ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Monday 5 August 2013 27 Ramadan 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5782 Price: QR2 Qatari bourse Bad weather continues frustrates upswing trend Australia Business | 18 Sport | 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 45 die in Pakistan floods Weathermen Police seize forecast light 300 cars for rains today DOHA: Weather forecast- ers said yesterday there are chances of light rains in some places in the country today amidst high humidity stunt-driving levels. Humidity was high yes- terday and is expected to Traffic Department leads crackdown remain so today as well, ranging between 35 and 80 percent. There is likely to be DOHA: Law-enforcement sudden stop and the cheering and no reprieve tomorrow also, officials seized over 300 cars jeering ceased, and neither the as humidity levels have been and fined a number of young shocked spectators nor the par- forecast at between 40 and 85 motorists for taking part in ticipants had any escape routes percent. highly dangerous and illegal as the entire area was literally Southeasterly winds forms of motor sports in the sealed off. are causing high humidity, New Industrial Area early last The spectators had come over Residents wait to cross a flooded road on the outskirts of Karachi yesterday. At least 45 people have died in according to a forecaster. But Saturday morning. from different areas and they had flash floods after torrential rains in the past three days. Full report on page 13 the southeasterly wind also Large crowds of mostly Qatari parked their cars haphazardly brought down the tempera- youths lined up a busy street in and in violation of traffic rules. tures yesterday. the Industrial Area cheering, boo- The whole stretch of the arte- Maximum temperatures ing and clapping those participat- rial street in the New Industrial forecast for today are 39 ing in what were competitive yet Area was being used as a venue degrees Celsius (Messaid and fatal shows of daredevil street for the dangerous motor sports, Egypt mediation gathers pace; Al Wakra), 38 degrees Celsius racing and stunt driving. creating traffic snarls. (in Doha and Al Khor) and 37 It was Saturday morning and A number of trucks and cars degrees Celsius in Al Ruwais the dangerous events had begun were waiting in large queues for in the north. Minimum tem- a little after Friday midnight, hours to cross the stretch, accord- Brotherhood leaders face trial peratures would vary between continuing well after dawn. This ing to Al Sharq. 30 and 32 degrees Celsius. wasn’t a one-off event. It had been Some 300 cars and motorcycles, CAIRO: Egypt’s army-installed reconciliation and avert further met separately with members of There would be scattered going on for days in this fasting of stunt drivers and spectators, government said yesterday it bloodshed. the new government and allies of clouds today with chances of month of Ramadan. were seized by the law-enforce- would give a chance for media- But an imminent battle between Mursi. The crisis has led Egypt light rains in some places, said But as the stunt performers ment agencies and many of the tion to resolve the crisis brought security forces and thousands of to its most dangerous days since the forecast. from rival teams of young driv- owners were fined on the spot. on by the overthrow of Islamist Mursi supporters standing their a popular uprising in February THE PENINSULA ers were busy performing, with Al Sharq said that such danger- President Mohammed Mursi, but ground in two protest camps in 2011 ended US-backed strongman crowds madly applauding them, ous motor sporting events were warned that time was limited. Cairo appeared less likely while Mubarak’s 30-year rule and raised they were caught unawares, with held illegally in the Old Industrial At the same time, a Cairo court the mediators talked. hopes of a new era of democracy. fleets of public security vans cor- Area in Ramadan, but this year announced that the leader of The National Defence Council, Mursi became Egypt’s first doning off the entire area in a they shifted venue to the New Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood and made up of civilians and soldiers, freely-elected leader in June 2012. RAMADAN TIMING sudden swoop. Industrial Area. Another worry- his deputy will face trial in three said in a statement it backed medi- But fears that he was tightening The Traffic Department led ing development this Ramadan weeks’ time for crimes includ- ation “that protects the rights of an Islamist grip on the country Today’s Iftar the crackdown that took the par- was that “rival teams gathered” ing incitement to murder during citizens regardless of their affilia- and his failure to ease the eco- 6:19pm ticipants and the excited specta- and they challenged one another protests in the days before he was tions and that spares blood, as long nomic hardships led to huge street tors by surprise. It was aided by in fatal competitions of car and toppled. That could complicate as that happens in a defined and demonstrations, culminating in Tomorrow’s Imsak personnel from internal security motorcycle racing and stunts. efforts by international envoys and limited time.” the army ousting him on July 3. 03:30am forces, Lekhwiya and Al Faza. THE PENINSULA Egyptian factions to launch a polit- The statement was issued one REUTERS The dangerous shows came to a Continued on page 3 ical process, encourage national day after US and European envoys See also page 5 Rowhani sworn in HSBC closing accounts of envoys in Britain Saudi Arabia closes LONDON: Global bank- ing giant HSBC is closing the airspace to Bashir accounts of foreign diplomats in Britain and giving them 60 days to move their money, a report KHARTOUM: Saudi Arabia the ISNA news agency as calling said yesterday. Over 40 embas- denied permission for a plane the Saudi move “very unfortu- sies and consulates are said carrying Sudanese President nate”, and adding that Tehran was to have been affected with the Omar Hassan Al Bashir to cross investigating. decision being described as cre- its airspace yesterday for the Khartoum’s links with Iran ating “havoc” in the diplomatic swearing-in of Iran’s new presi- came under scrutiny after corps. The situation has been dent, Khartoum said. Bashir’s regime accused Israel of worsened by other banks refus- The aircraft had to turn back. an October 23 strike against the ing to take their business. “The Saudi authorities refused Yarmouk military factory in the Full report on page 17 to give the plane carrying President capital, which led to speculation Bashir permission to cross their that Iranian weapons were stored airspace,” Emad Sayed Ahmed, the or manufactured there. Yemeni Nobel laureate presidential press secretary said. Israel refused all comment Saudi has repeatedly voiced fears on Sudan’s accusation about the denied Egypt entry about the controversial nuclear factory blast. But a top Israeli programme of Iran, whose war- defence official, Amos Gilad, said CAIRO: Egyptian authorities ships twice docked in Sudan late Sudan “serves as a route for the barred Yemeni Nobel Peace last year. Khartoum has tried to transfer, via Egyptian territory, laureate Tawakul Karman — balance ties with both Tehran and of Iranian weapons to Hamas and Iranian President Hassan Rowhani (left) addresses the parliament after being sworn-in for a four-year presi- a supporter of deposed presi- Riyadh. Islamic Jihad terrorists”. dential term, in Tehran, yesterday. Iran's new president, was sworn in a ceremony that foreigners attended for dent Mohammed Mursi — from Ahmed said Bashir was not flying Later in October two Iranian the first time since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. See also page 7 entering the country yesterday in his normal presidential aircraft navy vessels called at Port and put her on a flight back to but was using a plane rented from Sudan, followed by two more in Dubai, security sources said. a Saudi company. Sudan’s leader December, in what Khartoum State news agency MENA said was travelling to attend President described as a “normal” port stop. Karman was on a list of people Hassan Rowhani’s swearing-in. At the same time, Sudan courts US extends Mideast mission closure who were not allowed to enter Ahmed said that when Bashir’s Saudi investment and many Egypt. REUTERS plane entered Saudi airspace the Sudanese work in the kingdom, WASHINGTON: The US indication of our commitment Qaeda operatives signalling a pilot informed authorities that it having abandoned their impover- yesterday said that 19 of its to exercise caution and take major attack. had approval “and that it was car- ished homeland and its economic embassies and consulates in the appropriate steps to protect our In Washington, briefed mem- Rudd sets Australian rying Sudan’s leader. crisis for better opportunities Mideast and Africa would be employees including local employ- bers of Congress called the intel- “But they said the plane didn’t abroad. closed through August 10 over ees and visitors to our facilities,” ligence reporting among the most elections for Sept 7 have permission,” forcing it to Bashir himself underwent terror fears. said State Department spokes- serious they’ve seen in recent SYDNEY: Australian Prime return to Khartoum, he said. minor surgery in Saudi Arabia The list includes 15 that were woman Jen Psaki in a statement. years. Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday The official SUNA news agency last November. A regional analyst closed yesterday, as well as four At least 25 US embassies and Representative Dutch named September 7 as election had sent a brief SMS alert at 0706 predicted that barring Bashir’s additional posts.