tax talks products group Herbalife Ltd and integrity.” grew, Luxembourg Finance footwear maker Skechers USA KPMG is the smallest of the Kuwaiti workers in the oil sector hold placards reading in Arabic ‘When will promises be fulfilled?’ as they stage Minister Luc Frieden said his Inc, said separately that KPMG Big Four global accounting and a protest in Kuwait City yesterday. They were demanding better working conditions. country may end its bank secrecy had quit as their auditor in con- audit firms. It reported 2012 rev- rules by automatically handing nection with alleged leaks of non- enue of $23bn, up 1.4 percent from over details of account holders to public information. the year before. other EU states. The FBI’s Los Angeles office is The other three firms are The moves mark a U-turn for investigating the matter, accord- PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte the two countries that for years ing to a source familiar with the and Ernst & Young. All are US Treasury chief urges strong refused to share personal data on situation. US-based and operate affiliate savers with fellow EU members. Shares of Herbalife were down networks around the world. They instead get banks to with- 4.1 percent at $36.81 and Skechers The outgoing Chairman of the EU countries to spur growth hold tax on EU citizens’ inter- shares were up 2.6 percent at U S Securities and Exchange est income and give the money $22.07 yesterday afternoon. Commission, Elisse Walter, anonymously to home countries. A KPMG spokesman declined declined to comment on KPMG’s BERLIN: US Treasury European trip since taking over The US official’s maiden But with austerity-minded EU to comment yesterday morn- announcement yesterday. Secretary Jacob Lew urged from Tim Geithner in February, European tour comes as Portugal peers keen to collect more tax rev- ing and could not be reached at Ackman and Icahn were Europe’s strongest economies repeated his call after talks scrambles to find new spending enue from citizens’ offshore wealth, midday. not immediately available for to help spur growth after talks in Paris with French Finance cuts after the Constitutional the model has come under heavy Herbalife said in a statement comment. yesterday in Germany and Minister Pierre Moscovici. Court rejected a number of aus- pressure. This has grown since last that KPMG’s resignation had Any controversy over KPMG’s France, as Portugal and Cyprus “I aired our view of the impor- terity measures, and hard on the month’s bailout of Cyprus, whose nothing to do with the compa- dealings could hurt the firm’s provided the latest headaches. tance of strengthening demand heels of an emergency bailout for oversized banking system had ny’s accounting practices or the reputation. Stressing that the United in Europe, especially in light of cash-strapped Cyprus. gorged on foreign funds attracted integrity of its management — In 2005, KPMG narrowly States had an “immense stake” rising unemployment,” Lew told Auditors from Portugal’s inter- by low taxes and easy regulation. issues called into question by the avoided a criminal indictment in a prosperous Europe, Lew told a joint press conference with national creditors are to make an The European Commission high-stakes drama between hedge by agreeing to pay $456m in a reporters in Germany, the bloc’s Moscovici. extra visit to the country in the warned Austria on Monday that fund titans Bill Ackman and Carl deferred prosecution settlement biggest economy, that consumer Lew also called for an even coming weeks after the court its banking secrecy would put it in Icahn over the company. with U S authorities over its demand was the driver of eco- approach between austerity ruling, which has complicated its a “lonely and unsustainable posi- KPMG said in a statement late sale of tax shelters. Three years nomic growth. measures and efforts to promote efforts to qualify for funds under tion” if it did not adopt the same on Monday that it had resigned earlier, smaller rival Arthur “Policies that would help to growth. its ¤78m ($102m) rescue. rules as other countries in sharing as the outside auditor of two cli- Andersen collapsed over its audit- encourage consumer demand in “It’s clear is that there needs to EU leaders have struggled to data on foreign depositors. ents due to the actions of a sen- ing work for energy company countries that have the capac- be a balanced approach between chart a consistent path marrying Faymann took the plunge on ior partner, who was in charge Enron Corp. In addition, KPMG ity would be helpful,” he said at growth and fiscal consolidation,” German-led demands for auster- Tuesday, portraying the move as of the audit practice in its Los partners were the only ones so far a joint press conference with he said. ity with calls to invest for growth, a way to protect Austria’s repu- Angeles business unit. It said the to have been sued by the SEC in German Finance Minister In both countries, he stressed a subject set to feature when G20 tation and help to catch foreign unidentified partner provided connection with the global finan- Wolfgang Schaeuble. Washington’s strong desire to leaders gather in Russia later this fraudsters while preserving his inside information about its cli- cial crisis. The treasury chief, on a tour see a “strong and prosperous year. compatriots’ privacy. ents to someone who had used REUTERS of eurozone capitals for his first Europe”. AFP REUTERS WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Saudi banks QATARI MARKET Qatar Exchange index Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P beat Q1 profit Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 104.50 0.59 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 106.31 1.40 % Aa2 AA forecast Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 125.00 2.09 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 118.13 2.34 % Aa2 AA DUBAI: Saudi Hollandi Bank sheds 2.37 points Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 114.13 2.68 % Aa2 AA and Saudi British Bank (SABB) beat estimates for first-quarter Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 174.25 3.82 % Aa2 AA net profit, with both lenders Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 136.50 4.13 % Aa2 AA Dubai market hits 40-month high; Saudi rises attributing the growth in earn- Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 128.00 4.09 % Aa2 AA ings to higher operating income. Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 105.38 1.11 % Aa2 AA DOHA: Qatar Exchange index first-quarter earnings extended a quarter. Emaar Properties rose SABB, Saudi Arabia’s fourth- Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 115.00 2.72 % Aa2 AA dropped 2.37 points or 0.03 per- buying spree, while Saudi Arabia’s 2.1 percent and Dubai Islamic largest listed bank, said its first cent yesterday to 8,518.34 points bourse also rose, breaking strong Bank gained 6.7 percent. quarter net profit rose 11 per- Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 105.75 1.35 % A1 A- from the previous closing of technical resistance. Shares in contractor Drake cent over last year to SR948m Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.88 2.10 % A1 A- 8,520.71. Dubai’s market climbed 2.4 and Scull jumped 7.5 percent in ($252.8m) from SR854m, a QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.88 1.85 % NR NR The volume of shares traded percent to its highest close since heavy trade as investors bet the bourse filing said yesterday. This QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.75 1.65 % Aa3 A+ fell to 3,847,918 from 4,347,837 on November 2009 and is up 21 per- firm could be an acquisition tar- exceeded the average forecast of Monday, and the value of shares cent year-to-date. get, traders said. nine analysts polled by Reuters QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.88 2.06 % Aa3 A+ decreased to QR159,922,397.60 The benchmark also eclipsed Abu Dhabi’s benchmark added for a net profit of SR847.3m. Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.75 2.23 % A2 A- from QR271,173,399.84 on its previous 2013 year high set 0.6 percent to reach its highest Meanwhile, Saudi Hollandi, Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.75 1.68 % A2 A Monday. in late February. Investors usu- close since October 2009. the kingdom’s eighth-largest Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 131.13 2.41 % A2 A Among the top losers were ally cash in gains after qualifying In Saudi Arabia, the meas- listed bank, said its first quarter Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 112.25 2.99 % A2 A Gulf International whose share for dividend payments and the ure climbed 0.4 percent to an net profit rose 19.4 percent over dropped 0.91 percent to QR38.25, market did retreat in March, but 11-month high. The index broke last year to SR346.3m in the first Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 111.38 3.85 % A2 A Masref Al Rayan lost 0.97 percent this year’s April surge has buoyed strong resistance levels as banks three months of 2013, compared Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 106.25 1.19 % Aa3 A to QR24.61, Al khalij Commercial traders. supported gains. with net profit of SR290m in the Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 108.00 3.37 % Aa3 A Bank fell 0.84 percent to QR16.45 “This year, the trend is differ- Saudi Investment Bank rose 4.9 first quarter of 2012, a separate Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 111.13 3.59 % Aa3 A and The Investors fell 0.67 per- ent because other than the senti- percent. The lender on Sunday filing said. Five analysts sur- cent to QR22.15. ment and liquidity improvement, posted a 48 percent rise in quar- veyed by Reuters had forecast SOVEREIGNS The banking and financial shareholders have decided to put terly profit. Saudi Hollandi to earn net profit Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P sector fell 0.26 points while the most of the dividends back into SABB added 1.5 percent. After of SR315m in the quarter. Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 104.88 0.55 % Aa2 AA insurance sector dropped 0.95 the market, which has helped the market hours, the bank posted Both banks attributed the Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 126.25 2.07 % Aa2 AA points. The industrial sector up move,” said Mohammed Ali Yasin, an estimate-beating first-quarter profit increase to more operating 0.30 points and the services sector managing director of Abu Dhabi profit of SR948m ($252.79m). income, which increased year- Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 110.44 2.36 % NR NR added 1.41 points. Financial Services. “People are National Medical Care and on-year by 16.4 and 8.1 percent Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.56 2.91 % NR NR Meanwhile, Dubai’s measure looking at next year’s dividends.” contractor Abdullah Alkhodari at SABB and Saudi Hollandi Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 125.38 3.82 % NR NR hit a 40-month high yesterday Yasin predicted the market will each rallied 10 percent. respectively. Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 118.06 4.05 % NR NR as investors betting on upbeat make further gains in the second AGENCIES REUTERS Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 105.69 0.78 % Aa2 AA Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 116.38 3.08 % NR BBB Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 110.50 3.77 % NR BBB UAE introduces direct Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 91.50 7.31 % Caa1 B- Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 106.38 3.52 % NR BBB- *Periodic Distribution Amount debit system for banks • Bullion - Mumbai IMPORTANT NOTE: Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 29499 Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which Silver (1 kg) Rs. 525000 is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services DUBAI: The United Arab personal loan instalments, the Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.86 Emirates central bank said central bank said. data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising yesterday it was introducing In the absence of such a system, • Sensex out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not a direct debit system for com- post-dated cheques are frequently BSE 18226.48 take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds mercial banks, a step which used in the UAE as guarantees NSE 5495.10 can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not could ease a major problem for by businesses and individuals. a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and foreign businessmen operating For foreign nationals, bouncing p.a. (in dollar) consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. in the country. the cheques is a criminal offence • Housing loan from HDFC LTD The system, to start on June 15, rather than a merely civil one. • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, will let customers make regular, The tough penalties for default- Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. automatic payments from their ing on cheques were relaxed for • Advise on Indian Income Tax matters for NRIs. bank accounts towards mortgage citizens last October. Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] loans, credit card payments and REUTERS WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Spain economy Cyprus economy limps back faring better than last year Minister sees return by year-end

MADRID: Spain’s economy is the second worst yearly slump faring a little better after an since 1970. end-2012 slump and growth Prime Minister Mariano could even return by the end Rajoy’s government is predicting of the year, Economy Minister a return to economic growth in Luis de Guindos said yesterday 2014 if the country sticks to a pro- as doubts grew over the pros- gramme of cost-cutting measures pects for debt-laden southern and of reforms aimed at improv- European economies. ing economic efficiency. The Spanish economy had The government has admitted “clearly” improved from the final that it will have to revise its exist- three months of 2012, when out- ing forecast for an economic dip of put plunged by 0.8 percent, De only 0.5 percent this year. The Bank Guindos told an economic forum. of Spain is predicting a 1.5-percent The Spanish economic chief did plunge in output this year and only not, however, predict an economic a “modest rebound” in 2014. expansion in the first quarter of Doubts are growing over the 2013. prospects for southern European “The first quarter of this year states that are fighting to slash will be clearly less bad than the deficits while their economies previous quarter,” De Guindos wallow in recession. Workers on a scaffolding after restart of construction projects in Nicosia, Cyprus, yesterday. The long bank closure throughout the island has severely said. Portugal is preparing a new affected businesses which have run out of cash. Later, on the margins of the battery of spending cuts after forum, he said the government the country’s constitutional expected gross domestic product court struck down four of nine to show a decline of 0.5 or 0.6 per- contested austerity measures that cent in the first quarter of 2013, a the government had introduced as further slight improvement in the part of its 2013 budget that were Fresh gasoil from Russia reaches Syria second quarter and nearly zero aimed at respecting the terms of growth in the third quarter. its international bailout. LONDON: A fresh delivery of Shippers said the latest ship- other companies with which we aboard Greek or Italian-managed In the final three months of Spain’s constitutional court Russian gasoil has reached a ment was supplied to third par- have agreements on loading,” vessels from Lebanon, Turkey or 2013, the government believed has received various appeals of government-controlled port in ties by top Russian oil producer the spokeswoman said, refus- the Black Sea. there was a “possibility” of posi- government austerity measures, Syria this month, according to Rosneft, but the oil giant refuted ing to disclose the names of the One shipper estimated the tive economic growth for Spain on which include a value-added tax shipping sources and tracking this. companies. freight rate for deliveries from the a quarterly basis, De Guindos said. increase and cuts to jobless benefits data, adding to a string of car- Rosneft initially responded The Kemal Ka loaded 11,500 Black Sea to Syria to be around The minister stressed, however, and public-sector wages, but De goes that have flowed into the that it sold products for loading tonnes of gasoil at the Russian 205 percent of the worldscale rate that his first-quarter estimate Guindos said he was “convinced” war-ravaged country this year. at its ports and was not respon- port of Tuapse at the end of set as a reference for deliveries was based on incomplete data that Spain would not find itself in Delivering refined oil prod- sible for their final destination March and delivered the cargo to along that route. with all the figures for March yet the same situation as its neighbour. ucts to Syria is not explicitly “We are selling oil products from Banias in the first week of April, The Kemal Ka is listed as to come in. “All the measures which were prohibited by sanctions, but the Tuapse on a FOB (free-on-board) shipping sources said and track- part of a fleet owned by Akbaolu Spain is immersed in a dou- adopted by the Spanish govern- European Union has blacklisted basis, and therefore Rosneft has ing data showed. Shipping Group in Istanbul, ble-dip recession after failing to ment had a fundamental prin- the state’s oil trading and distri- responsibility for the cargo only At current prices, the cargo according to the firm’s website. recover convincingly from the ciple, which was to absolutely bution firms. until it is loaded into a tanker,” a would have been worth around “Unfortunately we are not able collapse of a decade-long property respect the law,” he said. Since Syria announced it had Rosneft spokeswoman said. $10m, but market sources said to give you any information on boom in 2008, an economic disaster Spain recorded an annual pub- set up new private firms to import “After that, it is the buyer who trade with Syria is more lucrative the subject voyage,” the charter- that has sent the unemployment lic deficit equal to 7.0 percent of oil products at the start of the becomes responsible for the cargo because few firms are willing to do ing manager wrote in an emailed rate soaring to a record 26 percent. gross domestic product last year, year, trade has boomed. Around including its destination.” business with President Bashar response to queries, declining to The Spanish economy, the missing a 6.3-percent target it had 20 shipments of gasoil and heating Later Rosneft denied that it Al Assad’s increasingly isolated identify the firm or firms charter- eurozone’s fourth-largest, con- agreed with the European Union. fuel reached the state-controlled had supplied the cargo. state. ing the vessel. tracted by 1.4 percent last year, AFP port Banias last month. “These are oil products from Most deliveries to Syria arrive REUTERS Kerry promises support for Palestinian economy Jordan, Iraq TEL AVIV: US Secretary of remove some of the bottlenecks encourage a return to negotia- Bank checkpoints and restric- a serious effort” to end the con- sign oil-gas State John Kerry said yester- and barriers that exist with tions that collapsed in 2010 in a tions inflicted long-term damage flict with the Palestinians. “This day he had agreed to work with respect to commerce in the West dispute over Israeli settlement- on Palestinians’ ability to compete has economic components, and we Israeli and Palestinian leaders Bank,” he said. building in the West Bank, which in the global market. welcome any initiatives that you pipeline deal, to boost economic growth in the “We intend to try to create the Palestinians fear will deny them Israel cites security concerns for and others will bring forward in occupied West Bank as he seeks conditions for peace so that we a viable state. those restrictions in the territory, this regard,” Netanyahu said. says report ways to revive Middle East can resume negotiations between “Economic growth will help us which it captured along with East “But it also has a political com- peace talks. the parties in a clear and precise, to be able to provide a climate, if Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the ponent, political discussions that Speaking after a three-day predetermined manner,” he said you will, an atmosphere with in 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians will address a myriad of issues. AMMAN: An Iraqi official said visit to the region, during which at Tel Aviv airport. which people have greater con- seek to establish a state in those Foremost in our minds are ques- yesterday Amman and Baghdad he met Israeli Prime Minister Kerry, who flew on to London fidence about moving forward,” areas. “With respect to the eco- tions of recognition and security,” have signed a deal to extend an Benjamin Netanyahu and for a meeting of G8 foreign min- Kerry said. nomic plans ... I will be very specific he said. Netanyahu was referring $18bn pipeline to the Red Sea Palestinian President Mahmoud isters, was on his third visit to the “But I want to emphasise, and I next week,” Kerry said. “We will to his demand that Palestinians city of Aqaba to export crude and Abbas, Kerry told reporters he region in less than three weeks, emphasise this very strongly, this have a Washington meeting and recognise Israel as the Jewish supply Jordan with oil and gas. would provide full details of the a mediation effort spurred by US is not in lieu of or an alternative you all will have a chance to see state, a step they fear could com- “The two countries have signed economic plans next week. President Barack Obama’s trip to the political track. It is not a this fleshed out in full.” promise any right of return of an agreement to build a 1,700km “We agreed among us... that we to Israel and the West Bank last substitute. The political track With Kerry at his side before Palestinian refugees, as well as pipeline from Basra to Aqaba,” are going to engage in new efforts, month. remains the primary focus.” talks earlier in the day in harming the status of Israel’s 20 Nihad Musa, director of State very specific efforts, to promote But neither man has put A World Bank report published Jerusalem, Netanyahu told report- percent Arab minority. Company for Oil Projects, told economic development... and to forward any new initiative to last month said that Israel’s West ers that Israel wanted to “make REUTERS Jordan’s official news agency Petra in Amman. “The designs and technical studies, which are currently being Superconductive cable conducted by a Canadian com- pany, are scheduled to be done by the end of this year.” Musa said Yen rallies ending Iraq “is serious about implement- ing the $18bn project. It is impor- tant for the two countries.” Under the deal, which is three-day drop expected to be operational in 2017, “Jordan will get 850,000 barrels NEW YORK: The yen rallied the greenback down 0.5 percent of oil as well as 100 million cubic yesterday, snapping a three-day at 98.92 yen. metres of gas a day,” the Iraqi offi- decline against the dollar as it The U S currency has still cial was quoted as saying. neared 100 to the US currency, gained around seven percent The kingdom relies on imports while expectations for modest against the yen since the Bank of for 95 percent of its energy needs. growth in corporate earnings Japan unveiled a massive stimu- A rise in fuel prices by up to 53 capped stocks and overshad- lus program last Thursday involv- percent in November prompted owed a fall in Chinese inflation. ing large purchases of long-term violent protests in which three The Japanese currency weak- Japanese government bonds. people were killed and more than ened to 99.66 to the dollar, using The BOJ’s bold measures have 70 injured. Reuters data, the dollar’s strong- had a major impact on the world’s Iraq, which sits on the region’s est level against the yen since main debt markets, sending third-largest oil reserves after May 2009, before the sell-off in Japanese government yields down Saudi Arabia and Iran at 115 bil- the yen stalled. sharply and spurring a search for lion barrels, hopes the move will Analysts believe it is only a higher-yielding assets, which has increase and diversify its exports. matter of time before the dollar caused yields to fall on U S and Jordan currently imports sails past the 100 yen mark. euro zone bonds. 10,000 barrels of Iraqi oil per day “Given the breadth of yen “Markets are increasingly at well below the global market bearishness, any reprieve would focused on the notion that larger value, and has recently agreed to likely encourage investors to re- JGB purchases, at longer matu- increase that amount to 15,000 establish short yen positions at rities, by the BOJ could push barrels. Iraq delivered oil to more favorable exchange rates,” Japanese domestic long-term Jordan for preferential prices A model of a superconductive power line is unveiled by RWE energy company in Essen, Germany, yesterday. said Joe Manimbo, senior market investors elsewhere,” said Vassili under the UN oil-for-food pro- The power provider is laying the world’s longest superconductive power line (around 1,000 metres) in Essen. analyst at Western Union Business Serebriakov, strategist at BNP gramme during the rule of slain The new cable carries considerably more electricity than normal copper lines. Solutions in Washington, D C. Paribas in London. dictator Saddam Hussein. Tuesday’s dollar selling left REUTERS AFP WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

QE Indices Summary QE Index 8,518.34 0.03 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 12,166.59 0.03 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 2,576.64 0.21 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,168.58 0.08 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,025.91 0.26 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 4980.22 67.513 1.37 5174.4 4664.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,303.15 1.41 % QR185.0245 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 3679.82 13.04 0.36 3871.58 3600.81 UK ...... QR 5.5437 QR 5.6213 QE All Share Industrials 3,014.74 0.30 % SILVER QE All Share Insurance 1,966.7 0.95 % Dj Indu Average 14613.48 48.23 0.33 14684.5 12035.1 QR 3.2228 Euro ...... QR 4.7263 QR 4.7919 QE All Share Real Estate 1,547.99 0.31 % CA$ ...... QR 3.5581 QR 3.6281 Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Telecoms 1,194.32 0.48 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.8737 QR 3.9289 QE All Share Transportation 1,451.26 0.04 % Hang Seng Inde/D 21870.34 152.29 0.7 23944.74 21612.05 Yen ...... QR 0.0365 QR 0.0372 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.7840 QR 3.8581 Iseq Overall/D 3823.18 26.51 0.7 4009.59 3396.67 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0662 QR 0.0675 09-04-2013 08-04-2013 Karachi 100 In/D 18713.61 60.55 0.32 18731.68 16036.31 Index 8,518.34 8,520.71 BRENT Pak Re ...... QR 0.0367 QR 0.0375 Change 2.37 15.92 Nikkei 225 Index 13192.35 -0.24 0 13225.62 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0876 QR 0.0894 % 0.03 0.19 $105.08 SL Re ...... QR 0.0288 QR 0.0293 YTD% 1.91 1.94 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1573.66 1266.74 DUBAI Taka ...... QR 0.0462 QR 0.0471 Volume 3,847,918 4,347,837 Straits Times/D 3296.57 11.96 0.36 3331.26 3160.83 Nep Re ...... QR 0.0416 QR 0.0424 Value (QAR) 159,922,397.60 271,173,399.84 $103.02 Trades 2,693 2,964 SA Rand ...... QR 0.4024 QR 0.4118 Straits Times/D 2989.31 24.69 0.83 3035.78 2657.77 Up 20 | Down 18 | Unchanged 02

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 09-04-2013

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED

A C C-A/D 1131.65 3.75 17499 Colgate-A/D 1316.65 8.45 9811 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 753.25 -4.8 150776 Lyka Labs-B/D 8.95 -0.01 2367 Thirumalai-B/D 99.15 -2.4 2747 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 47.3 0.995 46580775 Aarti Drugs-B/D 159.35 1.05 3852 Container Cor-/D 1087.9 -11.65 2165 I F C I-A/D 26.7 -0.15 2382166 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 95 -4.95 21045 Timexgroup-B/D 13.44 -0.09 18936 Marks & Sp./D 378.7 3.4 1405957 Aban Offs-B/D 265.15 -3 41533 Dhampur Sugar-/D 47.8 -1.7 21368 Idbi-A/D 79.85 -1.15 230685 Mah.Seamless-B/D 231.9 16.95 279672 Tinplate-B/D 41.6 0 2710 Next/D 4190 15 154980 Aegis Logis-B/D 124.65 0.25 3210 Dr. Reddy-A/D 1909.4 -28.4 11635 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 85 0 1585 Mangalam Cem-B/D 127 -3.6 3683 Ucal Fuel-B/D 51.85 0.1 1337 Pearson/D 1140 -1 291631 Alembic-B/D 16.5 -0.5 8776 E I H-B/D 55.55 -0.6 7506 India Cement-B/D 81.3 0.2 86020 Max India L-A/D 214.65 -2.45 8348 Ucal Fuel-B/D 51.85 0.1 1337 Prudential/D 1030 1 748464 Alok Indus-B/D 9 -0.09 624612 E.I.D Parry-B/D 153.05 -1.15 10554 India Glycol-B/D 131.65 -0.3 2417 Mrpl-A/D 49.55 -0.25 23231 Ultramarine-B/D 63.75 3.75 81475 Rank Group/D 155 -1 114190 Andhra Paper-B/D 190.05 -1.3 3626 Electrosteel-B/D 16.35 -0.1 18798 Indian Hotel-A/D 54.05 -0.95 86938 Nahar Spg.-B/D 70.2 -3.8 5218 Unitech P -A/D 23.55 -0.15 2436010 Rentokil Initi/D 96.1 0.25 811935 Apollo Tyre-A/D 83.05 -0.1 166961 Emco-B/D 19.3 -0.45 8460 Indusind-A/D 390.35 -4.35 91516 Nation Alum -A/D 33.3 -0.5 121887 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1079 -11 530244 Asahi I Glass-/D 48 -0.5 2612 Escorts-B/D 54.25 0.2 76222 J.B.Chemical-B/D 81.05 -0.15 3724 Navneet Pub.-B/D 58.5 -0.8 9372 LONDON Rsa Insrance G/D 109.268 0.4 7849666 Ashok Leyland-/D 21.85 -0.25 198179 Essar Oil-A/D 77.55 -1.55 600306 Jagson Phar-B/D 10.34 -0.4 3058 Nepc India-B/D 2.01 0.06 6139 Sainsbury(J)/D 374.9 1.3 810357 Ballarpur In-B/D 17.45 0.05 6397 Eveready Indu-/D 18.15 1.15 555660 Jbf Indu-B/D 104.85 0.95 14110 Neuland Lab-B/D 99.85 0.1 1158 Schroders/D 2087 4 166738 Bata India-A/D 718.7 1.7 9585 F D C-B/D 89.7 -0.4 3070 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.45 0.02 6329 Nrb Bearings-B/D 32 0.5 10353 3I Group/D 307.7 3.7 310019 Severn Trent/D 1677 12 147491 Beml Ltd-B/D 157.5 -6 35864 Federal Bank-A/D 444 -5.9 788667 Jct Ltd-B/D 0.96 0 21106 O N G C-A/D 303.35 -9.1 226139 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 1859.5499 -12 214626 Smith&Nephew/D 745 -7 815167 Bharat Bijle-B/D 424.35 -2.05 1141 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.88 -0.32 6769 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 2.88 -0.17 11346 Ocl India-B/D 150.5 0.7 10454 B Sky B/D 868.5 -5.5 739581 Smiths Group/D 1219 4 138082 Bharatgears-B/D 38.05 -1.3 5442 Finolex-B/D 95.05 0.75 18620 Jik Indust-B/D 0.99 0.01 5958 Onward Tech-T/D 40.75 -0.65 3956 Barclays/D 286.103 8.85 15703476 Standrd Chart /D 1667.2139 22.5 1043809 Bhartiya Int-B/D 199.45 -1.25 2382 Gail-A/D 313.35 -7.1 35143 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 97.3 -1.5 5099 Orchid Chem-B/D 62.35 -0.8 278954 Bg Group/D 1133.58 6 2533462 Tate & Lyle/D 838.592 -14 292823 Bhel-A/D 178.65 -3.7 532073 Gammon India-B/D 22.65 -1.05 29026 Jmc Projects-B/D 74.9 -1.15 1686 Oudh Sugar-B/D 20.25 -0.4 2025 Bp/D 448.2 0.15 6830592 Tesco/D 378.25 4.1 7005825 Bom.Burmah-B/D 111.3 -2.2 6910 Goodricke-B/D 132.2 -2.75 3731 Kabra Extr-B/D 28.7 -0.05 5229 Radico Khait-B/D 125.25 -1.05 2842 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3544.5 0.5 676464 Tomkins/D 0 0 0 Bombay Dyeing-/D 84 -2.35 60009 Goodyear I -B/D 259 -0.25 6515 Kajaria Cer-B/D 185.5 -4.1 4810 Rallis India-B/D 117.7 -3.15 16570 British Airway/D 276.4574 0 0 Unilever/D 2732 -13 877418 Canfin Homes-B/D 137.45 -0.4 3757 Hcl Infosys-B/D 38.95 -0.05 12968 Kalpat Power-B/D 75.55 -1.5 7030 Rallis India-B/D 117.7 -3.15 16570 Bt Group/D 267.646 2.1 4071993 United Util Gr/D 714 8 919434 Castrol Ind-A/D 311.85 5.5 16131 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8.47 -0.3 126605 Kalyani Stel-B/D 37.35 0.4 14940 Reliance Indus/D 369.85 -14.3 155195 Centrica/D 372.8 3 2842116 Vodafone Group/D 188.2 3.4 25414588 Century Enka-B/D 99.65 -3.45 2085 Himat Seide-B/D 31.7 0 5512 Kg Denim-B/D 14.99 -0.01 2100 Ruchi Soya-B/D 67.7 -0.2 6271 Gkn/D 257.2 0 1509392 Whitbread/D 2395 -44 255605 Century Text-A/D 274.25 -5.5 106877 Hind Motors-B/D 8.83 -0.17 132996 Kilburnengg-B/D 12.14 -0.56 7611 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 404.05 1.55 5510 Hsbc Holdings/D 682.8 3.1 6266355 Chambal Fert-B/D 51.15 -0.65 54386 Hind Org Chem-/D 11.82 -0.32 7954 Kopran-B/D 14.09 0.04 6695 Salora Inter-B/D 13.8 -2.25 1950 Imperial Tobac/D 2298 19 733508 Cipla-A/D 390.65 -4.1 144813 Hind Unilever-/D 471.45 -6.75 118483 Lloyd Steel-B/D 9.64 -0.39 40155 Saur.Cem-B/D 22.55 0.95 2800 Kingfisher/D 288.8 -1.2 1641034 City Union Bk-/D 54.3 0.8 57656 Hind.Petrol-A/D 291 0.65 232422 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 15.49 -0.57 10022 Savita Oil-B/D 480 -0.05 1138 Land Secs Grou/D 828.5 8.5 454392 Cmc Ltd-B/D 1426 -22.55 13064 Hindalco-A/D 90.85 0 1104020 Lupin-A/D 610.45 -8.45 25776 Sterling Tool-/D 93 0 1303 Legal & Genera/D 166.7 -1.1 4061469 WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Karthik Kessel brace helps Maple shines in Mumbai’s Leafs edge past Rangers big victory MUMBAI: A scintillating show by Dinesh Karthik and Rohit Veteran forward ends nine-game goal scoring drought by netting winner Sharma propelled Mumbai Indians to an emphatic win over Delhi Daredevils in the Indian TORONTO: Phil Kessel converting a 2-on-1 break for Premier League here yesterday. couldn’t have picked a better his 14th of the season just as Karthik, continuing his fine time to end his nine-game goal- Toronto’s power play expired. start to IPL-6, delighted the scoring drought. Kessel put Toronto back ahead Wankhede crowd with a sizzling The veteran forward scored just 39 seconds later with his 12th 86 off 48 balls. twice, including the winner in the of the season. He was the aggressor during third period, and added an assist What really impressed Leafs his 132-run stand with Sharma to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle was his (74 not out off 50) and after his to a 4-3 win over the New York club’s ability to defend the one- dismissal, the local boy changed Rangers yesterday to open an goal lead late in the game. gears to take Mumbai to 209 for important home-and-home series “I thought in tonight’s hockey 5. The 200-mark was crossed for between the Eastern Conference game and specifically in the last the first time in the competition. rivals. five or six minutes that’s proba- One could not rule out Delhi Toronto remained fifth in the bly as well as we’ve defended and overcoming the steep target on East but moved four points ahead played in a tense situation with a an ideal batting surface but the of idle Ottawa with its fifth win one-goal lead,” he said. “We did a visitors could only muster 165 for in six games. The Leafs also lead lot of things right ... there were nine. ninth-place New Jersey by eight a few crazy bounces in our zone David Warner (61 off 37) and points as they look to cement we’d like to have back but, hey, we Manpreet Juneja (49) tried their their first play-off berth since won the hockey game. best but could not prevent their 2003-04. “We’re not going to critique it, team from a third straight loss “It has been a while,” Kessel I just thought our group played in the tournament. Meanwhile, said. “You just learn they (goals) extremely hard, they were deter- Mumbai have now won two out of will come eventually. mined and we had a contribution the three games they have played. “It was an important game for from everybody.” The hosts sealed the tie through us, it moved us up a couple more Especially Kessel and linemate their supreme batting effort. points up in the standings. (A James van Riemsdyk, who also Karthik and Sharma took the playoff berth) is still far away, we scored and added an assist. game away from the opposition still have nine games left so we “Anytime you can get your big after Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky have to focus on these last nine guns going in a crucial game that’s Ponting failed to fire at the top. games and play well and hopefully a nice sign for your hockey club,” Karthik played a blinder and get in.” Carlyle said. by the time his stay in the middle The victory was also redemp- Van Riemsdyk would like to ended, he had become the leading tion for Toronto, which couldn’t follow it up with another gritty run-scorer of the mega event. hold a 2-0 lead against New York performance today when Toronto Edmonton Oilers left wing Taylor Hall (left) and Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller (second left) of Switzerland What stood was out that the at the Air Canada Centre on Jan. visits New York. end up in the net during the third period of their NHL game in Anaheim, California, yesterday. wicket-keeper batsman did not 26 en route to dropping a 5-2 “We got the first one here and play any fancy shot in his innings, decision. that’s huge,” he said. “But we’ve his exquisite stroke play was a And they did it in dramatic got to make sure we finish the job have a breakdown like that two Meanwhile, the Anaheim Switzerland and signing with treat to watch. He ended with 14 fashion as New York erased a today. shifts after we tie the game. Ducks already were enjoying an Anaheim as a free agent on fours and a couple of sixes. 3-1 deficit with third-period “It’s going to be a tough game, “I think if we play with the tie outstanding season, and then they March 26. Sharma took to the attack after goals from Rick Nash and Derek we know they’re going to be a des- and keep going about our busi- added veteran Radek Dvorak to “You never know. I mean, he’s Karthik’s dismissal and soon got Stepan. perate team and that’s the way ness as we were, we have a much the mix. 36 years old, it’s a shortened to his first fifty of IPL-6. Stepan made it 3-3 at 9:00, we need to play if we want to be better chance to win the hockey Judging by what he’s contrib- season and he’d already signed All six bowlers used by Delhi successful.” game. I actually didn’t think we uted in such a short time, he could to play somewhere else,” coach were taken to the cleaners with The Rangers remain tied with were that bad. We had some help put them over the top. Bruce Boudreau said. Ashish Nehra proving to be the NHL Results the idle New York Islanders breakdowns, but I don’t think we Dvorak scored two goals for “But I know he brings a wealth most expensive, leaking 49 runs Boston 6 Carolina 2 for seventh in the East with 42 were that bad tonight.” the Ducks in a 2-1 victory over of experience, he knows how to in four overs. Toronto 4 NY Rangers 3 points. Ryan O’Byrne also scored for the sputtering Edmonton Oilers play in a tight game and he can Kieron Pollard (13) did not fire “I thought the most important Toronto, now 11-7-2 at home. yesterday. still skate. The goals are a bonus this time and after his departure Calgary 3 Colorado 1 part was when we tied it 3-3 we Nash finished with two goals The 36-year-old right wing - and tonight they were a super Sharma was joined by Ambati Vancouver 2 Phoenix 0 didn’t play with it,” Rangers coach for New York, which fell to 7-10-2 has three goals in his first five bonus. But we’ll take them.” Rayudu, who hammered 24 off 8 Anaheim 2 Edmonton 1 John Tortorella said. “We can’t on the road this season. games since leaving his team in AGENCIES balls towards the end. The last two overs went for 42 runs. Much like the Mumbai innings, the away team lost a wicket in the first over. Unmukt Chand top- edged one off Harbhajan Singh with Ponting taking a flying catch NBA: Knee surgery to end Love’s season at extra cover. What happened next was MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota: Love, 24, has missed Minnesota’s past less than two weeks after undergoing left “We all need it. All the guys under con- something that not many would Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin 47 games following surgery on a broken knee surgery. World Peace participated in tract, injured or not injured, we all need have been imagined a few years Love will undergo surgery on his left knee right hand he suffered on January 3. Love drills with the Lakers yesterday, and the each other to make a run at this thing.” ago. Harbhajan ran towards later this week, ending an injury-plagued had sustained a fracture to the same hand veteran forward said he’s ready to return After a tumultuous season, the big- Ponting and hugged the former season for the fifth-year NBA standout, during a pre-season workout that caused nearly a month earlier than anticipated budget Lakers are running out of time even Australian captain to complete the team said yesterday. him to miss Minnesota’s first nine games. after surgery on a torn meniscus. to make the playoffs. the wild celebration. Love, who played in only 18 games, will Love averaged 18.3 points and 14.0 With just five games left to get into play- They trail Utah (41-37) for the eighth Warner and Juneja kept Delhi have an arthroscopic procedure to remove rebounds this season after coming off a off position, the Lakers (40-37) host New postseason spot in the Western Conference, in the game with their 82-run scar tissue that has collected in his knee. shortened off-season because he played for Orleans on Tuesday night. and the Jazz hold the tiebreaker on Los partnership, but when the Recovery time from the surgery is usually the US Olympic gold medal team of NBA “We’ve got a chance to make a push for Angeles. Australian got caught in the deep four to six weeks. stars at last year’s London Olympics. this championship run,” World Peace told The Lakers thought World Peace would in the 11th over, they were always The Timberwolves, at 29-47, are out of Meanwhile, Metta World Peace plans to reporters after practice at the Lakers’ be out until early May after undergoing going to be up against it. NBA playoff contention. play in the Los Angeles Lakers’ next game, training complex. surgery March 28. AGENCIES IANS Scoreboard MUMBAI INDIANS R T Ponting c Jayawardene b Pathan ...... 0 S R Tendulkar (run out-Jayawardene) ...... 1 Rangers beat Rays; Mets dominate Phillies K D Karthik c Mendis b Morkel ...... 86 R G Sharma (not out) ...... 74 ARLINGTON, Texas: Tampa he might offer at it. When he K A Pollard c Nadeem b Nehra ...... 13 Bay manager Joe Maddon knew Baseball Results didn’t, my mindset went more to A T Rayudu c&b Nehra ...... 24 it was ball four to Ben Zobrist , Boston 3 Baltimore 1 concentrate on what we’ve got to Harbhajan Singh (not out) ...... 1 who was already headed toward Milwaukee 7 Chicago Cubs 4 do with (Evan) Longoria now. I Extras (LB-6, W-3, NB-1) ...... 10 Kansas first base. Even Texas Rangers NY Yankees 11 Cleveland 6 think I might have been the last Total (for 5 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 209 closer Joe Nathan expected that guy on the field to realize the City Royals Kansas City 3 Minnesota 1 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-1, 3-133, 4-163, would be the call after his full- game was over.” 5-189. first base- Cincinnati 13 St Louis 4 count pitch. Nathan’s milestone save was Bowling: I K Pathan 4-1-37-1; A Nehra 4-0- man Eric NY Mets 7 Philadelphia 2 Hosmer and Except plate umpire Marty his second this year, and 39th in 49-2; M Morkel 4-0-43-1 (1nb); U T Yadav Foster called a game-ending third Atlanta 2 Miami 0 two seasons with the Rangers. third base- 3-0-28-0 (3w); S Nadeem 3-0-26-0; B M A J strike - one he later admitted was Texas 5 Tampa Bay 4 He had 260 saves for the Twins man Mike Mendis 2-0-20-0. wrong. and one for San Francisco before Moustakas Pittsburgh 5 Arizona 3 DELHI DAREDEVILS Nathan mouthed “Wow!” when being traded by the Giants to U Chand c Ponting b H Singh ...... 0 (left) cel- Seattle 3 Houston 0 the strike was called to wrap up Minnesota after the 2003 season D A Warner c Rayudu b Johnson ...... 61 ebrate San Francisco 4 Colorado 2 his 300th career save, which along for Pierzynski. D P M D Jayawardene c Karthik b Johnson .3 the home with the Rangers’ 5-4 victory “I saw the pitch and of course Meanwhile, Matt Harvey M C Juneja (run out-Dhawan) ...... 49 opener win stood despite Foster’s postgame don’t have the chance to do it reared back and fired a 98 mph B M A J Mendis c&b Pollard ...... 0 against the admission yesterday. again,” Foster told a pool reporter fastball on his 102nd pitch, I K Pathan c Johnson b Ojha ...... 10 Minnesota “That kind of call cannot occur. after the game. “But had I had a and finished up with five more K M Jadhav c&b Malinga ...... 1 Twins in I don’t even want to say under chance to do it again, I wouldn’t clocked at 95. On a night when S Nadeem c Dhawan b Ojha ...... 2 a MLB those circumstances,” Maddon call that pitch a strike.” Roy Halladay looked more like an M Morkel (not out) ...... 23 American said. “The last inning, the last out AJ Pierzynski, the new Rangers aging star on the decline, Harvey A Nehra c Ojha b Pollard ...... 1 League of the game. I’m not even going to catcher who was once traded for showed he’s got the stuff to U T Yadav (not out) ...... 5 baseball go there. That call can’t be made Nathan, said he heard Foster call replace him as the big-time ace in Extras (B-1, LB-1, W-8) ...... 10 game in in a Major League Baseball game.” strike, and went out to congratu- the NL East. Harvey threw seven Total (for 9 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 165 Kansas City, The last pitch, a curveball, was late his team-mate on becoming impressive innings, John Buck hit Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-13, 3-95, 4-97, Missouri, low and outside. Zobrist put both the 24th major leaguer with 300 a three-run homer and the New 5-118, 6-127, 7-134, 8-140, 9-154. hands on his helmet and took saves. York Mets roughed up Halladay in yesterday. Bowling: Harbhajan Singh 4-0-25-1; S L it off in disbelief while Maddon “Did I draw it up like this for a 7-2 victory over the Philadelphia Malinga 4-0-20-1; M G Johnson 4-0-49-2 quickly came out and argued with my 300th (save)? No. But we’ll Phillies yesterday. (1w); P P Ojha 4-0-34-2 (1w); K A Pollard the umpires for several minutes, take it,” Nathan said. “I knew I “A lot of things were work- 4-0-35-2 (2w). even standing in front of them at was throwing it there. The fact is I ing good for me,” Harvey said. Player-of-the-Match: K D Karthik (MI). the gate where they exit the field. thought it was ball four. I thought AGENCIES WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Al Arabi in Emir Cup semi-finals Basketball: Al Arabi outplay Al Ahli, set up best-of-three semi-finals clash with Al Sadd

BY DANOTZKI SANTOS

DOHA: Eljaish held their com- posure in the endgame, escap- ing with a narrow 87-85 victory over Al Gharafa last night to secure an Emir Cup basketball semi-finals slot. Army will face off with Al Rayyan in one of the best-of- three showdowns for the two finals berths. Eljaish took an early 15-8 lead in the early going behind Fadi Abilmona’s playmaking savvy until the hosts rolled out a scoring surge and inched closer at 14-15 but waned at the end of the first period to trail 18-23. Gharafa had an 8-0 run to wrest the upperhand at 26-23 in the first 3 minutes of the second period before Army gained back their composure to stay close at 29-30, with 4:05 to go in the first half. Eljaish clamped down on defense and took their turn to burn rubber and snatched the lead back at 36-33 as Gharafa’s slotmen Awako Emanuel and Omar Salem ran into foul trouble. Both teams exchanged a couple of twinners in the ensuing plays to finish the half at 40-37. Victor Hakim Thomas drew Action from the Emir Cup basketball match between Al Ahli and Al Arabi at Al Gharafa Stadium yesterday. Al Arabi won 93-84. RIGHT: A match official prepares to pass on the ball for start first blood in the third, sinking a of play. PICTURES BY: WASFY lay-up and one off a foul, and bur- ied a triple in the next offensive to control and Omar banked a twin- in the remainder of the period to put the white shirt ahead before ner to make it 83-82. Eljaish drew cut the red shirt’s lead and settled Omar Salem drilled back-to-back a foul in the ensuing possession with 55-46 advantage at halftime. treys and made it 49-42. and with split from the foul lane Alpha Bangura came out strong Mohammad Yussuf took charge for an 84-82 tally, Army on top from the break and steered his for Army and ignited an 8-1 and 32 seconds left in the game. team within a basket at 55-57 in assault to even things up at 50-all. Gharafa would however muff the first 3 minutes of the third With Emanuel lurking on the their chances to grab the upper quarter. bench, Thomas made it 52-50 hand and salvage a win as Coach Alvin Mofunanya and William momentarily for Gharafa but Hatem Koussay wards succumbed Bird then conspired to mount a Ali Turki spearheaded a 16-6 to a pressure in the dying sec- 16-8 offensive in the balance of onslaught with his array of rain- onds. the period to finish with a double- bow shots to pull Army up to a Meanwhile, Al Arabi master- digit cushion, 73-63 entering the 66-58 advantage before the final fully outplayed Al Ahli in the first final stage of the game. quarter. match to clinch the third semi- Al Ahli would come to within Turki kept his fire at the onset finals slot and will face off with four early in the fourth at 70-74 of the fourth period and brought Group 1 leader and early qualifier but Al Arabi doused their efforts Army to their biggest lead at Al Sadd in the other best-of-three once more as Mathew Rogers 78-63 halfway in the payoff stage. series for a final berth. asserted his presence on both Calvin Earl Cage spearheaded Last year’s Heir Apparent Cup ends of the floor and helped his an 13-1 counter-offensive for champions routed the Bradford team consumate a 19-14 finishing Gharafa capped by Omar’s triple Cory-led Al Ahli, 93-84. kick to seal the victory. from the left flank as they inched Al Arabi raced to a 30-22 lead The semi-final best-of-three closer, 76-79, with 3:00 remaining in the first period and soared to showdowns start on Friday, 12 in the match. their biggest lead a 16 halfway in April at the Al Gharafa Indoor The count stood at 83-80 with the second period at 51-35 but Arena. Action from the Emir Cup basketball match between Eljaish and Al Gharafa at Al Gharafa Indoor Arena yesterday. 1:26 to play when Eljaish lost Bradford ignited a 9-4 for Al Ahli THE PENINSULA RIGHT: A ball lodges on the basket support during the match of the Emir Cup. Maturing McIlroy calls talk of rivalry with Woods premature

AUGUSTA, Georgia: Golf fans have used to his new clubs. “I feel like they are drooled in anticipation of a one-two rivalry a part of me now and that’s the way a golf between Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, club should be.” but the mop-topped Northern Irishman Having ascended to the top of the game said yesterday that talk was premature. at such a young age, McIlroy has done some “I don’t see myself a rival to Tiger or to of his growing up on public display. anyone,” McIlroy said yesterday before a More of his blossoming maturity was in practice round at Augusta National ahead evidence when he spoke about a tactical of Thursday’s opening round of the Masters. change he planned for this Masters. McIlroy, proclaiming himself 100 percent “I’m probably going to adopt a little dif- comfortable with his golf swing and new ferent strategy off the tee this year than the clubs, could overtake a resurgent Woods and previous years, try to hit it into the fat parts reclaim the world number one ranking at of the fairway,” said McIlroy. “Because I’m the Masters, but the 23-year-old Northern confident with my iron play, there’s no point Irishman reminded everyone he is still early in taking on too much off the tee. on his golf journey. “There’s generous fairways out there. You “When you speak of rivals, you tend to hit into the fat parts and you’re always going put rivals who have had similar success,” to give yourself a good chance to get it close said McIlroy. “He’s got 77 PGA Tour events. to the pin.” I’ve got six. He’s got 14 majors. I’ve got two. McIlroy said that did not mean he would “If I saw myself a rival to Tiger, I wouldn’t not go full throttle when need be. really be doing him much justice.” “Of course you still have to be aggressive However, McIlroy made it plain he was around this golf course, but I think there’s eager to work on bridging the numbers gap times where you have to put it in play, put starting this week at the first major cham- Tiger Woods speaks to the media during it in the middle of the fairway, and instead pionship of the year. a press conference before the Master golf of trying to give yourself an eight- or nine- “Every time you come here to Augusta, iron into the green, know that you’re going tournament at Augusta National Golf Club you’re wanting to win that green jacket, to have just as good of a chance hitting a in Augusta, Georgia, yesterday. and every time you don’t it’s another six- or seven-iron.” chance missed,” said McIlroy, who admit- McIlroy yearns for another chance as ted that anything less than a win would be “It was tough, because golf sometimes is a good as he had at the 2011 Masters, when a disappointment. selfish sport and sometimes you have to do he carried a four-stroke lead into the final McIlroy started the year with an equip- what’s right for yourself,” McIlroy said about round before soaring to an 80 finish to tie ment change, a struggle to find his swing bowing out of a scheduled two-day trip to for 15th. and a roundly criticised walk-off the course Haiti in his role as a UNICEF ambassador. “I had a chance to win in 2011 and obvi- in frustration at the Honda Classic. “I knew I was letting a lot of people down ously that didn’t go too well, but it still Determined to turn his season around with my decision to go to San Antonio ... I doesn’t change the fact that it’s my favorite in time for the Masters, McIlroy made a made a couple of tough phone calls. But I golf tournament,” he said. “Growing up difficult decision to cancel a scheduled phil- felt like it was the best way for me to pre- watching this on TV ... it’s a place that’s anthropic trip to Haiti in order to work on pare for this week.” very special to me. his game at last week’s Texas Open and sud- McIlroy came away from San Antonio “I don’t know if I can explain it. Every denly it all came together for him. satisfied he was ready to challenge now at time you drive in the gates here is a big A final-round 66 and a second place fin- his “favorite tournament of the year.” thrill. ish in San Antonio bolstered his confidence “I’m very comfortable and I’m 100 percent The season starts now, as far as McIlroy coming into the Masters. there,” proclaimed McIlroy about getting is concerned. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

LEFT: Qatar’s Musaeb Abdulrehman in action during the 800m race on day two of the 14th Athletics Championships at Khalifa Stadium in Doha yesterday. Musaeb won the gold medal ahead of compatriot Jamal Heran. RIGHT: Musaeb and Heran with their medals. FAR RIGHT: Qatar’s Mohammed Al Nazeer celebrates after winning the 2000m race. Al Nazeer won the gold medal. PICTURES: ABDUL BASIT Qatari athletes sparkle on day 2 14th GCC Athletics Championships: Musaeb Abdulrehman wins gold medal in 800m

DOHA: Long-distance runner Musaeb Abdulrehman yester- day won the 800m final on day two of the 14th GCC Athletics Championship as Qatar picked up 12 more medals in the region’s top track and field event. Abdulrehman clocked a time of 1:48.18 to finish the 800m race ahead of compatriot Jamal Heran who bagged a silver. Heran was timed at 1:48.82. In third place was Kuwait’s Ibrahim Rameez Al Zaraifee who picked up the bronze medal for his efforts. Al Zairaifee was timed at 1:53.17 at Khalifa Stadium, the venue of the three- day championships. Kuwait’s Umar Al Rashidi failed to complete the race as he limped off the track presumably with a leg injury. In the discuss throw final, Qatar’s Ahmed Mohammed Deeb won the gold with an impressive performance against a strong field. Deeb reached the winning distance of 59.75m. Qatar’s Ahmed Mohammed Deeb with the national flag after winning the discuss throw final. Deeb touched a distance of 59.75m. Kuwait’s Essa Mohammed picked up a silver medal with Kuwait’s Essa Mohammed his score of 57.87m. The bronze was won by Qatar’s Rashid Shafi Al Dosari with a score of 57.78m which he managed on his third throw. RIGHT: Qatar’s Khalid Mohammad Safar in action picked up a silver medal with his during 400m steeplechase for juniors. Safar won the gold medal. score of 57.87m. The bronze was won by Qatar’s Rashid Shafi Al Dosari with a bronze medals on day two of the the gold with a time of 51.04sec. medals in their respective events. are competing in every discipline also present at Khalifa Stadium. score of 57.78m which he managed championships. Qatar’s Jamal Abdulnasir The championship concludes from each participating country. Meanwhile, Qatar Athletics on his third throw. Saudi athletes dazzled in the Abubaker (52.08) bagged the sil- today with events to be staged in Roqaya Al Gassra, Bahrain’s Federation (QAF), organisers In the high jump final, Qatar’s men’s 3000m steeplchase and the ver medal with a well-timed run. 13 disciplines (8 for seniors and 5 top female sprinter, and of the three-day meet, yester- Mohammed Ahmed Al Mannai 400m hurdles events. Kuwait’s Jassim Almaas (53.01) for juniors). Mohamed Salman Al Khuwalidi, day announced that it will name was the winner with a leap of Saudi duo of Ali Ahmed Al was the bronze winner at Khalifa In the feature event of the the Saudi long jumper and scores more athletes who will take part 1.82m at Khalifa Stadium. The Marri won the gold with a time of Stadium in the 400m hurdles day, Qatar’s London Games star of other athletes were present at in the one-day Samsung Diamond silver was bagged by Oman’s 8:53.51 while compatriot Ahmed final. Mutaz Essa Barshim will compete Khalifa Stadium to watch the League season-opener at Qatar Hussain bin Ali (1.76m). Barhan managed an impres- In the juniors competitions at in the long jump event at 5:30pm. proceedings. Sports Club Stadium on May 10. Magid Al Zaid of Kuwait sive time of 8:56.70. The bronze Khalifa Stadium yesterday, Qatari Barshim - who won a bronze Prince Nawaf bin Mohammed Top names like Yohan Blake of walked off with the silver medal, medal went to Qatar’s Muaaz athletes Khalid Mohammed Safar medal at the 2012 London bin Abdullah Al Saud, President, Jamaica and David Rudhisha of touching a distance of 1.76m. Abdulrehman (9:02.53). (400m hurdles), Mohammed Noor Olympic Games long jump com- Saudi Arabian Amateur Athletics Kenya will headline the one-day Overall Qatar won 12 med- In the 400m hurdles final, Adam (800m) and Mohammed petition - has been training over- Federation, and former QAF affair, QAF said last month. als with 3 golds, 4 silvers and 5 Saudi Arabia’s Idrees Husawi won Al Nazeer (2000m) also won gold seas for this event. Three juniors chief Abdullah Al Zaini were THE PENINSULA Bahrain’s retired star urges girls to target Olympics

DOHA: Bahrain’s retired ath- championships which will con- lete Roqaya Al Gassra has urged clude today. young girls in the region to tar- “I am honoured that Qatar get competing at the Olympic Athletics Federation has remem- Games. bered the past athletes,” she said. Remembered for becoming the “It is a good idea to have gather- first woman athlete to represent ing of former athletes and officials Bahrain’s Bahrain at the Olympic Games from the track and field world to Roqaya - by taking part in the 100m at be present in one place,” she said. Al Gassra the 2004 Summer Olympics in Ruqaya hoped she would see competes in Athens - Roqaya now wants the more girls from the GCC coun- sport to become popular among tries reaching the Olympic Games the heats of young girls. in the future. the women’s “My most memorable moment “I didn’t win any medals but 100m race (as an athlete) came when I took I was very pleased to realise my at the 15th part in the Olympic Games. It ream,” she said. “I hope young Asian Games was a dream come true,” Ruqaya girls (in the Middle East) get good held in Doha, said as she watched track and experience and reach the top. If Qatar, in this field athletes in action on day I see a girl from any of the GCC December two of the GCC Championships country reaching the Olympic 8, 2006 at Khalifa Stadium yesterday. Games, I would be extremely file photo. “I hope we can have more happy,” she said. Roqaya won girls take part in athletics,” the Ruqaya won medals at the 2006 the bronze in 30-year-old said while urging Asian Games (gold in the 200m the final. authorities to have a champion- and a bronze in the 100m) and ship for girls that could be run went on to run at the 2008 Beijing alongside events such the on-going Olympics and the 2009 World GCC Athletics Championships. Championships. She said men and women com- The tall athlete - who would peting at one event would give any compete in a head scarf and championship the prominence it her body fully covered - was her would ‘deserve’. country’s flag-bearer at the 2008 Bahrain’s retired athlete Roqaya Ruqaya is one of many former Olympic Games opening cer- When asked about her passion, “I used to be a good mover and full of energy all the time. So I Al Gassra poses for a picture athletes to be honoured by Qatar emony in Beijing. She announced Roqaya said the love for track and runner. I would be up and about pushed myself into athletics when during a meeting in Doha. Athletics Federation (QAF) dur- her international retirement in field took root very early in her all the time. That’s how I started I started to grow up as girl,” she ing the course of the three-day 2009. life. liking athletics,” she said. “I was added. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Doctor hails Abidal recovery Beckham predicts bright as a ‘miracle’ MADRID: One of the sur- geons who performed Barcelona defender Eric Abidal’s liver transplant yesterday hailed his miraculous recovery, assessing future for ‘ambitious’ PSG that it broke new ground for the surgery. Juan Carlos Garcia-Valdecasas They are doing things the right way, says former England skipper helped carry out the 33-year-old’s transplant a year ago and has said that to see him return to playing BY RIZWAN REHMAT top-class professional sport was unprecedented. DOHA: Soccer icon David “My first objective was that he Beckham is delighted with his Paris would continue to live and enjoy stay at Qatari-owned French Saint- a high quality of life with his fam- club Paris Saint German, a side Germain’s ily,” he told Catalan radio station the Briton predicts will become British RAC1. one of the giants of European midfielder “Now we can say that the recu- football. David peration has been a miracle, an The 37-year-old former Beckham extraordinary case, because prec- England captain, who signed gestures edents like his don’t exist. a five-month deal with PSG in during the “The majority of patients can January this year, is set to play French L1 live a normal life, even 90 percent the second leg of the Champions football have an extraordinary quality of League quarter-final against match life, but his case is not normal. Barcelona at Camp Nou today. against “Medicine continues to set “(When) interest from Paris Rennes in new goals and Abidal has marked came in, it was a no-brainer,” another one for us going forward.” this April Beckham said in a television The Frenchman returned to 6, 2013, interview with Al Jazeera Sports the pitch for the first time in Channel. file photo 14 months towards the end of “They have a lot of ambition, a taken at Barca’s 5-0 win over Mallorca on lot of aspirations to become one the Route Saturday. of the biggest clubs in Europe de Lorient Garcia-Valdecasas said he and they will get there. There’s Stadium believed that if required, the no doubt about that,” Beckham, in Rennes, player was in the right physical who turns 38 next month, added. western shape to take part in Barca’s cru- The former Manchester United, France. cial Champions League quarter- Real Madrid and LA Galaxy star final second-leg against Paris said PSG have well thought out Saint-Germain. plans to challenge the big clubs “He is a Barcelona player and in Europe. is in the squad. He wants to be “They are doing things the League,” Beckham said. “It’s there, he wants to play and there- right way. They are not just buy- always been a special competi- fore I don’t think we should treat ing the most expensive or biggest tion for any player. When I won British football him in a different manner. players,” Beckham explained in with Man United, it was special. player David “I didn’t have any idea he was the interview broadcast on Al I played in the Champions League Beckham poses going to return this Saturday, Jazeera Sports Channel. for a few years. It is good to be with his new jersey, although I knew that sooner or “They are obviously doing that back,” he said as PSG prepared flanked by Paris later he would return to playing. but they are also building up from for the second leg game against Saint-Germain’s I haven’t spoken with him but he grass-roots level. There’s a lot of hosts Barcelona. President, Nasser could perfectly well play against hard work being done around “Just to see the players on the Al Khelaifi (left), PSG.” the club, around the city. And floor (in the 1999 final) after the and PSG Sports Garcia-Valdecasas also con- it’s going to get bigger,” Beckham final whistle, I think we (the Director Leonardo firmed that Abidal’s statement at predicted. Man United players) were all the weekend that he would like to during a press “We have good a blend of expe- in a shock of what happened,” continue playing for a couple more conference in rience and young talent. We’ve Beckham recalled. years was perfectly attainable. got a huge kind of character in “It doesn’t get more dramatic Paris, in this the team (Zlatan Ibrahimovic). I than that game - to be 1-0 nil January 2013 file am glad he’s here for both games down and then score the goals like photo. Thiago Silva, (Ibrahimovic scored in the first that - I will never forget that,” leg in Paris last week). he said of the 1999 Champions Alex included “He deserves to be there and League final against German that’s a big boost for us as a team. giants Bayern Munich. The match playing. I am not ready to hang I feel like that? No. Because I just “At the moment we are head- in PSG squad He’s one of those players who can is best remembered for United my boots up yet.” want to continue to be successful. ing into a game against Barcelona change the game in an instance. If scoring two last-minute goals in He added: “You know, someone I want to win. (the first leg ended in a 2-2 draw). he’s on top of his game, he’s very injury time to win 2–1, after hav- just asked me ‘would I ever wanna “So I have enjoyed being back. After this game, we’ll obviously for Barca trip difficult to stop,” the Briton said. ing trailed for most of the match play for England again?’ Who I don’t think anybody would know more,” he said. PARIS: Paris St Germain Beckham, who signed for LA When asked what it meant wouldn’t. At the end of the day, have expected me to come back Beckham had special praise for centre backs Alex and Thiago Galaxy after leaving Real Madrid playing football around the world, that’s one of the reasons I never to Europe again. For six years, Barcelona, the La Liga giants who Silva have been included in in 2003, is happy playing in the Beckham said: “Everything! retired from international foot- people just expected me to finish are considered the team to beat Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the Champions League again. Everything! That’s why I am still ball. If there’s ever - a chance of playing, sit on a beach and enjoy at any event. Champions League quarter- “Six months ago I wouldn’t playing it at the age I am play- me playing for my country again, my life (but) interest from Paris “When I play a side like final return leg at Barcelona have though of it but now it is ing it. I want to continue to be I would never turn that down. came in,” he said. Barcelona, it is special. And they today despite injury concerns. great to be back in the Champions successful. I want to continue That’s one of the reasons why I Despite his supreme physical are the best team in the world,” Italy midfielder Thiago Motta, feel like playing.” conditioning, Beckham is not Beckham said. who has only played one game Paris With retirement plan not on pledging himself to another PSG “They have got some of the best since late January because of a his mind, Beckham feels elated deal, not just yet. players in the world but I think recurring groin injury, was also St-Germain’s with his form and fitness level. “We’ll see. You know, at 38 what impresses everyone about named for the trip. David The 37-year-old ran more years old almost, you have to them is that they work as a team, PSG will be without suspended Beckham than six kilometers - the most - kind of - take each month as play collectively,” he explained. holding midfielder Blaise Matuidi (right) and by any player on each side - in it comes and each season as it “You can never be scared,” as the Qatari-backed club look team-mate the first half of the first leg of the comes,” Beckham explained. Beckham said when asked about to qualify for the last four after Zlatan Champions League quarter-final “It’s one of the reasons I have nerves of playing Barcelona on drawing 2-2 at home in the first Ibrahimovic against Barcelona in Paris last my contract until the end of the their home soil. leg last week. look on during week. season, just to see how I feel “It doesn’t matter how young Thiago Silva remains a doubt the Ligue 1 “As fit as I have ever been,” physically. you are or how inexperienced after picking up a knock on his match against Beckham said when asked about “If I continue to feel like I feel you are - there’s no way that any knee in the first leg. The Brazil Montpellier his fitness. (now) there’s no reason why I professional player can be scared defender was left out of PSG’s in this March “You now, that hasn’t changed. I can’t continue to play. I am not about playing against a team like squad at Stade Rennes last 2013 file am 38 years old in May. You know, thinking that far. You know we Barcelona. I think we have to con- Saturday while compatriot Alex photo. your body changes and you have are seven points clear in the centrate on our game,” he said. also missed the 2-0 win because to adjust to certain things but do French league. THE PENINSULA of a thigh problem. REUTERS

ATP World Tour WTA Tour Rankings Rankings Britain’s Cup hero ready for axe This Week LONDON: ATP World Tour LONDON: WTA rankings rankings released this week: LONDON: British Davis Cup to return to the elite group of 16 released (April 2 positions in (last week’s positions in hero Dan Evans admits the nations. brackets): brackets): Djokovic uncertain for return of Andy Murray means US Open and Olympic cham- 1. (1) Serena Williams (US) 11115 1. (1) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 12500 he is facing the axe for his coun- pion Murray has committed to 2. (2) Maria Sharapova (Russia) 10240 2. (2) Andy Murray (Scotland) 8750 Monte Carlo: Reports try’s next tie despite an epic playing in the tie, which could 3. (3) Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) 9325 3. (3) Roger Federer (Switzerland) 8670 performance in their victory pit Britain against the likes of 4. (4) Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 6845 4. (4) David Ferrer (Spain) 6970 over Russia. Spain, Switzerland, Germany or BELGRADE: World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who suffered an ankle 5. (5) Li Na (China) 5880 5. (5) Rafa Nadal (Spain) 6385 Britain, playing without world Australia. injury during the Davis Cup World Group quarter-finals with the 6. (6) Angelique Kerber (Germany) 5500 6. (6) Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 5105 number two Murray, battled back And that means Smith will United States, said his participation at the Monte Carlo Masters 7. (7) Sara Errani (Italy) 5405 7. (7) Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) 4750 from 2-0 down to beat Russia 3-2 have to choose between Evans and was uncertain, media reported yesterday. at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on James Ward, whose come-from- “The season on the clay begins... I would like to play in Monte Carlo, 8. (8) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 3695 8. (8) Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 5225 Sunday, with Evans, ranked 325 behind five-set win over Tursunov where I live. I love that tournament, I am optimist, but I do not know 9. (9) Richard Gasquet (France) 3230 9. (9) Samantha Stosur (Australia) 3790 in the world, producing the best gave his team-mate the opportu- if it is realistic,” Djokovic was quoted as saying by Serbia’s Beta News 10. (10) Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 3760 10. (10) Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) 3000 match of his life to crush world nity to clinch the tie. Agency. 11. (11) Nadia Petrova (Russia) 3075 11. (11) Marin Cilic (Croatia) 2675 number 80 Evgeny Donskoy 6-4, Evans knows he could well be Talking about his injury, Djokovic said he had “avoided the worst 12. (12) Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 2390 6-4, 6-1 in the deciding rubber. the man to miss out and he said: degree of distortion”. 12. (12) Maria Kirilenko (Russia) 2911 13. (13) Gilles Simon (France) 2390 In Murray’s absence, Evans “Dropping people in any sport “My ankle swelled... but I have to check how serious it is and then 13. (13) Roberta Vinci (Italy) 2715 14. (14) Tommy Haas (Germany) 2260 has won three Davis Cup rub- is hard. I’m grateful to Leon for to estimate if I can play in Monte Carlo,” from April 14 to 21, he said. 14. (14) Marion Bartoli (France) 2710 15. (16) Milos Raonic (Canada) 2225 bers against players ranked much having that difficult conversation But the No. 1 was more optimistic regarding his participation at the 15. (15) Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 2695 16. (15) Kei Nishikori (Japan) 2135 higher than himself. (when he has been left out in the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris, which is the only Grand Slam 16. (16) Sloane Stephens (US) 2520 But Britain’s first Davis Cup past). that eludes him. “Roland Garros is still far away,” he added. 17. (17) S Wawrinka (Switzerland) 1960 17. (17) Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 2495 victory from 2-0 down since 1930 “This time it worked but next Djokovic has earlier said that winning in Paris was one of his main 18. (19) Juan Monaco (Argentina) 1900 18. (18) Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 2405 means Leon Smith’s side go for- time, if I’m not playing well, then goals for 2013, along with the Davis Cup. Djokovic’s victory over Sam 19 (18) Andreas Seppi (Italy) 1895 ward to a World Group play-off that conversation might come to Querrey on Sunday helped take Serbia into the semi-finals of the Davis 19. (20) Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) 1875 20. (20) Sam Querrey (US) 1880 in September with the chance me and that’s fine.” REUTERS Cup, where they will meet Canada in September. REUTERS 20. (26) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 1875 WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 ‘Switch Lekhwiya extend unbeaten Bundesliga to summer’: Rummenigge run; Al Rayyan edge Al Ain BERLIN: Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said he wants to see the Bundesliga become a QSL champions draw with Pakhtakor; Al Marri nets winner for Al Rayyan summer league, with an eye on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The local organising commit- DOHA: Qatar Stars League tee last month indicated that (QSL) clubs Lekhwiya and Al AFC Champions the tournament could be held in Rayyan won their respective winter because of stifling sum- matches in the AFC Champions League mer temperatures in the Gulf League yesterday. state and Rummenigge said In Doha, Jaralla Al Marri SINGAPORE: Results from the Bundesliga should take the scored with four minutes remain- AFC Champions League group chance to change. ing to earn Al Rayyan their first games yesterday: “The football family is united win as the Qatari side saw off Group B on this: (the 2022 World Cup) inaugural ACL champions Al Ain At Tashkent will be played in either January, yesterday. Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 (Gulom Urunov 26, Dame February or October, November In Tashkent, QSL champi- Traore 55 OG) Lekhwiya (QAT) 2 (Sebastian and I see this model as a chance ons Lekhwiya extended their Soria 1, Youssef Msakni 68) for the Bundesliga,” Rummenigge unbeaten AFC Champions League Group F was quoted as saying by Die Welt record this season after sharing a newspaper yesterday. At Jeonju 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan coun- Rummenigge, who is also the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2 (Eninho 51, terparts Pakhtakor in Group B chairman of the European Club Seo Sang-Min 90+2) Urawa Red Diamonds yesterday. Association (ECA), says there (JPN) 2 (Daisuke Nasu 3, Tsukasa Umesaki 7) Sebastian Soria’s fourth goal of were obvious advantages for the campaign had set Lekhwiya At Nonthaburi switching the German league. on their way to following up last Muangthong United (THA) 1 (Sarawut Masuk “From May to August is 53) Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) 4 (Muriqui week’s 3-1 win over Pakhtakor in when we do not play football in 40, 43, Zheng Zhi 56, Feng Xiaoting 86) Doha only for Gulom Urunov to Germany, although that is when also score for the second consecu- Group H we get the best weather,” he said. tive game to pull the home side At Kashiwa “Perhaps we should take a level in spectacular fashion mid- Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) 0 Suwon Bluewings break when the weather is bad. way through the first half. (KOR) 0 It could be an advantage.” Dame Traore’s own goal At Guiyang Rummenigge’s Bayern Munich just after half-time then gave Guizhou Renhe (CHN) 2 (Zlatan Muslimovic were crowned German champi- Pakhtakor hope of reclaiming Nilmar Da Silva (9) of Qatar’s Al Rayyan prepares to score a goal next to UAE’s Al Ain goalkeeper Mahmood 84, Qu Bo 86) Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 1 ons for the 23rd time on Saturday their place at the top of the table, Al-Tenaiji during their AFC Champions League match at the Al Rayyan Stadium in Doha, yesterday. Al Rayyan (Mitchell Duke 43-pen) after their 1-0 win at Eintracht but Tunisian midfielder Youssef won 2-1. At Dammam Frankfurt gave them the league Msakni struck midway through Al Ettifaq (KSA) 4 (Saleh Bashir Al Dosari 15, title with six weeks remaining. the second half to maintain 71, Yahya Al Shehri 42, Yousef Al Salem 80) AFP Lekhwiya’s one point lead over they have a lot of experience in international converted Issiar the match.” In Doha, Al Rayyan Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 1 (Edgar Bruno da the Uzbekistan champions at the the AFC Champions League. Dia’s inviting right wing cross remain in contention for a place Silva 51) top of the table. “If we win both matches, the from the edge of the six-yard in the knockout rounds of the Group D Singaporean “Both teams played well two teams that played today can area with barely 15 seconds on tournament while Al Ain missed At Doha tonight, I think draw was a fair qualify to the next round, but we the clock. out on the opportunity to put Al Rayyan (QAT) 2 (Nilmar Honorato da Silva denies fixing result,” said Lekhwiya coach Eric expect two interesting games.” But Pakhtakor were back on pressure on Iran’s Esteghlal, 58, Jarallah Ali 87) Al Ain (UAE) 1 (Yousef Gerets. Having scored twice in the clos- level terms midway through group leaders at the start of the Ahmad, 79) “We scored very fast and ing stages last week to secure the the first half as Lekhwiya could day’s play. charges then players tried to defend and win for Lekhwiya, Soria handed only partially clear a free-kick to Brazilian forward Nilmar gave At Tehran Pakhtakor equalised as a result the visitors the ideal start at the edge of the penalty area and Al Rayyan the lead just before the Esteghlal (IRI) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 (Nawwaf SINGAPORE: A Singaporean of this. Our opponent is good and Pakhtakor Stadium as the Qatar Urunov ran in before spectacu- hour mark while Yousef Ahmed Al-Aabed 35) businessman who allegedly larly dispatching the dropping levelled the scores. However, just Playing today induced three Lebanese referees ball into the bottom corner with seconds after Alex Brosque hit Group A to fix a football match by offer- a first- time volley. the crossbar for Al Ain, Al Marri At Abu Dhabi ing them free sex rejected cor- And Pakhtakor completed the scored from close range to seal Al Jazira (UAE) vs Eljaish (QAT) (1540 GMT) ruption charges yesterday and turnaround 10 minutes into the the win for his club. At Tabriz sought bail. second half as France-born nat- “We achieved an important win Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRI) vs Al Shabab (KSA) Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, has been uralised Qatari defender Traore which got us back into conten- (1545 GMT) held in Changi Prison since he bundled Jamshid Iskanderov’s tion as we have now four points in was charged with three counts of Group C near post cross into his own net. the group,” said Al Rayyan coach corruption on Saturday. But Lekhwiya responded seven Diego Aguirre. At Doha The three Lebanese, arrested minutes after the hour mark as “We knew how to get back into Al Gharafa (QAT) vs Al Nasr (UAE) (1530 GMT) earlier, are also being held in the Msakni headed home Nam Tae- the match, especially when Al Ain At Jeddah same jail on similar charges pend- hee cross from the edge of the scored the equaliser at an impor- Al Ahli (KSA) vs Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan ing their bail hearing. six-yard area with Pakhtakor tant time in the match. (IRI) (1745 GMT) The four are the first to be goalkeeper Alexander Lobanov “We had great difficulties in the Group E arrested since Singapore came given no chance. first half and we had to find solu- At Sendai under pressure in February to “We made serious mistake in tions in order to regain control Vegalta Sendai (JPN) vs FC Seoul (KOR) (1000 crack down on match-fixing. But the first minute of the match after of the game. We put in a better GMT) they have not been linked so far I told my players that they should performance in the second half At Buriram to syndicates in the city-state be ready from the beginning,” said and scored from the chances that Buriram United (THA) vs Jiangsu Sainty (CHN) allegedly rigging football games Pakhtakor coach Murod Ismailov. we had. We must concentrate on (1100 GMT) worldwide. “But it is good that we made a the next two matches.” Group G “We are going to trial, your hon- comeback and scored two goals. Al Ain had won the corre- our,” Ding’s lawyer Thong Chee At Pohang We had a very good chance in the sponding fixture between the Kun told district judge Kamala Pohang Steelers (KOR) vs Sanfrecce last few minutes, but the striker two clubs last week in the United Ponnampalam on Tuesday when Hiroshima (JPN) (1030 GMT) couldn`t take it. Arab Emirates and Cosmin asked for his client’s plea. “We played well and the play- Olariou’s side looked the most At Beijing Ding is accused of offering the Rodrigo Tabata (right) of Qatar’s Al Rayyan fights for the ball with Mirel ers tried to secure the winning likely to strike first in the open- Beijing Guoan (CHN) vs Bunyodkor (UZB) at sexual services of three women to Radoi of UAE’s Al Ain at Al Rayyan Stadium yesterday. goal until the last seconds of ing 45 minutes. AGENCIES 7:30 pm (1130 GMT) the referees in exchange for fix- ing an AFC Cup match between Singapore-based Tampines Rovers and India’s East Bengal last Wednesday. Derby win buoys Mancini for next season Investigators said referee Ali Sabbagh and his fellow Lebanese MANCHESTER, United City opened the scoring when for ourselves. “We put supporters assistants Ali Eid and Abdallah Kingdom: Roberto Mancini Milner’s shot deflected off Phil on the edge of their seats every Taleb accepted the favour but insists he knows Manchester Jones and in, but United boss Alex year. The only other plus point is were abruptly pulled out before City can win the title next sea- Ferguson was upset as Carlos that there are only seven games the match started. They are each son after the Blues beat rivals Tevez appeared to be offside, left now. facing one count of corruption. United 2-1 at Old Trafford. although he did not touch the ball. “Each game goes on and you AFP The victory, thanks to goals “The first goal, certainly Tevez whittle them down. We go to from James Milner and substi- is interfering with play,” said Stoke on Sunday and it will be tute Sergio Aguero either side Ferguson. “But the linesman on a big effort, the support will be EPL set to of a Vincent Kompany own goal, the other side? There is no way great. We’ll have a go. moves the defending champions he was giving that. “It’s a healthy lead but we’re adopt goal-line to within 12 points of runaway “It was disappointing as he was not taking anything for granted. leaders United with seven games clearly in the road of the goal- City now look forward to an technology: FA to go. keeper. If that is not interference FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea Mancini remains defiant the then I don’t know what is.” on Sunday at Wembley but may LONDON: English Football title race is over for this year but Robin van Persie’s free-kick have to do so without David Silva Association (FA) general sec- is confident his side can regain was not dealt with by Joe Hart as the Spaniard limped off in the retary Alex Horne believes the the crown next time around. for United’s leveller and Phil latter stages at Old Trafford with Premier League will approve He said: “This win is not impor- Jones’s wayward header came off a hamstring problem. the introduction of goal-line tant (for next season) but we Kompany’s back and found the Mancini is also expecting a dif- technology from next season at know that we can win the title net. ficult game against the Cup hold- a meeting this week. next year. But Aguero, who had replaced ers as he looks to finish off the Horne told the BBC he thought “This year we know we made Samir Nasri just seven minutes season with some silverware. the equipment was always an some mistakes. We can do noth- earlier, raced through the United “David has a hamstring prob- “ideal piece of technology to ing. The title is gone. Now we defence in the 78th minute to fire lem,” he said. “Maybe it is not so allow into the game” ahead of need to continue to play like this. into the roof of David De Gea’s bad, but I don’t think he will be the Premier League clubs meet- “This win was important for us net. ready for Chelsea. ing today. for the second position but this Despite the defeat, Ferguson “I think it will be a different “I’m expecting it to go through shows that we did not deserve to remained upbeat as he prepares game. It is a semi-final. Chelsea is at that meeting,” Horne said be 15 points behind. The title is his side for a visit to Premier in a good moment, they play well yesterday. finished. League strugglers Stoke on and it will be difficult. The FA want technology to be “It does not matter how many Sunday. “It will be a good game, prob- officially introduced at the pre- points behind. We are not close to “We won’t be relaxing,” he said. ably, but it will be different. Manchester City’s coach Roberto Mancini gestures during their English season Community Shield fixture them. They score more than us “If you look at the history of the Semi-finals are different from Premier League match against Manchester United in Manchester, northern after lobbying for its inclusion for and that is the difference.” club we always make it difficult championship games.” AFP England, on Monday. some time. REUTERS Wednesday 10 April 2013 29 Jumada I 1434 Volume 18 Number 5665 Sport Price: QR2

SRI LANKA’S WEEKLY LARGEST SELLING NEPALI WEEKLY NEWS UPDATES Kessel dazzles Beckham NEWSPAPER IN QATAR PUBLISHED EVERY in Maple Leafs’ predicts bright WEDNESDAY BY RAJDHANI INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY LANKADEEPA MIDDLE EAST WEEKLY LANKADEEPA WEEKLY DAR AL SHARQ victory future for PSG AVAILABLE AT ALL LEADING BOOK STORES / SUPERMARKETS IN QATAR PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY DAR AL SHARQ FOR ADVERTISEMENTS CONTACT: TEL: 4465 0600 EMAIL: [email protected] Sport | 23 Sport | 26 !"#$%&'()#*#+,'-*,)#

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 IPL: Kohli guides Royal Real, Dortmund in semis Challengers Mourinho’s side survives Gala fightback; Malaga go down fighting to easy win

ISTANBUL: Real Madrid BANGALORE: Skipper Virat withstood a second-half Kohli struck a blistering 93 onslaught from Galatasaray to not out and carried the Royal qualify for their third successive Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Champions League semi-final to a splendid seven-wicket win 5-3 on aggregate, despite losing over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 3-2 on the night. Indian Premier League (IPL) tie Already leading 3-0 from the here yesterday. first-leg last week, it took Los It was Sunrisers’ first defeat in Blancos just eight minutes to three matches in IPL-6. build on their advantage as Sami Kohli’s classy batting (47b, 11x4, Khedira crossed for Cristiano 4x6) saw RCB making light of Ronaldo to prod home from close Sunrisers’ 161/6. range. The Hyderabadis’ total was However, after Ronaldo had made possible courtesy a 44-ball missed a guilt edged opportunity 80-run partnership between to double his tally on the night, Thisara Perera (40, 24b, 1x4, 4x6) Galatasaray produced a remark- and Cameron White (52, 34b, able comeback as Emmanuel 3x4, 3x6). The hosts, thanks to Eboue thumped in an equaliser Kohli, replied with 162/3 in just from the edge of the box. 17.4 overs. Wesley Sneijder and Didier The evening certainly belonged Drogba then added two goals in a to Kohli, who blasted his way in minute to ensure a nervy final 18 style while also exposing the bare- minutes for Madrid. ness of the Sunrisers’ bowling Alvaro Arbeloa saw two quick- that simply fell away when the fire yellow cards a minute from RCB skipper went hell for leather time to ensure he will miss the to notch his highest score in the first-leg of the semi-final, before IPL. Ronaldo sealed Madrid’s path into Such was Kohli’s onslaught the last four with another sweet that the early departure of Chris strike in stoppage time. Gayle (13) was hardly felt as he Madrid had been warned about galloped from 51 to 93 in a mere the wall of noise they would face 15 deliveries as he added 66 runs in Istanbul but just like in the for the unfinished fourth wicket first leg, they started in perfect with Moises Henriques, who con- fashion. tributed just seven. Angel di Maria ought to have RCB thus avenged their Sunday done better when his shot towards night Super Over defeat while an open goal was deflected wide also recording their second win after Fernando Muslera had in three outings. scampered from his line to deny There was little hint of Kohli’s Gonzalo Higuain just three min- blitzkrieg that he uncorked in the utes in. very first over after the time-out However, the visitors continued ahead of the 15th over. He tore Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a goal against Galatasaray during their Champions League quarter-final second leg match in into leg-spinner Amit Misra and Istanbul, yesterday. RIGHT: Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski (right) in action against Malaga’s Jeremy Toulalan during the Champions League quarter then waded into Perera before Champions League final second leg match in Dortmund, Germany, yesterday. turning the heat on Ishant Sharma, the pick of Sunrisers Results to take the game to Galatasaray within 60 seconds of one another the far corner. Arbeloa was then Reus and Felipe Santana sent the bowlers, to finish off the match Champions League quarter-final in the early stages and reaped just before the hour mark. stupidly dismissed for two yel- Germans through in a stunning in great style. At one stage, the second-leg results yesterday: their reward just five minutes Firstly, Ronaldo uncharacteris- low cards in barely a minute as encounter. Sunrisers appeared to be in con- later. tically scuffed wide with the goal he first brought down Sneijder The Spaniards, who drew 0-0 trol when they got rid of openers At Dortmund, Germany Mesut Ozil was once more the at his mercy before Eboue sent a then saw a second booking for in the first leg, stunned the 66,000 Mayank Agarwal (29), Gayle and Borussia Dortmund (GER) 3 (Lewandowski 40, Reus 90+1, Santana 90+3) Malaga (ESP) 2 creator for the Spanish champi- rocket of a shot into the top cor- arguing with the referee. But crowd in Dortmund when Joaquin AB de Villiers (15), but then their (Joaquin 25, Eliseu 82) ons as he slipped Khedira through ner from Sneijder’s cut-back. Madrid’s fears were eased in stop- shook off his markers and drilled attack ran out of steam. Dortmund win 3-2 on aggregate on the right side of the area and Sneijder then missed a glori- page time when Karim Benzema in a low shot for the lead in the Sunrisers skipper Kumar his driven cross was turned in by ous chance to put the home side pulled the ball back for Ronaldo 25th minute. Sangakkara must have felt the At Istanbul, Turkey Ronaldo for his 10th goal in just 10 in front as he side-footed Fabio to drill home and cap an incred- Dortmund striker Robert absence of a fourth quality bowler Galatasaray (TUR) 3 (Eboue 57, Sneijder 70, Champions League appearances Coentrao’s misplaced clearance ible evening’s entertainment. Lewandowski drew the hosts and in fact, used seven in the first Drogba 72) Real Madrid (ESP) 2 (Ronaldo 7, this season. wide. In Dortmund, Borussia level in the 40th minute and they 10 overs, but barring Steyn and nt 90+2) The hosts created hardly any- The Dutch international made Dortmund struck twice in stop- squandered a string of chances in Sharma, none looked like making Real Madrid win 5-3 on aggregate thing of note going forward in no mistake with his next oppor- page time to beat Malaga 3-2 and the second half with Marco Reus an impact. IANS Playing today (first-leg scores in the first-half, but Sneijder did tunity though as he skipped past reach the Champions League and Mario Goetze. (See also page 23) brackets) test Diego Lopez’s handling with Raphael Varane and slotted con- semi-finals in dramatic fashion Eliseu appeared to seal At Barcelona, Spain a powerful drive from the edge fidently past Diego Lopez with 19 yesterday. Dortmund’s fate when he put Scoreboard Barcelona (ESP) vs Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) of the area after Madrid had minutes to go. Malaga appeared to be heading the Spaniards ahead in the 82nd (2-2) switched off from a short corner And a minute later the tie into last four in their debut sea- minute, but Reus and Santana SUNRISERS HYDERABAD At Turin, Italy Juventus (ITA) vs Bayern Munich seven minutes before half-time. was truly back in the balance son in the Champions League but scored late in the game to spark Akash Reddy c V Kumar b R P Singh...... 12 (GER) (0-2) However, the momentum of as Drogba brilliantly backheeled their dreams were dashed when wild celebrations among the home Parthiv Patel b Murali ...... 20 Semi-final draw - April 12 the game swung in two incidents Nourredine Amrabat’s cross into stoppage time goals from Marco fans. AGENCIES Kumar Sangakkara c Kohli b M Kartik ...... 23 Cameron White c de Villiers b V Kumar .....52 Thisara Perera b R P Singh ...... 40 Ashish Reddy b R P Singh ...... 3 Ancelotti plays down impact of Messi injury Hanuma Vihari (not out) ...... 4 Biplab Samantray (not out) ...... 2 Extras (W-4, NB-1) ...... 5 BARCELONA: Paris Saint- play our own game,” he said at are more games to consider.” absence would make. “Barcelona Total (for 6 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 161 Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti yesterday’s eve-of-game press However, Ancelotti insisted have a great squad but there is Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-50, 3-62, 4-142, (pictured) has claimed that his conference. that criticism from the French nobody that can substitute his 5-155, 6-155. side’s tactics for their Champions “We are going to have to use press over David Beckham’s per- level,” said the Brazilian. Bowling: Rudra Pratap Singh 4-0-27-3; Vi- League quarter-final, second leg, our qualities, be solid at the back, formance in the first leg would “I am not happy if anyone nay Kumar 4-0-43-1; Jaydev Unadkat 4-0- against Barcelona today will not have patience and attack well.” not influence his decision over is injured, but it is a fact that 29-0; Muttiah Muralitharan 4-0-23-1; Murali be affected by whether Lionel The French league leaders have whether to once again start the Messi is a player that cannot be Kartik 3-0-21-1; Moises Henriques 1-0-18-0. Messi is fit to start for the hosts. injury problems of their own with 37-year-old former Real Madrid replaced.” ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE The World Player of the Year Thiago Silva and Thiago Motta man at the Camp Nou. The Brazilian though did reaf- Mayank Agarwal c Sangakkara b Perera ...29 is a doubt for the game with a set to undergo late fitness tests, “Some criticised him and some firm his manager’s words on the Chris Gayle c Patel b Sharma ...... 13 hamstring injury that forced him whilst Blaise Matuidi, who scored were happy with him. It doesn’t discipline PSG will need if they V Kohli (not out) ...... 93 to miss the second-half of the first the Parisians’ second goal last matter because I was happy with are to cause a major surprise. AB de Villiers c Vihari b White ...... 15 leg, which finished 2-2 at the Parc week, is suspended. Beckham and thought he played “The first leg left us with Moises Henriques (not out) ...... 7 des Princes last Tuesday. “With respect to Thiago Silva a good game.” options coming to the Camp Extras (LB-1, W-4) ...... 5 And with PSG needing to score we need to wait and see the final The visitors will at least have Nou, although we know it will be Total (for 3 wkts in 17.4 overs) ...... 162 to have any chance of progressing, training session. If there are a number of players in familiar difficult. Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-47, 3-96. Ancelotti insisted the Argentine’s guarantees he is fit, he will play,” surroundings on Wednesday night “We need to have a lot of cour- Bowling: Hanuma Vihari 1-0-12-0; Dale inclusion was not a determinative added Ancelotti. as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Motta and age and personality. Barcelona Steyn 4-0-16-0; Ishant Sharma 3.4-0-30-1; factor in how we will prepare his “The decision on whether Maxwell all return to face their will control almost the entire Thisara Perera 3-0-35-1; Amit Mishra 4-0- game-plan. Motta will play will be taken former club, and the latter was game in terms of possession. We 42-0; Ashish Reddy 1-0-12-0; Cameron “It will not affect our play at the last minute. The season more open about his feelings on need to be patient and be aggres- White 1-0-14-1. if Messi plays or not. We will doesn’t finish tomorrow and there how much difference Messi’s sive to attack with force.” AFP