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Tuesday 5 March 2013 23 Rabial II 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5629 Price: QR2

Qatari bourse India in firm index down control of 0.17 percent second Test

Business | 18 Sport | 28

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Heir Apparent, PM welcome Saudi Crown Prince Syrian rebels High hopes on overrun city

DAMASCUS: Syrian rebels overran the northern city of Raqa yesterday, scoring their Doha summit: biggest victory since the out- break of a revolt against President Bashar Al Assad almost two years ago. League chief In central Syria, insurgents battled a major army offensive to capture rebel-held areas of the city of Homs, a watchdog ‘Arab Spring changed the scenario’ reported, as the US said it would work to “empower” the opposition. DOHA: The forthcoming Arab summit. What is more important Reflecting the regional spillo- summit to be held in Doha is following up with the summit’s ver from the conflict, dozens of later this month will not be a result over the course of the year, Syrian soldiers and seven Iraqis normal summit since the Arab he added. were killed in western Iraq as world has pinned great expec- He also discussed the title of gunmen ambushed a convoy that tations on it, the Arab League the summit, whether it will be had crossed the border to escape Secretary General Dr Nabil Al challenges in the Arab World, weekend fighting, a group of Iraqi Arabi said here yesterday. reform and development or both army officers said. After days of “After the Arab Spring, Arab combined. fierce fighting, the rebels were countries are studying the issues He noted that the upcoming now in “near-total control” of more seriously and they are now summit in Doha is a crucial one, Raqa, the Britain-based Syrian determined to focus on main adding that he had very high Observatory for Human Rights issues,” Al Arabi told the Qatar expectations about it. said. In Raqa, residents destroyed News Agency (QNA) yesterday, Commenting on the situation a statue of Assad’s father and hinting that the discussions at the in Syria, he said since two years The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister predecessor Hafez Al Assad, forthcoming summit will be more the Arab League had a clear stand H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani welcoming Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Deputy Prime according to amateur video foot- AFP focused. on the crisis. Minister and Minister of Defence Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Doha International Airport yes- age distributed by activists. He said that reform and devel- “We are in favour of a political See also page 9 terday. The three leaders attended the Joint Qatari-Saudi Coordination Council meeting at the Emiri Diwan opment would top the discussions solution and we don’t have new last evening. Another picture on page 3 at the summit. During his visit ideas and we never talk about a to Qatar, he discussed with the military operation in Syria,” said Qatari officials the topics on the Al Arabia. agenda of the Arab Summit. “The Arab League is striving He held discussions with the for a political solution. We came UK mission trying to improve visa services: Envoy Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin out with many initiatives but the Khalifa Al Thani and Prime Syrian regime rejected all them,” Minister and Foreign Minister he added. DOHA: The British Embassy is decision,” the ambassador said in interviews that the visa appli- — and are proud to offer an excel- H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem He said there was still a ray of constantly looking to improve a statement issued yesterday. cants have to go through. lent service,” said the ambassador. bin Jabor Al Thani yesterday. hope about the Syrian national its visa services and the rules He was reacting to a report The ambassador said that for- “We promise to give 90 percent of “The topics will be brief alliance and the government sit- concerning entry visas to the in The Peninsula yesterday about eigners applying for an entry applicants a decision within three and precise and will focus on ting together for negotiations. UK are applied equally to all Qatari nationals complaining visa to the UK normally were weeks, and in the past two years the challenges in general and He said Israeli-Palestinian nationalities, the British ambas- about delays and complicated pro- issued the visa in five days while have never broken that promise: the reform and development. peace negotiations have been sador to Qatar, Michael O’Neill, cedures in obtaining entry visas a “priority visa” was available in the average applicant gets his visa Besides these, two major issues stalled because talking with Israel said yesterday. to the UK. two days. “We are delighted so in under five working days. We are — Palestine and Syria — will be had become a “futile effort” “We treat everyone fairly: the The report quoted several many Qataris are travelling to constantly looking to improve the discussed, due to their utmost “People should go straight to immigration rules governing entry citizens calling for simplifying the UK for tourism, business and visa process, for example with a importance to the Arab world,” the main issues- settlement and into the UK are applied equally the visa procedures for Qataris, other purposes. We issued almost priority visa service and online said Al Arabi. prisoners- and call up on the to all nationalities. Interviews are along the same lines entry visas 33,000 visas last year — almost applications, appointments and He said during the discussions Israelis to leave the land they an opportunity to make sure we to Qatar are issued to British double the number in 2010, with payments,” he added. he felt that Qatari leadership occupied,” said Al Arabi. have all the relevant facts from citizens. They were particularly a further increase of almost 30 per THE PENINSULA was keen on holding a successful THE PENINSULA an applicant before we make a critical of the elaborate personal cent in the first quarter of this year Continued on page 5

Qatar Airways, Kerry says finite time Per capita water FC Barcelona consumption in jersey deal for Iran nuclear talks highest in Qatar BARCELONA: Qatar Airways RIYADH: US Secretary of Riyadh on his first overseas trip will enter into a strategic part- State John Kerry said yesterday as the top US diplomat, said of DOHA: The per capita water nership with football giants FC there was “finite” time for talks the talks between a group of six consumption in Qatar is the Barcelona that sees the airline’s between Iran and world pow- world powers and Tehran, Saudi highest in the world, with the brand name appear on team ers on its disputed nuclear pro- Arabia’s main regional adversary. total use recorded at 216 cubic shirts from the beginning of the gramme to bear fruit, but gave Kerry was speaking at a news metres last year. 2013-14 season. The three-year no hint how long Washington conference with Prince Saud Qatar General Electricity and agreement with the former win- may be willing to negotiate. Al-Faisal, who suggested Iran was Water Corporation (Kahramaa) ners of the Champions League Israel, Iran’s arch-enemy and not showing enough seriousness officials gave the figure on the will be effective from July 1, 2013. convinced Tehran is secretly try- about the discussions, which he Arab Water Day observed by the Qatar Airways will become the ing to develop nuclear weapons, said “cannot go on forever”. Arab Water Ministerial Council club’s Global Main Partner, sign- has grown impatient with the pro- Iran was positive last week yesterday. aling the first time the airline has tracted talks and has threatened after talks with the powers in “I call on all nationals and engaged in a sponsorship with a pre-emptive war against Tehran Kazakhstan about its nuclear expatriates to think about sus- major soccer club, the company if it deems diplomacy ultimately work ended with an agreement tainability and save water for said in a statement. futile. Kerry’s sentiment was to meet again. But Western offi- the coming generations,” Essa Qatar Airways Chief Executive largely echoed by Saudi Foreign cials said it had yet to do anything bin Hilal Al Kuwari, Kahramaa Officer Akbar Al Baker said it will Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal, concrete to allay their concerns President, said. be a unique partnership between who said that the negotiations about its nuclear aspirations. He said that the scarcity of the World’s Best Club and the Best cannot be endless like the debates “We can’t be like the philoso- fresh water resources in the Airline in the World, describing of philosophers over how many phers who keep talking about how region was in itself a major the alignment with Barca as a “fit- angels can fit on the head of a pin. many angels a pinhead can hold,” challenge. ting match for both organisations, US Secretary of State John Kerry surrounded by children of US Embassy “There is a finite amount of Prince Saud Al-Faisal said. THE PENINSULA which will elevate the brands to a employees at the embassy in Riyadh, yesterday. time,” Kerry, in the Saudi capital REUTERS Full report on page 5 new platform on the global stage and sharing the same values — passionate about being the best at what we do in our respective fields.” The Peninsula had reported on March 1 that the agreement US baby’s cure from HIV raises hopes and questions was to be unveiled yesterday. The contract with the Foundation was for €30m to be paid in five CHICAGO: The remarkable research and much more sensi- which continued for 18 months. and Opportunistic Infections in — essentially cure the baby,” said seasons, until June 2016. In addi- case of a baby being cured of tive diagnostics before this hope She is now considered cured of Atlanta on Sunday. Dr Steven Deeks, an HIV/AIDS tion, the club was to pocket €15m HIV infection in the United becomes a reality. her infection, a team of research- “From a clinical perspective, researcher at the University through commercial rights, with States using readily available In a medical first for an infant, ers led by Dr Deborah Persaud, this means that if you can get of California at San Francisco the total amount reaching €170m drugs has raised new hope for the Mississippi toddler was born a virologist at Johns Hopkins an infected baby on to antiret- who is attending the conference, (QR809m), the report said. eradicating the infection in in July 2010 infected with HIV, University in Baltimore, said roviral drugs immediately after where the case was presented to THE PENINSULA/QNA infants worldwide, but scien- treated within 30 hours of deliv- in a news conference at the delivery, it’s going to be possible researchers yesterday. See also page 5 tists say it will take a lot more ery with aggressive HIV therapy, Conference on Retroviruses to prevent or reverse the infection REUTERS TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Emir receives Somali President Arab League Jersey signed Permanent Committee for by Pele to be ICT convenes DOHA: The 32nd meeting of the Arab League’s Permanent Arab Committee for Information and Communication Technology auctioned off is being hosted in Qatar through the Supreme Council of Information Communication Gandhi’s letter up for grabs at SDC event Technology (ictQatar) today and tomorrow. DOHA: A jersey signed by part of the Gala Dinner and The outcome of the talks will Brazilian football legend Pele therefore, we are very excited be referred to the 33rd meeting and a letter written by Mahatma about this year’s items. of the Executive Office of the Gandhi, the founding father of “We went for unique collector’s Arab Ministers of Information India, in 1931 are among the items that signified the Qatar and and Communication Technology, collector’s items to be auctioned Brazil synergy, yet were contem- which will be held in Doha on during Social Development porary and diverse. Thursday. Center’s (SDC) Eighth Gala “I would specially like to thank The meetings of the Permanent Dinner tomorrow at the Qatar Mr Salim bin Said Al Mohannadi, Committee will address key areas National Convention Centre Vice-Chairman of the Board of related to ICT, including the out- (QNCC). Directors of Sea Shore Group, for come of meetings of task forces Held under the patronage of his support towards the auction affiliated to the Arab Committee, the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad items,” said Manar Al Dossari, activities of the Regional Arab bin Khalifa Al Thani and Communication Manager, SDC. Office of the International H H Sheikha Moza bint “We are looking forward to a The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani received Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud at the Telecommunication Union, activ- Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar hugely successful event that will Emiri Diwan yesterday. They discussed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them. They also reviewed ities of the Arab Information Foundation for Education, help us achieve our goal of pro- and Communication Technology regional and international developments. The Emir hosted a luncheon in honour of the president. Science and Community viding adequate entrepreneurial Organisation and the Arab Development, the dinner is a support to aspiring individuals Regulators’ Network, and the prominent event to raise funds in Qatar, in turn helping develop Arab Dialogue on Internet for SDC’s social and community the nation’s economy,” Al Dossari Governance Initiative. development programmes. added. Other topics include the Arabic Donations collected from “We encourage donors to come Aspetar launches injury and Top-level Domains, Arab Internet this year’s event will be used to forward and participate in this Network Linkage Project and support SDC’s entrepreneurial event, which is widely recognised channels of Arab cooperation in programmes such as Tanmiya, in Qatar,” she said. ICT. Rasameel Fund, Badr...Wa Int The event is being held in illness prevention programme THE PENINSULA Gadr and Reyada — The Qatari partnership with ExxonMobil in Entrepreneur Award. Qatar. DOHA: Aspetar Qatar highlighting examples of how as well as showcase a selection Finland Prime Other items on auction include Famous for its unique culture- Orthopaedic and Sports nationwide research and educa- of success stories from the pro- an autographed shot of Pele, a themed attractions, the dinner Medicine Hospital has launched tion programmes on injury and gramme in Scandinavia.” Minister leaves jersey and a ball signed by FC this year will reflect a tropical its new injury and illness pre- illness prevention have been The conference covered a Barcelona, a Rolls Royce–Ghost Brazilian theme. vention programme (ASPREV). developed in Norway, Sweden and variety of topics and consisted of DOHA: The Prime Minister Six Senses, a Carbon Credit It will be dedicated to friend- The initiative was introduced Denmark over the past decade. plenary lectures, symposia, work- of Finland left here yesterday Certificate representing Brazil’s ship and cooperation between at an Aspetar-organised inter- Twelve international speakers, shops and practical seminars. wrapping up an official visit. aim to minimise carbon emission Qatar and Brazil. national conference, which high- Aspetar experts and local special- Topics ranged from ‘Why is Jyrki Katainen and his del- within as many projects as possi- In addition to a creative show- lighted Aspetar’s plans to develop ists, discussed the theme. Injury and Illness Prevention egation were seen off at Doha ble across its cities, a tribal brace- case of SDC’s events and activi- a research and education pro- Professor Roald Bahr, Head of Important?’ to ‘The Role of International Airport by the let inspired by Brazilian native ties, the evening will feature gramme on injury and illness the Aspetar Sports Injury and the IOC in Protecting the Chief of the Prime Minister’s Indians, Formula 1 Paddock VIP exciting musical and artistic per- prevention in Qatar over the next Illness Prevention Programme, Health of the Athlete’ and Protocols Ahmed Jassim Al tickets and four VIP tickets to an formances, including a freestyle decade. said: “The aim of the conference ‘Injury Epidemiology in Qatari Mullah and Qatar’s Non-resident FC Barcelona game in the world football performance by Brazilian The two-day conference was for Aspetar to expand cur- Football — Key Challenges and Ambassador to Finland Ahmed famous Camp Nou. and Qatari entertainers. featured an analysis of ‘The rent knowledge on specific injury Opportunities’. Saif Al Ma’adhadi. “The auction is an anticipated THE PENINSULA Scandinavian Experience’ and illness prevention methods, THE PENINSULA QNA

The scanning team in front of the dhows. Exeter team starts work on digital 3D models of QMA dhows

DOHA: Qatar Museum conventional surveying methods team on their cooperation and Authority’s (QMA) National based on tape measures. hard work on this project. Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), in By joining forces with Dr “It is important to produce cooperation with a team from Wetherelt, they have been able a digital record of the boats for the University of Exeter, has to incorporate cutting-edge conservation and recording and started a project to survey 14 laser-survey technologies into to communicate this fascinating vessels from the QMA collec- the process of recording maritime heritage to a wider audience. The tion of dhows. heritage. 3D laser scanning is an excellent By using a 3D laser scanning In conjunction with its field way to achieve this,” said Dr John method, the Exeter team aims to work, the Exeter team held a Cooper. produce digital 3D models of each lecture at MIA on introducing The team has been working dhow, together with more tradi- the public to objectives, method- for the past month at the QMA tional naval and orthographic ology and preliminary results of boatyard at Doha port recording drawings. the project. vessels using a Leica HDS 6000 The team comprises maritime Faisal Al Hitmi, NMoQ Deputy Laser scanner. archaeologists Dr John P Cooper Director, said: “Our continuously Such scanners use a moving from the Institute of Arab & growing dhow collection is con- laser beam to record with great Islamic Studies at the University sidered one of the most important speed and accuracy any object of Exeter and Dr Chiara Zazzaro collections of traditional Arab and placed before them. from the University of Naples Indian Ocean boats in the world. In addition to scanning the “L’Orientale” and veteran Mines “It represents an important boats with laser, the team is also Engineer Dr Andy Wetherelt record of a disappearing herit- using precisely calibrated dig- from the Camborne School of age of the region. The 3D models ital photography to photograph Mines at the University of Exeter. that will result from this project the boats from the same vantage Dr Cooper and Dr Zazzaro will have multiple applications, points as the scans. have worked for several years as including museum display, dig- This will allow them to com- part of the University of Exeter’s ital archives and public education bine the scans and photographs MARES project, recording tradi- and will become a lasting record to produce realistic digital models tional boats in the southern Red of the collection. We would like of each of the dhows. Sea and Gulf of Aden region using to thank the Exeter University THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Job seekers prefer Qatar-Saudi Coordination Council meeting Qatar: Bayt.com Jobs portal holds roundtable for Doha employers

BY ISABEL OVALLE construction, oil, gas, petrochemi- prefer to search the Bayt.com cals and banking are the indus- community database without pub- DOHA: Qatar is among the tries that create more jobs. licly advertising their vacancies. three most attractive countries “Holding this roundtable in According to Bayt.com’s July of the Mena region for job seek- Qatar is a demonstration of our 2012 ‘Best Cities in the Mena sur- ers, with a growing number of commitment to empower the vey, Doha is in the top 5 list of cit- Western candidates. “We have employer community in the coun- ies when it comes to labour rights, curriculum from everywhere try, and of our dedication to help environmental and socio-cultural in the world because there are employers meet the government’s factors. With regards to salaries, many major projects that attract Qatarisation efforts,” he added. 44 percent of the respondents specialists from all over the This event was part of a round- from Doha claim their city is Qatar and Saudi Arabia yesterday signed the minutes of a joint meeting of the Preparatory Committee for world,” said Suhail Masri, Vice- table series that Bayt conducts good/excellent. the fourth session of the Qatari-Saudi Joint Coordination Council. Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs President, Sales at Bayt.com. yearly across the region. Marjorie “In fact, at Bayt.com we have Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah and his Saudi counterpart Dr Nizar bin Obaid Madani signed the minutes. On the sidelines of a Bayt.com Alegado, Human Resources witnessed a robust increase in Qatar’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ali bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Saudi Ambassador to Qatar Ahmed bin Ali roundtable for a group of local Associate from Ernst & Young, hiring activity this year across Al Qahtani and a number of officials from both sides were present. employers in Doha, Masri said who was attending the event, the board in Qatar. All these fac- “our objective is to provide a plat- said: “I found the event to be a tors combined make it extremely form for employers”. The com- good arena for learning and shar- attractive for expats to work in pany’s studies say that the most ing ideas. The event shed light on Qatar,” said Masri. desired candidates in the coun- interesting topics which I can According to Bayt.com’s Job ictQatar joins eRADA initiative try are engineers (14 percent), use in my new role. I will be glad Index survey (January 2013), the accountants (15 percent) and to come to the next roundtable majority of companies in Qatar (72 project managers (12 percent). event.” percent) are expecting to hire up to DOHA: ictQatar has joined the highest proportion in the region’s initiative synergise with ictQatar He said that Qatar was the Bayt.com has over 1,500 jobs 10 employees in the coming three Employability Resources for history. The Arab world also has projects such as TumuhaTEC second most attractive country advertised in Qatar alone on an months — three percent higher All Digital Alliance (eRADA), the world’s highest percentage of which helps young people achieve in the region, only topped by average day and a similar number than the regional prospects of 69 an initiative by Silatech and youth unemployment. their full potential in the ICT sec- the UAE and followed by Saudi is usually filled through the online percent. Microsoft, to develop and deploy “Online resources have the tor and the Digital Innovation Arabia. According to the site, search function by employers who THE PENINSULA web- and mobile-based employ- potential to provide widespread Centre which offers digital entre- ability portals across the Arab access to much-needed sup- preneurs the know-how and region. port, especially outside urban expertise to turn their ideas into ictQatar has signed a memo- centres. Too often, however, viable businesses,” said Hassan randum of understanding (MoU) language barriers, inadequate Al Sayed, Assistant Secretary with Silatech and Microsoft in digital access, or a simple lack of General, ICT Government this regard. awareness create obstacles which Programs, ictQatar. The portals will give direct prevent the region’s youth from “Through this collaboration access to skills, work, e-learning, utilising them,” said Silatech’s we will also support eRADA web career counselling and market Senior Advisor, Employability, Jo portals through specially planned solutions for Arab youth seeking Aggarwal. joint outreach activities,” he employment or help in starting “Through Silatech’s eRADA added. their own businesses. initiative with Microsoft, we are eRADA will soon launch Through this network of por- working to bring together an Ta3mal.com, a regional youth tals, eRADA aims to provide ecosystem of partners to create employability and entrepre- employability and entrepre- unprecedented access to high neurship portal which will bring neurship opportunities to over quality online employability and together in one place a variety a million young people through- entrepreneurship resources. We of resources from international out the region over the next five welcome ictQatar’s contribution and local partners, including years. to eRADA and look forward to e-learning, internships, mentor- There are now over 100 mil- the next phase of our partner- ing, career guidance and entre- lion people between the age of ship” she added. preneurship resources. Bernard Menettrier, Regional Manager of Bayt.com, speaking at the roundtable. (SALIM MATRAMKOT) 15 and 29 in the Arab world, the “The objectives of the eRADA THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Yanni to give Rise in demand concert for high-risk in Qatar pregnancy tests Feto-Maternal Unit services enhanced DOHA: Women seeking spe- pregnancy,” said Dr Najat Ali cialised checkups for complica- Mohsen Khenyab, the Acting tions in pregnancies are on the In-Charge of FMU. rise in Qatar. The unit uses high-standard Around 5,000 examinations are imaging techniques and has an conducted by the Feto-Maternal advanced ultrasound machine to Unit (FMU) every year, which accurately diagnose babies with was established in June 2002. birth defects prenatally. FMU “There is a high demand for patients are examined by obstet- DOHA: Renowned com- the specialised FMU at Women’s ric care specialists, unlike in an poser and musician Yanni Hospital since around 17,000 ordinary ultrasound unit. Chrysomallis (pictured) and births take place yearly at the “We do procedures on high-risk his troupe is set to perform for hospital. The FMU has continu- pregnant women to diagnose if the the first time in Qatar. ously developed in the last 10 baby has chromosomal or genetic The two-day musical event, years in order to cater to demand disorders,” said Dr Khenyab. organsied by Bandera Qatar, both from within the country and Depending on the stage of the will see Yanni unleashing his live abroad,” said Shaikha Mahboob pregnancy and the risk for genetic musical extravaganza at the 2,300 Al Dosari, Assistant Executive defect, the unit conducts tests QFI students at the Unveiling Qatar-Hidden Thoughts exhibition. capacity theatre of the Qatar Director for Ambulatory Services such as chorionic villous sam- National Convention Centre at Women’s Hospital. pling (CVS), amniocentesis and (QNCC) on March 23 and 24. To deal with the issue, FMU has cordocentesis in order to detect Qatari artists feature in Los Angeles gallery “Yanni has close to 80,000 fans expanded its facilities and moved abnormalities in the foetus. in the Middle East and since to a more spacious accommoda- The FMU complements regu- Qatar is known to host premium tion, a release said yesterday. lar obstetric care providers, co- DOHA: Contemporary art- high school students from QFI world views. They will learn about events and concerts, we felt that FMU, a member of Hamad managing complex cases such as works by Qatari artists Amal Al partner schools will learn more their different cultures and will we should have at least two shows Medical Corporation (HMC), is patients with cardiac, autoimmune Aathem and Yousef Ahmad are about the meaning behind the examine their own perspectives here. We want to give as many now transferred to a building near or renal disease, diabetes, hyper- being featured for the first time artworks and how to employ vari- through daily interactions, edu- Yanni fans as possible the chance the hospital’s executive offices. tension, and seizure disorder. in a Los Angeles-based art gallery ous techniques to express their cational activities, and cultural to see and hear him perform live,” Formerly located near the Other cases involve expectant in an exhibition titled ‘Unveiling own identity and culture. excursions. a spokesperson from Bandera Labour Room, expansion of the mothers who became pregnant at Qatar–Hidden Thoughts.’ The workshops will prepare With the facilitation of Los Qatar said. unit enhances access and delivery an advanced age, patients whose The exhibition is curated by students for an educational pro- Angeles-based professional art- Under the theme, ‘World of this high-demand specialised multiple marker screening (which Marisa Caicholo, presented by gramme in Qatar from March 22 ist and photographer, Cynthia Without Borders’, Yanni, has care for women having high-risk involves a special blood test) the ADC & Building Bridges to 31 called Aber: Expressions of Herrera, the students will cre- performed around the world, pregnancies involving obstet- results indicate a risk for chro- International Art Exchange Culture, Identity and Language, ate a collaborative, contemporary including sold-out crowds at the ric, medical, surgical or genetic mosomal abnormalities and those (ADC) in Santa Monica, organised by QFI. The trip will artwork that integrates themes of Acropolis, Taj Mahal and China’s complications. pregnant with twins or more than California, and supported by see the students participate in an language, culture and identity. The Forbidden City (he was the first Women who receive a high-risk two babies at the same time. Qatar Foundation International Arabic language curriculum and finished pieces will be featured in western performer to play at the diagnosis due to medical issues or If a baby is diagnosed with a (QFI). This week, QFI students work on a collaborative, cross-cul- an exhibit at the Qatar Museum latter two). past obstetric problems are referred birth defect, the FMU works with from Los Angeles-based part- tural artwork with their Qatari of Modern Art (Mathaf) as well Yanni’s contemporary sym- to the FMU from the Outpatient neonatologists, paediatric subspe- ner schools joined the exhibition peers. Aber is an Arabic word, as a later event in Los Angeles. phonic music has inspired mil- Clinic and private hospitals. cialists and other healthcare pro- organisers for a day of art work- which means to express one’s “This project creates a space lions of fans around the world. In Patients from other countries seek fessionals to ensure seamless care shops at Unveiling Qatar. feelings and thoughts, or to move for dialogue about language, iden- concert, his passionate, soaring advice from the FMU as well. for the mother and the baby. The It explores the underlying across from one side to the other. tity and culture among youth,” melodies and lush orchestration “Any woman can have an unit helps coordinate intrauter- expressions of culture within During the trip, the students, said Herrera. “The hope is that has always succeeded in creating abnormal pregnancy, however ine therapy, plans the mode and artwork. Amal and Yousef reveal along with their Qatari peers, will through youth collaboration, we a spirited and uplifting musical factors such as consanguinity, timing of delivery and provides culture through their artworks embark on a journey of learning, will be able to represent not only experience like no other. history and age (especially those a smooth care transition for the by using hidden expressions and gaining critical skills in cross- culture and community, but also “We are happy to bring a world above 40) increase a woman’s newborn infant via a delivery plan. Arabic calligraphy, respectively. cultural communication and the create lasting ties.” class event to Qatar. The beauty chances of having an abnormal THE PENINSULA In workshops organised by ADC, opportunity to enhance their THE PENINSULA of bringing world famous musi- cians like Yanni to Qatar is that they further serve in putting the countries they are performing in on the musical map of the world,” a spokesperson of Bandera Qatar Microsoft introduces next generation cloud technology said. Tickets are priced at QR250, QR500 and QR1,000 and QR2,000.

DOHA: Microsoft featured the markets across the GCC. community to learn and explore Mannai Corporation. role in the growth and produc- Mashreq-Qatar latest Windows 8 devices and The one-day event brings current and upcoming technol- WalidGomaa, Managing Director, tivity of the region. We see part- applications and introduced the together over 20 speakers from ogy tools, platforms and services,” HP Qatar said: “We are pleased to nering with Microsoft Gulf for begins fast next generation of cloud pro- Microsoft and partners who Naim Yazbeck, Microsoft Qatar announce our partnership with the Open Door as an opportu- ductivity technology products address IT professionals and Country Manager, said. Microsoft Gulf for the Open Door nity to be involved in the new account service and services to Qatar yesterday. members of business community. Celebrate Windows 8 in Qatar Roadshow, which aligns with HP’s ways by which leaders from the Office 2013, Office 365, “This is an opportunity for IT is one of five experiential tech- vision of creating new possibilities IT and corporate world connect DOHA: Mashreq-Qatar has Windows Server 2012 and other professionals and business com- nology showcases taking place in for technology to have a meaningful with each other to share the lat- launched ‘Mashreq GO’, a bank- Cloud productivity solutions were munity leaders in Qatar to expe- the Gulf. Regional sponsors for impact on people, businesses, gov- est trends in productivity,” said ing service where customers can introduced at the event as part of rience the latest technology we Celebrate Windows 8 in the Gulf ernments and society.” Vithesh Reddy, General Manager walk into any Mashreq branch Microsoft’s ‘Celebrate Windows offer at Microsoft. We provide the are Nokia and HP. Local partners “Innovations within the realm Nokia Lower Gulf. and walk out in just 30 minutes 8’ events being held in several forum to the local IT and business include ICT, EBL,ITWorx and of technology have played a vital THE PENINSULA with a Platinum Elite credit card, current account and a Visa debit card, a press statement issued by the Bank said yesterday. The statement said that under Q-Chem launches Tree Week this newly-launched first-of-its- kind service the bank also offers MESAIEED: a personal loan (cash) in the Qatar Chemical account within 24 hours. Company (Q-Chem) Niranjan Mendonca, Head of in collaboration Retail Banking at Mashreq-Qatar with the Ministry said: “The Bank is striving for of Environment excellence with ever-faster, supe- (MoE) launched a rior banking services for customer. ‘Tree Week’ cam- ‘Mashreq GO’ delivers our cus- paign at the com- tomer service promise of banking pany’s facilities in at the ‘speed of life’. We are proud Mesaieed Industrial of this never-done before service, City yesterday. which simplifies financial solu- The initia- tions while offering convenience tive supports and flexibility to our customers.” the “One Million While ‘Mashreq GO’ offers Trees Campaign” “unparalleled” speed of delivery, announced by the customers can also apply for the ministry during the Majestic II loan package, which COP18 conference. offers customers a guaranteed iPad As part of commit- 4, Samsung S3 Mini or Blackberry ment to environ- when they apply for a particular mental protection loan amount. In addition, the and sustainability, Platinum Elite credit card comes Q-Chem will plant loaded with features including hundreds of trees free Oryx Lounge access for the at the plant site to cardholder and one guest at Doha increase its green International Airport, double belt. It will also Mashreq Points, giving customers contribute toward free shopping at leading retailers building a natural across Doha, discount vouchers windblown sand worth QR5,000 and much more. barrier and increase Q-Chem officials planting a sapling at the plant site. Mashreq was awarded the ‘Best the reuse of treated Regional Retail Bank Award’ at water for irrigation. the Banker Middle East Industry “This is a true win-win situation” said Ahmed Ibrahim Al Emadi, Q-Chem General Manager. Awards 2012, as a testament to He added: “Our aim in this campaign is to expand the culture of giving and caring for the envi- Mashreq’s growing regional capa- ronment among our Q-Chem family. Each employee has now a name plate attached to the tree he bilities and its retail operations. or she planted.” Mashreq Qatar has also been rec- A similar campaign will be conducted at the company’s joint venture RLOC plant site in Ras ognized as the “Best Consumer Laffan Industrial City tomorrow. Total trees at both locations will be close to 1,000. Q-Chem targets Internet Bank” in Qatar for to plant more trees to reach a total of 2,500 by 2014. four consecutive years by Global THE PENINSULA Finance Magazine, New York. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 New British varsities in Al Baker at FC Barcelona Doha unlikely: Minister Willetts for more collaboration in education, research

BY ISABEL OVALLE

DOHA: Opening of new British varsities in Doha is “unlikely”, said the Minister of Universities and Science of the UK, David Willetts (pictured), during his first official visit to Qatar. However, both countries have agreed to have formal dialogue about education and implement further collaboration in research. “I’ve seen Education City and the partnerships with universi- ties there, including University College London, and projects in high-tech firms at the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) like Williams or Shell. I Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker, flanked by FC Barcelona President Sandro Rosell (left) and club Vice- have seen Britain is already con- President for Economy and Strategy Javier Faus in the Catalonian capital. tributing,” said the minister in an interview with The Peninsula. The minister predicted that the next stage of education develop- ment here is going to be different Qatar’s per capita water consumption and characterised by cooperation in international research projects. “I’m very keen on more col- highest in the world, says Kahramaa laboration in this field, but it’s unlikely to set up a new campus, DOHA: The per capita water Water Affairs Department at Commemorating the event, its most likely to have more coop- consumption in Qatar is the Kahramaa, said that an esti- Qatar’s Minister of Energy and eration projects in fields such as highest in the world, with the mated investment of QR22bn is Industry, H E Dr Mohammed bin healthcare and medicine, energy total consumption recorded at required for the 10-year project Saleh Al Sada, said that Qatar’s or robotics,” he said. quality high education. The future world-class research can’t be done 216 cubic metres in 2012. on the development of water net- participation in the event reflects “We want to learn about Qatar’s in the long run is about investing by one country on its own, we need This was revealed by officials of work in Qatar. the importance of preserving Vision 2030 and see how British in human capital.” to look at the problem through the Qatar General Electricity and He added that new water desal- water resources and to bolster the universities and researchers can During his visit the Minister more than one set of eyes and we Water Corporation (Kahramaa) ination plants will be set up soon integration of the Arab world’s contribute to it and we have some met H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser know that scientific papers which on the occasion of the Arab Water in the country and maintenance developmental plans related to great ideas of how we can work and the Minister of Education, H are co-authored are most success- Day observed by the Arab Water of the current water pumping sta- water resources and food security. together on that,” he added. E Saad bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, ful and more frequently titled.” Ministerial Council yesterday. tions will be carried out to meet At the occasion, Kahramaa The UK wants the relation among other officials. Ultimately, Willetts added that “I call on all nationals and the growing demand. also organised exhibitions at with Qatar to go beyond having Leaders from a dozen British “British researchers based here expatriates to think about sus- Plans to set up a water desali- Landmark and Villaggio on Qatar students in Britain: “We universities took part in the visit are good for science and good for tainability and save water for nation plant, with a capacity of 36 Sunday and Monday, respectively. want a relationship that goes and Willetts, added: “They have our country. Qatari research is the coming generations,” Essa million gallon per day at Ras Abu A large number of chil- much deeper than that by iden- ideas about projects we can col- welcomed in Britain and equally bin Hilal Al Kuwari, Kahramaa Fontas, were already approved. dren along with their parents, tifying research areas where we laborate on like helping to train British research wants to come President, said. The plant will be functional by Kahramaa’s senior functionar- can have cooperation.” the next generation of doctors to Qatar. I had good conversa- He said that the scarcity of the mid of 2015. ies, dignitaries including Arab Willetts valued that Qatar is and nurses or collaboration in big tions with members of the Qatari fresh water resources in the In the water sector, the country League’s Secretary-General, taking the wealth generated by research projects like robotics and Government that are optimistic region was in itself a major is expected to witness develop- Nabil El Arabi and environmen- oil and gas “to put it to good use energy technology.” that more of this can happen.” challenge. ments worth QR3.2bn in the next talists visited the exhibitions. by ensuring that you have good The minister said: “Successful THE PENINSULA Saif Al Malki, Director of five years alone and before 2022. THE PENINSULA

FROM LEFT: Con Blignaut, General Manager, Sasol Qatar; Marjo Low, President, Sasol, Dr Saif Ali Al Hajari, Founder and Chairman, Friends of Environment Qatar (FEC), and Dr Elsadig Awad Bashir, Director, Qatar Bird Project (FEC), at the signing ceremony. Sasol, FEC sign MoU to develop flora, fauna mobile application

DOHA: Sasol Qatar and Friends natural beauty around us, with interactive version of the best-sell- of Environment Centre (FEC) the app children and adults will ing guide. To date there have been yesterday signed a memoran- be able to turn their smartphones more than 65,000 downloads of the dum of understanding to coop- into keys that unlock nature.” application. The Qatar e-Nature erate in the development of an “As a company committed project brings this legacy of envi- e-learning smartphone applica- to environmental stewardship ronmental education to Qatar, tion, highlighting the flora and and social responsibility, Sasol home to Oryx GTL, Sasol’s first fauna of Qatar. Qatar e-Nature, is proud to be partnering with gas-to–liquids (GTL) operation by Sasol, will be available for Friends of Environment Centre outside South Africa, in a joint the iOS, Android, BlackBerry on this project. To preserve venture with Qatar Petroleum. and Windows mobile phone nature we must understand its To be available in Arabic and platforms and is expected to be value. Through this cooperation English, the free learning applica- released later this year, a press we hope to inspire residents of tion will benefit students in Qatar release issued by Sasol said Qatar of all ages to embrace the and the general public. Data avail- yesterday. diversity of plant and animal life able in the application, supplied by Dr Saif Al Hajari, Chairman here,” said Marjo Louw, President FEC, will include descriptions and of FEC, said: “Friends of the of Sasol Qatar. visuals of flora, birds and insects, Environment Centre thanks Sasol For 20 years, Sasol has been as well as the sounds of the birds of for presenting the opportunity to publishing a popular field guide Qatar. In addition, users will have create this valuable tool. While to bird life in Southern Africa. In access to a mapping tool to find technology is widely viewed as 2003, the company launched Sasol the specific species around Qatar. a distraction from enjoying the eBirds of Southern Africa, an THE PENINSULA

Two-day visa processing to cost QR564 extra

Continued from page 1 cases where we cannot process applications, online appoint- The priority visa service is for an application as fast we would ments and online payments as those pressed for time, he said. like, and we provide a contact to well as a refurbished premium For an additional QR564 an appli- raise these cases separately,” said lounge in the application centre. cant can have their application the ambassador. And we offer six-month multi- processed more quickly, normally “We constantly look to make ple entry visas as standard,” he within two days. the visa process easier, and we added. “There are some exceptional have now introduced online THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 06 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Taking stock Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

S Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s first interview since his defeat in the presidential race will be noted for two things: first, his candour, the Guns kill more people, why does Ucourage to speak his mind without sugar-coating it, and second, his failure to accept the reality one hundred seventeen days on. In a wide-ranging interview on Fox News Sunday, which terrorism get more attention? was reported worldwide because it was his first since his defeat, Romney appeared surprised that he wasn’t elected, BY TOM DIAZ that the voters didn’t see things his way. That’s the equivalent Second Amendment is beyond com- evidence of the risk of terrorism than of pushing one’s head into the sands, not wanting to see the promise in the name of saving innocent the collapsing towers of the World realities around. Romney should have done a postmortem HE next time you play airport lives? Trade Center on Sept. 11. President and understood the mistakes, instead of blaming voters. In a security theater — remove shoes, The risks of terrorism are not so George W. Bush standing on the twin Tdisplay laptop, toss water bot- much greater than the risks of gun vio- towers’ rubble with a bullhorn sparked democratic election, voters are always right. tle _think of the children at Sandy lence that a disproportionate response a national consensus about what to do. The Republican candidate expressed his deep Hook Elementary School. Think of the is justified. Between 1969 and 2009, That consensus has been sustained by a disappointment and anguish at not being elected. “I look at moviegoers in Aurora, Colo., the citi- according to a 2011 Heritage Foundation vast, federally funded security industry what’s happening right now, I wish I were there,” he said. “It zens in Tucson peaceably assembled to study, 5,586 people were killed in ter- that extends even into academia. The kills me not to be there, not to be in the White House doing meet with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the rorist attacks against the United States Department of Homeland Security’s worshippers at a Sikh temple in Oak or its interests abroad. By comparison, Center for Homeland Defense and what needs to be done.” The frustration was two-fold – the Creek, Wis., and Hadiya Pendleton, the about 30,000 people were killed by guns Security lists 375 colleges and universi- individual frustration of defeat, and the frustration at not 15-year-old Chicago girl killed by gun- in the United States every year between ties that offer homeland security pro- being able to serve the country, to save the country from fire days after coming to Washington 1986 and 2010. This means that about grams. Platoons of security experts from the inanities of the current president. Romney had taken with her high school band for President five times as many Americans are killed the industry and its academic branch so long to speak to the nation because he was struggling to Obama’s second inauguration. every year by guns than have been killed continually warn us in seminars and cope with the magnitude of the “Unfortunately, what happened to in terrorist attacks since Richard Nixon congressional hearings of the need to Hadiya is not unique,” Obama said in took office. keep the money flowing. defeat. Now he is getting on with Chicago on Feb. 15. “It’s not unique The Transportation Security The greater risk of gun violence is Romney’s his life, though it will pain him to Chicago. It’s Administration has an annual budget of masked. The media report lavishly on for ever that he would never be not unique to about $8 billion and has spent about $60 mass shootings but often fail to cover first interview president, having missed the bus. this country. Too billion on aviation security since 2001. the much higher number of Americans since Fox channel showed him pushing many of our chil- The TSA employs about 62,000 people, killed and injured in gun violence daily. some grandkids on a swing set and The risks of dren are being of whom 47,000 are airport screeners. In Chicago last month, Obama said that taken away from The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 443 people were killed by guns in that defeat was cradling his youngest in his arms. terrorism are not us.” Firearms and Explosives — the principal city in 2012, and 65 of them were chil- In the interview, Romney so much greater These victims federal agency charged with regulat- dren — “a Newtown every four months.” remarkable should have spoken about his were casualties of ing the gun industry_ has a budget of Every day, about 80 Americans die from for its own failings as a candidate. He than the risks of domestic battles. about $1.2 billion. It employs roughly gunshots and about twice as many suffer attributed Obama’s victory to gun violence that Most died from 5,000 workers, about half of whom are nonfatal injuries, often lifelong debilita- wounds inflicted special agents charged with carrying out tions. I researched a week of U.S. news candour. winning over so many blacks and a disproportionate by military-style criminal investigations. stories about gun violence in August Hispanics by enacting universal response is weapons designed These huge allocations turn the real- 2011 and then compared them with CDC healthcare. His wife blamed the to kill large num- ity of risk on its head. In the nine years averages; I found that about eight times media for her husband’s defeat, for unfairly caricaturing him. justified. bers quickly. after 2001, 340 people were killed and more gun deaths and 60 times more gun The defeat was so shattering because until the last Then ponder 267 injured in attacks on civil aviation injuries occurred than were reported. moment they thought they would win. Romney’s wife seemed this: Americans worldwide. The gun industry and the National suffer assaults on their privacy — they Our perception of the relative dan- Rifle Association have shut down fed- more heartbroken and said she has cried. Romney and his are groped in public and wiretapped en gers of terrorism and gun violence is eral information sources. Until Obama wife are going through what John McCain, John Kerry and masse — and surrender their constitu- distorted. We don’t know it, and our changed the policy by executive order their spouses had gone through. Americans know that, and tional protections against unwarranted leaders don’t bother to tell us. Indeed, in January, the CDC was forbidden the world knows it. searches in the name of the war on ter- they conspire with the gun industry to to research gun violence under a law However, it’s not Romney’s defeat alone. The voters had ror, yet they cannot muster the will to hide it. passed in 1996. In 2003, the ATF was vociferously rejected Republicans and their bizarre policies. protect children from mass murder Beyond immediate danger, humans forbidden to release summary data from with military-style weapons. We have are poor judges of risk — witness texting millions of crime-gun traces. We value It’s the same policies which they are following. spent more than $1 trillion on homeland drivers and iPod-entranced jaywalkers. ignorance over knowledge of a threat Romney began easing back onto the public stage with security since Sept. 11, 2001, yet have Yet, with education, risk perception can that takes more lives than terrorism Sunday’s interview. He is scheduled to give his first speech withheld annual funding of less than change. We’ve altered risk perceptions many times over. Congress and two since the election at the Conservative Political Action $3 million for research by the Centers about smoking, unprotected sex, seat- presidents — Bill Clinton and George Conference next week. He can continue to excoriate for Disease Control and Prevention on belt use and the need for police to wear W. Bush — have presided over this flight gun violence. body armor. These changes were driven from fact. It has been politically safer to Obama and his policies, but the president can breathe Why are the First, Fourth and Fifth by fact-based research and clear advice pander to the visceral fear of terrorism more easily because he doesn’t have to face the electorate amendments subject to erosion in the on how to lower risk. than to stand up to the gun industry. a third time • name of homeland security, but the Americans needed no further WP-BLOOMBERG Letters Quote of A school that needs behavioural lessons the day S a concerned parent I believe they say they are investigating the mat- Coordinator and the Hindi teacher to been facing verbal harassment from it is important to share our ter or the issue has been resolved. The request to reduce the Hindi lessons for teachers. I can see why other parents harrowing experiences about ‘resolution’ is anybody’s guess as no the exams as sufficient notification was are afraid of speaking up. With the Athe school where my son is feedback is provided to the parents. not given. shortage of seats in schools, there is studying and bring to light issues that As a result of my complaints, my child Several other parents shared my no choice but to accept this kind of other parents in a similar situation may is constantly berated and told that his concerns and we decided to meet the treatment, rather than speak up and Obama has made not be able to voice. parents alone complain and that the school authorities together. We were face the consequences. The principal of the school is child is a complainer. bluntly told that as parents we should I request the Supreme Education it clear that Iran showing poor leadership (if any) with When I raised the issue of a teacher have known about the exams, the syl- Council to regulate Indian schools not his teachers. A series of problems pushing and repeatedly pinching my labus and nothing could be done. only in terms of the facilities provided will not get nuclear (including physically hitting my child child, the teacher was informed and It is bad enough when ‘educational- and maintenance, but also the compe- weapons. There is once) were reported to the manage- instead of showing any remorse or tak- ists’ are arrogant and believe they do tence and calibre of teachers. Unless ment. While the chairman has always ing action, the school authorities just not need to review a policy even if it there is a higher governing body taking a huge danger of been considerate, the school authori- denied it. doesn’t make sense. Far worse when disciplinary measures, these schools ties weren’t so helpful, and were even The final exams started on March they steadily break a child’s motivation will torture children and their parents. proliferation. downright rude. They do not respond 3 and parents were not given the to learn. Sandhya Monis, Doha John Kerry to your complaints and when you call study portions in time. I visited the After my complaints, my child has [email protected] US Secretary of State TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 There are no good or China’s next inner circle bad civilians in Syria, Jockeying has begun for 2017 as rising we must give aid to all

stars of the ruling BY PIERRE build an operation from inside KRÄHENBÜHL Syria. Relief operations that go Communist Party across frontlines, rather than n recent weeks there has across borders, are the crucial been much debate about lifeline for populations most in move into top the supposed failure of need. Iinternational aid organisa- Together with volunteers from leadership posts. tions to reach people in need in the Syrian Arab Red Crescent opposition-held areas of Syria. It we have been able to deliver is healthy and justified to criti- much-needed food and essential BY IRENE JAY LIU and CHRIS IP cally review the humanitarian household items to a number response in any armed conflict, of opposition-held areas, most to analyse whether or not it recently Al Houleh, in Homs ven as Xi Jinping gets ready to is carried out in a principled province, by negotiating to cross assume the presidency of China manner. frontlines. Syrian Arab Red this month, jockeying has begun But criticism from some aid Crescent volunteers have also for 2017 when rising stars of the organisations and advocacy managed to reach people in need ruling Communist Party move into groups has gone further, argu- in Mambej, Azaz and Atmeh. Etop leadership posts. ing that the humanitarian effort Assistance reaches far more China’s first and second generation has been seriously unbalanced. people, on both sides of the con- Communist Party leaders, such as Mao Zedong Some governments have sug- flict, than can be directly iden- and Deng Xiaoping, ruled as single paramount gested the only way to reach mil- tified — a backup generator leaders. But over the past two decades, Chinese lions in opposition-held areas is installed at the Homs city pump- leaders have tried to institutionalise govern- to transport aid across borders, ing station has ensured a reli- ance with an emphasis on collective leadership even without approval from the able water supply for more than — except when it comes to choosing leaders. Syrian authorities. 800,000 people, even in opposi- The process is highly secretive and influ- China’s President Hu Jintao (left) and Vice President Xi Jinping A number of misconceptions tion-held areas. And in Aleppo, enced by faction leaders who jockey to get need to be highlighted here. although our teams cannot be their allies on the 25-member Politburo and “I don’t think can push much because the Communist Youth League, and 11 are con- First is the notion that no aid is present because of continuous its apex body, the seven-member Politburo it’s still a Jiang (Zemin) Politburo Standing sidered to be members of the Tuanpai faction, reaching opposition-held areas. fighting, we work through pri- Standing Committee. Committee,” said David Zweig, a Chinese the data from Connected China shows. Some have calculated the per- vate contractors to rehabilitate “In certain areas the rules and the norms politics scholar at Hong Kong University of centage of aid they believe is water pumps and install genera- of institutionalisation continue, but in cer- Science and Technology. FIFTH AND SIXTH GENERATION reaching these areas as some- tors, as well as improving sanitary tain areas they are subject to manipulation, in Six of the seven members on the Standing The promotion of so many Communist where between 1 percent and and kitchen facilities in centres particular with regard to the selection of the Committee have ties to Jiang, who relinquished Youth League members is largely credited to 15 percent of total deliveries. housing the displaced. Politburo,” said Cheng Li, Director of Research the top Party position over a decade ago. Li, Hu protégé, Li Yuanchao. As head of the par- As always with figures in wars, However, this does not con- at the John L Thornton China Center in the whose ties with Hu go back to the 1980s, is ty’s Organisation Department, he promoted those who formulate them have vince those who insist on seeing Foreign Policy programme at the Brookings the only Standing Committee member con- many of his mentor’s allies. no means of backing them up. “good civilians” or “bad civilians” Institution. sidered to be a Hu protégé and a member of Three of the top contenders for seats in the But they stick in people’s mind depending on where they are China’s once-in-a-decade leadership transi- his Tuanpai faction. 2017 Politburo Standing Committee are linked and in public debates. located. When a town of 10,000 tion last November installed a largely care- But the 86-year-old Jiang is 16 years Hu’s to Jintao — Li Yuanchao, former Guangdong Second, where most observers is attacked and women and chil- taker leadership in the Standing Committee. senior. Few of his protégés are expected to stay provincial Party chief Wang Yang, and the want to see neat dividing lines dren have a few minutes to grab In 2017, five of the seven members will reach on when the Standing Committee members current Guangdong boss, Hu Chunhua. If pro- between government-held areas some possessions and flee, they retirement age after one term in office. Only are scheduled to retire in 2017. moted, those three along with premier-in- and those controlled by the oppo- go wherever the safest route will China’s top two leaders, president-in-waiting Factions of this kind rarely survive the waiting Li, would occupy more than half of the sition, the reality in Syria is far take them, no matter who is in Xi Jinping and premier-in-waiting Li Keqiang, death of its leader, said Jiangnan Zhu, a Hong Standing Committee seats in 2017. more fluid and complex: Street- control. It is most often not a will remain on the powerful body in 2017. Kong University associate professor specialis- “Hu Jintao has been very successful in nur- to-street fighting, areas taken political choice, but a question Two main factions are competing for power ing in Chinese politics. turing future leaders amongst the fifth and the over by one side and then by the of sheer survival. Wherever within the Standing Committee. Members of “Usually, when a patron dies, his followers sixth generation from the youth league,” said other, frontlines dividing up urban they arrive, they are entitled to the “Shanghai Gang”, headed by former party can’t hold together for very long, and his fac- Willy Lam, a scholar on Chinese history and areas or snaking around them to assistance. chief Jiang Zemin, have connections to China’s tion will eventually fall. This was basically the politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. isolate besieged populations. It is a tempting substitute, commercial capital. The other main faction, case for Mao, the most powerful patron in But the Tuanpai also has a problem, he We agree fully that more when a political response to a the “Tuanpai,” is led by outgoing President CCP history,” Zhu said. said. Except perhaps for Wang Yang and Li assistance is needed to address crisis is inadequate, to support Hu Jintao. Its members, like him, cultivated Yuanchao who are seen as experienced lead- the immense suffering in gen- interventionist humanitarian their careers in the Communist Youth League. TUANPAI CONNECTIONS ers, few other leaders from the Tuanpai have eral and certainly for civilians in action. In Syria, the narrative Most of the Politburo members and provin- The Tuanpai could be the exception. It traces a strong track record. opposition-held areas. has shifted to one where the dis- cial Party secretaries eligible for promotion its origins to former Communist Youth League We in the International tribution of aid is judged impar- in the next term in 2017 have experience in leader Hu Yaobang, who promoted many XI’S POWER BASE Committee of the Red Cross are tial if it reaches the side that one the Communist Youth League, according to Tuanpai officials, including Hu Jintao, during Xi’s power base is in the military where pushing for that every day, with supports. data from “Connected China”(connectedchina. his tenure as Party General Secretary in the a number of princelings have made their success and setbacks. The con- We have been described as reuters.com), a Reuters site that tracks the 1980s. The Tuanpai’s influence expanded under careers, according to Lam. straints are many. Excessive con- naive to believe that a truly careers and connections of China’s top leaders. Hu when he became General Secretary in 2002. The data from Connected China shows Xi trols on aid agencies working in impartial humanitarian response Although the Politburo appointed in Under Hu the number of Tuanpai leaders has far fewer ties to other contenders in the the country, the fragmentation is possible from within Syria. November shows strong ties to Jiang Zemin, in top provincial top posts increased from five Party and the government. Of the 14 members of the armed opposition and the We are aware of the challenges analysts say Jintao’s Communist Youth League in 2002 to 13 in 2005, and rose to 21 in 2010. of the Politburo eligible for another term in intensity of military confronta- but have always preferred the faction will gain the upper hand over the Connections to the Communist Youth League 2017, only two are known to have close ties tions have made the operating dilemmas associated with being longer term. are a common denominator for many figures with Xi — Li Zhanshu and Xu Qiliang. As environment extremely volatile present and working extremely A third group has also ascended rapidly — seen as the next generation of leaders, data director of the Central Committee General and insecure. hard to reach people in need on the princelings, or privileged children of revolu- from Connected China shows. Office, Li is Xi’s chief of staff. Xu is a military But we do not believe that all sides. tionary leaders. Key princelings include Xi and Of the 14 members in the 25-member official seen as unlikely to be promoted to the cross-border operations are the Fundamentally, the reality of Politburo Standing Committee members Yu Politburo eligible for another term in 2017, nine Politburo Standing Committee. only answer to the needs of the the Syrian conflict is that only Zhengsheng, Wang Qishan and Zhang Dejiang. have worked in the Communist Youth League “Xi will not have enough time to build up a population. political action will help resolve and are considered to be protégés or allies of distinct faction,” Lam said. “He will have to Many of those suffering don’t it and spare the lives of further CONSENSUS BUILDER Hu. Only five are known to have ties with Jiang. spend a lot of time building consensus within live in border areas; they are hundreds of thousands at risk. Xi is the first Communist Party General Communist Youth League experience is the top leadership because he doesn’t have a located deep inside Syria, in Politicising aid is not the answer Secretary to take power while his two pred- even more prevalent among provincial-level distinct faction of his own. So there will be a urban environments that are and will make no difference to ecessors are both still alive. That puts him in Party chiefs. Provincial Party leadership has lot of give and take. very difficult to reach from oppo- millions of men, women and chil- the role of cautious consensus-builder between become almost a prerequisite for a top leader- “Politically, I think things will remain frozen sition-held areas supplied across dren whose lives are being torn factions allied to his two predecessors, rather ship post. Among the 29 eligible for Politburo as it’s difficult to get a consensus for political borders. apart before the world. than an agent of reform, political analysts said. membership next year, 19 have experience in reform,” Lam said. REUTERS This explains why we chose to THE GUARDIAN Eradicate nuclear weapons for everybody’s sake BY DESMOND TUTU bomb when it harbours its own atomic disaster is upon us. There was once a arsenal? time when people bought and sold other e cannot intimidate others Nuclear weapons do not discriminate; human beings as if they were mere chat- into behaving well when we nor should our leaders. The nuclear tels, things. But people eventually came ourselves are misbehaving. powers must apply the same standard to their senses. So it will be the case for WYet that is precisely what to themselves as to others: Zero nuclear nuclear arms, sooner or later. nations armed with nuclear weapons weapons. Whereas the international Indeed, 184 nations have already made hope to do by censuring North Korea community has imposed blanket bans on a legal undertaking never to obtain for its nuclear tests and sounding alarm other weapons with horrendous effects nuclear weapons, and three in four sup- bells over Iran’s pursuit of enriched ura- — from biological and chemical agents port a universal ban. In the early 1990s, nium. According to their logic, a select to landmines and cluster munitions — it with the collapse of apartheid nigh, South few nations can ensure the security of has not yet done so for the very worst Africa voluntarily dismantled its nuclear all by having the capacity to destroy all. weapons of all. Nuclear weapons are still stockpile, becoming the first nation to do Until we overcome this double stand- seen as legitimate in the hands of some. so. This was an essential part of its tran- ard — until we accept that nuclear weap- This must change. sition from a pariah state to an accepted ons are abhorrent and a grave danger no Around 130 governments, various member of the family of nations. Around matter who possesses them, that threat- UN agencies, the Red Cross and the the same time, Kazakhstan, Belarus and ening a city with radioactive incineration International Campaign to Abolish Ukraine also relinquished their Soviet- is intolerable no matter the nationality Nuclear Weapons are gathering in Oslo era atomic arsenals. or religion of its inhabitants — we are this week to examine the catastrophic But today nine nations still consider it unlikely to make meaningful progress in consequences of nuclear weapons and their prerogative to possess these ghastly halting the spread of these monstrous the inability of relief agencies to provide bombs, each capable of obliterating many devices, let alone banishing them from an effective response in the event of a thousands of innocent civilians, including national arsenals. nuclear attack. For too long, debates As an Oslo conference on nuclear weapons starts, we should not accept that a select few children, in a flash. Why, for instance, would a proliferat- about nuclear arms have been divorced nations can ensure the security of all by having the capacity to destroy all. They appear to think that nuclear ing state pay heed to the exhortations of from such realities, focusing instead weapons afford them prestige in the the US and Russia, which retain thou- on geopolitics and narrow concepts of international arena. But nothing could sands of their nuclear warheads on high national security. negotiations for a treaty to outlaw and overnight if there’s the will. be further from the truth. Any nuclear- alert? How can Britain, France and China With enough public pressure, I believe eradicate these ultimate weapons of terror. Let us not forget that it was only a armed state, big or small, whatever its expect a hearing on non-proliferation that governments can move beyond the Achieving such a ban would require some- few years ago when those who spoke stripes, ought to be condemned in the while they squander billions modernis- hypocrisy that has stymied multilateral what of a revolution in our thinking, but it about green energy and climate change strongest terms for possessing these ing their nuclear forces? What standing disarmament discussions for decades, and is not out of the question. Entrenched sys- were considered peculiar. Now it is indiscriminate, immoral weapons. has Israel to urge Iran not to acquire the be inspired and persuaded to embark on tems can be turned on their head almost widely accepted that an environmental THE GUARDIAN TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST UAE tries 94 Egyptian PM in Baghdad BRIEFLY over plotting to seize power Oman’s top court orders retrial of Rights activists barred from court eight activists ABU DHABI: The trial of as security measures were very MUSCAT: Oman’s Court of 94 Islamists accused of plot- tight, activists said on Twitter. Cassation yesterday ordered ting to seize power in the UAE Amnesty International said a a retrial in the case of eight began yesterday in the absence Kuwaiti lawyer representing it as out of 11 activists sentenced of rights activists and foreign an observer was denied entry into to between six and 12 months reporters, who were barred the UAE. in prison for taking part in from the court. “By denying access to observ- protests in 2011. The state security court, part ers from human rights groups, the The court ordered the of the Federal Supreme Court, UAE authorities are blatantly try- appeals court, which had convened in Abu Dhabi to try ing to manage what information upheld the jail sentences, to re- the activists arrested between is made available about the trial examine their cases, but with March and December last year, to the outside world,” Amnesty a new panel. the interior ministry said in a International said. The top court rejected statement carried by WAM state The Kuwaiti lawyer, Ahmad appeals lodged by the other news agency. Nashmi Al Dhafeeri, wrote on his three activists, citing “proce- Ten of the defendants are being Twitter account that he was sent dural mistake”, lawyer Qais tried in absentia, while 13 are back from the airport. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki (left), inspects a guard of honour with his Egyptian counterpart, Hisham Al Qassimi said. He said their women, it said, adding that the “I was prevented today from Qandil, on his arrival on an official visit in Baghdad, yesterday. appeals will be filed again soon. first hearing was “procedural,” entering the UAE to monitor Qassimi said he will request and was attended by representa- the trial of those accused of plot- bail for the eight defendants. tives of local press and Emirati ting to overthrow the govern- The 11 activists, includ- civil society groups. ment as a delegate for Amnesty ing writers, boggers, a female The accused are said by prose- International,” Dhafeeri wrote on lawyer and a female journalist cutors to be linked to the Al Islah his Twitter account late Sunday. Former Guards commander are jailed in a prison outside group, which has ties with the The UAE has not seen any of Muscat. They were part of a outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. the widespread pro-reform pro- group of activists who staged UAE Attorney-General Salem tests which have swept other last month a 15-day hunger Kobaish last month said the Arab countries, including fellow joins Iranian presidential race strike until the supreme court defendants would be tried for Gulf states Bahrain and Oman. agreed to examine their appeals. “having created and led a move- But authorities have stepped up DUBAI: The former com- To prevent the next president intention to be a candidate. “In ment aimed at opposing the basic a crackdown on voices of dissent mander of Iran’s elite from challenging Khamenei’s the last election Rezaie set his foundations on which the state’s and calls for democratic reform. Revolutionary Guards yester- authority, his close advisers are stall out quite clearly, was by far Israel-Gaza goods political system is built and at Dubai police chief General Dahi day announced he would run in looking to unite around a single the most effective in dismantling seizing power”. Khalfan has accused the Muslim a sensitive presidential election hardline candidate to minimise Ahmadinejad during the debates,” crossing stays shut The group had formed a “secret Brotherhood — which came to set to be dominated by conserv- chances of the virulent divisions said Iran analyst Ali Ansari of GAZA CITY, Palestinian organisation” which was in con- power after the uprisings in atives vying to replace President between leading conservatives Scotland’s St Andrew’s University. Territories: Israel’s sole tact with individuals and organi- Egypt and Tunisia — of plotting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. that analysts say could open the “Initially he alleged fraud until crossing for goods traffic into sations “abroad”, including the against Gulf monarchies. Mohsen Rezaie stood in the last way to further election disputes. he was persuaded that the threat the Gaza Strip remained shut Muslim Brotherhood, Kobaish In January, local media tumultuous 2009 election, finish- Analysts say Rezaie’s candidacy to the system was so great it was yesterday, 24-hours after said. announced that UAE authori- ing third, and made a complaint may complicate the picture and best if he did not stoke the fires Israel said it would end a The Attorney-General said ties had arrested 11 Egyptian that Ahmadinejad’s re-election draw support away from a “unity” further,” he said. “While he has week-long closure. they had also created or invested residents suspected of links to had been rigged, before with- candidate, yet to be decided. kept his powder dry I think he Israel said the holdup was in real estate companies to finance the Brotherhood. Human Rights drawing the allegations days later. “Currently the main problem is a dark horse that needs to be because of attempts by the their organisation. Watch later spoke of 13. Mass street protests against the facing people is the economic watched.” strip’s militant Hamas rul- The hearing was adjourned to The case has sparked a sharp disputed results rocked Tehran issue and economic development Rezaie criticised authorities for ers to introduce procedural March 11, the ministry said. deterioration of relations between and other cities in 2009, only to should be accomplished as well as their handling of the 2009 elec- changes and divert customs Relatives posted pictures Abu Dhabi and Cairo, already be crushed by security forces and political development,” Fars news tion and the demonstrations that revenues earmarked for their on Twitter of representatives under strain since Brotherhood militia. agency quoted Rezaie as saying followed it, saying the Islamic rivals, the West Bank-based of human rights organisations candidate Mohammed Mursi’s Rezaie was commander-in- after announcing his candidacy in Republic could face collapse unless Palestinian Authority. standing outside the court build- election as Egyptian president chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Divandare in Kurdistan province, it embraced change. “Over 70 trucks laden with ing after allegedly being denied last June. Guard Corps for 16 years until in eastern Iran. As Iran remains locked in a food and other goods are cur- entry as observers. The Gulf country, where mem- 1997. He was subsequently “Today income is the people’s stand-off with world powers over rently waiting on the Israeli Authorities bused in relatives bership of political parties is appointed secretary of the basis of life and we must imple- its nuclear programme, rifts have side of the Kerem Shalom authorised to attend the hearing, banned, has rejected a request Expediency Council, a body that ment plans to reduce the cost of emerged between Ahmadinejad crossing for their Palestinian banning them from driving on from Egypt for the release of its advises Iran’s most powerful man, living and raise their income lev- and rivals loyal to Khamenei. counterparts,” an Israeli their own to the court building, nationals. AFP Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. els.” He had already indicated his REUTERS defence ministry statement said. AGENCIES

Erdogan berates media over Clashes erupt in Egypt’s Port Said coverage of peace process PORT SAID, Egypt: The main security building in Egypt’s Port ANKARA: Turkish Prime of Kurdish politicians late last Said was in flames yesterday, as Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan month to discuss the negotiations. fresh fighting erupted between has accused the country’s The transcript, confirmed by police and protesters in the res- media of trying to undermine a party to the talks, revealed the tive canal city. a nascent Kurdish peace proc- apparent frustrations of Ocalan — The blaze, which started in the ess and called on journalists to in captivity since 1999 — with the ground floor of the security head- censor themselves if they love frail peace process and a warn- quarters, sent plumes of smoke their nation, prompting a rare ing to the government against any into the air while clashes contin- rebuke from a normally compli- attempt to dictate terms. ued in the streets surrounding the ant press. “If you are going to conduct this building. In a heated public speech kind of journalism, then we don’t Rescue services could not reach over the weekend, Erdogan con- need your journalism. We want a the area, witnesses said, as anger demned an article in the daily service to this nation. Whoever mounted in the city where a cam- Milliyet newspaper, which pub- is working to sabotage this reso- paign of civil disobedience entered lished a transcript of a meeting lution process is against me, my its third week. last month between militant chief friends and the government,” The unrest, fuelled by January Abdullah Ocalan and Kurdish Erdogan said. death sentences handed down to politicians. It was not the first time the football fans over deadly riots, Ocalan, head of the outlawed often fiery Turkish leader has boiled over again overnight when Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), berated the press in a country clashes left six people — including has been holding peace talks with which rights groups say has one three policemen — dead. Turkey since October on his of the worst records for media The interior ministry said in a island prison and met a delegation freedom. REUTERS statement that unknown assail- ants had randomly attacked police and army personnel in the city “with the aim creating sedition Protesters stand by an Egyptian police car set ablaze on Cairo’s Six of October Bridge yesterday. and divisions” between both, after unconfirmed reports that the Somali militants urge Kenyan army had fired on policemen. It urged residents of Port Said Two policemen died from gun- riot last year, triggering a series them. Last year’s football riot “to stay away from groupings near shots to the head and neck and a of protests and eventually a civil which killed 74 people, mostly Muslims to boycott election government buildings.” third died of his wounds later yes- disobedience campaign. supporters of a visiting Cairo Earlier thousands had taken to terday, the interior ministry said. Traffic in the Suez Canal, a team, exacerbated Port Said’s NAIROBI: Somali militants developed in Kenya and have the streets for the funeral of the Of the 586 people injured in the vital waterway for global com- isolation, residents of the city say. linked to Al Qaeda urged the least facilities. You have been three civilians killed in the over- confrontations, 16 had been hit merce, has not been disrupted, Egypt has been gripped by Muslims to boycott Kenya’s misled by the false promises night clashes chanting against with live rounds and 27 with bird- the canal authority said. nationwide unrest in the past few presidential election yester- of the presidential candidates the police and Islamist President shot, according to Ahmed Sultan, The interior ministry said it months, with protesters taking to day and wage jihad against and the same empty promises Mohammed Mursi. head of emergency services. decided to move the prisoners the streets to denounce Islamist the Kenyan military which are repeated on every election “The interior ministry (offi- A security official said that from Port Said because it wanted President Mohamed Morsi for sent troops into neighbouring campaign,” Al Shabaab said in a cials) are cowards!” the angry during the night protesters threw to avoid unrest. failing to address political and Somalia in late 2011 to help statement cited by the US-based mourners chanted and called on petrol bombs and stones at the The court verdict, expected on economic concerns. crush the rebels. SITE service yesterday. Mursi to “leave”. police station in Port Said, where Saturday, is for 39 defendants in a Opponents accuse Mursi — The Islamist Al Shabaab rebel “What is incumbent upon you Aside from the six people a general strike entered its third case which has already resulted in elected in June last year after a group told Kenyan Muslims, who now is to ... boycott the Kenyan killed, hundreds were injured week, and the police responded the death sentences for 21 others, turbulent period of military rule account for about 11 percent of elections and wage jihad against in the overnight fighting after with tear gas. which sparked clashes that killed — of failing the revolution that the population, that the Nairobi the Kenyan military for they the authorities decided to move The city has witnessed unrest at least 40 people. brought him to the presidency government treated them as cannot afford to continue fight- prisoners awaiting a verdict over since January when a court sen- Residents of Port Said and and of consolidating power in the foreigners and second-class ing an invasion abroad as well as alleged involvement in a deadly tenced Port Said residents to other canal cities have long com- hands of his Muslim Brotherhood citizens. an internal conflict at home,” it football riot last year. death over a football stadium plained that Cairo marginalises movement. AFP “Your regions are the least said. REUTERS TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09

Soldiers who fled US will ‘empower’ Syrian opposition Syria killed as Iraqis send them back Secretary of State warns Iran that time for talks on nuclear ambitions could run out BAGHDAD: Gunmen killed at least 40 Syrian soldiers RIYADH: US Secretary of and government employees State John Kerry yesterday who were being sent back said in Riyadh that Washington to Syria by Iraqi authori- will work to “empower” Syria’s ties yesterday after fleeing a opposition, while warning arch- rebel advance, Iraqi officials foe Iran that time for talk on said. Tehran’s nuclear ambitions Around 65 Syrian soldiers could run out. and officials had handed them- Kerry, on his first tour to selves over to Iraqi authorities the region since becoming the on Friday after rebels seized Secretary of State, also met over the Syrian side of the border lunch with Palestinian presi- crossing at the Syrian frontier dent Mahmoud Abbas, who flew town of Yaarabiya. in to Riyadh unannounced late Iraqi authorities were tak- on Sunday. Kerry stressed that ing them to another bor- there was no question of arming der crossing further south the Syrian opposition, even as his in Iraq’s Sunni Muslim Saudi counterpart Prince Saud stronghold, Anbar province, Al Faisal insisted on the right of when unidentified gunmen Syrians to self-defence. ambushed their convoy, a sen- The US will continue to work ior Iraqi official said. with its “friends to empower the No group has claimed Syrian opposition,” Kerry told responsibility. reporters during a joint press The fighting on Iraq’s bor- conference with the Saudi foreign der illustrates how Syria’s minister. near-two-year conflict, with US Secretary of State John Kerry (right) gestures towards Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (left) during a meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Saud, whose country along with its sectarian overtones, could Riyadh, yesterday. other Gulf states is widely believed spill over its borders, drag- to be supplying weapons to the ging in neighbouring countries Syrian rebels, said Saudi Arabia and further destabilising the could not ignore the brutality region. Assad is inflicting on his people, Iraq’s Anbar province is even after two years of escalating Kerry meets Gulf ministers in Saudi experiencing renewed dem- violence that has claimed 70,000 onstrations by Sunnis against lives. RIYADH: John Kerry yester- Council (GCC) — Saudi Arabia, civilians and end bloodshed, pre- Al Khalifa said at Sunday opening the government of Shia Prime He said that history had never day held talks with his counter- the UAE, Oman and Qatar, offi- serve Syria’s unity and its stabil- session. Sheikh Khaled criticised Minister Nouri Al Maliki over seen a government use strategic parts from six Gulf monarchies cials said. ity and achieve the Syrian people’s “the international community’s what they see as the margin- missiles against its own people. on the war in Syria and Iran’s The GCC ministers met among legitimate demands.” They also lack of serious and rapid action” alisation of their minority “This cannot go on,” he said. “He disputed atomic programme, on themselves on Sunday and issued demanded “helping Syrians towards resolving the two-year and misuse of terrorism laws has lost all authority.” his first visit to the Gulf as US a joint statement pledging their defend themselves... against the conflict which the United Nations against them. Syria’s rebels “Saudi Arabia will do every- secretary of state. support for a negotiated settle- regime’s brutal assault.” says has killed more than 70,000 are mostly Sunnis fighting to thing within its capacity, and we Kerry, who flew in to the Saudi ment in Syria based on an offer The six ministers opened their people. topple President Bashar Al do believe that what is happening capital late on Sunday after a of talks by Syrian opposition chief Sunday meeting with criticism In a news conference after Assad’s government, domi- in Syria is a slaughter, a slaugh- two-day trip to Cairo, kicked Ahmed Moaz Al Khatib. They against world inaction on Syria the Sunday meeting, Sheikh nated by Alawites, an offshoot ter of innocents” he said. “We off with an early morning meet- also demanded a binding UN and Iranian “interference” in Khaled said: “We thank Kerry of Shiasm. can’t bring ourselves to remain ing with the foreign ministers of Security Council resolution “that their internal affairs. for America’s commitment with Some 70,000 people have quiet. Morally we have a duty.” Bahrain and Kuwait. would set a clear mechanism and “The Syrian crisis has become regard to the security of the been killed in the civil war The Obama administration has He was later to hold bilateral time framework for the talks”. more of a quasi-catastrophe region and we will share our and nearly a million have fled resisted appeals from the Syrian talks with the foreign ministers The ministers urged the through the unjustified killing concerns about the relationship across its borders, the United opposition to provide it with of the other four monarchies Security Council “to decide, based of the Syrian people,” Bahraini with Iran and the developments Nations says. REUTERS weapons and ammunitions over making up the Gulf Cooperation on the seventh chapter, to protect Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled in Syria.” AFP fears that they could fall into the hands of Islamist extremists who moderate opposition has the abil- Qatar, have supported the rebel- in Riyadh yesterday, Kerry also replied Abbas. Prior to their meet- prisoners on hunger strike,” said have gained support among Assad ity to make sure that the weapons lion against Assad, a staunch ally held talks with Saudi Crown ing, Palestinian envoy in Riyadh, Shawbaki. Palestinian-Israeli opponents. are getting to them and not to the of their regional arch-foe Iran. Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Jamal Al Shawbaki, told the official peace talks have been deadlocked But Kerry sidestepped a ques- wrong hands.” The GCC members are dissat- but had no plans for a meeting Voice of Palestine radio that Abbas for more than two years. Abbas tion about whether the arms However, he added, “there is isfied at the refusal of President with the Custodian of the Two “will present the Palestinian point wants to renew peace talks in tan- reportedly being supplied to the no guarantee that one weapon Barack Obama’s administration Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin of view to the new US administra- dem with a freeze on Jewish settle- rebels by Saudi Arabia and others or another might not fall in the to arm Syrian rebels and its per- Abdulaziz, officials said. tion ahead of Obama’s visit”. ment construction in the occupied were a concern. Instead, he criti- wrong hands.” ceived lenient attitude towards He also met Palestinian presi- Obama is due to meet Israeli and West Bank and in east Jerusalem. cized Iran, Hezbollah and Russia The US has so far refused to Tehran, analysts say. dent Mahmoud Abbas who flew Palestinian leaders in Jerusalem US officials said Israeli Prime by name for giving weaponry to arm rebels locked in a two-year Kerry said his discussions unexpectedly into Riyadh late and Ramallah during a visit on Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had the Assad regime. war against President Bashar Al with Gulf officials had also cov- Sunday. March 20-22. been made aware of the unsched- Asked about reports of arms Assad’s loyalists. ered ongoing talks between world “Well, Mr President I have Abbas, in his first meeting with uled Kerry-Abbas meeting. After being sent to Syria’s rebels from Several oil-rich monarchies of powers and Iran on its nuclear been waiting for this meeting and Kerry, will also “highlight Israeli winding up the Saudi leg of his countries such as Qatar and the six-member Gulf Cooperation programme. I think you have too,” Kerry told violations in Jerusalem, settle- tour, Kerry will head to Abu Dhabi Saudi Arabia, Kerry replied: “The Council, notably Saudi Arabia and During his flurry of meetings Abbas. “That’s right, that’s right,” ments, and the issue of Palestinian and then to Qatar. AP/AFP

Saudi to execute seven today: Rights group

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is kingdom’s Interior Ministry kingdom, the world’s top oil In an interview carried by the scheduled to execute seven was not immediately able to exporter. Saudi Arabia has Saudi Gazette last week, King men today for crimes commit- comment on the report, but has executed 17 people so far this Abdullah’s son Prince Miteb ted when they were juveniles repeatedly said in the past that year, said Amnesty, compared to said the monarch “does not like aged under 18, the British- Saudi Arabia does not practise 82 in 2011 and a similar number to see anybody in this situation based rights group Amnesty torture. last year. (of being condemned to death)”. International said. The kingdom, which follows Capital crimes resulting in However, Miteb added that The seven were sentenced a strict version of shariah has the death sentence last year Abdullah views shariah as being to death in 2009 for an armed been criticised in the West for included murder, armed rob- “above everybody” and holds robbery in 2006, but Amnesty its high number of executions, bery, drug smuggling, sorcery judges in high esteem. quoted the men as saying they inconsistencies in the applica- and witchcraft. In recent years the king, who were tortured into confessions. tion of the law, and its use of In January, United Nations turns 90 this year, has pushed It said the Custodian of the Two public beheading to carry out Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for reform of Saudi Arabia’s Holy Mosques King Abdullah death sentences. expressed dismay at the behead- judiciary to make sentencing bin Abdulaziz ratified their sen- The last time the kingdom ing of a Sri Lankan maid con- more standardised and improve tences in February. executed so many people at once victed of murdering a baby. training for judges, changes that “They have since said they was in October 2011, when eight The UN Office of the High have been fiercely contested by were severely beaten, denied Bangladeshi men were put to Commissioner for Human some conservative clerics. food and water, deprived of sleep, death for an armed robbery in Rights said in a 2006 report He has also encouraged the forced to remain standing for 24 which a guard was killed. that it was “deeply alarmed” at families of murder victims to hours and then forced to sign The seven are from the the imposition of capital punish- accept blood money instead of ‘confessions’,” said Amnesty. southern province of Asir, one ment by Saudi judges for crimes insisting on execution. A spokesman for the of the least developed in the committed before the age of 18. REUTERS

Israel opens Palestinians-only bus lines in West Bank JERUSALEM: Israel Jessica Montell, director of the the West Bank. “Furthermore, affect Palestinian travel on launched two Palestinians- B’Tselem rights group, said on the Ministry of Transport is not regular buses. Herzl Ben-Zvi, only bus lines in the occu- Army Radio. “This is simply authorised to prevent any pas- mayor of the Karnei Shomron pied West Bank yesterday, a racism. Such a plan cannot be senger from using public trans- settlement, said the new lines step an Israeli rights group justified with claims of security port services.” “answer the needs of all pas- described as racist and which needs or overcrowding.” Rights groups, however, sengers — Palestinians and the Transport Ministry called The Transport Ministry voiced concern that Israeli settlers” because they would an improvement in service. said the two new lines would police at checkpoints in the relieve overcrowding on buses The left-wing Haaretz “improve public transport West Bank would remove in the area. daily reported the ministry services for Palestinian work- Palestinian passengers from Israel captured the West opened the lines, to be used ers entering Israel” and replace regular bus lines and order Bank in the 1967 Middle East by Palestinian labourers trav- pirate buses charging them them to use the new ones. war and maintains a network elling between the West Bank “exorbitant prices”. Police spokesman Micky of roadblocks in the territory. and Israel, after Jewish settlers “The Ministry of Transport Rosenfeld said all Palestinians Palestinians seek the West complained that Palestinians has not issued any instruc- returning to the West Bank Bank, along with the Gaza Strip on mixed buses were a security tion or prohibition that pre- would be searched for stolen and East Jerusalem, for a future risk. vents Palestinian workers from property, describing this as a state - a claim supported by “Creating separate bus travelling on public transport routine Israeli precaution. most world powers, which view lines for Israeli Jews and in Israel nor in Judea and He said he did not know the settlements as illegal. Palestinians is a revolting plan,” Samaria,” it said, referring to whether and how this might REUTERS TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL 19 killed as Kenyans vote for president Secessionist group in coastal region launches attacks; police retaliate amid fears of ethnic violence

MOMBASA, KENYA: As — who had been shot to death, accept the election outcome with- millions of Kenyans waited in most likely by police. out violence: “This nation will long lines to vote in the nation’s An AP tally of the violence have a president and that presi- presidential election yester- found that four police and three dent will represent all Kenyans.” day, officials said a secession- MRC members died in Mombasa, Official results are not expected ist group on the coast launched while seven MRC members, six until today or tomorrow. A run- multiple attacks which killed government officials and two off between the top presidential 19 people. civilians died in the three attacks contenders is likely in April, Yesterday was Kenya’s first near the coastal city of Kilifi, all unless one unexpectedly captures presidential election since more according to police and mortuary more than 50 percent of ballots than 1,000 people died in pos- officials. from among the pool of eight telection attacks five years ago, The violence in the Mombasa candidates. and officials have been work- area is separate from the eth- Yesterday’s secessionist vio- ing to prevent a repeat of the nic violence that could break out lence is different from the tribal, massive violence. related to election results, and postelection violence experienced A group of 200 secession- which was so deadly after the five years ago. The ethnic violence ists armed with guns, machetes 2007 vote. could still break out if Odinga and bows and arrows set a trap The country’s top two presi- or Kenyatta supporters feel for police in the coastal city dential candidates condemned their candidate was cheated out of Mombasa in the pre-dawn the Mombasa attacks. Prime of a win. hours, Inspector General David Minister Raila Odinga called it a In Kilifi, Nichodemus Shanga Kimaiyo said. “heinous act of aggression” during had hoped to vote at a primary Four police were hacked to a historic exercise. Deputy Prime school, but an MRC attack death with machetes, coast police Minister Uhuru Kenyatta said he left several bodies lying on the boss Aggrey Adoli said. was discouraged by the news but ground, and he said officials didn’t The secessionist group — the he was sure the security situation immediately remove them. Voting Mombasa Republican Council would be brought under control. officials fled. — had threatened election day Authorities flew in an addi- “I feel very bad because it is my attacks, and Kimaiyo said police tional 400 police officers to right to vote. We came here at were planning a raid “that will see Mombasa to increase security. 5am asking them to remove the the end of the MRC.” The United Nations restricted the bodies so that we can vote, but The MRC believes Kenya’s movement of its staff on the coast they didn’t do that and it has cre- coast should be an independent because of the violence. ated a lot of tension and fear,” he country. Their cause, which is not “People with ill intent must be Voters stand in a long queue just before the close of voting in Nairobi, yesterday. said, noting that residents fear a defined by religion, is fuelled by stopped by all means,” Kimaiyo police backlash. The chairman of the belief that political leaders said, explaining that he directed frustrated in the election’s early old voters’ register. Odinga voted at an elementary the Independent Electoral and in Nairobi have taken the coast’s police to use their guns to stop hours. Anti-fraud computers George Kimoi, 42, waited two school and acknowledged what he Boundaries Commission, Ahmed land for themselves, impoverish- further loss of life, a sensitive that scan thumbprints to iden- hours to vote. He said it was the called voting challenges. He said Issack Hassan, urged voters not ing indigenous residents. directive given that police killed tify registered voters were used first time he felt his ballot would poll workers were taking action to to be intimidated by the violence. In addition to the attack in more than 400 people during the for the first time and appeared actually count, after the govern- “remedy the anomalies.” He also told poll workers they Mombasa, police blamed the 2007-08 post-election violence. to be greatly slowing the process. ment upgraded ballot security “Never before have Kenyans must ensure voters don’t spend MRC for three deadly attacks in Police said the MRC were try- Equipment broke down in some measures in the wake of allega- turned up in such numbers,” he hours in line, a common problem. nearby Kilifi. An Associated Press ing to suppress voter turnout, polling stations and power black- tions the last vote was rigged. said. “I’m sure they’re going to Many polling stations were kept reporter visited a morgue and saw but the long lines seen across the outs made the technology useless “I felt that it was important to vote for change this election.” open after the 5pm closing time four dead young men wearing red country also formed in Mombasa. in others. Many voting officials wait and vote today because we Kenyatta gave a conciliatory to accommodate late starts and bandanas — a sign of the MRC Those lines left voters had to resort to going through the need a new government,” he said. message intended to help Kenyans long lines. AP

Upper House Bulgarian who self-immolated dies impeaches Czech SOFIA: A Bulgarian protester streets last month in anger over living standards to ending the Cardinals seek to who set himself on fire last high utility bills, triggering the persistent graft that has dogged president Klaus month has died, the second right-of-centre cabinet’s resig- governments since before the fatality in nationwide rallies nation and the calling of a new country joined the EU in 2007. PRAGUE: The Upper House against high power bills and election in May. But they have no joint list go behind leaks of the Czech parliament graft that have toppled a gov- Media and demonstrators of demands and have rejected impeached outgoing President ernment and fuelled demands have compared Goranov to Jan an offer by President Plamen Vaclav Klaus for treason yes- for political change. Palach, the Czech student who Plevnielev to include them in VATICAN CITY: Catholic car- wider implications from the terday, a dramatic but largely Giving new impetus to daily set himself on fire in 1969 in pro- a public council overseeing the dinals yesterday pressed for scandal. symbolic act that nevertheless demonstrations in their fourth test at the Soviet occupation of work of an interim government more information about the “I was a missionary bishop shows just how deeply the euro- week, Bulgarians prepared to the former Czechoslovakia, and because they did not agree to “Vatileaks” scandal at the start for a long time and I thought of sceptic leader angered his left- stage memorial services for Mohamed Bouazizi, the Tunisian the participation of wealthy of a series of Vatican meetings those small communities in North wing opponents. Plamen Goranov, a 36-year-old street vendor whose self-immo- businessmen. to prepare for a conclave to Africa. I don’t think they care a The decision by the Senate, artist who set himself alight at lation triggered protests that Yesterday, a citizen initiative elect a new Pope after Benedict lot about our little internal prob- dominated by the left, refers the the city hall in the Black Sea spread across much of the Arab called “The Eagle Bridge”, after XVI’s sudden resignation. lems,” he said. president to the Constitutional port of Varna on February 20. world. Bulgarian activists with a span over Sofia’s canal where “If we’re going to make a good The Vatican meetings will set Court which will rule on whether Goranov has become a symbol differing aims are pursuing the rallies began, said it would decision, I’m sure we’ll have to the date for the start of the con- he violated the constitution by for the hundreds of thousands of issues ranging from nationalising hold a conference on Saturday. have some information on that,” clave later this month and help granting an amnesty to more than protesters who first took to the power distributors and raising REUTERS South African cardinal Wilfrid identify cardinals who could 6,000 prisoners serving short jail Napier told reporters on the side- become the next leader of the terms, as well as for other acts. lines of the meetings. world’s 1.2 billion Catholics. The Upper House voted 38 to Asked whether there would “We’re going to take as much 30 in a closed session to bring have to be a reform of the Roman time as we need to think about charges against the president. Mine worth its salt Curia, the central government of what sort of Pope the Church The biggest punishment he the Catholic Church, Napier said: needs now,” French cardinal faces, if found guilty, is losing “That naturally is going to come Andre Vingt-Trois said. office, his presidential pension into the picture as well.” “I’d be keen to have a polyglot, and the right to stand again in French cardinal Philippe a man of faith, a man of dialogue... future. Barbarin said: “We want to know The new Pope will certainly have That is mild given Klaus’s sec- what’s going on inside the Vatican, to confront problems within the ond and final consecutive term which has been a bit knocked Curia.” runs out on Thursday. about in recent years.” The meetings are expected to But it would be a blow to Hundreds of confidential papal last all week and are also a rare the legacy of the right-wing documents alleging instances of chance for all the world’s cardi- economist who has proved self- corruption and intrigue in the nals to get together and to discuss conscious about his image, espe- administration of the Vatican the many different challenges fac- cially compared to the reverence were leaked to the press last year, ing the Catholic Church. enjoyed by his late predecessor causing huge embarrassment. “The key themes the Church Vaclav Havel. Benedict’s personal butler was will have to face are inter-reli- REUTERS convicted in the case but some gious issues and poverty,” Vingt- Vatican watchers say there may Trois said. Napier said: “My Zimbabwe rejects have been a wider conspiracy and priorities would be... reconcilia- an inquiry by three cardinals into tion, renewal of the faith so peo- election monitors the affair has been kept secret. ple understand what the faith is Vatican spokesman Federico about and rebuilding the cred- HARARE: Zimbabwe’s gov- Lombardi implied there would ibility of the Church.” Benedict’s ernment yesterday rebuffed be no general discussion on eight-year pontificate was often calls for international observers “Vatileaks”, saying that cardinals overshadowed by Vatican intrigue to be allowed to monitor crunch could ask fellow cardinals “for any and scandals in Europe and North upcoming elections. information they believe useful.” America over abuse by paedophile “Zimbabwe will not allow People play badminton inside Praid Salt Mine, 350km north of Bucharest, yesterday. A part of the mine is open Spanish cardinal Carlos Amigo priests going back decades. countries that imposed sanc- to tourists and also used as therapy for respiratory problems like bronchitis or asthma, having a highly ionised Vallejo however played down AFP tions on Zimbabwe to participate air and a higher atmospheric pressure than that on the surface. as observers,” at the election — slated for July — Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi was quoted by local radio as saying. His comment would rule out the participation of European, Amid controversies, Putin completes one year US or other western observers in monitoring the crucial poll, amid MOSCOW: Russian President to challenge Putin on any issue. of young opposition stars — many “Because his position weak- State Department — a charge ominous signs of political violence Vladimir Putin marked a year He had been serving as former making their name through social ened, his politics hardened,” that only further marred rela- ahead of the vote. since his election to a third term president Dmitry Medvedev’s networks — who dreamed of chal- INDEM political research insti- tions already hurt by Moscow’s Mumbengegwi instead called yesterday riding a tide of popu- prime minister for four years lenging Putin in 2018. tute analyst Yury Korgunyuk said decision to veto UN sanctions for sanctions to be removed larity despite his crackdown on before the two agreed to swap The Russian leader’s response in an interview. against Syrian President Bashar “unconditionally and in their political freedoms and tense ties seats in an arrangement that was swift upon his election: the “As our society splintered, Al Assad. Yet this was only the totality,” according to Spot FM. with the United States. could theoretically extend Putin’s Kremlin rammed through parlia- Putin acted to minimise the start of the diplomatic sparring. The European Union last The 60-year-old former KGB rule to over two decades. ment laws threatening protest- emerging threat,” Humanitarian The two sides’ relations very soon month eased sanctions against spy won an overwhelming 63.6 Putin’s election was preceded ers with huge fines and branding and Political Studies Institute began plumbing the lows they Zimbabwe, but the United States percent of the vote in March 4 by the first tide of large anti- groups with funding from abroad analyst Vladimir Slatinov agreed. experienced during Putin’s first has said it will only end restric- elections that included a weak Kremlin protests in the post- as “foreign agents” — the local Putin blamed the protests stint in power between 2000 and tions after more reforms. AFP field of candidates who refused Soviet era and included the rise term for a spy. directly on funding from the US 2008. AFP TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Obama picks Cabinet in climate change push Congress urged to embrace mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or face executive action

WASHINGTON: US President cost-effective ways to keep our air environmental community. Barack Obama announced his clean and our economy growing,” “Ernest Moniz ... has a history nominees to lead a new push to Obama said at the White House, of supporting dirty and danger- tackle climate change yesterday, ribbing McCarthy for her Boston ous energy sources like gas and choosing an air quality expert accent. “She’s earned a reputa- nuclear power with polluting part- to run the Environmental tion as a straight shooter. She wel- ners including BP, Shell, Chevron Protection Agency and a comes different points of views,” and Saudi Aramco,” said clean nuclear physicist to head the he said. energy advocate Courtney Abrams Department of Energy. Environmentalists and con- of Environment America. Obama selected EPA veteran gressional Democrats largely wel- “We are concerned about the Gina McCarthy to replace Lisa comed her nomination, but she is Department of Energy’s priori- Jackson as EPA administrator likely to face tough grilling from ties given this track record and and MIT scientist Ernest Moniz Republicans, who have accused hope Moniz will focus on clean, to take over for Steven Chu as her of promoting policies that renewable ways to get our energy Energy secretary. Obama also cost jobs. that don’t put our families and our announced his choice to lead the Moniz, meanwhile, would environment in harm’s way.” White House budget office. become the go-to person for One of the first decisions fac- The president, whose effort to Obama’s goal of reducing US ing the Energy Department is establish a cap-and-trade system dependence on foreign oil and whether to allow exports of natu- for carbon emissions failed in his establishing America as a leader ral gas to more countries. first term, prominently raised in clean energy technology. A 2011 MIT study on the future the issue of global warming in his A former undersecretary of of natural gas, chaired by Moniz, Inaugural and State of the Union energy during the Clinton admin- said the United States should not addresses earlier this year. istration, Moniz is currently direc- “erect barriers to natural gas He urged Congress to embrace tor of the Massachusetts Institute imports or exports.” a market-based mechanism to of Technology’s Energy Initiative, Many manufacturers and some reduce greenhouse gas emissions a research group that gets fund- lawmakers are concerned more US President Barack Obama announces his nominees (from left) MIT scientist Ernest Moniz to head the Energy or face executive action from his ing from industry heavyweights exports will mean higher natu- Department, Gina McCarthy to run the Environmental Protection Agency, and Sylvia Mathews Burwell as the next administration to achieve the including BP, Chevron, and Saudi ral gas prices for consumers and White House budget director, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, yesterday. same goal. Aramco for academic work on companies. Moniz is likely to be McCarthy, currently the assist- projects aimed at reducing green- questioned about the issue during ant EPA administrator for the house gases. his Senate confirmation hearing. Walmart Foundation, to become until after the March 1 deadline Burwell will be instrumental in EPA Office of Air and Radiation, “Ernie knows that we can pro- The long-awaited announce- director of the White House for massive spending cuts known steering the budget process that has worked for Democrats and duce more energy and grow our ment of McCarthy and Moniz budget office. as “sequestration.” will encapsulate Obama’s stated Republicans in the past, includ- economy while still taking care came as Obama filled out his All three nominations require Obama and congressional lead- goal of reducing the US deficit ing Obama’s 2012 presidential of our air, our water and our cli- second term Cabinet with a top confirmation by the Senate. ers failed to reach an agreement to while investing in areas such as opponent, former Massachusetts mate,” Obama said. economic official as well. Obama Obama appears to have delayed delay those cuts on Friday, threat- education and clean energy tech- Governor Mitt Romney. Moniz’s selection was greeted announced his choice of Sylvia some Cabinet appointments, whose ening other policy priorities in the nology that are necessary for US “Gina has focused on practical, with less enthusiasm from the Mathews Burwell, head of the names were well known for weeks, president’s second term agenda. competitiveness. REUTERS

Obama is not Ireland police foil IRA-style mortar attack ‘bluffing’ about BELFAST: Northern Ireland police foiled an attempt to fire Iran, Biden tells mortar bombs at a police sta- tion overnight in what would have been the first attack of its pro-Israeli group kind in the United Kingdom since a peace deal ended the WASHINGTON: US Vice Irish Republican Army’s cam- President Joe Biden told paign of violence. America’s biggest pro-Israel Officers said they were work- lobbying organisation yester- ing on the assumption smaller day that President Barack Irish nationalist militant Obama is “not bluffing” about groups were behind the planned the US’ determination to stop assault, though no group claimed Iran from getting a nuclear responsibility. weapon. Police said they intercepted “The president of the United a white van on the outskirts of States cannot and does not bluff. Londonderry on Sunday at 20.15 President Barack Obama is not Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II leaves GMT carrying four mortar bombs bluffing,” he told the American King Edward VII Hospital in London, that were minutes from being Israel Public Affairs Committee yesterday. deployed. After 100 homes were (AIPAC) in a speech to its annual evacuated, army sappers dis- policy conference. armed the bombs. Forensic officers examine a van on the Letterkenny road in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, yesterday. “We’re not looking for war. Queen leaves “We could have been look- We’re ready to negotiate peace- ing at mass murder today if Army after it declared a ceasefire, have been the first by dissi- “It raises the question of how fully. But all options including those devices had exploded and still stage sporadic gun and bomb dent nationalist using multiple much of this is coming from military force are on the table,” London hospital hit their intended target,” Chief attacks. The threat has intensi- mortars, a police spokesman former IRA operatives who may said Biden. Superintendent Stephen Cargan fied in the past four years as frus- said. While police described the be passing that on to a new gen- “While that window is closing, after 24-hr stay told journalists. “It was certainly tration with the power-sharing mortars as “crude home-made eration,” he said. we believe there is still time and sophisticated and worrying in government established under devices,” they said they could have Police said they believed the space (for diplomacy),” he added. LONDON: Britain’s Queen terms of the capability,” he said. the 1998 peace deal has grown caused extensive damage. van, which had a hole in its roof The US and many of its allies Elizabeth II smiled as she left a A 1998 peace deal largely ended on the fringes of the nationalist Police in Belfast last week to allow the mortars to be fired suspect Iran may be using its London hospital yesterday fol- more than three decades of vio- community. seized an RPG 7 rocket launcher from inside, had crossed the bor- civil nuclear program as a cover lowing a 24-hour stay, having lence in the British-controlled Irish nationalist militants and warhead, a weapon more der from neighbouring county to develop atomic weapons, a been assessed for gastroenteri- province between mainly Catholic have used mortars before, most associated with the IRA than the Donegal in north-west Ireland. possibility that Israel, which is tis symptoms. Irish nationalists seeking union spectacularly when the Irish dissidents, who have largely relied It was stopped close to the main regarded as the Middle East’s It was the first time in 10 years with Ireland and predominantly Republican Army in 1991 fired a on home-made explosives. police station in Londonderry, only nuclear power, sees as a that the 86-year-old monarch had Protestant unionists who want shell into the garden on Downing “This sends out message they Northern Ireland’s second city. mortal threat. been admitted to hospital. The ill- to remain part of the United Street, exploding within 50 feet are increasing their capacity, Police arrested three suspects, Biden said that a nuclear ness forced her to call off a visit Kingdom. (15 metres) of then British Prime which is a worrying development,” one in the van, one on an accom- bomb in Iranian hands would be to Rome this week, which would But dissident nationalists, who Minister John Major and his Doctor Jonny Byrne, a lecturer panying motorbike and a third in an “existential threat” to Israel, have been her first overseas trip include former operatives who cabinet. in criminology and politics at the a separate a raid soon after. poses danger to other US allies since October 2011. split from the Irish Republican The thwarted attack would University of Ulster. REUTERS in the Middle East and would The queen was driven away in destabilise the world. a luxury Bentley, accompanied “We have a shared strategic by a protection officer and police commitment. Let me make clear motorcycle outriders. what that commitment is: It is Britain’s head of state is known to prevent Iran from acquiring a for enjoying robust health and Inquiry opens into claims UK troops murdered Iraqis nuclear weapon, period,” he said rarely misses engagements. to loud applause from AIPAC, Illustrating her determined LONDON: A public inquiry the British government in 2009, was some five kilometres north- Naji either on May 14, 2004 after which has gathered some 13,000 spirit, the queen, who first felt into claims that British troops is being chaired by a former High east of Majar Al Kabir on route he had been detained, or on May activists in Washington this unwell on Friday, reportedly pre- murdered and tortured Iraqi Court judge, Thayne Forbes, and six in Iraq,” he said. 15 before his body and that of 19 week. sented a long-service medal to a detainees nine years ago was began with an opening state- “A fierce battle ensued which other Iraqis were handed back to Talks involving Iran and world staff member before being driven shown graphic photographs of ment from counsel to the inquiry involved not only the Argylls but local Iraqi authorities. powers in Kazakhstan about its to hospital on Sunday. alleged victims as it opened in Jonathan Acton Davis. also soldiers from the Princess of Acton Davis said there was a nuclear work ended last week The sovereign, accompanied by London yesterday. Acton Davis said the inquiry Wales Royal Regiment. “stark dispute” between Iraqi and with an agreement to meet her 91-year-old husband Prince The Al Sweady Inquiry, named aimed to identify the circum- “It resulted in many Iraqis British military evidence. again. Philip, had been due to visit Rome after one of the dead men, 19-year- stances of the deaths of 28 Iraqi being killed and in two British Some 15 Iraqis will travel to But Western officials said Iran tomorrow and Thursday, but all old Hamid Al Sweady, will exam- men. soldiers being wounded.” Britain to give evidence to the had yet to do anything concrete her engagements for this week ine allegations British soldiers The inquiry was shown pho- He said enemy dead would inquiry later this month, includ- to allay their concerns about its have now been called off. unlawfully killed detainees after tographs of the dead, and Acton usually have been left on the bat- ing Hamid Al Sweady’s uncle nuclear aspirations, and Israeli The royals had been scheduled a gun battle at a checkpoint in Davis said their death certificates tlefield, but British soldiers were Khuder Al Sweady and several leaders have warned that Tehran to receive a ceremonial welcome, Maysan Province, southern Iraq, gave causes of death including apparently given an order to iden- other detainees. is using the negotiations to buy meet Italian President Giorgio in May 2004. gunshot wounds, signs of torture, tify the dead to try to find a man An MoD spokesman said: “The time to advance their nuclear Napolitano and attend a pri- It will also look into allega- broken bones and mutilation, thought to be involved in the mur- MoD takes all allegations of abuse programme. vate lunch, before visiting the tions that detainees captured at while several had missing eyes der of six British soldiers in 2003. extremely seriously, which is pre- The US, China, France, Pantheon monument. the same time were mistreated and one man’s penis was missing. As part of that order, the bod- cisely why we decided that the Russia, Britain and Germany No announcement has been at a British base, Camp Abu Naji Acton Davis said the inquiry ies of 20 Iraqis were taken back Al Sweady allegations should be offered modest relief from eco- made on whether the Rome visit (CAN), and at a detention facility was ordered after five Iraqi men to Camp Abu Naji, and nine men independently investigated. nomic sanctions in return for will be rescheduled. There was at Shaibah Logistics Base between claimed violations of their human were detained, he said. “This public inquiry has our full Iran reining in its most sensitive widespread support for the queen May and September that year. rights at London’s High Court. “It was the claimants’ case that support and we will co-operate nuclear activity but made clear in the British press yesterday. Britain’s Ministry of Defence “The claim related to events not all of the 20 died on the bat- with it fully.” that no breakthrough was in the The Sun said that while hun- (MoD) vigorously denies the alle- which began on May 14, 2004, tlefield, and that at least one of It is the second public inquiry offing quickly. dreds of thousands of Britons take gations, arguing the inquiry is when Iraqi insurgents ambushed them was murdered by a British into allegations of abuse by British Obama will visit Israel before sneaky days off sick with stomach “premature and disproportionate” vehicles belonging to the Argyll soldier after he had been returned soldiers in Iraq, following one that the Jewish holiday of Passover, complaints, Queen Elizabeth was as there is no evidence to support and Southern Highlanders close alive to CAN,” Acton Davis said. concluded in 2011 which examined which begins the week of March “the one person who you can be the case. to a permanent vehicle check- It is claimed that Hamid Al the death of an Iraqi man, Baha 25, Biden said. sure” doesn’t. AFP The inquiry, first ordered by point known as Danny Boy which Sweady was killed at Camp Abu Mousa, in 2003. AFP REUTERS TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES

Taiwanese nuclear plants to face OECD Terrified Malaysians flee Sabah stress safety tests TAIPEI: International experts Manila urges ‘maximum tolerance’ for intruders; Google and Philippine sites hacked will run safety checks on Taiwan’s three nuclear power KUALA LUMPUR: Terrified plants as parts of efforts to reas- Malaysians fled a town where sure the public following Japan’s the bodies of gunmen lay in nuclear meltdowns two years the streets yesterday as the ago, officials said yesterday. Philippines urged its neighbour Six experts from the to show “maximum tolerance” Nuclear Energy Agency of the for Islamic Filipino intruders. Organisation for Economic Twenty-seven people have been Co-operation and Development reported killed after two deadly (OECD) arrived yesterday at the shootouts in Malaysia’s state of invitation of Taiwan’s nuclear Sabah on Borneo island, where regulator. militants landed on February 12 “They will visit the three and claimed the state on behalf nuclear power plants while of the heir to a former Philippine browsing the related documents,” sultanate. Peng Chih-wei, an official from Convoys of armed vehicles Taiwan’s Atomic Energy Council, moved towards affected areas said, adding that a draft report after Prime Minister Najib Razak, is expected to be completed by whose government was scram- March 15. bling to contain Malaysia’s worst “They will serve as an inde- security crisis in years, ordered pendent and unbiased third party strengthened security in the state. in our efforts to enhance nuclear Dispatching Foreign Secretary safety in Taiwan.” Albert del Rosario to Malaysia, Peng said the stress tests would Manila called the deaths “deeply assess a range of issues including regrettable” and urged “maxi- the plants’ ability to withstand mum tolerance in dealing with Coffins of Malaysian police personnel killed on Saturday in Semporna in Sabah state, are carried after their arrival at an airport in Subang, outside Kuala earthquakes and the capability of the remaining members” of the Lumpur, yesterday. technicians to respond to major sultan’s group. natural disasters. It prodded Malaysia for more hours away from Tanduo by road, as he heaved a bag full of clothes claim to Sabah, which was once a mystery. Malaysia’s opposition information on the confused sit- in which six police and six gun- onto a lorry. controlled by the now-defunct has pounced, accusing the govern- Japanese father uation on the ground and asked men died. Schools, stores and government sultanate. ment of incompetence, failure to that a Philippine naval ship be Another gunman was beaten to offices were closed in the town but Supporters of the Filipino protect national sovereignty and dies sheltering girl allowed to provide humanitar- death by villagers. there was little sign of a security intruders took their campaign to failure to release timely informa- ian, consular and medical help to Federal police chief Ismail presence despite the shootout and cyberspace yesterday, manipulat- tion on the crisis. from blizzard besieged intruders. Omar was quoted by the national fleeing population. ing Google listings to post a mes- Sabah has seen previous TOKYO: A father froze to An estimated 100-300 Filipino news agency Bernama as saying The affair has exposed lax sage backing the incursion. smaller cross-border raids from death while sheltering his nine- intruders have been holed up for yesterday that the situation was border security and was likely to A Google search for “Sabah” Islamic militants and other ban- year-old daughter from severe three weeks, surrounded by police “under control”. fuel long-standing complaints in came back with a results page dits from the Philippines, but weekend blizzards that swept and the military, in the remote But residents were fleeing the Sabah that massive illegal immi- that displayed a “Wikipedia” nothing of this scale. northern Japan, two years after farming village of Tanduo. normally laid-back seaside town, gration has fuelled lawlessness, entry preview calling Malaysian The Sulu sultanate’s power her mother died, reports said The standoff erupted in a where the foul-smelling corpses of just as Najib is due to call elec- control of the state “illegitimate”. faded about a century ago but it yesterday. shootout on Friday that killed 12 three men still lay in the streets. tions in coming months. A number of Philippine sites has continued to receive nominal Mikio Okada died as he tried intruders and two policemen. Residents said they were gun- Followers of the 74-year-old also were reportedly defaced by Malaysian payments for Sabah to protect his only child Natsune Fears of a wider guerrilla infil- men killed by police. “Our peace- Manila-based Islamic leader, pro-Malaysia hackers. under a lease deal inherited from against winds of up to 109 kilo- tration spread after a Saturday ful town has become a nightmare Jamalul Kiram III, say the gun- The exact identities of the gun- European colonial powers. metres (68 miles) per hour, as gunbattle in Semporna, a town to live in,” Julasri Yaakob, 38, said men are ready to die to defend his men and their numbers remain AGENCIES temperatures plunged to minus 6 Celsius (21 Fahrenheit). Okada was one of at least nine people killed in a spate of snow- related incidents as blizzards South Korean ‘comfort swept across Hokkaido island, police said yesterday. women’ sue far-right 4 die as fresh violence, strike hit Dhaka The latest confirmed victim was the 76-year-old, Kuniko Jingi, Japan rock band DHAKA: A petrol bomb virtually deserted, as were other who was found lying on the street SEOUL: A group of South exploded outside the hotel where inter-city highways. late Saturday. Korean women forced into India’s president was staying in Paramilitary border guards As with many others, she wartime sexual slavery by Bangladesh yesterday as four in the southern town of Kolaroa appeared to have perished after Japan filed a defamation more protesters died in a wave shot dead three people as a group leaving her stranded car, a local suit yesterday against a lit- of violence sparked by the pros- of around 1,000 protesters tried police officer said. tle known, far-right Japanese ecution of local Islamist leaders. to attack them with sticks and Mikio Okada’s body was uncov- rock band for calling them Police in the capital Dhaka and bricks, local government official ered by rescuers looking for the prostitutes. hotel employees said nobody was Hossain Shawkat said. pair after relatives raised the A CD containing a song with injured by the explosion just out- In the northwestern town of alarm. Natsune was wearing her the allegedly defamatory lyrics by side the luxury Sonargaon Pan Ullapara, a protester died on father’s jacket and was wrapped the band “Scramble” was mailed Pacific Hotel where President the way to hospital after police in his arms, newspapers and along with a translated text to a Pranab Mukherjee was staying. fired on hundreds of Islamists broadcasters said. shelter caring for so-called “com- “We suspect the cocktail was demanding a halt to the war fort women” in Gwangju, south of hurled from a moving vehicle,” crimes trials. China grave robbers Seoul, last week. Biplob Sarker, a senior policeman As part of their protests, the The song, with an accompa- in Dhaka said, while Mukherjee’s supporters of Jamaat have block- sell dead brides nying video posted on YouTube office called it a “minor explosion”. aded a highway leading to the BEIJING: Four people have in January this year, is titled The violence came as four more popular Cox’s Bazaar tourist been jailed in China for digging “Slashing Koreans” and contains protesters were killed in clashes Activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami vandalise motorcycles in Barisal, region, where several hundred up corpses to sell as brides for inflammatory lyrics, exhort- in the south and northwest as yesterday. holidaymakers have been trapped traditional “ghost marriages” -- ing violence against “the elderly protests continued to rage over including some foreigners. where dead single men are bur- prostitutes”. the conviction of the leaders of pro-Pakistan militias during the Jamaat says the process is an District police chief Azad Miah ied with a wife for the afterlife “Scramble” has no real public Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami by country’s war for independence attempt by the ruling party to said that while more than 3,000 -- local reports said. profile in Japan, and a fan base a local war crimes court. in 1971. settle scores and not about deliv- tourists had been able to leave Marriage is an important part that appears limited to fringe A total of 81 people have been The worst violence in impover- ering justice. since Thursday, mostly through of Chinese society and, while the ultra-right nationalists. killed since the first conviction on ished Bangladesh since independ- The verdicts and the ensuing the local airport, around 700 practice is increasingly rare, it Eight comfort women in their January 21, with sixty-five of the ence comes ahead of elections due violence prompted Jamaat to call remained stranded. is still kept up by some families 80s and 90s, who were “shocked” deaths since the vice-president of in the next 12 months and it has a two-day nationwide strike that The war crimes trials of a dozen whose young adult sons pass away by the song, filed a lawsuit at the Jamaat-e-Islami Delwar Hossain already hit the country’s economy, began Sunday and crippled the leaders from Jamaat and the main before having a chance to wed. Seoul central prosecutors’ office Sayedee was sentenced to hang which the central bank says was country again yesterday. opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Normally it is agreed between against the rock band. last Thursday. already slowing down. Schools and businesses were Party have opened old wounds and the families of the dead, but the “They felt that justice should Jamaat-e-Islami leaders are on Sayedee was found guilty of shut nationwide on the second divided the nation, with the oppo- Xian Evening News stated that be done to put things right,” a trial at the domestic International murder, religious persecution day of the strike. The main road sition accusing the government of the group “stole female corpses spokesman for the women said. Crimes Tribunal, accused of and rape during the 1971 inde- between the capital Dhaka and staging a witch-hunt. and after cleaning them, fabricated AFP colluding with Pakistan and pendence war against Pakistan. the second city Chittagong was AFP medical files for the deceased and sold them for a high price”. A court in the northern prov- Shark fins ince of Shaanxi sentenced the four to terms between 28 and 32 months, it said. Manila leprosy cases not new infections “Took advantage” of the “bad tradition” of ghost marriages in MANILA: While the Lew said that the prevalence Arturo Cunanan, director parts of Shaanxi and neighbour- Philippines is still seeing lep- rate and the “infected pool” for of the Culion Sanitarium and ing Shanxi province, they added. rosy cases in some communities, leprosy cases in the Philippines General Hospital in Palawan, has Citing the court, the report said these cases are actually not new are “continuously decreasing.” He expressed concern that the new the gang made a total of 240,000 infections, the World Health said this is an indication that the cases being recorded now already yuan ($39,000) from the sales of Organisation (WHO) said. new cases came from those who have deformities when diagnosed. 10 corpses. “Leprosy is a very chronic dis- were infected in the past. “These are new cases but you ease. The incubation is very long “Leprosy programme is in could see that they already have Filipinos opt for so the cases that are develop- place in the Philippines and it disability… visible disability,” he ing now are infected a long, long has already achieved the global said. stem cell therapy time ago, 30 to 40 years ago,” elimination target. Now leprosy Cunanan said this means that MANILA: More Filipinos are Woojin Lew, a medical officer for is not a national problem (but it the patients were diagnosed opting for the expensive stem Stop Tuberculosis and Leprosy has) become a sub-national prob- late or when they already have cell therapy to fight diabetes Elimination at the WHO-Western lem. There are several pockets (of deformities in the hands, feet and and other chronic diseases. Pacific Office, told The STAR. cases),” he said. even eyes. Christian Emmanuel Mancao, The Philippines has eliminated The elimination of leprosy He underscored the need for an official of the Philippine Society leprosy as a public health problem around the world was boosted by leprosy patients not only to be for Stem Cell Medicine, yesterday in 1998. However, from 2006 to the free multi-drug therapy being diagnosed early, but also to be said they perform a number of 2011, the country was the lead- donated by pharmaceutical giant treated properly. stem cell treatments daily. ing contributor in leprosy cases Novartis to all leprosy patients According to Lew, WHO is now “In my clinic alone, I do about in Western Pacific. worldwide since 2000 through the looking into chemoprophylaxis as two to three stem cell therapy pro- In 2010, for instance, the WHO. a new intervention against lep- cedures everyday,” Mancao said. Philippines constituted 40.4 per- The multi-drug therapy con- rosy. The treatment has not been Stem-cell therapy is an inter- A Filipino removes fins from blue sharks at a fishing port in General Santos cent of the cases in the region, sists of rifampicin, clofazimin and implemented since there is “no vention strategy that introduces while China accounted for only dapsone. Rifampicin and clofaz- evidence yet globally” concerning new adult stem cells into damaged City, yesterday. Trading of shark fins and conservation of shark species 26.2 percent despite its huge pop- imin were developed by Novartis’ its efficacy. tissue in order to treat disease or were among the issues tackled in a meeting of the CITES in Thailand. ulation of more than one billion. research laboratories in 1980. THE PHILIPPINE STAR injury. AGENCIES TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Thousands bury Karachi bomb victims Toll hits 48; China condemns all forms of terrorism

KARACHI: Thousands of political violence, which last year Parliament is due to dissolve in Pakistanis attended funer- killed more than 2,200 people and two weeks in preparation for elec- als yesterday for victims of a routinely forces closures. tions. But rising violence against bombing that killed 48 people Rights groups have criticised Shias, who make up around 20 in a Shia area of Karachi, the the government for failing to stop percent of the 180 million popula- latest in a series of devastating sectarian murders and bomb- tion, has raised security questions. attacks ahead of elections. ings and bring to justice those “Things could take a turn for The bomb exploded in Abbas responsible. the worse as tensions increase Town as worshippers came out “Terrorists are killing us but ahead of the elections,” The News of mosques, ripping through two the government is not taking any wrote in an editorial yesterday. apartment blocks, setting one of action to eliminate them,” said Last year was the deadliest on them on fire and trapping people Mohsin Ali, 29, a Shia whose elder record for Shias, with more than beneath piles of rubble. Survivors brother was killed. “How long will 400 killed, according to Human are being housed temporarily in we keep losing our children, our Rights Watch. schools. relatives?” The Supreme Court ordered There has been no claim of Survivors could be seen the authorities to come up with responsibility, but suspicion searching for personal belong- a strategy to protect Shias after will likely fall on banned Sunni ings such as jewellery from the bomb attacks in the southwest on extremist organisation Lashkar- rubble of their apartments. January 10 and February 16 killed e-Jhangvi, which has claimed “The government should pro- nearly 200 people. major attacks on Shias in Quetta, vide us with arms to deal with Police on February 22 detained and on the Pakistani Taliban. terrorists if their agencies are Lashkar-e-Jhangvi leader Malik Thousands, including women unable to bring them to book,” Ishaq for 30 days under a law and children, many wearing said Azam Khan, a Sunni, who intended to maintain public black bands around their heads, said he had taken several of the order. beat their chests and heads and dead to hospital. He was detained briefly in 2012 sobbed as eight coffins passed by “We will vote for those who for inciting sectarian hatred, hav- at the start of the first funeral. eliminate these terrorists. We ing been released on bail in 2011 Traffic was thin as educational are not ready to be hoodwinked despite being implicated in dozens institutions, businesses and mar- by empty slogans any more.” of murders. kets closed after the local gov- Officials said around 150 people The Pakistani Taliban have ernment announced one day of were wounded. also increased attacks in recent mourning and Shia groups three Although Abbas Town is a months, leading to fears they Shias shout slogans during a funeral procession for victims in Karachi, yesterday. days of mourning for those killed mainly Shia neighbourhood, could disrupt elections in May. in Sunday’s bombing. officials said some Sunnis were Last month the group pro- About 4,000 people turned out among the dead. posed talks with Islamabad. But rejected. terrorism,” Hua Chunying said. victims, she said. “China supports for the funerals, police said. So far hospitals have released the government insists the mili- In Beijing, a Foreign Ministry China also feels deep sad- the unremitting efforts made by Karachi is Pakistan’s larg- 13 bodies for burial with the rest tants must declare a ceasefire spokeswoman expressed China’s ness for the victims and extends Pakistan’s government and people est city and business hub, but is yet to be formally identified, offi- before coming to the negotiat- condemnation of the blast. its condolences to the injured to safeguard national stability,” plagued by sectarian, ethnic and cials said. ing table, a condition they have “China opposes all forms of and the family members of the she added. AGENCIES

Global conspiracy Fair Afghan polls key to post-2014 peace: Nato behind unrest: Khan ISLAMABAD: Pakistan KABUL: Nato chief Anders the government moved to scrap a Afghanistan to make more However, he added that the Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Fogh Rasmussen called on the UN-backed watchdog in favour of progress fighting corruption, warring faction was the vital part Imran Khan yesterday said Afghan government yesterday a tribunal that could give Karzai boosting women’s rights and of the Taliban. yesterday a larger ‘global to ensure free and fair presi- more control over polls. strengthening the rule of law. Of late, Pakistan’s influential conspiracy’ exists behind dential elections next year after The decision to scrap the “That will be key to maintain politico-religious leader Maulana fuelling sectarian violence in widespread allegations of fraud Electoral Complaints Commission stability within Afghanistan, and Fazlur Rehman met Taliban rep- Pakistan. He put responsibil- marred the 2009 poll. (ECC) has yet to be approved by support within the international resentatives in the Qatari capi- ity of the security situation The credibility of the vote is parliament but was passed by the community,” he said. tal of Doha in an effort to broker on President Asif Ali Zardari seen as crucial to avoiding an council of ministers. Meanwhile, Contrary to their peace talks between the ultra and Pakistan Muslim League escalation of violence as Nato The replacement tribu- public war rhetoric, the Afghan orthodox militia and the Hamid Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian combat troops withdraw next nal would be appointed by the Taliban are considering a politi- Karzai administration. Officially, Nawaz Sharif. “Zardari does year, leaving Afghan soldiers Supreme Court, whose judges are cal solution to over a decade-long both sides denied the meeting. not have the time to pay and police to tackle the Taliban in turn appointed by the presi- conflict in Afghanistan, a senior The Taliban spokesperson has attention to the situation.” insurgency. dent and endorsed by parliament. Taliban leader has revealed. said repeatedly that his group Khan accused the two biggest “It will be vital that these elec- Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen In 2009, the ECC investigated “We must launch a political would not talk to the administra- political parties of making tions are inclusive, and that the thousands of complaints in the movement to achieve the goals tion of President Karzai who, he seat adjustments with ter- process and the outcome are There are no clear front-run- presidential election, most of for which we have made so many says, is a puppet and that the real rorist organisations for the acceptable to the Afghan people,” ners in the election, which is due them related to alleged ballot rig- sacrifices,” said Mullah Agha Jan power-wielder is the US. coming elections and politi- said Secretary General Rasmussen in April 2014, though reports have ging by Karzai’s supporters. Mutasim, former head of the However, political analysts cal parties in Sindh of pro- during an unannounced visit to suggested that some of Karzai’s The watchdog ordered ballots Taliban Political Commission and believe the Taliban are war-weary. viding safe havens to terror Kabul. relatives could stand. from 210 polling stations to be a close confidant of the militia’s “The Taliban are tired of war elements involved in sectar- President Hamid Karzai, who Karzai has repeatedly said he disqualified in a probe that ulti- elusive leader Mullah Omar. and it will be a step in the right ian violence. He urged people has been the head of state since will not interfere in the polls and mately forced Karzai to accept a “The Taliban leaders whose direction if they launch a politi- to vote wisely and not elect the 2001 US-led invasion brought only wants a peaceful handover second-round run-off, until it was names have been removed from cal movement,” Rashid Waziri, an parties with armed militant down the hardline Taliban regime, of power. abandoned when his opponent the UN black list will play an adviser at the Regional Studies wings. is constitutionally barred from International concern over the pulled out. important role in the political Centre of Afghanistan, said yes- running for a third term. election grew late last year when Rasmussen also called for process,” he said. terday. AGENCIES Winter rains a boon for Islamabad Anti-US protest ISLAMABAD: The unprec- edented winter rains this year will have a positive impact Illegal arms a huge on crops and the availabil- ity of water. Zafar Hussain, Executive Engineer of Small Dam Organisation’s irriga- problem in Pakistan tion department, said small dams which were not filled by ISLAMABAD: If the huge number of illegal arms seized the last monsoon rains were over the past five years by law enforcement agencies is any- now filled to capacity after thing to go by, the problem of illegal weapons seems to have the heavy winter rains. Eight become endemic in the country. of the 10 dams in the Potohar A report the federal interior ministry prepared after com- region had spilled over dur- piling data from the four provinces shows that all kinds of ing the winter, he said, add- weapons were recovered from people who had been keeping ing that there will be plenty them without licences. of water for farmers or any According to the report, from 2008 to 2012 Punjab police other purpose for the year. seized 2,700 unlicensed Kalashnikovs, 11,453 rifles, 18,802 guns, 15,715 revolvers and 93,224 pistols. They also seized 18,815 car- Russia concerned bines, 17,577 daggers and 3,808 hand grenades. Over the same period, Sindh police confiscated 2,900 unli- over terror threats censed Kalashnikovs, 43,866 pistols, 3,000 revolvers and over MOSCOW: Russian 1,000 carbines. expressed concern about the As expected, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police seized more illegal Afghan students of Nangarhar University burn a mock US flag during a protest against US Special Forces who alleg- spread of terror threats and weapons than security personnel in the other provinces. edly killed an Afghan student in Maidan Wardak province, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, yesterday. drug trafficking from North The tribal areas in the province are known for producing Afghanistan to neighbour- arms which are supplied across the country. ing Central Asian countries According to the report, police in the province impounded which are Moscow’s part- over 20,000 unlicensed Kalashnikovs, 140,774 pistols/revolvers ners in the Commonwealth and 33,500 shotguns/repeaters over the last five years. Malala, Clinton top Nobel peace candidates of Independent States and During their raids, police also seized nearly 200,000 detona- Collective Security Treaty tors, which are used in bombs. A huge quantity of dynamite OSLO: Pakistani schoolgirl- But thousands of people are eligi- is known to be on the list and is seen Organisation. This came was also seized. turned-icon of Taliban resistance ble to nominate candidates — includ- by some experts as a favourite. as Russian Deputy Foreign Although Baluchistan is in the grip of militancy and suffers Malala Yousafzai, ex-Eastern bloc ing former laureates, members of “She is a candidate who embod- Minister Igor Morgulov sectarian violence, its police recovered only a limited number activists and former US president parliament and government around ies several causes: the rights of met US Deputy Assistant of illegal weapons. Bill Clinton are in the running for the world, some university profes- girls and women, education, youth, Secretary of State for They confiscated 877 unlicensed Kalashnikovs, 330 rifles, 300 this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, as sors and members of certain inter- and the fight against extremism,” South and Central Asian pistols/revolvers, 400 shotguns, 250 rocket launchers and a huge the Nobel Institute announced a national organisations — and they said prize observer Kristian Berg Affairs Lynne Tracy and US quantity of explosives in the last five years. record 259 nominations yesterday. can reveal the names they have put Harpviken, the head of the Peace Deputy Assistant Secretary During the period, Islamabad police seized 98 Kalashnikovs, This year’s list of candidates is forward. Research Institute of Oslo. of Defence David Sedney. 385 rifles, 367 guns and 3,368 pistols. made up of 209 individuals and 50 Fifteen-year-old Malala But her young age could work They discussed the transfer A ministry official with access to information about the report organisations, the Nobel Institute Yousafzai, who was seriously against her, others suggested. of security role to Afghan said that the data represented only the tip of the proverbial said, without disclosing any of the wounded when she was shot in the “It would be too much of a burden authorities and the with- iceberg. names in line with its rules. The head by a Taliban gunman at point for her,” said Atle Sveen, a historian drawal of global forces from He said the number of people keeping illegal weapons was list of nominees is kept secret for blank range on October 9 for pro- who specialises in the Nobel Peace Afghanistan. AGENCIES increasing. INTERNEWS 50 years. moting girls’ education in Pakistan, Prize. AFP TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Celebrations in UP minister Narail ahead of Pranab’s visit

DHAKA: President Pranab booked for Mukherjee’s sasur bari (in- laws) place in Narail district of Bangladesh is in celebratory mood, waiting to greet their jamai (son-in-law) when he murder, quits pays them his first-ever visit today. Mukherjee is to visit his in-law’s home along with his wife Shuvra Mukherjee at CBI probe ordered into cop’s murder Bhadrabila village. The house of Mukherjee’s in- LUCKNOW/NEW DELHI: laws has been given a facelift Uttar Pradesh minister by the local administration Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias ahead of the first couple’s visit. Raja Bhaiya (pictured), quit The road has been repaired. yesterday, a day after he was Mukherjee and his wife are booked for the murder of a sen- to fly in a chopper to Narail, ior police officer. around 150km away. Kanai “Raja Bhaiya has tendered Lal Ghosh, brother of Shuvra, his resignation and it has been who has been living at their accepted. The investigation is on ancestral home, also confirmed and law will take its own course,” their arrival and said he along Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam President Pranab Mukherjee receiving an honorary doctorate from his Bangladeshi counterpart Zillur Rahman, with the villagers are ready to Singh Yadav told reporters outside in Dhaka, yesterday. receive Mukherjee for whom it parliament in the national capital. will be his maiden visit. The food and civil supplies minis- Local fish varieties, espe- ter was charged with conspiracy cially hilsa fish curry, and dif- to kill Deputy Superintendent of ferent kinds of pitha sweets are Police Zia-ul Haq. the chief minister announced an Pranab Mukherjee conferred to be in the lunch menu for the Zia-ul Haq was killed with ex-gratia payment of `5m to the honoured guests. two others in Balipur village in family of the official and a govern- Narail Deputy Commissioner Pratapgarh district, over 100km ment job for one family member. M Zohirul Haque has been from Lucknow on Saturday night, He also ordered a CBI investiga- top Bangladesh honour quoted as saying that the during violence that followed the tion into the killing of Haq. President is likely to stay at murder of the village head Nanhe Yadav said the government DHAKA: Indian President of Bangladesh. Prime Minister Government of Bangladesh’.” his father-in-law’s house in the Yadav. was shocked and saddened by Pranab Mukherjee, a “true Sheikh Hasina, in a speech at Recalling the times of the nine- village for about an hour and Besides Raja Bhaiya, seven of the death of the police officer, friend of Bangladesh”, was yes- the event at the Bangabhaban, month-long war, Mukherjee said: then leave for Kushtia district his associates were also booked. and that no one found guilty of terday conferred the Liberation said Bangladesh is very grateful “The plight of millions of home- to visit Rabindranath Tagore’s Parveen, the wife of the slain murder would be allowed to go War Honour Award for his to India for the help during the less people crossing the border, Kuthibari at Shilaidaha. officer, has accused the minister scot-free. He also transferred “outstanding contribution” to 1971 war. She praised Mukherjee’s seeking refuge in the neigh- Security personnel of both of conspiring to kill her husband Pratapgarh Superintendent of the 1971 war even as the coun- “determination and courage” to bouring states of India stirred countries have been working in as he was investigating a “sensi- Police (SP) Anil Rai and posted try sees a massive youth-led extend help during times of dis- the hearts of our people as they tandem to ensure security and tive matter”. L R Kumar as the new district uprising for “justice” for those tress to the nation and described felt the anguish of that hapless have visited the area several Zia-ul Haq was first attacked police chief. who died in the conflict. him as a “steadfast friend”. multitude. times. An Indian team from the by an angry mob and then shot The incident is set to create The youth demonstrators, She said both countries are “They came forward whole- high commission had also vis- in the leg and chest from a point fresh trouble for the Akhilesh mostly massed at Shahbag Square bound by the same thread and heartedly to provide succour ited Narail about three weeks blank range, an official said. Yadav government, which com- here, are demanding death for should continue to work together and any assistance they could to ago. Mukherjee is also slated to The case was registered on pletes a year in office on March the Islamists and the ‘razakar’ to take forward their “maitri” their brethren from Bangladesh visit Shuvra’s maternal uncle’s Sunday evening after Zia-ul Haq’s 15. Law and order has become a paramilitaries who sided with (friendship). in their hour of need.” home at Tularampur village family refused to allow his funeral bane for the state government Pakistan to oppose the breaking In his acceptance speech, “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur under Sadar upazila. until a case was registered against with a spurt in crime in recent away of then East Pakistan and Mukherjee recalled the time on Rahman and Indira Gandhi rec- Meanwhile, protesters threw the controversial minister. times, even against police officials. indulged in genocide and rape of June 15, 1971, when he initiated ognised what had to be done and a crude cocktail bomb near The minister’s close associ- With the state assembly session millions. a discussion on the floor of the did not lose time in courageously the gate of the hotel where ates who have been booked in under way, political parties are set The citation for Mukherjee said Rajya Sabha “...when I suggested taking the lead and achieving the president is staying in the case include panchayat head to corner the chief minister in the the award was being conferred in that India should accord diplo- the cherished dream of inde- Dhaka. An official said nobody Gulshan Yadav and driver Rohit state assembly. recognition of Bangladesh’s “deep matic recognition to the govern- pendence for the proud people of was injured and the president Singh. They have been charged Congress leader and former gratitude for his outstanding con- ment of Bangladesh in exile in Bangladesh. would continue his three-day with murder. Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh chief minister tribution to the Liberation War… Mujibnagar”. Assuring Bangladesh of India’s state visit, which is set to fin- Akhilesh Yadav yesterday ordered Narayan Dutt Tiwari has blamed for his stand in national and “My words are on record. When continuing cooperation and ish today.A statement from the a Central Bureau of Investigation “administrative failure” for the international fora for speaking in a Member sought my suggestion friendship, he said: “As in 1971, so president’s office said nobody in probe into the murder. The chief “tragic event”. favour of recognition to an inde- on how to tackle the problem, I in 2013, the people of India stand the delegation had heard the minister, with some officials, flew Senior Congress leader Rita pendent Bangladesh”. responded by saying: ‘I am talking beside the people of Bangladesh. “minor explosion”. “Bursting to Deoria and drove to the village Bahuguna Joshi also slammed the The country’s highest hon- of a political solution which means We will walk with you as equal of such cocktails are common of the deceased police official to government for its “inefficiency” our, the Bangladesh Freedom categorically recognising the sov- partners, shoulder to shoul- in Bangladesh during hartals offer floral tributes to the slain and “lack of administrative acu- Honour, was conferred posthu- ereign democratic Government der, arm in arm.” Addressing (shut-downs) and cannot be police official. men” and said such an incident mously in 2011 on former Indian of Bangladesh. Political solu- the gathering, President Zillur described as a bomb,” said the Addressing the media after was reflective of the situation in prime minister Indira Gandhi, for tion means giving material help Rahman also thanked India for statement. AGENCIES interacting with the family of Haq, Uttar Pradesh. IANS her contribution to the creation to the democratic sovereign its invaluable help. IANS

Kashmiris protest Curfew in UP town after violence LUCKNOW: Indefinite cur- few was clamped in Tanda town of Uttar Pradesh’s Ambedkarnagar district yes- terday following incidents of arson and violence after a local religious leader was shot dead by unidentified assailants, police said. In the rioting that followed the murder on Sunday night, several vehicles, including a police vehicle and a state transport bus were torched and policemen were beaten up. More than a dozen people were injured in the stone-pelting and violence, police said, adding the decision to clamp curfew followed. Since the deceased leader Babu Lal Gupta was from the Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), a group founded by Yogi Aditya Nath, the Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Gorakhpur, police apprehended more trouble. Gupta was shot A protester throws a stone at paramilitary soldiers in Srinagar, yesterday. Protesters clashed with police dead in Adalatpur area over a over the death of a Kashmiri Ph.D student Mudasir Ahmed Malla in Andhra Pradesh. They say Malla’s property dispute, police said. death was mysterious and there was possibility he might have been killed. Officials said that the situation was control but a constant vigil was being kept on the situation to avoid a further flare-up. Cops thrash woman, two suspended 93 truce violations TARN TARAN, PUNJAB: of police, and sought a report her aged father and pushed him on LoC in 2012 Two Punjab police person- within one week. to the ground. Area police offic- nel were suspended yesterday The incident was recorded by ers denied that such incident NEW DELHI: There were 93 after they were caught on cam- a bystander on his mobile phone had taken place. ceasefire violations by Pakistan era beating a young woman on Sunday in this Punjab dis- Punjab Deputy Chief along the LoC in Jammu and — who was being sexually har- trict, 300km from Chandigarh, Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal Kashmir in 2012, taking the assed by truck drivers — and and was aired by TV news asked the DGP to initiate strict total number since 2010 to 188, her aged father here after she channels. action against the Punjab Police parliament was told yesterday. called police for help. Three to four policemen personnel for assaulting the In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Punjab Director General of slapped the victim, pushed woman at a marriage function Defence Minister A K Antony Police (DGP) Sumedh Singh her and hit her with a baton in district Tarn Taran. said the government has consist- Saini suspended the two police- when she complained that she He said that there would be ently taken up the issue of cease- men and ordered an inquiry was being sexually harassed by zero tolerance to any miscon- fire violations with Pakistan. into the incident, to be con- truck drivers in the area. duct, especially against women. IANS ducted by a superintendent The policemen also beat up IANS TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

Andhra withdraws remission of terror India to develop Awacs by 2020 suspect’s life Plans to draft new arms procurement procedures in the wake of corruption scandal sentence HYDERABAD: The Andhra NEW DELHI: The govern- were in use by the Indian Air (LTIPP 2012-2027) and Defence programme of arming its million- to supply the 12 helicopters. Pradesh government yester- ment has approved a proposal Force (IAF) and the government Procurement Procedure (DPP). plus military with latest hard- Finmeccanica and its chief day withdrew orders remit- for the indigenous develop- would procure more such planes. He said it takes two to three years ware, experts say. executive Giuseppe Orsi have ting the life sentence of Syed ment of Airborne Warning and He said the Awacs were meant to complete various stages of pro- “Within a few months, we denied that any bribes were paid Maqbool, the suspected Indian Control System (Awacs) air- as force multipliers for specific curement and conclude the con- are going to change the defence to clinch the $748m contract for Mujahideen (IM) operative, craft by the Defence Research area cover and not for surveil- tract according to DPP. procurement procedure again,” the British-built helicopters. whose role in February 21 ter- and Development Organisation lance of the entire space of our Referring to proposed acquisi- Antony told parliament. Antony told parliament that ror attack in Hyderabad is (DRDO) and the project is country. “All three Awacs are part tion of 126 Medium Multi-Role The procurement policy was India was compelled to import being probed. slated to be completed by 2020, of Network Centric Operations Combat Aircraft, the minister last revised in 2011. hardware for its technology- Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Defence Minister A K Antony and are able to provide adequate said contract negotiations were India, which is currently nego- starved military “because of Reddy signed the orders, cancel- told the Lower House (Lok coverage of specified areas in net in progress with M/s Dassault tiating a $120bn deal for 126 the operational necessity of the ling the remission granted to Sabha) yesterday. Centric Operations. Enhancement Aviation, France. French Rafale fighter jets, already services”. Maqbool, convicted for murder, “To leverage the experience and of airborne surveillance and com- He said DPP provides an effec- faces complaints from overseas India imports more than 70 in 2009, official sources said. expertise gained in the design and mand and control capabilities of tive framework for expeditious arms vendors of long delays in percent of its armaments mainly Maqbool along with another development of Airborne Early the IAF is sought to be achieved procurement for modernisation handing out military contracts. from Britain, France, Russia, alleged IM operative Imran Khan, Warning and Control Systems, through procurement of addi- and to keep the armed forces in India last month began an Israel and the United States. were currently lodged in Delhi’s a project proposal for indigenous tional Awacs,” he said. a state of operational readiness to inquiry into the purchase of 12 Local production would be the Tihar Jail in 2012 Pune blasts development of Awacs (India) by Answering another query, he meet any eventuality. AgustaWestland helicopters for “ultimate solution to the scourge case. DRDO has been approved by the said modernisation of IAF was The minister also said India VIPs in 2010. Italian authorities of corruption”, the defence min- Earlier in the day, the National Cabinet Committee on Security a continuous process based on plans to draft new arms procure- have arrested the chief executive ister told the lower house of Investigation Agency (NIA) took on February 12, 2013. The devel- threat perception, operational ment procedures in the wake of of AgustaWestland’s parent com- parliament. them back to Delhi after grilling opment of Awacs (India) is envis- challenges, technological changes a corruption scandal involving pany, Finmeccanica. India’s arms acquisition poli- them here for four days in con- aged to be completed in 84 months and available resources. Italian helicopters — just two India has put payments to cies, first put in place in 2001, nection with the twin bomb blasts from the date of formal sanction The minister said the IAF’s years after the rules were last Finmeccanica on hold and asked were aimed at “expediting at Dilsukhnagar, which killed 16 of the Programme,” Antony said modernisation was progress- overhauled. it to say whether any terms of the decision-making” and simplify- people and injured over 100 oth- during Question Hour. ing as per the Long Term The redrafting could mean contract and of an “integrity pact” ing contracts, according to the ers. The chief minister took the He said three Awacs aircraft Integrated Perspective Plan fresh delays to India’s ambitious were violated in securing the deal defence ministry. AGENCIES decision after he held a high-level meeting with home minister, police chief and other senior officials. The state government faced State visit criticism for failing to prevent 11 children die in the blasts despite the admission Parliament disrupted by Maqbool and Imran after their arrest by Delhi Police in October school bus crash last year they had conducted NEW DELHI: A school bus col- reconnaissance of Dilsukhnagar lided with a truck laden with over petrol price hike and other areas in Hyderabad bricks in rural northwestern to plant bombs. There was more India last morning, killing at embarrassment to the govern- least eleven children, police NEW DELHI: Parliament was Samaj Party disrupting proceed- ment when it was revealed that said. Seven died at the scene of repeatedly disrupted yesterday ings. Rajya Sabha Chairman Maqbool’s life sentence was the accident in Jaheer village as a vociferous opposition took Hamid Ansari adjourned the remitted by it in 2009. A native of in the state of Punjab, with a up the issue of the hike in petrol house amid commotion till noon. Nanded in Maharashtra, Maqbool further four succumbing to prices and demanded a rollback. As the house reassembled, the was involved in the murder of a their injuries in hospital, PTI The Rajya Sabha and the Lok commotion continued. man in Nizamabad district. reported, citing a local official. Sabha were first adjourned till “This is disrespect of parlia- He was sentenced for life in Nearly 30 children were trav- noon and then till 2pm as oppo- ment. When the house is in ses- 2004. He and his brother Syed elling in the bus, local senior sition parties shouted slogans, sion how can a minister make Mukhtar Ahmed were among police officer Rajinder Singh slamming the government and such an important announce- 940 prisoners, who were granted told the agency. About 110,000 demanding that the hike be rolled ment outside parliament?” said remission on October 2, 2009. people were killed in Indian road back. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad. Maqbool was even given a “good accidents in 2011 — more than In the Lok Sabha, members of SP leader Naresh Aggarwal conduct” certificate by the 300 every day — according to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the hike was not accept- Cherlapally Jail authorities. After the National Crime Records and other parties started shout- able and the government timed his release, Maqbool allegedly Bureau. Bad roads, speeding ing slogans on the issue as soon it just a day after the budget was developed links with terror outfit. vehicles and poor driving were as the house met at 2pm. presented. He is suspected to be involved in among the contributing factors. Speaker Meira Kumar’s Minister of State for some other cases of blasts. In neighbouring Nepal, also repeated requests to allow ques- Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Meanwhile, police said they known for its treacherous roads, tion hour to proceed proved futile Shukla said the decision was not have arrested a person in connec- at least 15 people were killed and the house was adjourned first taken by the government but oil tion with last month’s twin bomb- and 25 injured when a bus till noon and later till 2pm after companies. ings in Hyderabad. An official carrying passengers return- the opposition members gathered “Ever since petroleum prices from the National Investigating ing from a wedding veered off near her podium. have been deregulated, oil compa- Agency (NIA), a federal police a narrow mountain road. The There were similar scenes in the nies decide and announce oil price unit that probes terror offences, vehicle tumbled 250 metres Rajya Sabha with the entire oppo- hike and not the ministers. This Minister for Foreign Affairs of Portugal Paulo Portas (right) with his Indian said the suspect was arrested in down a steep hill on Sunday sition as well as the Samajwadi is not disrespect of parliament,” counterpart Salman Khurshid prior to a meeting in New Delhi, yesterday. the eastern Indian city of Ranchi. evening after the driver lost Party (SP) and the Bahujan he said. IANS AGENCIES control, Sthaneswar Regmi, district superintendent of police in central Palpa dis- trict, said. He said that both the bride and the groom were injured but their lives were not Activist rejects suicide charge threatened. NEW DELHI: A human AFSPA, which covers large after she staged a hunger- rights activist who has been parts of northeastern India and strike protest in the capital Woman killed for on hunger-strike for 12 years the restive state of Kashmir, city. Sharmila faces the same appeared in a New Delhi gives Indian forces sweeping charges in Manipur and has spitting in Delhi court yesterday charged with powers to search, enter prop- pleaded not guilty. “Manipur attempting to commit suicide. erty and shoot-on-sight and is in turmoil and I want jus- NEW DELHI: A 70-year-old Irom Sharmila, 40, who is is seen by critics as cover for tice. Why does the government woman was killed by a man force-fed through a drip in her grave human rights abuses. ignore basic human rights? I on whom she accidentally spat, nose, was tearful as she pleaded “I am not committing sui- will keep my fighting and there a police official said yester- not guilty to the charge, say- cide and I want to say that I is no way I will give up,” she day. The incident was reported ing the hunger strike was her am not guilty,” Sharmila told told reporters at the end of the from a vegetable market in east way of attracting attention to the magistrate Akash Jain in court proceedings. Delhi’s Kalyanpuri area around human rights abuses in her a packed court room in the Authorities have been force- 9pm on Sunday. The victim, home state of Manipur. capital. Attempted suicide is a feeding her through a plastic identified as Munni Devi, was She began her fast in criminal offence in India. drip in her nose to prevent her killed by a man identified as November 2000 after witness- “This is my way of protest. I death and have confined her Arjun, 30, on whom she had ing the killing of 10 people by love life but at the same time I to a medical college ward in accidentally spat. “Arjun got the army at a bus stop near want the government to stop Manipur. Manipur is home to enraged and had a heated argu- her home in north-eastern the killings in my state.” 2.5 million people and about 19 ment with the elderly woman Manipur, which is subject to Criminal charges were separatist groups which have before slashing her neck with the draconian Armed Forces pressed against Sharmila in demands ranging from auton- a sharp-edged weapon. He was Special Powers Act (AFSPA). 2006 by the Delhi government omy to independence. AFP arrested and booked in a mur- der case,” the officer said. Allahabad flower show IT industry targets $300bn in 7 years

BANGALORE: Targetting $300bn revenue from IT sec- tor by 2020, the industry rep- resentative body Nasscom yesterday announced expansion of its focus to include internet, mobile technology and cloud computing. Currently revenue from software and services is around $100bn. The larger focus for Nasscom, from just software and services, has been suggested by a panel the industry body had set July last year under the chairmanship of Infosys co- founder N R Narayana Murthy. Murthy said internet, mobile technology, cloud computing and domestic IT market had A visitor carries a child over his shoulders during a flower exhibition at Company Garden in Allahabad, great potential. yesterday. AGENCIES

Tuesday 5 March 2013 23 Rabial II 1434 Volume 17 Number 5629 Price: QR2

Minister: Qatar committed to diversification

Business | 18

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Countdown begins for 8th World Chambers Congress

BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB a global platform such as the con- gress as part of our mutual goal DOHA: Qatar Chamber (QC) of advancing the Qatar National has begun countdown for the Vision 2030.” 8th ICC WCF World Chambers Among the strategic spon- Congress here next month. sors, the QNB Group and Qatar Preparations are in full swing Airways are the global face of to host officials from over 12,000 modern Qatar. Qatar Airways chambers and hundreds of mul- and Al Sraiya Holding Group tinational businesses and SMEs have agreed to help QC bring from around the world. in delegates from 50 of the least The ‘Opportunities for All’- developed countries, in a first- themed event will be one of of-its-kind move for the congress. the largest in the world and is Other sponsors include: being held for the first time in ExxonMobil (Diamond), A countdown watch for the ICC WCF 8th World Chamber Congress Qatar and the Middle East, QC QC Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani (centre), QNB Chief Commercialbank, Qatar at the Qatar Chamber Headquarters yesterday. Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Operating Officer Ali Rashid Al Mohannadi (right) and Saleh Al Mana, Vice Petroleum, Qatari Diar Jassim Al Thani told a press con- President and Director of Government and Public Affairs at ExxonMobil, (Platinum), Barwa Bank, United sponsored the World Chambers the world. “This is another great ference yesterday. at the press conference yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT Development Company, Abdullah Competition. opportunity for Qatar to show the He said the opening ceremony Abdulghani & Bros. Co., Milaha The Ministry of Arts, Heritage world that we have great facilities of the three-day main event will day will be dedicated to inter- Sheikh Khalifa said that the and Ginger Camel LCC (Gold), and Culture and Mowasalat are in our country to organise large- be held under the patronage of national boards. “There will be high-profile list of sponsors fea- Dubai Chamber, Sydney Chamber official supporter and official scale events such as the World the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin a day-long ICC Business World turing a rich mix of industries and Al Khaliji Bank (Emerald), transport provider, respectively. Chambers Congress, with thou- Khalifa Al Thani on April 23. Trade Agenda Summit on April and stands is a testament to their Creative Action Design and QNB Chief Operating Officer sands of delegates attending.” On its eve, a special day- 22 to revamp the Doha Round (of commitment to accelerate Qatar’s Torino Chamber of Commerce Ali Rashid Al Mohannadi said: Bart Cahir, President and long ICC Business World Trade trade talks). The private sector is global standing and advance the (Sapphire) DHL Express, Oslo “Our presence at the World General Manager of ExxonMobil Agenda will be organised under expected to support it. global business agenda. Chamber of Commerce, ATA Chamber Congress comes in sup- Qatar Inc, said in a statement: the patronage of Prime Minister The Media Center at Qatar “We are proud of the support Carnet, KPMG, Silatech, Patton port of Qatar’s goals and vision “ExxonMobil Qatar is honoured to and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh National Convention Centre will of Qatar-based organisations in Boggs, CIPE, UN Procurement towards organising conferences serve as a diamond sponsor of the Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al be available to journalists covering making the 2013 Congress one of Service and Macedonian Chamber of global significance.” 8th World Chambers Congress as it Thani. Top Qatar-based organi- the congress. There is no official the largest in the history of the of Commerce (Silver), BEST, In a statement, Qatar Airways’ is an important initiative that sup- sations have pledged to advance broadcaster with any exclu- Chambers Congresses. More than Qatar Financial Centre Authority, CEO Akbar Al Baker said he was ports the growing business com- the agenda, Sheikh Khalifa said. sive rights. It will be open to all brand positioning or exposure, Nakilat, Chamber of Commerce of delighted the national airline was munity in Qatar and promotes the “The first day will be for local “accredited journalists” like other these organisations understand Geneva and Console and Partners supporting the annual showcase country on a global level.” ICC committees and the second events held here, he said. the value of promoting Qatar on (Bronze). MK Sanghi Group has of business chambers from around THE PENINSULA

Minister to open Upward trend in second Bloomberg Doha Conference Qatar’s sukuk on April 8

DOHA: The second Bloomberg issuance: S&P Doha Conference, to be jointly hosted by Qatar Financial Centre BY SATISH KANADY but now represents a larger share Authority (QFC Authority), will of the region’s issuance. About 50 be held here on April 8 and 9. The DOHA: Sukuk is becoming percent of banks’ debt issued in event will be officially inaugu- more important in the Gulf 2011 and 45 percent in 2012 was rated by the Minister of Finance Cooperation Council’s fixed- in the form of sukuk. Last year, and Economy H E Yousuf income market, including Qatar, banks issued $6.7bn of sukuk, rep- Hussein Kamal. representing almost half of the resenting year-over-year growth The two-day conference, to regional banks’ issuance in 2011 of 136 percent. be held at St Regis Hotel, will and 2012. Market analysts see In Qatar, the level of bank issu- bring together CEOs, asset man- an upward trend in issuance ances is rising alongside the coun- agers, investors and prominent from banks in Qatar on the try’s high-paced credit growth; a regional decision makers to dis- back of strong domestic credit trend the ratings agency believes cuss the region’s fast-growing growth, which they anticipate is here to stay. infrastructure and rising influ- will continue. Credit growth is the main ence in investments around the There was a sharp rebound in driver of issuance of sukuk in world. the Gulf banks’ activity in debt Qatar. Banks in Qatar issued Over the two days, 16 panel capital markets in 2012 as they $4.5bn bonds and sukuk last discussions and one-on-one took the opportunity to issue long- year. QNB, the country’s larg- interviews will cover real estate term debt at healthy prices under est bank, issued $2bn of this, development and investment favorable market conditions. The followed by two Islamic lenders- activity; a close look at the post sukuk segment is becoming more Qatar Islamic Bank ($750m) and revolution economies of Libya, active as conventional banks are Qatar International Islamic Bank Tunisia and Egypt; Saudi’s increasingly tapping into sharia- ($700m). Commercial Bank of growing economy; the growing compliant products to diversify Qatar and Doha Bank also issued appetite for Islamic Finance in their funding bases, a research $500m each in five-year notes. Asia and Middle East; the emer- note issued by Standard & Poor’s “Qatar continues to display gence of women in prominent (S&P) said yesterday. very strong domestic growth positions; and the new private “In view of supportive debt that is fostering the increase wealth client. capital market conditions, we in issuances. Between the end Last year’s inaugural edition forecast banks’ issuance levels of 2011 and November 2012, attracted over 300 delegates. to remain elevated in 2013. We domestic credit rose by 24.7 Bloomberg LINK Head Robert expect most of the impetus to percent on the back of 24.2 Bierman said: “Qatar and the come from banks in the UAE, the percent growth in public-sector surrounding area are influ- largest issuers in 2012, and Qatar, lending, which now accounts for enced by a unique set of factors where issuance has been steadily 46 percent of total domestic such as rapidly rising private increasing”, S&P noted. credit. We expect credit growth wealth and the need for a hub Gulf banks are benefiting from in Qatar to stay above 20 per- to access Middle Eastern mar- investors’ increased appetites for cent in 2013, pushing up the kets. Doha has become a vital long-term debt in regional and demand for funding by Qatari player in the global conversa- international debt capital mar- banks and, consequently, the tion about asset management kets and are doing so at attrac- level of debt capital market”. and the movement of capital tive prices. According to data Additionally, Islamic banking across the world.” from the Zawya Bond and Sukuk in Qatar is expanding rapidly. QFC Authority Chief Strategic Monitors, issuances reached This is largely due to the efforts Development Officer Yousuf $15bn in 2012, representing 166 of Qatar’s government and its Mohamed Al Jaida said: “It is percent growth relative to 2011. related entities, key sponsors of a privilege again to welcome The bulk of the issuances were in the country’s Islamic banking Bloomberg and its international the form of five-year bonds and market. Qatari Islamic banks’ community of asset manage- sukuk, but certain banks also aggregate asset base accounted ment professionals to Doha. This issued noted with longer terms. for almost on-quarter of the year’s conference underlines The ratings agency noted domestic banking system, and the progress Qatar has made in that it has observed significant the ratings agency expects this establishing itself as a significant increase in sukuk issuance, which share to increase markedly over centre for asset management in was a small sub segment of GCC’s the next few years. the GCC and beyond.” debt market until a few years ago, THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Qatari bourse Qatar committed index down to diversification, 0.17 percent DOHA: Qatar Exchange was down 14.65 points or 0.17 percent to 8,513.93 points yesterday from says Minister the previous closing of 8,528.58 points. Among the top losers were Commercialbank whose share Ministry launches growth report dropped 1.61 percent to QR67.40, International Islamic lost 0.53 DOHA: The Minister of economy over the past three percent to QR56, Ooredoo fell Business and Trade H E Sheikh decades and progress it has made 3.03 percent to QR112 and Jassim bin Abdulaziz Al Thani towards meeting the strategic National Leasing was down 1.27 has said that Qatar would rein- objectives of Qatar. percent to QR35.05. The banking force its focus on diversifying The Minister said that Qatar and financial sector added 0.14 its economy to make sure that has built a vibrant and dynamic points, the insurance sector rose the country is going ahead with economy supported by solid 0.78 points, the industrial sector its long-term sustainable eco- institutional and regulatory gained 0.16 points and the serv- nomic development agenda. foundations and has achieved ices sector was up 0.87 points. On the occasion of the launch unparalleled GDP growth during Meanwhile, Egypt’s bourse of the Ministry’s document that the past few years. Yet, Qatar suffered its biggest one-day loss analyses 30-years’ of Qatar’s recognises that the future of this in three months after the chief business and trade growth, the country and the well-being of its The Minister of Business and Trade H E Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulaziz Al Thani (right) with Qatari Business executive of its largest listed minister noted the future of people lie in its ability to sustain Association Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qasim Al Thani at a meeting in Doha, yesterday. ABDUL BASIT firm was banned from leaving the country’s growth lies in its third development in long term, the country on charges of tax capacity to keep the pace of by building a well-diversified and trade platforms. economic system. The ministry is would provide a context to evasion — a fresh blow to busi- development by less depending economy that is less dependent Sheikh Jassim said the minis- also working to develop a capable economic stakeholders and ness confidence in the country. on hydrocarbon resources. on hydrocarbons. This recognition try of Business and Trade plays nation of human resources which decision-makers with informa- The public prosecutor The Qatar National Vision is embodied within the basic pil- a vital role in ensuring that the will be trained in line with best tion and statistical data that will ordered that Nassef Sawiris, 2030 has clearly underlined this lars of the Qatar National Vision pillars of the national strategy international training practices, facilitate the way forward on our Chief Executive of Orascom policy. 2030, which aims to assist Qatar are achieved through interaction and according to standards that path to growth and sustainable Construction Industries, and his The report released by the in establishing itself as a leader and cooperation with leaders, meet the needs of economic and development,” he said. father Onsi Sawiris be barred Ministry provides an overview through regional and interna- entrepreneurs, business person- social development in Qatar. THE PENINSULA from travel, state news agency of the evolution of the Qatari tional economies and investment nel and consumers within the “We hope the study report Mena reported. All except two stocks fell in Cairo’s main index, which retreated 2.3 percent to Distribution sector dominates business and trade landscape 5,375 points. In Saudi Arabia, banks led declines as investor sentiment DOHA: The distribution sec- 2005 and 2009 the wholesale trade However, in terms of the The education sector has number of healthcare-related continued to weigh on the sec- tor is the most dominant seg- grew at a rate of 35 percent as a number of employees in each experienced compound annual entities increased by a CAGR of tor. Al Rajhi Bank and Samba ment in terms of the number of result of rapid population and con- sector, the construction and con- growth rate (CAGR) of 15.9 12.3 percent, during the 1990s by Financial Group each slipped 1.1 operating companies in Qatar. sumption growth. tracting industries are the largest percent and 18.8 percent over 14.1 percent and in the last decade percent. The kingdom’s bench- Currently, this sector accounts The second largest sector is employers in the Qatari economy the last 30-and 10-year period by 14.7 percent. The increase in mark dropped 0.5 percent to its for 59.4 percent of all companies the construction industry which employing more people than the respectively. This has been healthcare providers and related lowest close since January 2. incorporated in the country. accounts for about 16.6 percent of distribution sector and account- attributed to the government’s entities is a direct result of the Elsewhere, United Arab The segment covers all activi- incorporated companies followed ing for nearly 50 percent of the emphasis on the education sector increase in population, growth in Emirates markets declined with ties that contribute towards the by the consulting and technical total workforce in Qatar. and renewed focus on education per capita income, the govern- property-related stocks being the wholesale and retail trade includ- services sectors, which accounts The ministry analysis reveals particularly since the inception ment’s emphasis on healthcare main drag. Dubai builder Arabtec ing, but not limited to showrooms, for 9.5 percent and 7.8 percent there has been a steady growth of Qatar Foundation in 1995. and the subsequent increase in plunged 10 percent to a 13-month supermarkets, warehousing and of the incorporated companies, in all the sectors since the 1980s, Similar to investment made in demand for healthcare services. low of Dh2.17. Dubai’s benchmark transportation. respectively. Currently educa- though the rate of increase in last decade, 14 percent of the Tourism is another sector that retreated 1.9 percent to a two-week A document released by the tion and healthcare account the last decade has been the State budget has been allocated has witnessed double-digit growth. low. In Abu Dhabi, shares in Aldar Ministry of Business and Trade that for less than 2 percent of the highest. This has been a result to education and youth welfare. Firms catering to tourism sector Properties and Sorouh Real Estate, analyses Qatar’s 30 years’ business total incorporated companies of increased government spend- The health sector has also have grown by 10.7 percent since which plan to merge, tumbled to and industry sector, noted that the in Qatar. However, both these ing which averaged about 30 witnessed a strong CAGR of 13.7 2000 as there has been more focus two-week lows as investors booked distribution sector has been domi- segments have displayed strong percent of real GDP per year percent in terms of the number geared towards hosting interna- recent gains. The pair dropped 5.2 nating Qatar’s business and trade growth, particularly during the thus building confidence in the of new entities registered since tional sports and cultural events. and 3.7 percent, respectively. sector over the years. Between years last decade. economy. 1980. During the 1980s the THE PENINSULA REUTERS TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Share trading suspension ‘unjustified’: Salam Intl

DOHA: The Board of Directors 2012 amounted to QR0.74 versus subsidiaries operating in the better results in 2013 compared complaint against Qatar Financial new Court of Appeal decision (BOD) of Salam International QR1.39 in 2011. contracting sector primarily, to 2012. What enhances the Markets Authority’s (QFMA) issuance. Investment Ltd-SIIL (The Salam International held the where those subsidiaries have company’s expectation in better decision to repeat suspension of The Board is surprised by Company) has recommended to board of directors meeting on been under pressure as a result results for the next year is the the Company’s shares trading at QFMA suspension of trading the upcoming General Assembly Sunday (March 03) to discuss its of the scarcity of profitable size of the business, the number Qatar Exchange. for the third time based on the (March 27) to approve cash agenda and resolve host of other projects during the year 2012. of awarded and ongoing projects, Accordingly, when and if the same case. The Company is of dividends of seven percent of issues. This is in addition to the where the company and its sub- cassation appeal becomes con- the view that such suspension the paid up capital of share- It approved the consolidated decline in the investment sidiaries operating in the con- cluded as final in its executive merely leads to certain damage holders with an earning per financial statements for the year income, rents, and the increase tracting sector were awarded a form, the Board approved the of the shareholders’ rights, the share (EPS) of QR0.74, a press ending December 31, 2012, and in the cost of financing some number of tenders, for projects Company’s alternative contin- company’s interests, and would statement issued by SIIL said respective Auditors’ Report, and of the investment opportuni- that will commence in 2013. gency plan to execute the court deteriorate the trust in the yesterday. recommended to the General ties that are characterized by The board of directors reviewed decision in accordance adopted Company’s shares. The company disclosed the Assembly to approve it in its a longer maturation period the judgment of the Court of by the General Assembly on “The Board re-emphasizes its financial statements for the year upcoming meeting to be held by before receiving income cash Appeal, its causes and pronounce- January 18, 2012. Proceeded by conviction that such suspension ended December 31, 2012. The the end of this month. flow, including Salam Bounian ment, and it has decided to file QFMA’s new decision to sus- is unjustified particularly with the financials revealed a net profit of The board of directors said Development Co. a cassation appeal for the sec- pend the shares’ trading, the sufficient and adequate disclosure QR66.12m in 2012 as compared to that the main reason for the Despite the decrease in the ond time against the new Court contingency plan was submitted made by the company,” said the QR159.6m in 2011. The Company’s decline in profits is due to profits, the Company expects of Appeal decision within the to QFMA yet again to comply statement. earnings per share (EPS) in the decline in the revenues of to improve its performance for legal period allowed, and to file a with QFMA’s request post the THE PENINSULA Ahli Bank nets QR465.16m profit

DOHA: Ahli Bank (QSC) has reported a net profit of QR465.16m for the year ended December 31, 2012 with an increase of 5.2 per- cent as compared to 2011. The bank’s returns on average equity (ROAE) surged by 16.4 percent and earnings per share (EPS) increased from QR3.74 (2011) to QR3.88 (2012), the report of the board of directors (BOD) for 2012 said yesterday. The BOD has recommended the distribution of a cash dividend of 30 percent, equivalent to QR3 per share, for approval of the general Ahli Bank Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Abdul Aziz bin Jassem Al Thani assembly. The bank’s returns on (centre) with other board members during the ordinary general assembly average assets (ROAA) improved meeting yesterday. ABDUL BASIT to 2.5 percent, and customers’ deposits has increased by 10 per- decision of the BOD in January who is now a strategic partner of cent, according to the report. 2012 to increase the capital of Ahli Bank. “It is worth mention- “These outstanding results are the Bank by offering new shares ing that QF joining the nank as a tribute to the unwavering com- equivalent to 20 percent of the a strategic partner is a valuable mitment of the Bank to enhance capital at QR30 per share which gain for Ahli Bank, and is expected its performance and increase the increased the efficiency and com- to have a positive impact on the competency and effectiveness of petitiveness of the Bank. present and future of the Bank,” its products and services,” Sheikh And the second, he said, was he added. The BOD also made Faisal bin Abdul Aziz bin Jassem the termination of the strategic other recommendations for the Al Thani, Chairman of the board partnership Ahli Bank held with approval of the general assembly of directors of Ahli Bank, said. Ahli United Bank, Bahrain since including the financial statements For this “outstanding per- September 2004. This partnership and profit and loss accounts of the formance” he attributed to two was ended after Ahli United Bank Bank for the financial year ended developments that the Bank wit- decided to sell its share in Ahli December 31, 2012. nessed last year. The first was the Bank to Qatar Foundation (QF), THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS al khaliji nets QR512.2m profit Al Sada meets Finland’s PM

DOHA: al khaliji yesterday delivering value to our sharehold- aim of our 2013-2015 strategy is to approved the bank’s financial revealed that net profit after ers and providing next generation create and deliver long-term sus- statements and the proposal of tax stood at QR512.2m as of banking services to our preferred tainable shareholder value. We the board regarding the distribu- December 31, 2012, 5.2 percent customers. al khaliji did not deviate will do this by focusing on four tion of QR1 per share as cash divi- higher than last year. from its Qatar centric, corporate key business pillars; Corporate, dends, representing 10 percent of During its annual general and treasury led customer-focused Treasury and Fixed Income, the bank’s paid-up capital. assembly meeting held yester- strategy aligned to the vision and Private and Premium banking al khaliji shareholders dis- day, Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal bin objectives of Qatar. This is one rea- and continued coverage model in cussed the corporate governance Thani Al Thani, Chairman and son why the bank was well placed GCC with particular focus in UAE report for 2012, absolved the Managing Director of al khaliji, to continue growing and delivering as a second home market”. board members from any liabil- presented the board of directors’ profits to shareholders and value to During the meeting, the share- ity, and fixed their remuneration report on the bank’s activities customers”. holders of al khaliji heard and for 2012. They also approved the and financial position for the year On al khalji’s plans for 2013, approved the external auditor’s appointment of Ernst and Young ended December 31, 2012, and the Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal said: “In report on the bank’s financial as external auditors for 2013 and future plans for 2013. the beginning of 2013, the board position and the accounts sub- fixed their fees. Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal of directors approved a new strat- mitted by the board of directors Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal said: said: “We remained focused on egy for three years. The ultimate for 2012. They also discussed and “We wish to express our deepest gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, and His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Heir Apparent, for H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, the Minister of Energy and Industry their continuous support to the and Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum (QP), met with Qatari economy and institutions. Jyrki Katainen, the Prime Minister of Finland and his delegation consist- We also express our sincere grati- ing of Alexander Stubb, Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade tude to H E Sheikh Abdullah and representatives of 10 companies from the renewable energy sector. bin Saud Al Thani, the Qatar Central Bank Governor, for his leading role in developing the banking sector and to all regula- tors, in particular, the Ministry European stocks mixed of Business and Trade and the Qatar Exchange for their unwa- LONDON: European stock rial traded at around 32,500- vering support. Finally, we thank markets closed with mixed 33,500 to the dollar in the free al khaliji management, staff, cus- results yesterday after US law- market yesterday, compared tomers, and shareholders for their makers failed to prevent $85bn with about 36,300 on Sunday, continuous trust and confidence in spending cuts set to affect the media reports said. and confirm our full commitment in the world’s biggest economy. to even more prosperous results London’s FTSE 100 index of Oil prices drop in 2013 and subsequent years”. leading companies fell by 0.52 The general assembly was held percent to 6,345.63 points. LONDON: Oil prices dropped at the Four Seasons Hotel and was Elsewhere, Frankfurt’s DAX to fresh multi-week low points, FROM LEFT: Robin McCall, Group CEO; Mohamed Khaled Al Manaa, Director; Sheikh Hamad bin Faisal bin attended by al khaliji sharehold- index gave up 0.21 percent to weighed down by economic Thani Al Thani, Chairman and Managing Director; Rashed Al Nueimi, Director, Hesham Al Saie, Director, and Saif ers, board members, management 7,691.68 points, while in Paris strains in China and the United and staff, and other investors and the CAC 40 gained 0.27 per- States. Brent North Sea crude Al Midfaa during the annual general meeting of al khaliji at Four Seasons Hotel yesterday. SHAIVAL DALAL analysts. THE PENINSULA cent to 3,709.76. Milan’s FTSE for delivery in April reached Mib index lost 0.85 percent $109.61 a barrel — the lowest to 15,542.17 points. In foreign point for six weeks. In London exchange deals, the euro slipped trading, it stood at $110.04, a to $1.2995 from $1.3018 late loss of 36 cents compared with Record 1,426 billionaires on Friday in New York. Gold Friday’s closing level. New prices declined to $1,574.25 an York ’s main contract, light • Bullion - Mumbai ounce on the London Bullion sweet crude for April, slid to Market from $1,582.25. US a two-month trough of $89.51 Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 29605 in Forbes 2013 list stock markets were flat. The Dow a barrel. It later traded at Silver (1 kg) Rs. 55865 NEW YORK: Spain’s Amancio three to the No. 4 spot for the Jones Industrial Average had $89.85, down 83 cents. • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.97 Ortega, the co-founder of the first time since 2000. Arnault, of eased lower by 0.12 percent in • Sensex Inditex fashion group, leapt over the LVMH luxury goods group, midday trading. In Asia, Chinese Egypt forex reserves fall BSE 1887.96 Warren Buffett and France’s dropped to 10th place with $29bn. shares suffered the biggest sell- NSE 5698.50 Bernard Arnault to become the Oracle Corp’s Larry Ellison, off, with Shanghai slumping 3.65 CAIRO: A slide in Egypt’s for- • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return world’s third richest person on with a fortune of $43bn, rounded percent. Elsewhere, Hong Kong eign reserves slowed sharply Forbes’ 2013 annual ranking of out the top five in the ranking that lost 1.50 percent, Sydney slipped in February, central bank data p.a. (in dollar) billionaires, with an estimated included a record 1,426 billion- 1.49 percent and Seoul was off showed yesterday, but their low • Housing loan from HDFC LTD net worth of $57bn. aires, with an average net worth of 0.66 percent. However, Tokyo levels kept Cairo under heavy • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, Mexico’s Carlos Slim remained $3.8bn. Forbes’ 27th annual rank- enjoyed modest gains, adding 0.40 pressure to secure an IMF Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. the richest person with a fortune of ing is the biggest ever and has the percent. loan. The central bank, which Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] $73bn, and Microsoft co-founder largest jump in total number of has been tightly rationing dol- Bill Gates held on to the No. 2 spot people added in one year. Iranian rial rallies lar supplies, said on its website with a net worth of $67bn. The total net worth of the that reserves slipped to $13.5bn Ortega’s fortune increased world’s billionaires is $5.4 trillion, DUBAI: Iran’s currency has at the end of last month from QATARI MARKET $19.5bn, the biggest gain for any according to Forbes, up from $4.6 jumped about 9 percent against $13.6bn at the end of January. Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P of the billionaires, from the report trillion in the previous ranking. the dollar over the past two February’s drop was marginal Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 104.63 0.87 % Aa2 AA in 2012. He jumped two places and The United States led the list days due to government inter- compared with the $1.4bn dive bumped Buffett, Chairman and with 442 billionaires, followed vention and Tehran’s positive in January, which was exacer- Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.88 1.56 % Aa2 AA Chief Executive of conglomerate by 386 from Asia and the Pacific view of nuclear talks last week, bated by a $650m debt repay- Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 124.75 2.19 % Aa2 AA Berkshire Hathaway Inc with a region, with 122 in China alone. currency websites and Iranian ment to the Paris Club of Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 117.75 2.43 % Aa2 AA fortune of $53.5bn, out of the top REUTERS media reported yesterday. The creditor nations. AGENCIES Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 112.69 2.87 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 172.50 3.93 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 131.50 4.39 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 121.88 4.40 % Aa2 AA Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 105.00 1.36 % Aa2 AA Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 115.50 2.67 % Aa2 AA Aamal net profit rises to QR624.5m Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 105.88 1.49 % A1 A- Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.63 2.19 % A1 A- DOHA: Aamal Company (Aamal) has so unique as it is one of the few Qatari compa- with El Sewedy Electric Company (a lead- QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.63 2.01 % NR NR maintained its strong growth profile in 2012 nies with the business model to benefit across ing listed Egyptian company) and currently QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.38 1.84 % Aa3 A+ full year reporting a net profit of QR624.5m, the economic spectrum, providing high quality, has two principal business lines (Doha Cables QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.75 2.12 % Aa3 A+ up 17 percent compared to the year 2011. balanced and direct investment exposure to and El Sewedy Cables), with a third (Doha Aamal’s Group revenue is up 19 percent to the Qatari growth story. Transformers) due to become operational in Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.25 2.39 % A2 A- QR2.28bn as against QR1.91bn in 2011. “For instance, during 2012, Aamal established 2013. This JV saw a 21 percent uplift in sales Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.63 1.76 % A2 A The group’s reported earnings per share Innovative Lighting, a JV with C&C Lightway over the course of 2012 even though 55 percent Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 130.69 2.54 % A2 A is up 21.1 percent to QR1.09 compared to of South Korea that trades in and distributes of revenues and profits from El Sewedy Cables Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 111.75 3.07 % A2 A QR0.90 in 2011. The board of directors yes- LEDs and other lighting products for the Qatari are now being consolidated compared to 100 Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 111.38 3.85 % A2 A terday proposed bonus share distribution of market and the wider GCC region and fully percent in 2011, following a revised sharehold- Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 106.88 1.07 % Aa3 A 55.5m shares. consolidated Ci-San Trading following its acqui- ers agreement effective from 1 January 2012. Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 108.13 3.40 % Aa3 A Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, sition of 74.5 percent of Gulf Rocks Company, a Other existing operations also saw a sig- Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 111.75 3.52 % Aa3 A Chairman of Aamal Company, said: “Aamal leading importer and distributor of high quality nificant increase: Aamal Readymix grew its has again delivered another strong annual gabbro aggregates. In terms of organic growth, sales by 37 percent during 2012, largely due to SOVEREIGNS performance in 2012 as we maintained our our Trading and Distribution division launched an expansion of its production capacity with Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P strong growth record, increasing revenues by a new consumer products line (“Gettco Home the launch of one of the Middle East’s largest Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 105.50 0.42 % Aa2 AA almost 20 percent and reported earnings per Appliances”) and secured sole Qatari distri- concrete batching plants in January 2012; and Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 126.63 2.08 % Aa2 AA share by more than 21 percent. bution rights to supply Energizer Automotive Aamal Cement managed to almost double its “Aamal continued to expand its Industrial Batteries. Furthermore we continued to invest sales having introduced new products such Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 110.75 2.39 % NR NR Manufacturing businesses in 2012, growing in the expansion of our property portfolio, as hydraulic pressed cable covers, and curb Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 108.00 2.85 % NR NR divisional revenues by over 32 percent year- including Qatar’s flagship retail complex, City stones and decorative slabs in various shapes Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 125.38 3.86 % NR NR on year in line with its established strategy Center Doha. and sizes. Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 118.38 4.03 % NR NR to position itself to exploit the opportunities “For Aamal to be such an integral part Revenues for the Property division rose by Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 105.63 0.97 % Aa2 AA of Qatar’s impending infrastructure invest- of this National Vision 2030 programme is 9.6 percent, reflecting an increase in rental Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 115.44 3.29 % NR BBB ment programmes. As a result Aamal is now what continues to excite and motivate us and levels at both City Center Doha (following Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 109.75 3.91 % NR BBB predominantly an industrial company, deriv- I remain extremely positive about our pros- the recent expansion and renovation of retail ing almost two thirds of total revenues from pects. For that reason, and in recognition of space, and paid for parking), and Aamal Real Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 92.00 7.20 % B3 /*- B- the Industrial Manufacturing division. This the strength of our performance in 2012, I Estate, which includes a full twelve months’ Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 105.63 3.64 % NR BBB- puts the Company in a strong position to am delighted to announce that the Board contribution from the Markhiya residential *Periodic Distribution Amount IMPORTANT NOTE: seek, identify and capitalise on the growth of Directors has today recommended to the complex that was fully leased out from the Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which opportunities that are being afforded by the General Assembly to be held on 24 April a beginning of April 2011. is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services rapid industrialisation of Qatar through a bonus share distribution to Aamal share- Tarek M. El Sayed, Managing Director Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary co-ordinated and committed economic devel- holders of 55.5m shares, equivalent to 10.1928 of Aamal, said: “It has been our conscious data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising opment policy anchored in carefully planned percent of the company’s share capital. This decision to reposition Aamal as primarily out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds exploitation of reserves and modernisation. share bonus will further increase Aamal’s an industrial manufacturing one in order to can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant The Qatar Government’s National Vision 2030 share capital by a nominal value of QR555m participate fully in Qatar’s rapid modernisa- liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not is the principal framework behind this policy, to QR6bn.” tion. This has now been largely achieved with a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and designed also to attract and stimulate foreign Revenues at Aamal’s Industrial almost two thirds of its revenues being derived consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. and domestic private capital. Manufacturing division rose by 32.2 percent from this area. So, it is incredibly satisfying to “Although Aamal is now principally an for the year compared to 2011 and now make see Aamal post another strong set of results industrial manufacturing company, we con- up 63.9 percent of total company sales (versus as it reinforces our conviction that our long tinued to follow our policy of diversification 58.9 percent in 2011, before the elimination of term strategy of focusing on growth in the across a number of non-manufacturing sec- intra-company sales). industrial sector is the correct one”. tors. I believe that this is what makes Aamal Senyar Industries,a JV set up in 2007 THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

QE Indices Summary QE Index 8,513.93 0.17 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 11,842.55 0.17 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 2,564.72 0.03 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,109.82 0.02 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,020.88 0.14 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5028.533 -72.343 -1.42 5127.8 4664.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,061.77 0.87 % QR185.3789 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 3706.67 6.76 0.18 3793.26 3600.81 UK ...... QR 5.4474 QR 5.5234 QE All Share Industrials 2,804.28 0.16 % SILVER QE All Share Insurance 1,939.08 0.78 % Dj Indu Average 14089.66 35.17 0.25 14149.2 12035.1 QR 3.3718 Euro ...... QR 4.7082 QR 4.7736 QE All Share Real Estate 1,607.97 0.02 % CA$ ...... QR 3.5093 QR 3.5784 Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Telecoms 1,136.8 2.52 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.8408 QR 3.8947 QE All Share Transportation 1,425.89 0.19 % Hang Seng Inde/D 22537.81 -342.41 -1.5 23944.74 22445.34 Yen ...... QR 0.0386 QR 0.0393 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.6609 QR 3.7337 Iseq Overall/D 3781.02 18.82 0.5 3773.42 3396.67 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0658 QR 0.0671 04-03-2013 28-02-2013 Karachi 100 In/D 18133.13 -52.06 -0.29 18312.65 16036.31 Index 8,513.93 8,528.58 BRENT Pak Re ...... QR 0.0368 QR 0.0375 Change 14.65 37.02 Nikkei 225 Index 11652.29 45.91 0.4 11662.52 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0884 QR 0.0902 % 0.17 0.44 $110.69 SL Re ...... QR 0.0283 QR 0.0289 YTD% 1.85 2.03 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1530.94 1266.74 DUBAI Taka ...... QR 0.0457 QR 0.0466 Volume 4,994,497 4,694,338 Straits Times/D 3239.95 -29.55 -0.9 3319.19 3160.83 Nep Re ...... QR 0.0414 QR 0.0422 Value (QAR) 286,439,009.30 215,042,437.65 $109.34 Trades 2,953 3,153 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3971 QR 0.4049 Straits Times/D 2989.31 24.69 0.83 3035.78 2657.77 Up 18 | Down 13 | Unchanged 06

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 04-03-2013

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 1220.05 -48 31574 Chola Invest-B/D 284.1 -11.05 1678 Hind Unilever-/D 441.05 -11.9 90475 Lloyd Metal-B/D 14.2 0.15 1955 Reliance Indus/D 345.55 -21.6 86254 Imperial Tobac/D 2437 28 635313 Aarti Drugs-B/D 195.7 3.45 1431 Chowgule St-B/D 13.62 -0.38 5891 Hind.Petrol-A/D 298.3 -4.15 169106 Lloyd Steel-B/D 11.18 -0.44 67504 Ruchi Soya-B/D 58.35 -3.5 32810 Kingfisher/D 277 0.5 1948572 Aban Offs-B/D 264.35 -8.65 50454 Cimmco-B/D 34.4 -1.6 3155 Hindalco-A/D 94.5 -4.5 1237550 Lloydsfin.-B/D 0.92 -0.04 4602 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 424.85 -7.35 4072 Land Secs Grou/D 840 -0.5 455484 Ador Welding-B/D 119.25 -1.5 4364 Cipla-A/D 371.25 1.85 82984 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 772.6 -5.25 81167 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 18.45 -0.35 41665 Saur.Cem-B/D 22.1 -0.9 5510 Legal & Genera/D 158.712 -0.8 2452931 Aegis Logis-B/D 123.35 -4.15 8794 City Union Bk-/D 56.45 0.25 76576 I F C I-A/D 27.25 -2.1 4777734 Lumax Ind-B/D 340.1 -4.75 21827 Tanfac Indust-/D 14.2 -0.68 1598 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 51.5466 -1.7 98577349 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 113.8 -4 5939 Colgate-A/D 1356.7 52.5 29952 Idbi-A/D 87.55 -1.4 201375 Lupin-A/D 594.1 -1.4 61529 Tanfac Indust-/D 14.2 -0.68 1598 Marks & Sp./D 362.2 -7.3 2619374 Alembic-B/D 15.65 -0.1 5824 Dcm Financia-B/D 1.36 -0.07 5641 Ifb Agro-B/D 167.75 -6.7 1235 Lyka Labs-B/D 9.74 -0.06 9917 Thirumalai-B/D 97.75 -2.8 3871 Next/D 4115 -132 349138 Alok Indus-B/D 7.91 -0.09 1987029 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 39.25 -0.85 2878 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 86.35 -4.45 3207 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 105.8 -2.8 3856 Timexgroup-B/D 16.75 -0.7 22065 Pearson/D 1178.7751 7 1222579 Andhra Paper-B/D 192.35 -5.8 18958 Dhampur Sugar-/D 43.5 -0.85 2666 India Cement-B/D 83.6 -0.45 112278 Mah.Seamless-B/D 220.55 1.05 1762 Tinplate-B/D 42.5 -0.6 8326 Prudential/D 981 -5.5 907916 Apollo Tyre-A/D 85.1 -0.35 144877 Dr. Reddy-A/D 1764.15 26.55 7866 India Glycol-B/D 130.45 -2.2 24718 Mangalam Cem-B/D 135.95 -2.95 3298 Ub Engineer-B/D 22.35 3.25 99096 Rank Group/D 164 1.9 1286 Rentokil Asahi I Glass-/D 50.7 1.2 12484 E I H-B/D 61.15 -1.55 13433 Indian Card-B/D 107.7 4.65 4003 Maral Overs-B/D 11.02 -0.93 3104 Ub Engineer-B/D 22.35 3.25 99096 Initi/D 92.4 -0.8 1026933 Ashok Leyland-/D 22.5 -0.7 466647 E.I.D Parry-B/D 149.05 1.6 17078 Indian Hotel-A/D 55.15 -0.9 68786 Mastek-B/D 124.2 -3 2096 Ultramarine-B/D 54.95 -0.45 13712 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1024 2 991732 Bajaj Hold-A/D 939 -12 2805 Electrosteel-B/D 18.7 -1 136817 Indo-Bcount-B/D 12.9 0.01 1150 Max India L-A/D 233.3 -4.05 5498 Unitech P -A/D 26.05 0 3133459 Rsa Insrance G/D 119.8 0.8 5564368 Ballarpur In-B/D 18.05 -0.7 43182 Emco-B/D 21.7 -0.25 23156 Indusind-A/D 400.8 -0.2 81568 Mrpl-A/D 56.8 -0.85 49059 Sainsbury(J)/D 344.7 1.8 1496350 Bannari Aman-B/D 901 -2.05 3201 Escorts-B/D 57.85 -1.1 109996 J.B.Chemical-B/D 79.2 -1.95 10917 Nahar Spg.-B/D 70.6 -3.35 4610 LONDON Schroders/D 1977 -6 102833 Bata India-A/D 756.2 0.2 17658 Essar Oil-A/D 72.75 -9.65 2752500 Jagson Phar-B/D 10.21 -0.59 5475 Nation Alum -A/D 43 -0.9 42333 Severn Trent/D 1636 16 457523 Bayer Crop-A/D 1091.05 -12.65 2351 Eveready Indu-/D 18 -0.1 101100 Jbf Indu-B/D 105.1 -0.55 14028 Navneet Pub.-B/D 60.6 -1.7 16612 Smith&Nephew/D 711 1 319810 Beml Ltd-B/D 210.55 -8.3 13524 F D C-B/D 90.55 -0.55 43100 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.47 -0.03 25208 Nepc India-B/D 2.15 0.04 3776 Univcable-B/D 33.3 -2.6 8205 Smiths Group/D 1274.3626 8 442382 Bh Electronic-/D 1242.2 74.65 5304 Federal Bank-A/D 488.9 -1.35 19520 Jct Ltd-B/D 1.16 0.05 56023 Neuland Lab-B/D 91 -4 3345 Standrd Chart /D 1778.6521 -2.5 1655002 Bharatgears-B/D 40.8 -1.05 2167 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.4 -0.41 10481 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 3.14 -0.06 18227 Nrb Bearings-B/D 31.65 -0.55 2381 3I Group/D 319.892 3.4 1260834 Tate & Lyle/D 827 2 365366 Bhartiya Int-B/D 183.5 3.15 2500 Finolex-B/D 86.9 -0.85 52322 Jik Indust-B/D 1.39 -0.07 5905 O N G C-A/D 311.7 -3.15 784301 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 1859.8227 -3 281047 Tesco/D 369.3 -0.15 3037785 Bhel-A/D 200 -0.9 256005 Gail-A/D 330.2 -1.9 31808 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 106.15 4.6 73351 Ocl India-B/D 143.75 -3.9 21211 B Sky B/D 854.64 -5 392491 Unilever/D 2658 1 783590 Bom.Burmah-B/D 102.9 -2.9 13305 Gammon India-B/D 25.65 -1.2 30665 Kabra Extr-B/D 27.05 -1.4 4445 Oil Country-B/D 39.15 -1.05 3536 Barclays/D 299.5 -3.95 13897547 United Util Gr/D 746.5 7.5 735187 Bombay Dyeing-/D 89.05 -1.8 114637 Garden P -B/D 54.05 -0.95 6551 Kajaria Cer-B/D 196.05 -2.9 5844 Onward Tech-T/D 43.05 -0.05 3244 Bg Group/D 1148 -7 1144961 Vodafone Group/D 169.224 0.95 38001962 Cable Corp.-B/D 18.4 -0.05 6233 Goodricke-B/D 131.85 -4.35 4706 Kalpat Power-B/D 71.6 -1.7 19001 Orchid Chem-B/D 53.55 -5.3 203984 Bp/D 446.9655 0.75 4882217 Whitbread/D 2531.5 -23 222743 Camph.& All-B/D 149.15 -2.65 1823 Goodyear I -B/D 275.15 -2.4 2831 Kalyani Stel-B/D 43.05 -1.15 10358 Orient.Carb.-B/D 98.05 1.5 7565 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3556.5 48.5 1184543 Canfin Homes-B/D 145.9 -3.85 5417 Hcl Infosys-B/D 30.25 -0.65 29991 Kg Denim-B/D 13.91 -0.09 8800 Orient.Carb.-B/D 98.05 1.5 7565 British Airway/D 276.4574 0 0 Castrol Ind-A/D 316.55 -4 17906 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 7.83 -0.4 603340 Kilburnengg-B/D 13.26 -0.86 6254 Patspin India-/D 6.1 -0.39 1209 Bt Group/D 266.9 -1.6 5498394 Century Enka-B/D 107.15 1 4659 Himat Seide-B/D 30.7 -0.7 12722 Kin.Motor-B/D 8.5 -0.26 1369 Radico Khait-B/D 136.15 -0.85 5579 Centrica/D 362.7 7.6 4948470 Century Text-A/D 312.95 -12.95 71447 Hind Motors-B/D 8.68 -0.33 271075 Klg Systel-B/D 14.22 -0.68 4463 Rallis India-B/D 113.35 -4 27788 Gkn/D 276.7 7.3 3775303 Chambal Fert-B/D 53.25 -3.8 220349 Hind Org Chem-/D 12.59 -0.62 18761 Kopran-B/D 14.88 -0.42 10774 Rallis India-B/D 113.35 -4 27788 Hsbc Holdings/D 711.1 -17 22976994 TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Bulls confirm Thunder hold off Clippers Steyn move Durant top-scores with 35 points; Heat rally to defeat Knicks to Stade Francais LOS ANGELES: The third quarter. Dwyane Wade had Oklahoma City Thunder’s play- NBA Results 20 points and eight assists for the JOHANNESBURG: off push gathered steam yester- Miami 99 NY Knicks 93 defending NBA champions. Chris Northern Bulls confirmed day with a 108-104 NBA victory Oklahoma City 108 LA Clippers 104 Bosh added 16 points for the Heat yesterday that star fly-half over the Los Angeles Clippers (43-14), all but two coming in the Morne Steyn will join French Washington 90 Philadelphia 87 behind a 35-point performance second half. club Stade Francais at the from Kevin Durant. Memphis 108 Orlando 82 Carmelo Anthony led the end of October on a three- Russell Westbrook finished Sacramento 119 Charlotte 83 Knicks (35-21) with 32 points and year contract. with 29 points, eight rebounds Houston 136 Dallas 103 Jason Kidd had 14 points on four His agent said last January and 10 assists for the Thunder, San Antonio 114 Detroit 75 3-pointers as New York’s three- that the former Springbok who swept the season series Indiana 97 Chicago 92 game win streak was snapped. playmaker would be moving against the Clippers. Elsewhere, Manu Ginobili had to Paris and a Bulls statement LA Lakers 99 Atlanta 98 Forward Serge Ibaka had a 17 points and Tim Duncan added said Steyn will head to the strong game for the Thunder 16 as the Spurs blitzed the Detroit French capital after playing in as he manhandled Clippers star but we didn’t convert down the Pistons with an impressive pass- the Super 15 and Currie Cup Blake Griffin several times under stretch.” ing exhibition to win 114-75 at the competitions. the basket and finished with 16 The second place Thunder AT&T Center. “The opportunity to join points and two blocks in front of improved to 43-16 on the sea- This was the Spurs’ first game Stade comes at the right time a crowd of 19,371. son and now lead the third place without Tony Parker, whose play in my career. I have always Ibaka took his aggressive play Clippers (43-19) by one and a half this season has been sparking wanted to play some rugby too far at one point and was games in the Western Conference MVP talk. abroad and experience a dif- nearly ejected after he delivered standings. Instead of trying to fill his void ferent lifestyle,” said Steyn. a hard slap to Griffin’s groin late Chris Paul had 26 points, with one player, the Spurs (47- “I have invested so much of in the game, a move which earned eight assists and pulled down six 14) decided instead to share the my life with the Bulls so it was him a foul. rebounds, Griffin had 20 points wealth, and they finished with 35 a very tough decision to make. The Clippers were the hotter of and nine rebounds and Jamal assists. I owe everything I achieved in the teams heading into Sunday’s Crawford scored 20 in the loss. Greg Monroe led Detroit (23- rugby to them but the chance crucial matchup as they had won The Thunder completed a 39) with 16 points and eight to join Stade comes at the right four in a row and eight of their season sweep over the Clippers rebounds and Brandon Knight time in my career.” last nine. that included winning 117-111 in surpassed 500 career assists with Bulls head coach Frans But Westbrook’s baseline over-time on November 21 in his fourth assist on the night. Ludeke said: “Morne will be jumper with 26 seconds left in Oklahoma City and by 12 points In another game that was missed as he is a world class the fourth quarter gave Oklahoma on January 22 in Los Angeles. played in the NBA yesterday, player but I know that he will City some much needed breathing Meanwhile, Miami Heat over- the Houston Rockets blitzed the be giving 110 percent till the room in a contest that was close came a 16-point deficit to beat Dallas Mavericks 136-103 to snap end of his contract.” AFP to the final buzzer. the New York Knicks 99-93 at a nine-game series losing skid at “I expect our guys to be able to Madison Square Garden and Toyota Center. fight and get us back in the game,” tie their franchise record of 14 Chandler Parsons connected said Clippers coach Vinny Del straight wins. on his first 11 shots en route to Wariner, Whiting Negro. “We were more aggres- James led Miami with 29 points, a career-high 32 points as the sive in the second half but turno- 11 rebounds and seven assists, fin- Rockets (33-28) opened a six- win US titles vers and free throws were the ishing strong and escaping after game lead on the Mavericks difference. a scary collision with the Knicks’ (26-33). Kevin Durant (35) of the Oklahoma City Thunder dunks against the Los ALBUQUERQUE, New “We had our opportunities JR Smith midway through the AFP Angeles Clippers at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, yesterday. Mexico: Three-time Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner and reigning world indoor shot put champion Ryan Whiting won landmark titles yesterday at NHL Results the US Indoor Track and Field Championships. Chicago 2 Detroit 1 Blackhawks win, stretch streak to 22 Athens Olympic 400-metre DETROIT, Michigan: It took an equaliser It is the same way drawn results did before Wings a 1-0 lead. But after a scramble for a winner Wariner, a five-time world NY Islanders 3 Ottawa 2 from Patrick Kane with 2:02 to play in reg- the league created the shootout to ensure a loose puck in front of the Detroit goal, Kane champion and two-time Olympic Columbus 2 Colorado 1 ulation time but the Chicago Blackhawks winner in every contest. netted his 11th goal of the season, a power- relay title-holder competing in stretched their record-best National Over two seasons, the Blackhawks have play marker, to force over-time. the US Indoors for the first time, Dallas 4 St Louis 1 Hockey League season start to 22 games gone 28 games in a row without a loss in regu- After a scoreless five-minute session, Kane won the 400 in 45.82 seconds, .72 yesterday. lation time, matching the 1977-78 Montreal scored the only goal in the penalty shot show- ahead of runner-up Marcus Boyd. Carolina 3 Florida 2 Another goal by Kane in the game-deciding Canadiens for the second-longest such overall down to give Chicago the triumph. Wariner’s chief rival, Bershawn shootout gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 victory streak in NHL history. The Blackhawks, who claimed their ninth Jackson, failed to finish the race. Montreal 4 Boston 3 over host Detroit as Chicago improved to Chicago can next take aim at the NHL victory in a row have not lost a game in regu- He was the 2005 world champion 19-0-3, earning points in every game at the record 35-game point streak established by lation time since March 25, 2012. Chicago and third in the 400 hurdles at NY Rangers 3 Buffalo 2 start of a season longer than any club in NHL the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1979-80 season. improved to 8-0-1 in its past nine games at the 2008 Olympics. history. Over-time or shootout losses in the Detroit nearly ended Chicago’s record run Detroit Whiting’s winning effort of Minnesota 4 Edmonton 2 NHL still result in a point in the standings after Slovakian center Tomas Tatar scored Chicago’s Marian Hossa, played in his 21.80m was the best indoor shot AFP Calgary 4 Vancouver 2 for the losing team. 2:43 into the third period to give the Red 1,000th career NHL game. put performance in the world this year. AFP

CAS to hear Japan Prime Minister says Murofushi’s Tokyo 2020 will be ‘inspiring’ appeal in April

TOKYO: Prime Minister Tokyo Governor Naoki LAUSANNE: The Court of Shinzo Abe said yesterday Inose (centre, left) and Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Tokyo could be an inspira- Japan’s three-time will hear Japanese athlete Koji tion for other cities if it wins Paralympic wheelchair Murofushi’s appeal against his the right to host the 2020 tennis gold medallist exclusion as a candidate for Olympics, after becoming the Shingo Kunieda (centre, election to the IOC Athletes’ first place in Asia to get the right) welcome members Commission on April 11 and 12, Games in 1964. of the International the CAS said yesterday. Promising his government’s Olympic Committee Taiwan’s Chu Mu-yen, who “fullest” support for Tokyo’s new (IOC) Evaluation has also appealed, is waiting on a Olympic bid, Abe told inspec- decision in his case after his own Commission led by tors from the International hearing on January 21, at which Craig Reedie (centre) Olympic Committee (IOC) the CAS heard from Taiwanese that hosting the Games was his as the inspectors visit Olympic Committee and “life-long dream”. Ariake tennis park in International Olympic Committee “Tokyo, 2020, will inspire Tokyo, yesterday. witnesses. many others, just as Tokyo did The pair were excluded amid before in 1964,” the conservative accusations they campaigned premier said at a reception wel- mission that we must help the and track record in hosting inappropriately during last year’s coming a 14-member team from rest of Asia to grow.” international sports events. London Games for positions on the IOC evaluation commission. “Soon, the questions we face It also attempts to allay fears the Commission. The team, led by IOC vice now in Japan will be the same of damage from a big earth- Murofushi won bronze in the president Craig Reedie of questions many others will face quake or radiation from the hammer at the London Games Britain, started four days of -- like how best to rejuvenate Fukushima nuclear disaster. while Chu won taekwondo gold scrutinising Tokyo’s Olympic an ageing society, how clean and Tokyo is the only one among at the 2004 Athens Games. blueprint and inspecting exist- clear you can keep your sky,” the three candidates that has Pending the outcome of the ing and planned facilities for he said. ever hosted an Olympics. appeals, French triple canoe sla- 2020. “That’s why the torch must The city lost out to Rio de lom champion Tony Estanguet, It will visit the other can- come to Tokyo again.” Janeiro in the campaign for Slovakian shooting star Danka didates, Madrid and Istanbul, Abe’s grandfather Nobusuke the 2016 Summer Games, with Bartekova, Zimbabwean swimmer later this month before draw- Kishi, who was prime minister Rio now set to be the first ever Kirsty Coventry and Australian ing up a technical report on the himself from 1957-1960, also South American Olympic host. rower James Tomkins are the three bids for the 101 IOC mem- helped invite the 1964 Games to Japanese Olympic Committee candidates for positions on the bers who will vote to choose the Tokyo when Asia started mov- president Tsunekazu Takeda Commission. 2020 host on September 7 in ing forward after World War II. has admitted there was a In the meanwhile, the IOC has Buenos Aires. The IOC team, including six preference among IOC mem- suspended the admissions pro- Abe, a former archer who voting IOC members and sev- bers to spread the Games to cedure to the Commission until heads the national archery eral advisers, is tasked with untested regions. Istanbul could the international body holds its federation, said “the Olympic checking “Candidature Files” become the first Olympic city next session in Buenos Aires in spirit was the same spirit with submitted by the three cities in with a predominantly Muslim September. which Japan grew to its height”. January on 14 themes including population. Currently, the IOC have sent “And yet, in Asia, in 1964, infrastructure, finance, logistics “It is wonderful to hold an a 14-member team from the IOC Japan was a lone industrial- and political and public support. Olympics in a new place as the evualuation team to Tokyo as the iser and a lone democracy,” Tokyo’s plan features a “com- Olympic symbol represents the city aims to win the bid to host he said. “So for the Japanese, pact” and “dynamic” Olympics five continents,” Takeda, an the 2020 Olympic Games. the Olympic spirit became a based on its financial wealth IOC member said. AFP AFP TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Maiden Thompson reigns European Tour win for supreme in Florida Van der Walt

PRETORIA: Dawie van der Walt won his first European Maiden PGA Tour win for the American Tour tournament yesterday by finishing two shots ahead of PALM BEACH GARDENS, delighted to be back in conten- fellow South African Darren Florida: American Michael Honda Classic tion with a finish that earns him a Fichardt in the Tshwane Open. Thompson kept his head in spot in next week’s WGC-Cadillac Van der Walt fired a five- gusty winds to win the Honda Scores Championship. under-par final round 67 for a Classic yesterday by two shots “It was going pear-shaped on total of 267 over the Ernie Els- from Australian Geoff Ogilvy. PALM BEACH GARDENS, the West Coast so I kind of had to designed Copperleaf Golf and In testing conditions, the Florida: Leading scores yes- view this is my first week of the Country Estate while Fichardt 27-year-old Thompson, the joint terday after the final round year, it was ‘let’s just kind of start closed with a 69 on the 7,791-yard overnight leader, held firm for his of the $6m US PGA Honda again’.” he said. (7,124-metre) layout. first win on the PGA Tour, end- Classic (USA unless noted, Tiger Woods had a disappoint- A two-metre, 110-kilogram ing with a birdie on the 18th for a par-70) ing final round, shooting four- giant, western Cape-born Van one-under par 69 which left him 271 Michael Thompson 67-65-70-69 over par and making two double der Walt was one shot ahead of nine-under for the tournament. 273 Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 68-66-70-69 bogeys. four-time European Tour win- Thompson, who finished tied 275 Luke Guthrie 68-63-71-73 Woods lost a ball for the sec- ner Fichardt at the turn and second in last year’s U.S. Open, 277 David Lynn (ENG) 72-68-68-69, ond straight round but remained extended it with a birdie at the will look back gladly on the eagle Lucas Glover 69-66-72-70, Erik upbeat about his form. par-five 15th on a hot, overcast he made on the par-five third that Compton 69-68-70-70, Justin Rose “I’ve just got to clean up my afternoon. gave him some breathing space (ENG) 68-66-72-71, Keegan Bradley rounds,” he said after ending the Both title challengers parred before the inevitable bogeys came. 68-68-70-71 tournament four-over following the last three holes and Van der The Arizona-born golfer had 278 Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 70-68-71-69, even-par rounds of 70 in each of Walt collected a 237,750-euro four bogeys and three birdies in Graeme McDowell (NIR) 67-68-73- the first three rounds. ($310,690) cheque and a three- his round but never let the dips 70, Graham DeLaet (CAN) 65-68-73- PGA Tour rookie Luke Guthrie, year exemption from qualifying disturb him in what was a cool 72, Lee Westwood (ENG) 66-68-70- who had shared the overnight for European Tour events. display for a first time winner. 74 lead with Thompson, finished The 30-year-old winner of the “This is everything, this is third after shooting a three-over inaugural Tshwane Open was a a childhood dream come true. yesterday. I just enjoyed the ride.” 73 to finish on five-under. model of consistency over the I dreamed of playing out here Ogilvy also shot a one-under Erik Compton, who has had two four days of a tournament hit by since I was seven years old and par 69 to secure a second place heart transplants, earned his best delays on Friday and Saturday to win, it’s just unbelievable,” that will boost his chances of ever PGA Tour finish with a tie when thunderstorms rolled over said Thompson, who was mak- getting into this year’s Masters for fourth after shooting an even- the course south west of here. ing his 61st tour start. He is the after missing the cut in his last par 70. Americans Lucas Glover He had only one bogey over his first American to win the Honda four tournaments. The Australian and Keegan Bradley were also six 72 holes -- at the par-four 10th Classic since Mark Wilson in chipped in from 41 feet for a shots back along with England’s during the closing round -- and a 2007. Foreign players have won birdie on the 16th that raised the Justin Rose and David Lynn. solid tee-to-green game set up an in seven of the last nine editions. prospect of a late twist in the tale England’s Lee Westwood, who unexpected success in a 156-field “I just can’t put it into words,” and added a birdie on the 18th. began the day just two strokes off that included three former Major Thompson said. “The whole day But after his poor perform- the lead, shot a four-over to end Michael Thompson of USA and his wife Rachel Thompson hold the tro- title-holders. was awesome. My ball-striking ances before the start of the in a tie for ninth, two-under for phy after winning the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, “I hit the ball really well this was way better today than it was Florida swing, Ogilvy was the tournament. REUTERS yesterday. week and probably missed only six or seven greens in regulation,” said the slightly nervous cham- pion after receiving his cheque ‘Tough at number one’, says Tseng and trophy. AFP

SINGAPORE: Taiwan golf good and people like it, but I want reduced to tears last year as pres- but sometimes I even feel maybe Tshwane Open sensation Tseng Yani admit- to care about myself more and I sure built after a string of missed number two is good.” Leading Tshwane Open scores after the ted she would almost be glad just want to enjoy (myself). If I cuts, and after winning seven She added: “The first year when final round at the par-72, 7,791-yard to be toppled from the “very lose (it), I’ll get back one day too.” titles in 2011 she is now search- I was world number one I felt good, (7,124-metre) Copperleaf Golf and Country lonely” spot of world number Tseng’s candid comments come ing for her first victory in a year. I enjoyed it. But then every year, Estate yesterday (RSA unless noted): one and held out sympathy for after McIlroy, under pressure And Tseng, who has sought every month everybody kept build- 267 Dawie van der Walt 68-65-67-67 her besieged men’s counterpart after performing poorly following advice from former long-time ing that expectation on me and I 269 Darren Fichardt 65-71-64-69 Rory McIlroy. a lucrative switch to Nike clubs, women’s number one Annika think that’s a lot of pressure. Tseng watched on Sunday walked off the course during a Sorenstam, said few people could “I want to play golf like a child, 270 Louis de Jager 71-65-65-69 as her two closest rivals in the second-round blow-out at the understand the difficulty of being I don’t want to play golf with 271 Peter Uihlein (USA) 68-66-68-69 rankings, Choi Na-Yeon and Honda Classic in Florida. at the top of a sport. pressure, because if I don’t play 272 Bjorn Akesson (SWE) 66-75-66-65, Stacy Lewis, finished second McIlroy later blamed toothache “It’s tough and it’s very lonely,” well people say bad things about Charl Coetzee 67-65-68-72, Danny and first respectively at the for his sudden withdrawal, but the said Tseng. “No one knows how me, and I don’t want that. I want Willett (ENG) 68-68-70-66 HSBC Women’s Champions in issue was clouded by reported it feels. Everybody wants to be in to focus on myself more and to 273 Morten Orum Madsen (DEN) 70-67- Singapore, slashing her lead to comments that he was “not in a your shoes but no one knows how ignore bad things.” 69-67, Graham van der Merwe 70- just 0.68 average points. good place mentally” as he left the tough it is. Tseng’s struggles at number 66-68-69 But Tseng, 24, who tossed her venue. Tseng backed the 23-year- “Not many people have been one have been noted by America’s 274 Desvonde Botes 69-70-71-64, ball into a lake in disgust as she old Northern Irishman to bounce there before, so I don’t have many Lewis, who rose to third in the Vaughn Groenewald 68-70-70-66, wound up tied 28th, said she sim- back, pointing out that he faced people to ask what should I do. rankings by winning in Singapore David Howell (ENG) 67-69-67-71, ply did not care about being world difficulties last year before win- You just need to find your way and hopes to complete her ascent Hennie Otto 71-68-68-67, Jake Roos number one any more after two ning his second major title and to stay on top as long as you can to the top spot in a matter of 69-67-69-69, Romain Wattel (FRA) increasingly difficult years at the topping both the American and because everybody is different. weeks. 70-66-71-67 top. European money lists. “Annika has a different way, “I know number one is a hard Tseng Yani of Taiwan looks on “I don’t care if I lose (world “Last year he struggled in the Tiger (Woods), Rory, everybody place to be,” said Lewis, 28. “But... 275 Ross McGowan (ENG) 73-68-68-66, after a hit during round three of the number one). I don’t really care middle of the season too but he has a different way to stay on top I don’t feel like I’m doing a lot of James Kamte 69-70-71-65, James HSBC Women’s Champions LPGA about world number one now -- I finished strong and (returned but you need to find your way. stuff different, and right now, I Kingston 70-72-68-65, Garth Mulroy golf tournament at the Serapong just want to have fun,” she said. to) world number one. He will be Now I’m looking for how can I be don’t think number one is going 69-70-69-67, Justin Walters 71-71- Course in Singapore on Saturday. “World number one, I know it’s back soon,” she said. Tseng was on top for as long (as possible) to be any different.” AFP 66-67

Qualifier Gulbis Latest ATP and WTA wins Delray World Rankings Lendl says too early to judge Nadal PARIS: The latest ATP and Beach title WTA tennis world rankings, HONG KONG: Andy Murray’s he’s doing.” The Czech-American published yesterday: coach Ivan Lendl yesterday wel- great said the immediate effect of comed Rafael Nadal back from Nadal’s return would be to tour- DELRAY BEACH, Florida: ATP world rankings as of March 4, 2013 a long injury layoff, but said it nament seedings. The Spaniard’s Latvian qualifier Ernests 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 13,280 was too early to judge whether likely fifth seeding in line with Gulbis won his third career the 11-time Grand Slam winner his post-injury ranking meant he ATP title yesterday by defeat- 2. Roger Federer (SUI) 9,535 would be at his best. would meet a fellow top player in ing France’s Edouard Roger- The Spaniard swept to a the quarter-finals. 3. Andy Murray (GBR) 8,180 Vasselin 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 at the straight sets victory over country- Lendl said it would be tough for Delray Beach International 4. David Ferrer (ESP) 6,665 man David Ferrer at the Mexican players outside the Big Four, such Championships. Open on Saturday, his second title as sixth-ranked Tomas Berdych Gulbis, ranked four spots below 5. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6,105 in three events since returning of the Czech Republic, to win a his opponent at 109 in the world, from a seven-month absence with major this year. 6. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 4,740 Tennis players saved a set point in the 10th game a left-knee injury. “The problem anybody has of the match with a backhand 7. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 4,410 Juan Martin The so-called ‘Big Four’ -- outside of the top four is that del Potro and winner and broke back on his way 8. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 3,660 Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, they have to beat three, or if not to taking his second Delray Beach Rafael Nadal Roger Federer and Nadal -- are three then at least two (of the Big crown in four years. 9. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 3,125 attend the BNP set to be reunited at the Indian Four), to win a Grand Slam title. Paribas Tennis “I’m really happy,” Gulbis said. 10. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 2,880 Wells Masters later this week, but “They have to beat somebody “I worked hard. These last Showdown Lendl cautioned against reading in the quarter-finals then semi- nine days were tough. I had WTA world rankings cocktail party too much into the 26-year-old’s finals then finals to win a Grand a match almost every day, at Essex House comeback wins. Slam title. And I don’t believe 1. Serena Williams (USA) 10,365 except one day it rained, so I’m in New York “He’s a great champion and it’s that has been done yet by anybody exhausted now.” 2. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 10,325 City, yesterday. always sad when someone like beating all three.” Gulbis won his first career title that gets injured and cannot play. Argentine Juan Martin del at Delray Beach in 2010 and his 3. Maria Sharapova (RUS) 9,715 So it’s great to have him back,” Potro was the last player outside only other ATP crown came in 4. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 7,505 Lendl said. the Big Four to win a Grand Slam 2011 at Los Angeles, an event that “As far as how it affects any- with his US Open win in 2009. is ending after this year. 5. Li Na (CHN) 6,130 one’s chances -- well he’s a great Lendl said US Open and “It’s my favorite tournament. 6. Angelique Kerber (GER) 5,400 competitor. It’s a little bit early to Olympic singles champion Andy It’s the only tournament in the judge. But there are many more Murray would be looking to world I am winning,” Gulbis 7. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 4,980 tournaments to come before improve on his performance last said. After congratulating Roger- the French (Open) and before year at Indian Wells, where he 8. Sara Errani (ITA) 4,915 Vasselin for reaching his first ATP Wimbledon. crashed out in the second round. final, Gulbis said he hoped the vic- 9. Samantha Stosur (AUS) 3,835 “You cannot underestimate Lendl will play his ex-rival and tory would help launch him into Roger, Novak has been playing fellow great John McEnroe in the world’s top 50. AFP 10. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 3,570 well, and Rafa -- we’ll see how Hong Kong. AFP TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Beckham Atletico fail to take full named China football ambassador

BEIJING: Football super- advantage of Barca loss star David Beckham has been named an ambassador for the Chinese Super League, the Atletico held to 0-0 draw at Malaga; Sociedad, Betis share spoils country’s football association said, a move that has been widely anticipated but also MADRID: Atletico Madrid criticised. squandered a chance to cut the The former England cap- gap to stuttering La Liga lead- tain will visit three times dur- ers Barcelona to nine points ing the season from March when they were held to a 0-0 to November to promote the draw at fourth-placed Malaga sport in China and attract yesterday. the global spotlight, the China With two of the meanest Football Association said in a defences in the Spanish top flight statement. on display, goals were always going “Beckham will come to to be at a premium and neither China to promote youth foot- side were able to seriously trouble ball and serve as ambassador the opposing goalkeeper in a tight to the Chinese Super League game at the Rosaleda. (CSL),” it said, touting the Malaga captain Weligton sent athlete’s success in boosting a header narrowly wide with the popularity of the sport around 15 minutes left and the worldwide. home side just managed to clear “His arrival will bring inter- their lines after a scramble in the national attention to Chinese penalty area in the dying minutes football and at the same time but both teams appeared content his personal involvement will to settle for a draw. be a good way to make Chinese Atletico coach Diego Simeone football more international.” praised his players for another State media, however, cast strong performance after they doubt on whether Beckham saw off Sevilla and clinched a -- currently with French club place in the King’s Cup final on Paris Saint-Germain -- could Wednesday. repair the image of a sport “After playing an extremely Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa (left) reacts after missing an opportunity to score against Malaga during their Spanish First Division match at La Rosaleda scarred by match-fixing and important match four days ago, Stadium in Malaga, southern Spain on Sunday. RIGHT: Real Betis’ midfielder Benat Etxebarria (left) fights for the ball with midfielder David Zurutuza bribery scandals. with a lot of pressure and a sig- of Real Sociedad during their Primera Division match played at Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain. A three-year inquiry nificant mental effort, today the resulted last month in 33 team responded with the 90 min- people receiving lifetime bans utes we needed to remain near at third-placed champions Real one ahead of Valencia, who drew European qualification hope- behind in seventh. Real Mallorca and the former club of Didier the top of the league,” he told a Madrid on Saturday. 2-2 at home to city rivals Levante fuls Real Sociedad and Real Betis gave their bid to survive the drop Drogba, Shanghai Shenhua, news conference. It was their second defeat by on Saturday. played out an entertaining 3-3 a boost when Israel striker Tomer being stripped of its 2003 “We just lacked the final pass to their arch-rivals in five days “A draw was a fair result,” draw in San Sebastian in Sunday’s Hemed nodded a 94th-minute league title. convert our play, which was very after Real dumped them out of Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini late kick-off. winner in a 2-1 comeback victory When news of Beckham’s positive for the whole match, into the King’s Cup 4-2 on aggregate told a news conference. The Basques fought back from at fellow strugglers Granada. appointment began to circu- a goal,” added the Argentine, who on Tuesday and only their second “We have secured a point two goals down to take a 3-2 lead Mallorca have 21 points in 19th late last month, the People’s has transformed the club since reverse of the league campaign against a great team who are before Colombian Dorlan Pabon and Granada are 16th on 26. Daily online said the departure taking over midway through last following January’s loss at Real having a great season,” added the scored his second of the night to Espanyol and Real Valladolid of two international stars had season. Sociedad. Chilean. level in the 66th minute. drew 0-0 at Espanyol’s Cornella already hurt CSL’s reputation The result left Barca 11 points Barca have 68 points from 26 “They are second in the league, Sociedad are sixth on 41 points, El Prat Stadium in Barcelona and and “even Beckham would not clear of Atletico with 12 games matches with Atletico on 57 and they are in the Cup final and have while Betis, who play on the other are 13th and 11th respectively. heal the damage”. AFP left after they were beaten 2-1 Real 55. Malaga trail on 43 points, a lot of individual quality.” side of Spain in Seville, are one REUTERS Qatari seeks FIFA role; Bahraini Maradona reveals dream among nominees for AFC presidency to coach Barca MUMBAI: Asian Football the Congress in accordance with Maicon Santos Confederation (AFC), yesterday the AFC statutes,” the AFC said MADRID: Argentine legend (29) of the confirmed that Qatar’s Hassan in a statement. Sunday was the and former Barcelona star Chicago Fire and Al Thawadi (pictured) will deadline for nominations for the Diego Maradona has revealed Leonardo (22) of stand for the FIFA executive May 2 leadership election, which he dreams of coaching his the Los Angeles committee position. comes a day before the AFC’s compatriot Lionel Messi at the Galaxy vie for the The AFC also announced that ordinary Congress. Catalan club. ball during the Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin China’s Zhang Jilong, the acting “My little dream would be MLS match at Ibrahim Al Khalifa, part of the head of Asian soccer, had opted one day to coach Leo at Barca,” the Home Depot ruling family which is trying to out of the race giving Thailand’s Maradona told Marca in an inter- Center in Carson, contain continued violent unrest Worawi a headstart against his view published yesterday. California, and political turmoil, is among the rivals. Maradona, world champion in yesterday. The nominees to be the Asian Football Worawi, an ally of Bin 1986, has already coached Messi Galaxy defeated Confederation president. and bribery allegations, which Hammam, has been campaigning during a two-year spell in charge the Fire 4-0. The AFC said in a statement he denies. United Arab Emirates hard for eight votes in the South of the national side culminating in yesterday that Bahrain FA chief soccer chief Yousuf Al Serkal Asian region, having already a disappointing 2010 World Cup. Sheikh Salman is also in the run- and Saudi Arabia official Hafez confirmed the support from The 52-year-old, meanwhile David Beckham ning for an Asian seat on world Ibrahim Al Medlej, have also Southeast Asia. defended Messi, who has come in ended his LA governing body FIFA’s executive thrown their hats in the ring to His cause would be helped if his for some rare criticism in recent Galaxy career on committee. be the president for 2013-2015. rivals from West Asia fight among games - including a Champions a winning note in Al Thawadi is currently the Thailand’s Worawi Makudi themselves to garner support in League loss at AC Milan and a December after Secretary-General of the Qatar will be the fourth candidate and their own region, though efforts pair of reverses to Real Madrid. Galaxy won the 2022 Supreme Comittee and could already has the backing of the 12 are on to come to an agreement “I don’t think you have the MLS trophy. hold the FIFA post from 2013- votes from Southeast Asia. The on a single candidate from the right to ‘kill’ Messi on the basis 2017 if elected. AFC has 47 member associations area. Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin of two poor games given all his The AFC has been without a in all. Al Hussein, the president of the goals across the season,” said permanent president since May “The nominations will now be West Asian Football Federation, Maradona. 2011 with previous boss Mohamed scrutinised and the list of candi- has called a meeting tomorrow to Barca’s 2-0 loss to Mialan Bin Hammam of Qatar banned dates will be sent to the member try to find a consensus candidate. threatens to end this season’s for life by FIFA for corruption associations one month prior to AFP European campaign. AFP Pakistan plans new high-profile football league ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is plan- the Water and Power Development successful, attracting sell-out crowds of the PPL as “much much lower” than should actually be out of the league,” he ning a major new football competition Authority (WAPDA). and big television audiences. the English non-league Conference. said. Money is another stumbling block. modelled on cricket’s hugely success- Television coverage is non-existent There is little doubt reform is needed. As with so many things in Pakistan, Without the mass appeal of cricket, ful Indian Premier League in a bid and crowds for most matches number The PFF has set an ambitious goal of where life is blighted by almost daily Pakistan’s national obsession, foot- to revitalise a sport which has long in the hundreds. Naveed Haider Khan, qualifying for the World Cup by 2022, shootings and bombings, security is a ball struggles to attract sponsorship stagnated. marketing consultant at the PFF, said but the national team has made little problem and fears of attacks have led and the federation survives largely on The Pakistan Football Federation the new competition would give football progress since the launch of the premier to numerous walkovers, gnawing at the grants from FIFA and the Asian Football (PFF) is in talks with potential sponsors a much-needed shot of razzmatazz. league in 2004. competition’s credibility. Confederation. for the proposed league, which would fea- “We’re going to be giving cash incen- Before two recent wins away to Nepal, Baluchistan is the heartland of the The PFF general secretary, retired ture six city-based teams playing each tives, we’ll look after their transpor- they were languishing 189th in the FIFA game, the only place where crowds of colonel Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi, said other in Lahore, officials said. tation, their accommodation, we’ll be world rankings, just three spots above thousands regularly turn up to watch nearly a quarter of the football budget Pakistan has had a “premier league” trying to project it very heavily on tel- their lowest-ever placing. matches, but it is also one of the coun- is spent on the 16-team league, but this for the past nine years, but coaches and evision so people get the insight of what Tariq Lutfi, a former national coach try’s most dangerous regions, beset amounts to only 13.5m rupees ($135,000). fans complain of poor standards, awful is happening in football,” he said. who has led KRL to the premier league by sectarian, separatist and Islamist To minimise costs, the 240 matches pitches and walkovers. “We want to glamourise this game in title in the last two seasons, said the violence. of the PPL are crammed into just five Government teams dominate the Pakistan, we want to run it like the IPL competition simply does not prepare The three PPL clubs based in the months and former national coach Lutfi Pakistan Premier League (PPL), snap- in India with cricket,” he said. players for the rigours of the interna- southwestern province were each said the hectic schedule was taking its ping up the best talent with generous The competition is dependent on spon- tional game. awarded four 3-0 walkover wins last toll on players. sports budgets and leaving private clubs sors coming forward, but the PFF hopes “It’s not good enough. The domestic season after teams refused to visit. “It’s ultimately injuries that are the to struggle. to run it in May or September, Khan standard is not matching the interna- Rai Saif-ur-Rehman Bhatti, the presi- main result of this and teams without a Unsurprisingly, neither fans nor spon- said, and if all goes well there are plans tional standard and unless and until it dent of PMC Athletico Faisalabad, a good bench suffer a lot,” he said. sors have much appetite for supporting to expand the competition next year -- does, it is very difficult for Pakistan to private club relegated from the premier From next season each PPL team will the likes of current PPL champions Khan and even try to lure foreign players. progress,” he said. league at the end of last season, said it be required to have at least two under- Research Laboratories (KRL), or the A similar venture in neighbouring Ali Ahsan of online fan forum Football was unfair. 19s players in their squad on match days, evocatively named four-time winners, Afghanistan last year proved hugely Pakistan agreed, describing the standard “If a team gets three walkovers it Lodhi said. AFP TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

A combination of pictures of Al Gharafa midfielder Fahid Satam Al Shammari celebrating after scoring his club’s second goal against Al Rayyan during the Qatar Stars League match at Al Gharafa Stadium in Doha yesterday. PICTURES BY: KAMMUTTY VP

Qatar Stars League Lekhwiya falter in title bid Results and Fixtures Yesterday's Results Al Kharaitiyat beat the defending champions 1-0; Al Gharafa win Al Gharafa 2 Al Rayyan 1 Lekhwiya 0 Al Kharaitiyat 1 DOHA: Lekhwiya’s title bid Al Arabi 0 Umm Salal 1 suffered a huge blow when the Sunday's Results defending Qatar Stars League Al Wakra 0 Eljaish 1 (QSL) champions lost 1-0 to Al Al Khor 1 Al Sadd 1 Kharaitiyat yesterday. With Al Sadd dropping points Qatar SC 1 Al Sailiyah 1 to Al Khor on Sunday, Lekhwiya Next QSL Fixtures coached by Eric Gerets, failed to March 29 take advantage. Al Kharaitiyat vs Eljaish, 6.00pm Lekhwiya remain five points Al Sailiyah vs Al Khor, 6.00pm behind the QSL points leaders Umm Salal vs Qatar SC, 8.00pm with only three matches left to play. March 30 Al Kharaitiyat’s Abdulaziz Al Al Rayyan vs Al Wakra, 6.00pm Ansari scored the only goal of the Al Sadd vs Al Gharafa, 6.00pm match in the 27th minute in what Lekhwiya vs Al Arabi, 8.00pm was a hard-fought victory for the visitors. In other QSL matches yes- Qatar Stars League terday, Al Gharafa’s Alex Rafael and Fuhaid Al Shammeri scored Standings to help their side beat Al Rayyan P W D L G/F G/A Pts 2-1. Lekhwiya’s Luiz Mairton Junior (left) and Al Kharaitiyat’s Alain Dioko Kaluyituka vie for the ball during their Qatar Stars League clash at Abdullah bin In another match played yes- Nasser bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday. RIGHT: Al Gharafa forward Alex Rafael shoots to score the first goal of the match in the QSL match against Al Al Sadd 19 14 2 3 41 20 44 terday, Said Boutahir scored a Rayyan at Al Gharafa Stadium Doha yesterday. Lekhwiya 19 12 3 4 32 18 39 late winner in Umm Salal’s 1-0 Eljaish 19 12 1 6 22 17 37 win over Al Arabi. Al Rayyan 19 10 3 6 43 30 33 In a highly entertaining Lekhwiya goalkeeper Baba Malik. Al Kharaitiyat continued to Elsewhere, Al Gharafa got back points. Yesterday’s defeat for Al Al Gharafa 19 7 6 6 23 23 27 encounter at the Abdullah bin With the score 1-0 to the visitors, press forward despite Lekhwiya’s to winning ways in what was their Rayyan leaves last season’s Heir Nasser bin Khalifa Stadium, both Lekhwiya dominated the second attacking threats but held on for fifth victory in ten matches. Apparent Cup winners in fourth Al Khor 19 6 7 6 24 22 25 sides created chances. half in the hope of finding the cru- a crucial victory. Al Rayyan, who were in good place with 33 points. Umm Salal 19 7 4 8 25 32 25 Al Kharaitiyat, who occupied cial equaliser. The result leaves Lekhwiya in form prior to the match, could not Al Arabi are in 11th position Qatar SC 19 6 5 8 27 29 23 tenth position before the match However, Al Kharaitiyat’s second place, with 39 points two find the equaliser after Ahmed with 16 points, while Umm Salal Al Kharaitiyat 19 4 8 7 19 20 20 started, stunned the home side defenders stood firm and defended points clear of third-place Eljaish. Alaaeldin gave the visitors some- are seventh with a points tally of Al Wakra 19 5 5 9 23 29 20 in the first half. well as a unit, clearing the ball off Al Kharaitiyat moves up to hope six minutes from time. 25. Al Arabi 19 3 7 9 19 30 16 On the edge of the penalty the goal-line as well as making ninth position following yester- The result leaves Al Gharafa QSL action will resume on box, Al Ansari curled a shot past last-ditch tackles. day’s win. in fifth place with a tally of 27 March 29. THE PENINSULA Al Sailiyah 19 1 3 15 22 50 6 Borussia Dortmund Qatar squad trains Coach Hiddink Striker Bendtner considers gets six-month won’t underestimate extending stay international at Makhachkala suspension

Shakhtar Donetsk MOSCOW: Dutch coach COPENHAGEN: The Danish Guus Hiddink said in an Football Federation (DBU) DORTMUND, Germany: the victory which kept Dortmund interview published on has suspended striker Nicklas Borussia Dortmund coach second in the Bundesliga. Monday that he has not Bendtner from international Jurgen Klopp has insisted his Donetsk enjoyed a 4-1 win ruled out extending his football for six months after side still face a tough task to see over Volyn Lutsk last Friday to time at Russian club Anzhi being arrested for drink driv- off Shakhtar Donetsk in today’s stay top of the Ukrainian league, Makhachkala -- despite say- ing, they announced yesterday. Champions League last 16 sec- with Costa, midfielder Oleksandr ing that he would quit at the The 25-year-old who is cur- ond leg, despite the 2-2 draw in Kucher and Croatia striker end of the season. rently on loan at Juventus from Ukraine. Eduardo scoring in the rout. “Yes, I’ve said indeed that Arsenal was taken to a police A late goal by Germany cen- “It will be very difficult for us I was set to quit my career station after being caught driv- tre-back Mats Hummels res- in Dortmund, because we will Qatar national football team members listen to instructions from head at the end of this season, it’s ing the wrong way down a street cued the draw three weeks ago be under a lot of pressure,” said coach Fahad Al Thani during a training session at Aspire Academy true,” he was quoted as saying in downtown Copenhagen in the at Donetsk, providing a two-away Donetsk’s Romania defender yesterday. BELOW: Squad members take part in a training session. by the Sport Express daily. “But early hours of Sunday morning. goal advantage for the return leg Razvan Rat. Qatar will play two friendly matches this month - Egypt on Thursday if Anzhi stay ambitious in their “The DBU have demanded that at Borussia’s Signal Iduna Park “They have got great fans and and Thailand on March 17. The matches are in preparation for the Asian aspirations for the future, eve- Nicklas Bendtner take six months stadium. they will also be confident after Cup 2015 qualifier against Bahrain on March 22. Four days later, Qatar rything is possible.” off to think over his interna- “We were the best team in getting a good result in the first will visit South Korea in the FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifiers. The 66-year-old said that tional future,” read a federation Donetsk, but despite that it leg. A 0-0 draw would suit them, at the beginning of his work statement. PICTURES BY: FADI AL ASSAD finished 2-2, to be the better so we need to attack and take in Makhachkala the project “The DBU respect the rights of team again is a real challenge risks, but, at the same time, we of transforming the team all players to have a private life, for us,” said Klopp, who gave a must make sure that we do not from the capital of Russia’s but we also have certain rules that curt answer when asked who his concede.” Caucasian republic of Dagestan need to be met by international dream opponent would be in the Dortmund left-back Marcel into a serious football club players in their public behaviour,” last eight. Schmelzer said the team must looked uncertain. continued the statement. “We still have too much to do. concentrate harder to contain But he added: “Now after Bendtner, who has flirted We are a bit too far away to be the fleet-footed Donetsk attack, around a year at the helm, I with controversy throughout his wishing for a particular opponent especially with Brazil forward can say that Anzhi have got career, was also in hot water at in the next round.” Luiz Adriano vowing to dedicate the image of a serious club with Euro 2012 when he was fined Dortmund twice came from any goals he scores to his new- significant ambitions, not only heavily by UEFA after revealing behind at Donetsk’s Donbass born daughter. in Russia but in Europe also. a bookmakers name on his under- Arena after substitute Douglas While Donetsk have had just “People now take us seri- pants after scoring a goal. Costa had given the Ukraine two games this year with the ously because we’ve got a seri- He is currently sidelined with champions a second-half lead. Ukraine league only resuming on ous attitude about what we’re a thigh injury and has not played Robert Lewandowski had ear- Friday, Dortmund face their third doing. And that’s what I enjoy since December 17. lier cancelled out Darijo Srna’s game in seven days. most of all in my work with “Dear friends I was booked for free-kick before the break. “We are in a good starting posi- Anzhi” a mild case of drink driving last Hummels’s thumping header tion, but we must concentrate a Hiddink said the club had night - it was a quite nite (sic) three minutes from time meant bit harder than in our last few ambitions to be among Russia’s but I am very very sorry to all Dortmund left the Ukraine with games,” he said. “If we do that, best, alongside the four Moscow my friends and fans,” Bendtner an advantage, but the 24-year-old we’ll make the next round. for next season, but we will do it expires in June 2014, Watzke clubs and reigning champions tweeted after the arrest. has missed the last two games “Donetsk are still fresh, they without having to take out extra said he hopes to retain his serv- Zenit St Petersburg, while the “It is not ok to drink and drive. with flu and is rated as 50:50 for have only played two games this money,” he told German broad- ices until then with the Poland goal for the second half of the I take full responsibility,” added Tuesday. year, that makes them dangerous caster Sport1, referring to the 40m star having been linked to rivals season is European success. Bendtner, who said he was “doing Having been one of only four and they have plenty of speed with euros (US$52m) Dortmund have Bayern Munich. Hiddink said that the club my absolute best to come back as teams who enjoyed a 100 per- their fast attacking Brazilians. earned so far in the Champions “My wishful thinking is that had become more professional, soon as possible.” cent home record in the group We have to be careful.” League. Robert will also play for us next while improvements to facili- It will rule him out of several stages, enjoying wins over Ajax, Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund “We will try to get a bit more season,” said Watzke, Dortmund’s ties, including a new stadium in crucial 2014 World Cup qualifi- Real Madrid and Manchester CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has volume to our forward positions chief executive officer, but Makhachkala and the creation ers including one later this month City, hosts Borussia warmed up said that the German champions and out wide.” Borussia may be forced to sell of a youth academy had also away to Czech Republic. with a 3-1 win over Hanover on will strengthen their squad for With Dortmund striker Robert their star asset at the end of the helped. AFP Denmark just two points from Saturday. next season. Lewandowski having said he will season or risk losing him on a free their three matches in a group Lewandowski scored twice in “We will invest significantly not renew his contract, which transfer. AGENCIES topped by Italy. AFP TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Sri Lanka pay row New Zealand must find the ends, players available for answers to England’s pace Bangla series

COLOMBO: A pay dispute between Sri Lanka Cricket Anderson, Finn aim to exploit Kiwi batsmen’s weakness in Dunedin (SLC) and its 23 centrally con- tracted players ended yesterday WELLINGTON: England’s supported by Stuart Broad and top order to Dunedin, with the with the cricketers signing new pace bowlers James Anderson possibly one of Graham Onions recalled Peter Fulton expected contracts and making them- and Steven Finn are likely to or Chris Woakes, should prove to partner debutant Hamish selves available for the two-test be crucial determinants in the a headache for New Zealand’s Rutherford. series against Bangladesh start- Test series against New Zealand batsmen, whose frailties against Left arm spinner Bruce Martin ing on Friday. when the first of three matches elite fast bowling were ruthlessly is also expected to make his debut The SLC and Sri Lankan begins at University Oval in exposed by the South African at the age of 32, while all-rounder sports minister Mahindananda England cricket Dunedin tomorrow. attack earlier this year. Doug Bracewell will undergo a late Aluthgamage had threatened to Both Anderson and Finn were Brendon McCullum’s side fitness test after he cut his foot on drop the 23 senior players if did team captain rested in the four-day match slumped to innings defeats in a glass while clearing up following not sign the new contracts by Alastair Cook against the New Zealand XI, both Tests on their tour of South a house party. Following Dunedin, yesterday. stretches dur- which the hosts won by three Africa, and were skittled for 45 New Zealand host England in the “Twenty two out of 23 play- ing a training wickets with less than two overs in Cape Town with Proteas pace- second Test in Wellington from ers have signed the contracts session at the remaining, but proved more than man Vernon Philander taking five March 14, with the third and final which makes them available for University Oval destructive in the limited overs wickets for seven runs. Test in Auckland starting March the selection for Bangladesh test in Dunedin, series prior to the Tests. South Africa seamer Dale 22. series,” SLC chief executive officer yesterday. Apart from the opening one- Steyn did the damage in the sec- Teams: New Zealand (possi- Ajith Jayasekera said. England will day match which New Zealand ond Test in Port Elizabeth, taking ble): Brendon McCullum (cap- Former captain Mahela play New won, Anderson and Finn pro- eight for 65. tain), Peter Fulton, Hamish Jayawardene, who is abroad, was Zealand in vided a masterclass in hostile fast New Zealand’s batsmen have Rutherford, Kane Williamson, the only player who did not sign a three-test bowling, giving the New Zealand also had trouble occupying the Ross Taylor, Dean Brownlie, BJ his contract. series starting batsmen little to hit on the small crease for long periods to tire Watling, Doug Bracewell, Bruce “The selection committee tomorrow. grounds while creating pressure out opposing attacks, while giv- Martin, Tim Southee, Trent met (on Monday) and the team and taking wickets. ing their own bowlers a rest. Boult. is in the process of approval,” Anderson’s control of the Even century-making batsmen England (possible): Alastair Jayasekera added. seam position and the swing he have scored their runs in a hurry Cook (captain), Nick Compton, The contracts expired at the extracted created doubt for New and not lingered to post truly Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, end of February but the play- Zealand’s batsmen, while the tall big scores to anchor their team’s Ian Bell, Joe Root, Matt Prior, ers refused to sign a new con- Finn bowled back of a length innings. Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, tract by Saturday’s deadline. The and was menacingly accurate at The Mike Hesson-coached Steven Finn, James Anderson. SLC extended the deadline to top pace. As such, the duo, to be side will also bring a re-jigged REUTERS yesterday. SLC officials and Aluthgamage have said the players were demanding a pay of 75 percent of the board’s total earnings, while West Indies rout listless Zimbabwe in T20 a senior cricketer said they were merely opposing SLC’s move to NORTH SOUND, Antigua order to finish with three for 17. said Sammy. “Lendl Simmons Scoreboard cut their terms. and Barbuda: A bludgeoning With their second consecu- (41) also set us up well at the top A similar pay dispute threat- innings from Kieron Pollard tive comprehensive win -- after and that’s the sort of contribution WEST INDIES ZIMBABWE ened to derail last year’s Sri and career-best figures from Saturday’s eight-wicket triumph all the way down that we want L Simmons c Ervine b M’Shangwe ...... 41 C Chibhabha b Badree ...... 13 Lanka Premier League after the Samuel Badree spearheaded -- the world champions took the to see.” J Charles b Chatara ...... 10 V Sibanda c Bravo b Badree...... 5 players said they would pull out West Indies’ 41-run win over series 2-0 following a 3-0 white- All the Zimbabwe bowlers Dwayne Bravo c Taylor b M’Shangwe ...... 24 H Masakadza (not out) ...... 53 of the tournament. Zimbabwe in the second and wash of the Zimbabweans in the had shown greater discipline C Barnwell b Utseya ...... 7 B Taylor c Sammy b Badree ...... 4 Galle hosts the first Test final T20 international on one-day matches in Grenada. in limiting the home team’s K Pollard (not out) ...... 45 C Ervine c&b Bravo ...... 15 against Bangladesh from Friday Sunday night. Both sides now turn their early progress. Tendai Chatara D Sammy c Sibanda b Mutombodzi ...... 19 M Waller (run out-Simmons/Ramdin) ...... 7 while the second match is sched- Responding to the hosts’ total attention to the Test matches, accounted for Johnson Charles, A Russell c Ervine b Mutombodzi...... 0 T Mutombodzi c&b Bravo ...... 1 uled in Colombo from March 16. of 158 for seven, the visitors were the first of two beginning March who lost his middle stump in D Ramdin b Mpofu ...... 0 P Utseya (not out) ...... 11 In 2009, Bangladesh won two restricted to 117 for six with only 12 in Barbados. missing an ugly swipe. The spin- S Narine (not out) ...... 1 Extras (LB-4, W-4) ...... 8 Test matches in the Caribbean veteran Hamilton Masakadza Pollard crashed three sixes ners then came to the fore with Extras (LB-2, W-8, NB-1) ...... 11 Total (for 6 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 117 after West Indies players staged offering any sort of resistance and three fours in an unbeaten leggie Natsai M’Shangwe remov- Total (for 7 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 158 Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-25, 3-33, 4-68, 5-91, a strike over pay. with an unbeaten 53 off 51 deliv- 46 off just 24 deliveries to lift the ing Dwayne Bravo and man of the Did not bat: S Badree, S Gabriel. 6-94. Recently, Angelo Mathews has eries with six fours. West Indies to a competitive total, series Simmons, who perished Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-61, 3-79, 4-92, Bowling: Gabriel 3-0-12-0; Badree 4-0-17-3 been named as Sri Lanka’s Test However, the damage was dominating a 56-run fifth-wicket for 41. Experienced off-spin- 5-148, 6-149, 7-155. (1w); Sammy 2-0-13-0; Narine 4-0-22-0; and one-day international captain already done with Badree mak- partnership with Darren Sammy, ner Prosper Utseya disposed of Bowling: Mpofu 4-0-28-1 (2w); Chatara 4-0- Dwayne Bravo 3-0-15-2 (1w); Russell 2-0-21- for the rest of 2013. ing amends for his comparatively the captain contributing 19. Christopher Barnwell, the return- 46-1 (2w, 1nb); Utseya 4-0-22-1 (3w); 0 (1w); Pollard 1-0-5-0 (1w); Barnwell 1-0-8-0. Sri Lanka will also play three ordinary effort in the first match “We’ve got good depth in our ing all-rounder attempting one M’Shangwe 4-0-33-2; Mutombodzi 4-0-28-2 Result: West Indies won by 41 runs. one-day internationals and one the previous day, dismissing the batting and Pollard played the cut shot too many to be bowled (1w). Series: West Indies won by 2-0. T20 international in Bangladesh. top three in the Zimbabwean right sort of innings for us today,” for just seven. AFP AGENCIES Basketball: Al Rayyan, Al Arabi clash today in Heir Apparent Cup

DOHA: Al Arabi unleashed a 15-0 end game blitz to smother Al Shamal, 72-67, in the Group 2 match of the Heir Apparent Cup at the Al Gharafa Indoor Hall yesterday. Also yesterday, Al Rayyan defeated Qatar Sports Club 83-70 in the Group 2 clash. Al Arabi and Al Rayyan, both who have won three matches, clash today, a match which is likely to decide the group leader. In the first match yesterday, Mansour Elhadary and Jalloh Abdullai Jalloh pounded the hoops at the onset of the first period, combining for 15 points of Arabi’s 23 to give the defending champions a 6-point cushion after 10 minutes of play. La Mont Leslie (right) Mezie Mwigwe and William Tyvon tried to carry Al of Qatar Sports Shamal’s offensive in the second period but the white Club tries to score a shirts snuffed the tandem’s efforts with scorching defense basket, while team- and fluid execution to stay afloat at 41-38 before the half- mate Eugene Moliva time break. watches, during William Byrd took over in the third, stringing a dozen their Heir Apparent points in a torrid exchange of baskets that brought Arabi Cup match against to a 58-48 advantage midway in the period. Mwigwe would then ignite a 9-0 Shamal run to cap Al Rayyan at the 15-point 3-quarter output that pushed his team just a Al Gharafa Indoor point behind their rivals at 57-58 entering the final period. Stadium yesterday. Al The relentless red shirt combined with Tyvon to propel Rayyan defeated Qatar a 10-0 onslaught that pushed Shamal way ahead at 67-58 Sports Club 83-70 in after 4 minutes into the fourth period. the Group 2 clash. The reigning champions climb back in no time and fin- ished their rivals off, 73-67, as Byrd and Alvin Mofunanya PICTURE BY: KAMMUTTY VP steamrolled a 15-0 counter-offensive with sheer power under the boards to cap a sterling end game. Meanwhile, Al Rayyan paraded a lanky behemoth in new recruit Jeremeo Davidson who contributed 18 points and 9 rebounds to his new team’s 83-70 bashing of Qatar Sports Club. Coach Brian Rowsom and his charges collared their third straight win in the league and set-up today’s main game duel with Al Arabi, also toting a clean 3-0 win-loss card, as a battle for top honours in Group 2. Veteran Yaseen Mousa paced Al Rayyan with 22 points while ace-forward Tangi Ngombo chipped in 16. Chauncey Leslie and Eugene Oliva top scored with 21 and 20, respectively, for Qatar Club which finished the round with 2 wins and 2 losses. THE PENINSULA Tuesday 5 March 2013 23 Rabial II Safar 1434 Volume 17 Number 5629 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Man United, Real resume Champions League battle Match at Old Trafford evenly poised after a 1-1 first-leg draw in Madrid

LONDON: The latest intriguing lifting the European Cup for the duel between friendly rivals and second time in 1996. Blake first big master tacticians Alex Ferguson Champions League They are now back on the rise and Jose Mourinho will take and barring a total upset at home signing for place today as Manchester Last 16, Second tomorrow are poised to see off United and Real Madrid resume Celtic and reach the last eight for Doha 2013 SDL battle in the Champions League. Leg Schedule the first time since 2006. The match at Old Trafford, PARIS: Champions League Juve, who have no injury wor- DOHA: Jamaica’s Yohan which is evenly poised after a 1-1 last-16, 2nd leg fixtures (1st leg ries, are six points clear of Napoli Blake (pictured), the World first-leg draw in Madrid, is the scores in brackets): at the top of Serie A after their 100m champion, will open outstanding game in Europe this Today 1-1 draw on Friday and well on his 2013 Samsung Diamond week as the Champions League course to defend their league title. League (SDL) campaign at Manchester United vs Real Madrid (1-1) tempo increases with three other Their recent European record the Doha 2013 meeting on round-of-16 ties being decided. Borussia Dortmund vs Shakhtar Donetsk is also outstanding. They have not May 10. Juventus, 3-0 up after a superb (2-2) lost for 17 matches since a 4-1 The 14-fixture Samsung first-leg win at Celtic, are over- Tomorrow defeat at Fulham in the Europa Diamond League, the world’s whelming favourites to reach Paris Saint-Germain vs Valencia (2-1) League in 2010. Since then they premier global circuit of invi- the quarter-finals, while Paris St Juventus vs Celtic (3-0) have won eight and drawn nine tational athletics meetings, will Germain, who won 2-1 at Valencia March 12 European games and have not get underway in Doha, Qatar, in the first leg, are in the box seat conceded a goal in their last four as it has done in each of its Schalke 04 vs Galatasaray (1-1) to complete the job at home. Champions League matches. previous three seasons since The second leg between Barcelona vs AC Milan (0-2) Meanwhile, David Beckham its creation in 2010. Borussia Dortmund and Shakhtar March 13 could return to Champions Blake, who was the 2012 Donetsk starts level after they Malaga vs FC Porto (0-1) League action for PSG’s home Olympic silver medallist at drew the first leg 2-2 in Ukraine, Bayern Munich vs Arsenal (3-1) game against Valencia tomorrow, both 100m and 200m and a but Dortmund, tipped by some as with the French side 2-1 ahead member of Jamaica’s World potential Champions League win- Barcelona last week, beating them from the first leg. record-breaking 4x100m ners, also start as the favourites 3-1 in the King’s Cup and 2-1 in The 37-year-old former England Olympic winning quartet in to advance. La Liga. captain said last week: “It is a while London, is the first headline At Old Trafford, Ryan Giggs “Obviously these victories are since I played in the Champions announcement by the organ- is expected to make his 1,000th good for the morale of the squad League so I am excited. It’s a big isers of Doha 2013. competitive appearance in games because now we have a tough game for the club, and we are IAAF Vice President and for United, Wales and the British Champions League match com- ahead, but that does not mean it Qatar Association of Athletics Olympic side, and former United ing up,” Real defender Sergio is going to be easy.” Federation Chairman, Dahlan favourite Cristiano Ronaldo will Ramos, who headed the winner PSG prepared in the worst pos- Jumaan Al Hamad, expressed be determined to ruin his old in Saturday’s win, told Spanish sible way for the Valencia clash, his excitement over Blake’s team mate’s landmark day. television. losing 1-0 at ten-man Stade Reims upcoming appearance: The two teams are in great “After the two ‘Clasicos’ we are on Saturday. Midfielder Marco “We are really looking for- form and only the finest of mar- going to Manchester convinced Verratti will be suspended for ward to welcoming Yohan in gins are likely to separate them. we can win, with all respect to our Wednesday’s game as will striker Doha and to see the reigning United, having thrashed opponent, who have a great team,” Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was sent 100m World champion com- Norwich City 4-0 at Old Trafford added the Spain international. off in the first leg at the Mestalla. peting at Qatar Sports Club on Saturday, are 15 points clear Real Madrid with their nine The round of 16 will be com- Stadium. The fourth Samsung of champions Manchester City European Cup successes and pleted next week with the remain- Diamond League season will Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo controls a ball during at the top of the Premier League. United with three have long been ing four ties when Barcelona will commence once again in Doha a training session at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, yesterday, on the Real have re-discovered their among Europe’s aristocrats. be seeking to overturn their 2-0 and we are aiming to welcome a eve of their second leg of the Champions League last 16 match against old verve with two morale- As are Juventus, who have had first-leg defeat at AC Milan. world-class field. The conditions Manchester United. boosting wins over arch-rivals a roller-coaster history since REUTERS here are excellent and we are aware that athletes love to com- pete in Qatar,” stated Al Hamad. 23-year-old Blake, who is tied on the all-time lists with Tyson Gay as the second fast- est ever 100m runner (9.69), India in firm control of second Test commented that “this will be my first time in Qatar and I HYDERABAD: India gained round the legs sweeping and, at 74 Australia set by England’s Len am looking forward to going firm control of the second for two in their second innings, Hutton and Maurice Leyland at to Doha.” cricket Test against Australia the visitors still need 192 runs the Oval in 1938. “I have heard about the fast despite crashing from 387 for to make India bat again in the They also fell short of the 376- track in Doha and I hope to one to 503 all out in reply to match. run partnership between VVS break the meeting record (9.85 the visitors’ first innings score Ed Cowan (26) and Shane Laxman and Rahul Dravid in the sec, Olusoji Fasuba, 2006). I of 237 for nine declared at the Watson (nine) will resume the 2001 Kolkata Test to be third in always want to surprise the Rajiv Gandhi International long haul on the fourth day. the list. audience, everywhere I go.” Stadium, Uppal, here yesterday. Earlier, Cheteshwar Pujara Pujara struck 30 fours and a six “I am the second fastest man By stumps on the third day, (204) scored his second double in his 341-ball innings while Vijay in the world at the moment. off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin century and Murali Vijay hit 167 struck 23 fours and two sixes dur- My ambition is to become pushed the Australians down the and their 370-run stand fell 12 ing his 361-ball stay. the best. I have to continue slippery slope by bowling David runs short of the existing record Debutant offspinner Glenn working very hard for that. Warner (26) and Phil Hughes (0) for the second wicket against Maxwell finally found some assist- Anything is possible,” says the ance from the pitch as well as his Jamaican sprinter whose nick- Scoreboard colleagues in the field to break name is “The Beast”. the Pujara-Vijay stand and also THE PENINSULA Australia (I innings): ...... 237/9 decl Siddle 31-6-92-1; M C Henriques 21-7-45-0 run through the middle-order India (I innings): (1w); X J Doherty 46.1-15-131-3; G J Maxwell by removing skipper Mahendra 2013 Samsung Diamond M Vijay c Cowan b Maxwell...... 167 26-2-127-4; D A Warner 1-0-14-0; Singh Dhoni (44), Ravindra Jadeja League Calendar V Sehwag c Wade b Siddle ...... 6 Australia (II innings): (10) and Virat Kohli (34). Left- Doha 10 May C A Pujara c Doherty b Pattinson ...... 204 E J M Cowan (batting) ...... 26 arm spinner Xavier Doherty S R Tendulkar c Wade b Pattinson ...... 7 D A Warner b Ashwin ...... 26 (3-131) wrapped up the tail. Shanghai 18 May V Kohli c Cowan b Maxwell ...... 34 P J Hughes b Ashwin ...... 0 Maxwell got one to bounce and New York 25 May M S Dhoni c Doherty b Maxwell ...... 44 S R Watson (batting) ...... 9 turn sharply to force Vijay to fend Eugene 1 Jun R A Jadeja c&b Maxwell ...... 10 Extras (B-7, LB-6) ...... 13 and offer a simple catch to back- Rome 6 Jun R Ashwin c Hughes b Doherty ...... 1 Total (for 2 wkts) ...... 74 ward short-leg. Oslo 13 Jun Harbhajan Singh c Maxwell b Doherty ...... 0 To bat: M J Clarke, M S Wade, G J Maxwell, M Pujara got to his double cen- Birmingham 30 Jun B Kumar st Wade b Doherty ...... 10 C Henriques, P M Siddle, J L Pattinson, X J Do- tury in style, charging down to Lausanne 4 Jul Maxwell and flicked the ball I Sharma (not out) ...... 2 herty. Paris 6 Jul through mid-on and mid-wicket Extras (B-1, LB-13, W-4) ...... 18 Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-56. Monaco 19 Jul for four. Total (all out) ...... 503 Bowling: B Kumar 6-4-7-0; R Ashwin 15-6- London 27 Jul He punched the air and hugged Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-387, 3-393, 4-404, 42-2; Harbhajan Singh 8-5-10-0; R A Jadeja India’s R Ashwin (left) is congratulated by team-mate M Vijay after taking Stockholm 22 Aug 5-460, 6-484, 7-485, 8-489, 9-491, 10-503. 3-2-2-0. Tendulkar as the stadium gave a the wicket of Australian batsman David Warner on the third day of the Zurich 29 Aug Bowling: J L Pattinson 29-11-80-2 (2w); P M Australia trail by 192 runs with 8 wkts. standing ovation to the Rajkot boy. IANS second Test in Hyderabad, yesterday. Brussels 6 Sep