SUBSCRIPTION MONDAY, MAY 18, 2015 RAJJAB 29, 1436 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Jamal Abdul Burundi prez Djokovic Messi hands Nasser Street makes first beats Federer, Barcelona development appearance Sharapova 23rd Spanish 58% complete4 since10 coup bid downs18 Suarez league19 title Ashour calls on Omair to Min 25º Max 41º defend decisions or quit High Tide 11:25 Low Tide Dashti says he will not withdraw controversial grilling 05:25 & 18:30 40 PAGES NO: 16524 150 FILS By B Izzak IS takes Ramadi as Iraqi forces flee KUWAIT: MP Saleh Ashour said yesterday that changing top executives in the oil sector is the right of the oil BEIRUT: The Islamic State group sealed its capture of minister, urging him to defend his decisions or resign. Ramadi after a dramatic pullout by Iraqi forces but was Ashour’s call came amid sharp divisions in the National prevented by Syrian troops from taking over the her- Assembly about a reported plan by Oil Minister Ali Al- itage site of Palmyra. Hundreds of fighters and civilians Omair to make extensive changes to the board of direc- were killed in both battles, which also added thousands tors of Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) and a number of its more families to the millions already displaced by con- subsidiaries. Several MPs strongly criticized the minister, flict on either side of the border. The effective loss of the alleging his moves seek to boost his electoral position capital of Iraq’s largest province marked one of and wrest control over the sensitive sector, which con- Baghdad’s worst setbacks since it began a nationwide tributes more than 90 percent of Kuwait’s revenues. A number of other MPs however expressed total support offensive last year to reclaim territory lost to the jihadists for Omair, whom they described as a reformist who in June 2014. wanted to stimulate the oil sector. “Anbar operations command has been cleared,” Ashour said Omair wants to make the changes in Muhannad Haimour, spokesman and adviser to the order to create an executive body that can help him. provincial governor, told AFP. Several security officials The lawmaker said he is surprised at the campaign confirmed the retreat. IS fighters, who already controlled against the minister, claiming that it is clear it comes most of the Anbar provincial capital, used a wave of sui- from people with vested interests who want to have an cide car bombings to take most of the city and raised influence in the KPC board. Ashour said that if the min- their black flag over the provincial headquarters. “Daesh ister fails to get the needed backing from the Cabinet has just taken full control of all main security bases,” an for the changes, he should step down. army lieutenant colonel, who was among the troops The lawmaker also criticized the lack of reactions that withdrew from the operations command centre, from almost all sides at the shutdown of the Khafji and told AFP, using an Arabic acronym for IS. Wafra oilfields in the neutral zone with Saudi Arabia, Fighting took place in several neighborhoods of saying he expected a statement from the Cabinet to Ramadi but reinforcements were too little too late as IS explain the reasons for the stoppage. The halt in pro- fighters used their momentum to complete their con- duction at the two fields has deprived Kuwait of around quest of the city. 250,000 barrels of oil daily. Ashour said “we did not hear Continued on Page 13 RAMADI: Iraq security forces withdraw from the capital of Iraq’s Anbar province yesterday. — AP any reaction to the oilfields issue from those who Continued on Page 13 Yemen dialogue begins in Riyadh without Houthis UN envoy urges extension of truce RIYADH: Hundreds of Yemeni politicians and tribal lead- the capital, Sanaa, in September and ultimately force ers began talks yesterday in Saudi Arabia on the future President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi into exile. of their war-torn country as a five-day humanitarian The rebels and the Saudi-led coalition targeting them ceasefire was set to expire, though Shiite rebels there with airstrikes have blamed each other for the ceasefire were not taking part. The ceasefire, scheduled to end at violations. The UN envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh 11 pm (2000 GMT), hasn’t halted fighting in Yemen Ahmed, opened the meeting in Riyadh by calling on all between the rebels, known as Houthis, and those parties to ensure that the shaky ceasefire leads to a last- opposing them. ing truce. “I call on all parties to refrain from any action The Houthis have rejected the main aim of the three- that disturbs the peace of airports, main areas and the day talks - the restoration of Yemen’s exiled president - infrastructure of transport,” said Ahmed, who delivered and the location of the negotiations in Saudi Arabia. The the speech on behalf of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- absence of the Houthis means the national dialogue is moon. unlikely to end the violence, which saw the rebels seize Continued on Page 13 RIYADH: (From left) Assistant of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Ahmed bin Heli, Yemen’s Vice President and Prime Minister Khaled Bahah, Yemen’s President Abed Rabbo Mansur Hadi and GCC Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayani attend the opening of the “Riyadh Conference for Saving Yemen and Building a Federal State” in the Saudi capital yesterday. — AFP ‘War’ on Brotherhood seen Qaradawi rejects verdict • Egypt hangs six CAIRO: The United States expressed May 2014 backed by Egyptians tired alarm yesterday at death sentences of political turmoil in the world’s for Egypt’s ousted president most populous Arab nation following Mohamed Morsi and dozens of oth- the 2011 revolt against longtime ers, a verdict experts called a declara- autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Washington tion of “total war” on his Muslim expressed concern over Saturday’s Brotherhood. Morsi was among more verdict, saying it has “consistently than 100 defendants given the death spoken out against the practice of penalty Saturday for their role in a mass trials and sentences”. “We con- mass jailbreak during the 2011 upris- tinue to stress the need for due ing. He ruled for only a year before process and individualized judicial mass protests spurred then army processes for all Egyptians in the chief and now President Abdel Fattah interests of justice,” a State Al-Sisi to overthrow him in July 2013. Department official said. Sisi won a presidential election in Continued on Page 13 Yussef Al-Qaradawi LOCAL MONDAY, MAY 18, 2015 KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets HH the Prime Minister Sheikh His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets Kuwait Oil Tanker Company’s Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. — Amiri Diwan and KUNA photos CEO Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah. Amir, Crown Prince receive state officials KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received HH the Crown Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Al-Sabah. HH Sheikh Nawaf then received Minister of Seif Palace yesterday. HH the Amir also received Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanem, Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Hamad Al-Sabah and the First Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled HH the Crown Prince later received Minister of Oil Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Ali Meanwhile, HH the Crown Prince received Ghanem, Saleh Al-Omair, as well as Chief Executive Officer of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets Minister of Oil and Minister of HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) Sheikh Talal Al- State for National Assembly Affairs Ali Saleh Al-Omair. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Sabah. — KUNA News Speaker returns in brief after Asian tour Sultan of Brunei visits Kuwait KUWAIT: National Assembly Speaker Korea to Kuwait. Marzouq Al-Ghanem and a delegation Ghanem held a series of meetings with KUWAIT: The Sultan of Brunei accompanying him returned home Saturday officials and MPs in Pakistan and South Korea Haji Hassanal Bolkiah is due to evening following an Asian tour that took over means of further boosting bilateral rela- arrive in Kuwait today on a two- them to Pakistan and South Korea. Ghanem tions, as well as regional and international day official visit during which he was received at the airport by Parliament issues of mutual interest. Ghanem was is scheduled to hold talks with Secretary MP Adel Al-Jarallah Al-Kharafi, accompanied by MPs Kamel Al-Awadhi, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Minister of Oil and Minister of State for Mubarak Al-Harees, Dr Ouda Al-Ruwaiee, MEXICO CITY: Governor of Mexico State Eruviel Avila in the Mexican City of Sabah. The Sultan will be accom- National Assembly Affairs Dr. Ali Al-Omair, Rakan Al-Nisf, Humoud Al-Hamdan, Faisal Al- Toluca is pictured with Kuwaiti MPs and Kuwait’s Ambassador to Mexico panied by a delegation of offi- and Ambassadors of Pakistan and South Shaye and Ahmad Al-Qudhaibi. — KUNA Samih Hayat. — KUNA cials. Kuwaiti lawmakers, Delegation leaves Mexican officials for symposium KUWAIT: Head of a mull bilateral ties Parliamentarian Friendship Committee at Kuwait National Assembly Saud Al-Hreiji left MEXICO CITY: Head of the Kuwaiti parlia- Mexico governor held a banquet in honor yesterday to Baku, Azerbaijan, mentary friendship committee MP Yousef of the Kuwaiti lawmakers, in the presence to take part in the Third inter- Al-Zalzalah met Governor of Mexico State of senior Mexican officials.