QATAR | Page 20 SPORT | Page 4 Sri Lanka lose Malinga ahead of INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 REGION 4 BUSINESS 1 – 8 New Zealand Palestinian Festival 17,552.23 10,258.72 38.12 ARAB WORLD 4, 5 CLASSIFIED 5 -50.44 +41.53 +0.62 INTERNATIONAL 6 – 17 SPORTS 1 – 12 concludes at Katara today -0.29% +0.41% +1.65% ODIs Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978 SATURDAY Vol. XXXVI No. 9948 December 26, 2015 Rabia I 15, 1437 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Assad main In brief sponsor of QATAR | Ties Emir speaks with Djibouti president HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin terrorism, Hamad al-Thani yesterday held a telephone conversation with Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh. They discussed bilateral relations and the means to enhance them. They also discussed a number says Qatar of issues of joint interest. Rain emergency task force members deploy a suction tanker on a Doha road yesterday. PICTURE: Jayaram Talks with Russia constructive, As for diff erences, al-Attiyah point- IRAQ | Abduction says al-Attiyah ed to the legitimacy of Assad and ex- Sistani calls for the pressed his appreciation that Russia Agencies was against using violence to topple release of Qataris Moscow governments. Iraq’s top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Al-Attiyah said the international Ali al-Sistani called for the release community has great responsibilities of a group of Qataris kidnapped yrian President Bashar al-Assad in light of the terrorism threat fac- in the south of the country, his Fresh spell of rain is the main sponsor of terrorism ing the Middle East and added such a representative said yesterday. A large Sin his country, Qatar’s Foreign threat requires Arab countries working group of unidentified armed men Minister HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed with friendly nations to establish secu- abducted at least 26 Qataris from al-Attiyah said yesterday. rity and stability. their camp in the desert near the He was speaking at a joint news con- The foreign minister said terror Saudi border this month. At least nine ference with his Russian counterpart threat grows as the violence of dicta- people who were part of the hunting drenches Qatar Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. torships continues. As a result, Qatar group managed to escape and Al-Attiyah said Assad’s regime has condemns any act of violence against crossed into Kuwait. “We demand By Joseph Varghese when we reached Doha around 2am,” weather offi ce had advised motorists killed and displaced more than 5mn the Arab people, he added. that all kidnapped people be released people. On Palestine, the minister said Israel Staff Reporter said a motorist. to drive carefully and reduce speed no matter who they are,” Ahmed The day started with an intermit- during the rain. They were also told The foreign minister said Qatar was has to end the occupation of Palestin- al-Safi said in a sermon in the holy tent light drizzle bringing cheer to not to take pictures with phones or against labelling all armed opposition ian land taken in 1967 and recognise city of Karbala, south of Baghdad, xactly a month after the fi rst the residents, especially children as other devices while driving. in Syria, adding it was important to an independent state of Palestine with broadcast on state TV. “We condemn major rain this year, Qatar ex- they ventured out to enjoy the weekly The advisory also noted that peo- fi rst understand why each group re- East Jerusalem as its capital. the kidnappings for political goals, Eperienced another spell of holiday. ple should try to get indoors quickly sorted to arming itself. He said his talks with Lavrov were including the recent kidnapping of a showers from Thursday night which But, the situation changed dramat- during thunderstorms and, if driving, He said Qatar’s position on Syria constructive. number of hunters who entered the at times were heavy. ically late afternoon as heavy rains stop the car at a safe place and keep was to fi rst set up a transitional ruling Al-Attiyah said bilateral relations country legally,” he said. The Met Office has forecast thun- started lashing Doha forcing every- the windows closed until the storm authority with full powers and then to with Russia were based on mutual re- dery rain today, “associated with one indoors. Some low-lying areas dissipates. establish security and stability in the spect. He also highlighted bilateral country in order to complete the tran- trade and co-operation in the fi eld of YEMEN | Confl ict strong wind and low visibility at and roundabouts were fl ooded, but Residents were also advised not to sition phase. energy and expressed his hope of fur- first.” the rain emergency task force person- venture into the sea until the weather Assailants kill Al-Attiyah said Qatar opposed the ther co-operation in the future. nel were quick to respond to the situ- improves. Rain is expected in both in- intelligence offi cer The rain was moderate in Doha creation of lists of opposition before yesterday morning, but it turned out ation. shore and off shore areas. Assailants shot dead a senior Yemeni peace talks on Syria. to be very heavy from early evening. The Ministry of Municipality had The weather offi ce has issued a Top rebel leader intelligence off icer in Marib city east “We are against the absolute classifi - killed in airstrike of the capital Sanaa yesterday, a Other parts, especially the northern already made arrangements and kept warning for thundery rains associated cation of groups. What is more impor- security source said. Commander area, experienced moderate to heavy several suction trucks ready in the with strong wind and low visibility. tant is to understand the logic behind Jarallah Salhi was gunned down in rains. Several residents of the area event of fl ooding. Some of the ma- Life was thrown out of gear in Qa- why these groups took up arms, their Zahran Alloush, the chief of Jaish the centre of the city controlled by said it was quite heavy in Al Khor and chines were in action in low-lying ar- tar on November 25 when the coun- aims and motives,” he told reporters. al-Islam, a major armed rebel group forces loyal to the government in the the surrounding areas. eas where water had accumulated in try was lashed with more rain in less He said the international community operating in the suburbs of the Syrian conflict against Houthi rebels. The Some Doha residents who had the afternoon. than two hours than what it gets in a must seek a resolution to the Syrian capital, was killed along with some off icer had actively taken part in the travelled from Al Khor to Doha late On Thursday the Met Offi ce had whole year. crisis based on the Geneva agreement aides in an airstrike near Damascus, a battle for Marib dam, southeast of the Thursday night said it was raining issued safety tips for the public in Roads were fl ooded and many rather than starting from scratch and monitoring group reported yesterday. city backed by a Saudi-led coalition. rather heavily all through the jour- view of the unstable weather condi- buildings developed leaks in the heavy warned that failing to fi nd a resolution The Syrian Observatory for Human The Houthis seized Sanaa last year ney. tions expected in the country over the downpour that lasted from 7am to to the crisis will not benefi t any party. Rights said a warplane targeted a and then advanced south to the “While it was raining heavily in the weekend. 8.30am, preceded and followed by a Responding to a question on Qatar’s meeting attended by Alloush and other second city of Aden, forcing President northern area, it was only a drizzle In a post on its Twitter page, the prolonged drizzle. Page 20 agreements with Russia on the Syrian leaders of Jaish al-Islam in the rebel-held Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee to crisis, the foreign minister said there area of Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts Saudi Arabia. Loyalists of Hadi, who were many points both parties can of Damascus. Five aides of Alloush were returned to Aden last month, have build on. One of them was the unity of also killed in the attack, the Britain-based gained the upper hand in oil-rich Syrian land and the transition of the watchdog said. Page 4 Marib province and are now trying to country towards democracy. advance on the rebel-held capital. Modi on surprise Pakistan visit ASIA | Earthquake 6.2 magnitude quake AFP A meeting of their top diplomats kistani leader’s residence south of the Lahore is now set for January in Islamabad, city. rocks Afghanistan indicating a potential thaw in ties be- They were seen smiling as they A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck tween two countries. walked alongside each other and chat- northeast Afghanistan around ndian Prime Minister Narendra Television footage showed an Indian ted in Sharif’s living room. midnight near the country’s borders Modi made a surprise “goodwill” Air Force jumbo jet land at Lahore’s Shortly thereafter, Modi was seen with Pakistan and Tajikistan, Ivisit to Pakistan yesterday, with Allama Iqbal International Airport in off by Sharif at the airport. according to the US Geological the fi rst such trip in a decade seen as a the late afternoon yesterday, moments Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Aizaz Survey. The quake, which measured step towards normalising ties between after Sharif himself arrived by heli- Ahmad Chaudhry later told a news 203.5km deep, struck about 280km the nuclear-armed neighbours.