SUBSCRIPTION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016 RABI AL-AWWAL 15, 1438 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Opposition MPs urge Gulf to Min 06º act over Aleppo ‘genocide’ Max 20º High Tide 12:46 & 23:25 MP: Visitors should have health insurance • Court to study poll petitions Low Tide 06:14 & 18:05 40 PAGES NO: 17080 150 FILS By B Izzak Civilians ‘killed on spot’ in Aleppo KUWAIT: Opposition MPs yesterday called on the govern- ments of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to BEIRUT: Syrian pro-government forces have reportedly expel Russian ambassadors from their countries in protest executed dozens of civilians in Aleppo including over what they called Moscow’s role in “genocide” against women and children, the UN said as the crucial battle civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo. Speaking at a small for the city neared its end. UN rights office spokesman rally held inside the National Assembly building, MP Rupert Colville said forces loyal to President Bashar Al- Jamaan Al-Harbash charged that Russian-backed Iranian Assad had in some cases entered homes and killed and Syrian troops are committing “genocide against civil- those inside, and in others “caught and killed on the ians in Aleppo amid total international negligence”. spot” fleeing civilians. Fears have been growing for He urged the six GCC states to expel Russian ambassa- thousands of trapped civilians as rebels make a des- dors to protest Russia’s military involvement in the brutal perate last stand in their remaining pocket of territory attack on the city, and also called for opening mosques for in the former opposition stronghold of east Aleppo. fundraising campaigns for Aleppo residents. Aleppo has After weeks of heavy fighting, regime forces were been under heavy bombardment by Russian and Syrian poised to take full control of Aleppo, dealing the jets, as Iranian-backed militias and Syrian President Bashar biggest blow to Syria’s rebellion in more than five Al-Assad troops have been advancing on the populated years of civil war. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, eastern districts of the city held by the Syrian rebels. Colville said the UN had received credible reports that Abdullah Fahhad, another Islamist MP, demanded the at least 82 civilians, including 11 women and 13 chil- expulsion of the envoys of both Russia and Iran. MP Waleed dren, had been killed in recent days. Colville said the Al-Tabtabaei said that a protest will be staged today outside UN was “filled with the deepest foreboding for those the Russian embassy at 3:30 pm to condemn the massacres who remain in this last hellish corner of opposition- against the Syrian people. Several other MPs who spoke at held eastern Aleppo.” Residents in remaining rebel- the rally strongly condemned the massacred being com- held territory told AFP they had no hope left. mitted against Syrian civilians and called on the govern- “Our fate is sealed. Why would we hide, it won’t do ment to rush aid to the residents of the city. us any good. We will either die or be captured,” said MP Abdulkarim Al-Kandari said several MPs have Ibrahim Abu Al-Leith, a spokesman for the White signed a petition calling to hold an emergency session Helmets rescue service. Other witnesses described of the Assembly next Tuesday to discuss the situation scenes of carnage in rebel areas, with bodies lying and atrocities in Syria. The Islamist-dominated opposi- ALEPPO: Syrian pro-regime fighters gesture in the Fardos neighborhood as they drive past residents fleeing tion won nearly half of the 50 seats in a snap general amid the rubble of city streets, as desperate residents violence in the restive Bustan Al-Qasr neighborhood yesterday, after regime troops retook the area from Continued on Page 13 election last month. rebel fighters. — AFP Continued on Page 13 News India arrests 20 for PAGE Harden’s 36 sees PAGE in brief anthem disrespect Rockets past Nets Amir thanks state officials, citizens KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Trump taps Exxon chief as top diplomat Al-Sabah yesterday highly appreciated senior state offi- cials, citizens and residents for their warm sentiments and sincere prayers for recovery after he caught a cold. WASHINGTON: US President-elect Donald ing for closer ties with Moscow, in con- Trump yesterday tapped ExxonMobil trast to the belief in Washington that chief Rex Tillerson as his nominee to be Russia remains a global security threat. Last hope for anti-Trump secretary of state, despite concerns on The nomination comes just days after the US approves $1.7bn both sides of the political aisle about the CIA accused Russia of interfering to help camp is Electoral College oilman’s deep ties to Russia. The nomina- Trump win the US election - a develop- tank sale to Kuwait WASHINGTON: Americans aghast over the lege option is a godsend. WASHINGTON: The US State Department has giv- tion was the one most awaited by ment which could complicate Tillerson’s observers at home and abroad as the 70- confirmation hearings before the Senate. idea of Donald Trump as president are turn- But it is a fool’s errand, to be sure. It en its approval for a possible $1.7 billion military ing to the Electoral College - the somewhat would take 37 Republican electors jump- sale to Kuwait for the recapitalization of 218 M1A2 year-old Republican billionaire builds his Trump promised that the executive, cabinet before taking office on Jan 20 - whose nomination was immediately wel- puzzling, much criticized institution that ing ship and not voting for Trump. If that tanks and related equipment, services and train- will make it official - as a last-ditch recourse were to happen, in theory at least the ing, a Pentagon agency said yesterday. The and reveals how his administration might comed by Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin, has alter foreign policy. relationships with world leaders that are to halt the inevitable. Its 538 members - the choice of the next president would go to Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the government says it is not even a body, real- the House of Representatives. But before it contractors involved included General Dynamics The president-elect has stoked alarm - “second to none.” even among fellow Republicans - by call- Continued on Page 13 ly, but rather a process - will vote Dec 19 to got there, judicial chaos would almost cer- Corp, Raytheon Co, Meggitt PLC, Northrop formally confirm Trump’s stunning win over tainly break out. Listen to filmmaker Grumman Corp, Lockheed Martin Corp and Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November Michael Moore, one of the anti-Trump peo- Honeywell International Inc, among others. 8 election. ple dreaming of salvation: “54 percent of Clinton won the popular vote by two the voters didn’t want Donald Trump. Only percentage points, but Trump took the 46 percent did.” Kuwait to cut crude only thing that mattered: A majority of Indeed, that was Trump’s popular vote production from Jan 1 the electoral college, and a healthy one at tally - actually 46.2 percent - compared to DOHA: Oil companies in Qatar and Kuwait yesterday that: 306 to 232. There are Americans out 48.2 percent for former secretary of state announced that they will reduce production levels from there who want the college to declare Clinton. The election year has been utterly the beginning of the year. National oil conglomerate Clinton the winner, anyway, because she crazy, Moore added. “So is it possible - just Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) said yesterday it has triumphed in the popular vote. In 21 possible - that in these next six weeks, informed its clients that their export quantities will be states, electors can vote their conscience, something else might happen, something reduced, starting in January. It did not provide any regardless of who won the popular vote crazy, something we’re not expecting?” he details of the quantities to be reduced, but local media in their state and - thus in theory at least - added, speaking last week on “Late Night said Kuwait’s share is around 130,000 barrels a day out of all that state’s electoral votes. with Seth Meyers”. its daily output of 3.0 million bpd. But it is extremely rare for an elector to Jim Himes, a Democratic congressman, go rogue. It has happened just nine times is on board. He told CNN the Electoral since World War II, says FairVote, a non-par- College now has an inherent responsibility Qatar flew home 10,000 tisan group working for electoral reform. to step up and avert disaster. Himes said of labor abuse victims in ‘15 For people opposed to Trump - the shoot- the college: “If it exists, why would it exist DOHA: Qatar flew home 10,000 workers who were from-the-hip property tycoon with no but for any other purpose than what it victims of labor abuse during 2015, official govern- experience in government, the man who could do in one week, which is to say - and ment figures have revealed. The number was insulted women, minorities and Muslims something that I think the majority of during the campaign and has the world Americans I think probably believe today - released by the Gulf state’s Ministry of NEW YORK: Singer Kanye West and US President-elect Donald Trump speak with watching closely as he hints at upending which is that we’re about to make a presi- the press after their meeting at Trump Tower yesterday. (Inset) File photo shows Administrative Development, Labor and Social decades of US foreign policy with blasts of dent who is dangerous.” ExxonMobil President and CEO Rex Tillerson, who has been tapped by Trump as Affairs.