ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Thursday 7 February 2013 26 Rabial I 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5603 Price: QR2 RBS fined Hamilton spins $612m to settle out on first Libor probe Mercedes drive Business | 17 Sport | 25 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Mursi tells Syria rebels to unite New safety rules Emir, PM attend OIC summit in Cairo; Assad told to learn from history for construction workers planned DOHA: As Qatar prepares to of the matter, that new safety reg- launch a string of mega develop- ulations for construction workers ment projects to host the 2022 were the need of the hour. “Our FIFA event and expects a larger major concern, though, is that the influx of foreign workers, plans rules are implemented effectively. are afoot to implement a set of Officials concerned should closely new safety regulations for con- follow-up on the enforcement of struction workers. the law. The problem in Qatar is The State Cabinet yesterday that the laws are good but their reviewed a report submitted implementation is weak, the offi- by a technical committee that cial hinted. was formed by the Ministry of Asked how global standards Municipality and Urban Planning could be applied per se to Qatar’s in mid-2009 to frame the draft of construction industry as climatic the above regulations. conditions were so different as The decision to set up the inter- compared to Europe, for instance, ministerial panel was made by the Jolo said local conditions had been civic minister early in 2008 after taken into account. approval from the Cabinet, and in “We have a different work envi- May 2010, a workshop was held ronment due to weather condi- with representatives of the con- tions. For instance, during the struction and contracting indus- peak summer months, working The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani with other leaders of member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Cairo, yesterday. try to discuss the initial draft. hours on construction sites are The panel, however, took help restricted and no work is permit- CAIRO: Egyptian President “The Syrian regime must the international community, “to from an international consultancy ted between 11.30am and 3pm,” Mohammed Mursi yesterday draw lessons from history: it is coordinate with this coalition and Qatar slams Tunisian firm and also consulted Qatari said Jolo. Safety conditions also urged Syrian opposition groups the people who remain. Those support their efforts for a unified Engineers’ Association for their vary from one building design to to unify, as he addressed leaders who put their personal interests approach... for democracy.” leader’s killing inputs to prepare the draft of the another. “Safety rules for work- of Islamic states at a summit above the interests of their people The meeting gathers leaders DOHA: Qatar denounced health and safety regulations for ers engaged on an ordinary build- that also focused on the battle will end up leaving,” Mursi told of 26 of the OIC’s 57 states, with yesterday the assassination the building industry. ing site are different from those against militants in Mali. heads of state and representatives Mursi, Egypt’s first Islamist pres- of Tunisian general secretary “We have seen the draft and who are working on a high-rise The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad of the Organisation of Islamic ident, assuming the organisation’s of the Democratic Patriotic given our inputs. I can tell you structure,” he added, citing an bin Khalifa Al Thani participated Cooperation in Cairo. rotating presidency. Party Chokri Belaid, after he that the safety requirements and instance. The report that the in the opening session of the Among them was Mahmoud Though Syria is not repre- was gunned down in front of other aspects regarding protect- Cabinet reviewed at its weekly 12th Islamic Summit in Cairo. Ahmadinejad, in the first visit sented at the conference, much of his home in Tunis. ing construction workers incorpo- meeting yesterday talks of better The Prime Minister and Foreign to Egypt by an Iranian presi- the debate was expected to focus A reliable source at the rated in it are of global standard,” ways to address the issue of work- Minister H E Sheikh Hamad dent since Iran’s 1979 Islamic on the conflict which the UN says Foreign Ministry told Qatar Ahmed Jolo, head of the Qatari ers’ safety at construction sites bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani Revolution. has killed more than 60,000 peo- News Agency (QNA) yester- Engineers’ Association, said. and applying them uniformly to also attended the session with a Iran is the chief regional backer ple in less than two years. day that Qatar condemns all Jolo told this newspaper last the industry. There are an esti- number of officials. of Syrian President Bashar According to a draft resolution acts of violence and terrorism. evening that the purpose of fram- mated 500,000 construction work- Speaking at the Summit, Al Assad, while Egypt and Gulf obtained by AFP, the gathering The source also conveyed the ing new health and safety regula- ers in the country, constituting Egyptian President Mohammed powerhouse Saudi Arabia bitterly will call for “serious dialogue” condolences of the State of tions for construction workers at more than 40 percent of foreign Mursi urged Syrian opposition oppose Assad and support rebels between the Syrian opposi- Qatar to the Tunisian govern- sites was to make sure that they labor force. Tens of thousands of groups to unify, as he addressed seeking his ouster. tion and government officials ment, the victim’s family and were of global standard. more workers are likely to come leaders of Islamic states at a sum- Mursi called on opposition par- “not directly involved in the Tunisian people. A top official from a major con- in as mega infrastructure projects mit that also focussed on the bat- ties not allied to Syria’s National oppression.” QNA struction company said asking not are launched. THE PENINSULA tle against militants in Mali. Coalition, which is recognised by AFP/QNA to be named due to the sensitivity Continued on page 5 Spain wins friendly OPINION Concern over contraceptive pill sale Islamic summit and new challenges DOHA: Diane 35, a popular hesitate to take stern action. It use as a contraceptive. There is acne drug, also widely used as a confirmed the absence of a ban on high demand for the medicine, he57-member contraceptive, is still being sold the sale of the medicine till now. especially from some segments TOrganisation of Islamic in Qatar despite growing inter- “We have written to the man- of expatriates on a daily basis,” Cooperation national concerns over harmful ufacturing company to inform said a pharmacist. (OIC) is meet- side effects. us about the issue and we are “We are not aware of any plans ing in Cairo The UAE Health Ministry on waiting for explanation from to ban the medicine in Qatar, under the Tuesday temporarily suspended more than one manufacturer although a controversy is raging slogan: The the import and sale of the drug and the higher authorities in the over it in the facebook,” he added. Islamic world based on recommendations of the European Union,” a source at the The UAE has suspended the — New chal- French Drugs Agency (ANSM), department told Al Sharq. medicine until the final evaluation lenges and Recent reports from France The medicine has been sold all of the product is done by inter- opportuni- have linked the drug to four over the world for more than 25 national health authorities, local ties. The cur- Khalid Al Sayed deaths and blood clots in 100 years and is registered in more newspapers reported yesterday. rent session EDITOR-IN-CHIEF women leading to its sale being than 100 countries, it added. The European Medicines assumes great suspended in the country. Enquiries with several pharma- Authority is currently examin- significance as it’s being held The Pharmacy and Drug cies yesterday revealed that Diane ing the medicine in its laborato- under tight security and in Control Department at the 35 is available in the local market ries and the Therapeutic Goods the backdrop of protests and Supreme Council of Health (SCH) and is in high demand. Administration in Australia has Spain’s Cesc Fabregas and Uruguay’s Alvaro Gonzalez vie for the violence. said yesterday that it is closely “It is the most popular acne issued a safety alert on the drug. ball during a friendly match at the Khalifa Stadium yesterday. Spain It also comes at a time following the issue and will not pill which many people here also THE PENINSULA won 3-1. See also page 28 when the Arab region is going through profound Picture by SHAIVAL DALAL changes, with some autocrats overthrown from power and people in other countries yearning for democratic freedom. New York-based rights group to raise sponsorship issue It’s also important that the Summit is being held DOHA: New York-based asked if they had sought formal Rights Watch at the news confer- married to foreigners,” rues the An interview was fixed with the in one of the Arab Spring Human Rights Watch, which permission from Qatari authori- ence and will be fielding questions Human Rights Watch report on head of legal affairs department countries. There have been has raised the issue of Qatar’s ties to hold the media briefing, she on the chapter on Qatar. Qatar. of the National Human Rights significant changes on the sponsorship and exit per- said: “I have no idea”.