SUBSCRIPTION SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013 SHAWWAL 10, 1434 AH No: 15900 Party over New Zealand Dawn breaks as Goa bans cities rocked over all-new dance13 bars by14 earthquake Premier47 League Egypt’s ‘Day of Rage’ Max 48º 150 Fils turns violent; 70 die Saudi backs Egypt against ‘terrorism’ Min 29º Online forums provide havens for terror plots WASHINGTON: In secretive chat rooms and on encrypted Internet message boards, Al-Qaeda fighters have been planning and coordinating attacks - including a threat- ened if vague plot that US officials say closed 19 diplomat- ic posts across Africa and the Middle East for more than a week. It’s highly unlikely that Al-Qaeda’s top leader, Ayman Al-Zawahri, or his chief lieutenant in Yemen, Nasser Al-Wahishi, were personally part of the Internet chatter or, given the intense manhunt for both by US spy agencies, that they ever go online or pick up the phone to discuss terror plots, experts say. But the unspecified call to arms by the Al-Qaeda lead- ers, using a multilayered subterfuge to pass messages from couriers to tech-savvy underlings to attackers, pro- voked a quick reaction by the US to protect Americans in far-flung corners of the world where the terror network is evolving into regional hubs. For years, extremists have used online forums to share information and drum up support, and over the past decade they have developed systems that blend encryption programs with anonymity software to hide their tracks. Jihadist technology may now be so sophisticated and secretive, experts say, that many communications avoid detection by National Security Agency programs that were designed to uncover terror plots. “This creates a bit CAIRO: An Egyptian youth mourns over the dead bodies at a mosque in Cairo yesterday as clashes broke out during a of a cat-and-mouse game between terrorist groups that demonstration in support of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi. — AFP can buy commercial technology and intelligence agencies CAIRO: Muslim Brotherhood protests followed Wednesday’s assault by securi- die for my rights than in my bed. Guns that are trying to find ways to continue to monitor,” said plunged into violence across Egypt yes- ty forces on two Brotherhood sit-ins in don’t scare us anymore,” said Sara Seth Jones, a former adviser to US special operations terday, with around 50 killed in Cairo Cairo that left hundreds dead, as the Ahmed, 28, a business manager who forces and counterterrorism expert at Rand Corp, a alone on a “Day of Rage” called by military-backed government tried to joined the demonstrators in Cairo. “It’s Washington-based think tank that receives US govern- Islamist followers of ousted President end weeks of turbulence that has not about the Brotherhood, it’s about ment funding. “Some of the technology you can buy is Mohamed Morsi to denounce a police pushed the Arab world’s most populous human rights,” said Ahmed, one of the pretty good, and it evolves, and it is a game that is con- crackdown. Automatic gunfire echoed state to the brink of disaster. few women in the crowd not wearing a stantly evolving.” across Cairo and black smoke billowed Western governments urged headscarf, a sign of piety for Muslim A US intelligence official said the unspecified threat from the capital’s huge Ramses Square, restraint and Germany cautioned the women. Anger on the streets was direct- was discussed in an online forum joined by so many a military helicopter hovering low over- new government that it was reviewing ed at army commander General Abdel jihadist groups that it included a representative from Boko head looking down on the chaos. its ties. By contrast, Saudi Arabia’s King Fattah Al-Sisi, who moved against Morsi Haram, the Nigerian insurgency that has loose ties to Al- A Reuters witness saw the bodies of Abdullah said his country stood with last month after massive street rallies Qaeda. Two other intelligence officials characterized the 27 people, apparently hit by gunfire and Egypt in its battle against “terrorism”. against the his administration that had threat as more of an alert to get ready to launch potential birdshot, wrapped in white sheets in a The army deployed armored vehicles on been dogged by accusations of incom- attacks than a discussion of specific targets. mosque. A Reuters photographer said major roads around the capital and the petence and partisanship. One of the officials said the threat began with a mes- security forces opened fire from numer- Interior Ministry said police would use “The people want the butcher exe- sage from Al-Wahishi, head of the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda ous directions when a police station was live ammunition against anyone threat- cuted,” said Mustafa Ibrahim, 37, refer- in the Arabian Peninsula, to Al-Zawahri, who replaced attacked. At least 20 people died in ening public buildings. ring to Sisi, as he marched with a crowd Osama bin Laden as the core Al-Qaeda leader. The mes- clashes elsewhere in Egypt. The violence “Sooner or later I will die. Better to Continued on Page 11 sage essentially sought out Al-Zawahri’s blessing to launch attacks. Al-Zawahri, in turn, sent out a response PAGE PAGE that was shared on the secretive online jihadi forum. All Speeding tickets three intelligence officials spoke on condition of anonymi- Rupee plunges ty because they were not authorized to discuss the threat. dropped by half to a new low Continued on Page 11 local SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 2013 Visa traffickers behind anti-Thekra campaign MP defends minister By A Saleh Jeeran blamed the parliament for what he as well as public hospitals worldwide, and said was “the failure of the development that for a KD50 per day fee. KUWAIT: A lawmaker believes that the plan that was placed six years ago as a top “The decision come as part of efforts to “ongoing attack” on Minister of Social priority”. In a recent press statement, Al- improve the quality of medical services in Affairs and Labor Thekra Al-Rashidi over Jeeran argued that the parliament legislat- Kuwait which minister Al-Sabah made clear KUWAIT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society has dispatched allegations of favoring relatives in hiring are ed laws that contradicts with what the after assuming his new position can only be an equipped ambulance and six tons of dates by air to motivated by efforts to “subdue her active Development Plan requires since it was achieved through teamwork”, said the Somalia to help those in need for aid following wide- work in tackling corruption and fighting passed in 2010, and is required to ‘rectify’ sources who spoke on the condition of scale drought in the African nation. The ambulance visa trafficking”. “It is strange seeing Thekra the issue by making sure that future legisla- anonymity. and the dates will be delivered to a relief authority in attacked after achieving huge steps for- tion do not contradict with the govern- Senak province. The Red Crescent Society thanked the ward in introducing reform and fighting ment’s plans. Revival of laws Ministry of Defense for providing a military aircraft to corruption within her ministry”, MP Hamad Some members of the parliament are Saif Al-Harashani said in a recent statement. VIP suites contemplating the revival of some laws and transport the aid. He further suggested that the ‘orga- Health Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al- proposals which were at the parliamentary nized campaign’ against the minister aims Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah ordered human rights and bedoons committee dur- to “suppress her ongoing efforts to fight directors of public hospitals and medical ing the last annulled assembly, reports Al- MPs’ grilling visa traffickers”, and argued that the zones to evacuate one suit in each hospital Shahed local Arabic daily. A parliamentary alleged campaign against her is orchestrat- in order to establish a VIP suite. According source said several MPs will demand the threats continue ed by “people benefiting from visa traffick- to sources familiar with the minister’s deci- formation of the committee among the ing” and “unproductive officials within the sion, the multipurpose suite would provide temporary committees, and MPs already KUWAIT: Parliamentarians’ attack on ministers continued ministry”. advanced services and ‘hotel experience’ selected the names who will chosen as Thursday and moved from targeting certain Cabinet members to In other news, MP Abdurrahman Al- similar to those found in private hospitals members, including the chairman. demands that the entire Cabinet resigns less two weeks after its formation. “The cabinet is required to leave if it was unable to enforce the law”, MP Dr Khalil Abdullah said. “Otherwise, it should prepare for political accountability”. Dr Abdullah expressed con- Zain offers tempt from what he said was the government’s failure to enforce the Family Fund law properly, as well as lack of a plan fixed with a discount on SMS, timetable to enforce the Development Plan. calls to Indonesia “If you fail to reorganize the Central Bank’s regulations with regards to the Family Fund, then prepare for questioning”, the law- KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in maker was quoted by Al-Jarida yesterday addressing Deputy Prime Kuwait, has announced that it will offer a 50% discount on all Minister and Finance Minister Sheikh Salem Al-Abdul-Aziz Al- SMS messages and 20% discount on International calls to Sabah. Threats to file grilling motions after only one session since Indonesia in celebration of the Indonesia National Day on Aug the parliament was elected on July 27 are already threatening calls 17.. for calm and cooperation between the executive and legislative Zain expressed its congratulations on this occasion to the authorities highlighted during the inaugural session.