ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER 4 January 2014 3 Rabial I 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5934 Price: QR2 ON SATURDAY Obama pushes for new gun control regulations WASHINGTON: The Obama administra- tion yesterday proposed two new gun control regulations aimed at clarifying restrictions on gun ownership for the mentally ill and strengthening a database used for back- ground checks before firearm purchases. The measures are the latest step in a year-long push by President Barack Obama to tighten gun laws in the wake of a school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children were killed. Obama tried last year to bring in sweeping gun control measures but most of his proposals were defeated in Congress. He has pledged to continue working on the issue despite setback. He had also directed officials to take steps that did not require approval from Congress. The first action, proposed by the Department of Justice, would clarify who is prohibited from possessing firearms because of mental illness and outline for states what information can be shared with the federal database. The second, by the Department of Health and Human Services, would remove barri- ers that could prevent states from passing on information to the database. Kerry seeks to allay fears on Mideast deal JERUSALEM: US Secretary of State John Kerry held intense talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders yesterday, seeking to overcome their concerns about a framework to guide negotiations towards a peace deal. Kerry met Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and is due to meet him and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again today for their third round of talks in as many days. US Senator John McCain, who is also visit- ing Israel with a congressional delegation, said Netanyahu had voiced deep concerns in sepa- rate “detailed” discussions about the proposals being put forward by Kerry. “Netanyahu has serious concerns about the plan as has been presented to him, whether it be on the ability of Israel to defend its borders or the reliability of a Palestinian state and their ALIVE? intentions,” McCain said in Jerusalem. Syria opposition bloc THE ISSUE confirms talks rejection BEIRUT: A key group within Syria’s main- Osama bin Laden, as we know, parliamentarian as well: He was a member him down seems unconvincing. stream opposition National Coalition reaf- of the Kuwaiti parliament in the mid-1980s. “I believe that he was captured alive and firmed yesterday that it would not attend was killed in a surprise raid by the Al Nefaisi’s comments in a Kuwait-based they are telling the world that they killed him peace talks slated for later this month in US Navy SEALs on May 2, 2011 in TV interview (Rotana Khaleejia) that he and threw his body in the sea. Switzerland. the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, believed Bin Laden might have been captured “The theory of his killing seems to have “After meetings with many international alive by the Americans led to huge reactions been cooked up as the Americans might have delegations in recent weeks... Syrian National but many in the Arab world believe from people all over the region, particularly thought of putting an end to the story sur- Council confirms it sees no reason to attend he is alive, having been captured on social media such as Twitter. rounding the Al Qaeda leader. I believe he is the Geneva conference,” SNC member Samir A gist of the interview, along with its foot- alive and with the Americans.” Nashar said. He also forecast that National by the Americans alive. age in a video clipping, was carried by ‘sabq’, Al Nefaisi said Al Qaeda did not remain the Coalition, which had still not taken a definitive a prominent Kuwait-based news website in same as it was when Bin Laden was head- decision, would similarly not show up. famous Kuwaiti political commenta- Arabic. ing it. tor stoked a controversy yesterday by Interestingly, nearly all those who com- “It’s an outfit in disarray. It isn’t a united Clashes kill 13 as Mursi A claiming in a TV interview that he had mented on Al Nefaisi’s interview on the ‘sabq’ force as it used to be in the days when Bin serious doubts that Bin Laden was killed by website said they never believed that Bin Laden was at its helm. Today, the organisa- backers protest the Americans. Laden was killed by the Americans and that tion remains a loose force, with a number of Dr Abdullah Al Nefaisi holds a PhD in his body was consigned to the sea. groups and leaders claiming to represent the CAIRO: At least 13 people died in clashes political science from the University of Al Nefaisi said in the interview: “Bin Laden ideology of Al Qaeda. yesterday across Egypt as police dispersed Cambridge and was a professor of political might have been taken alive by the Americans, “The phenomenon of Bin Laden has thousands of protesters demanding the science in Kuwait University. Born in 1945, he as it is only logical to think that they must changed the general mood in the Islamic reinstatement of deposed Islamist presi- also taught for a while at Al Ain University be too keen to study the phenomenon of Al world,” Al Nefaisi said in the interview, dent Mohammed Mursi, the health minis- PAGEin the UAE. 6 Qaeda and that of Bin Laden himself. which, incidentally, was to focus on the issue try said. The protests came after an Islamist The political scientist, a respected fig- “The American story that a superpower of Iran and the “troubles” it was causing in alliance that backs Mursi called for demon- ure not only in the GCC region but all like the US had been on Bin Laden’s trail for the region (read the Arab world). strations ahead of his new trial hearing on over the Arab world, has had a stint as a 11 years and spent billions of dollars to hunt See also page 2 Wednesday. See also page 8 AGENCIES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 JANUARY 4, 2014 ON SATURDAY 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home Bin Laden’s death revisited Kuwaiti scholar’s argument that ‘Bin Laden is not dead’ sparks furious debate on social media ormer Kuwaiti parliamentarian and political scientist Dr FAbdullah Al Nefaisi, it seems, has stirred a hornets’ nest by saying in a TV interview yesterday that he believed that Osama bin Laden was alive as the Americans might have captured him alive. Social media, including Twitter, which is active in the region, was abuzz with comments on his interview. And comments from across the region were also pouring in until the time of going to press on the Kuwaiti news website, ‘sabq’ Dr Abdullah Al Nefaisi which carried a gist of Al Nefaisi’s interview and a video clipping of he was killed and his body was its excerpts. being taken in a plane when it was Comments on social media shot down by Al Qaeda members and ‘sabq’ provide an interesting and they (the Americans) couldn’t insight into what people across The Americans identify any of the bodies. the Arab world generally think presented the story “They were taking Bin Laden’s about Bin Laden and his killing in body to show the world that an a raid by the US Navy SEALs on (of Bin Laden’s enemy of the US would meet this May 2, 2011 in the Pakistani city of killing) to the world fate.” Another person commenting Abbottabad. on ‘sabq’ echoed the same and said Interestingly, except for one in a Hollywood film the only genuine sources who could tweet, which said Al Nefaisi’s claims tell the truth about Bin Laden are were childish, and a comment or style — which they his widow and the US. two on ‘sabq’ that were critical of always do when “Al Qaeda leaders have admitted him, others seemed to agree with that he had been killed… And his his view. cooking up such widow said his body was being “Yes, I endorse the idea that stories. taken in a plane and that it was he (Bin Laden) is alive,” said a shot down.” commentator on ‘sabq’, reacting Another commentator said to Al Nefaisi’s interview. and destruction… Nations have an American had told him that Another, who gave his initials as been destroyed.” he didn’t believe the story of Bin Hatim, said he was convinced that One Sadiq said there was a Laden’s killing. “That was an the militant leader was not killed. message from the American election stunt,” he quoted the “Had he been killed, they (the administration (in the story American as saying, referring to Americans) would have shown his of Al Qaeda leader’s killing): President Barak Obama’s election body. Instead, they simply said they “Anyone who is wanted by campaign for a second term. had thrown his corpse in the sea.” Washington would be killed like “We are not so stupid as to lend “The Americans presented the Al Zarqawi.” ears to the American story and story (of Bin Laden’s killing) to the Abu Mussab Al Zarqawi was believe it,” said a commentator. world in a Hollywood film style — the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. But a couple of people sounded which they always do when cooking The Jordanian was also a fighter furious and said Al Nefaisi up such stories,” was how another in Afghanistan, and was killed digressed from the original issue he commentator reacted, not giving in Iraq by the US forces on June was supposed to be speaking on — his name.