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THURSDAY
November 20, 2008 | Dhu Al Qa’da 22, 1429

WOMAN GETS WINDPIPE FROM OWN CELLS
WORLD P22

ATLANTIS SET FOR STAR PARTY
TA B L O I D !

UAE FACES TURBULENCE WITH CONFIDENCE
OPINION P12

ARE YOU A BARGAIN HUNTER?
BUSINESS P51

www.gulfnews.com E-mail: editor@gulfnews.com

late edition

Dubai sets up panel to assess crisis impact
TEAM HEADED BY AL ABBAR WILL SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS TO RULER
BY GAURAV GHOSE

KHALIFA RECEIVES MUBARAK

FOOTBALL FEVER

Financial Features Editor

Dubai The Dubai Government has set up a new committee to assess the impact of the
global financial crisis on the emirate’s economy, a senior official said yesterday.
“The purpose of the highlevel committee is to look at the impact of the global
financial crisis on Dubai and what can be done in sectors, including real estate
and banking,” said Nasser Al Shaikh, Director-General of Dubai Department of Finance,
at a luncheon organised by the UAE Bankers Forum. “We cannot be in a state of denial
about the challenges… [The committee] will make recommendations to the Ruler on
the way forward for critical areas that have to be tackled to withstand future challenges,”
said Al Shaikh, who is also a member of the committee. Headed by Mohammad Ali Al
Abbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, the committee also includes Mohammad Al Gergawi,
Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of Dubai Holding; Eisa Kazim, Borse Dubai
chairman; Mohammad Al Shaibani, head of Dubai Ruler’s Court, and Marwan Bin Galita,
CEO of Real Estate Regulatory Authority. Acknowledging the chalAHMED RAMZAN/Gulf
News lenges faced by the emirate UAE-Iran match ends in a draw amid the global turmoil,
Al Shaikh also hinted at reThe UAE were unlucky yesterday when they failed to score
an upset win over Iran in a crucial Asian qualifier for the assessing some of the
proj2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa. Spurred on by thousands of fans the UAE
led their more experienced rivals by a ects in the pipeline. goal at the Al Maktoum
Stadium only to see the visitors draw level and force them to settle for a 1-1 draw.
The UAE Editorial comment — Page 12 now must win all four remaining matches in
Group B to retain a mathematical chance of earning a ticket to Fifa’s See also
Page 39 showpiece event in two years. Report on Page 57

WAM

Leaders hold wide-ranging talks
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday received Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak who arrived on a two-day visit to the UAE. They held talks
on the latest regional and international developments and issues of mutual interest.
They also reviewed bilateral ties and ways to enhance economic, commercial and investment
cooperation. Shaikh Khalifa and Mubarak stressed the importance of activating joint
Arab action on issues concerning Arab and Muslim nations. See also Page 9

MOHAMMAD SWEARS IN JUDGES

WAM

Call to speed up process of issuing rulings
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister
of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday swore in 26 new judges who have been appointed
to the Dubai Court of Cassation. The new judges pledged to respect laws and justice
and discharge their duties with complete dedication and commitment. Shaikh Mohammad
urged them to keep away from the red tape and speed up the process of issuing rulings
to preserve people’s interests and save time. See also Page 11

Somali pirates in ransom Parliament in crisis as talks as attacks grow bolder PM
faces calls to quit
K U WA I T

Tension mounts after Indian warship destroys rogue vessel
Mogadishu (Reuters & AFP) An Indian warship destroyed a pirate ship in the Gulf of
Aden and gunmen from Somalia seized two more vessels despite a large international
naval presence off their lawless country. The buccaneers have taken a Thai boat,
a Greek bulk carrier and a Hong Kongflagged ship heading to Iran since the capture
of a Saudi supertanker carrying $100 million of oil. The owners of
the supertanker were in negotiations over a possible ransom, Saudi Arabia’s foreign
minister said. “I know that the owners of the tanker are negotiating on the issue.
We do not like to negotiate with either terrorists or hijackers. But the owners of
the tanker, they are the final arbiters of what happens there,” Prince Saud Al
Faisal said in Rome. However the company operating the supertanker Sir-

Emir mulls dissolution after row over Iran cleric
Gulf News Report

ius Star, remained tightlipped over negotiations. An Iranian shipping firm meanwhile
said yesterday it was trying to contact the ship carrying wheat to Iran. US President
George W. Bush has been briefed about the increasing attacks, and the US was consulting
with other UN Security Council members on ways to combat the threat, the White House
said. See also Pages 21 & 52

Anti-acidity drug recalled, plant shut
Ministry launches probe after manufacturer admits faking test results
BY DINA ABOUL HOSN
Staff Reporter

Dubai The Ministry of Health has banned antiacidity drug Carelox and withdrawn it
from pharmacies with immediate effect, WAM reported yesterday.
PRICE UAE: Dh 3.00 Bahrain: BD 0.300 Oman: RO 0.300 India: IRs 40.00

Dr Umaim Bin Hussain Al Amiri, Executive Director of Medical Practice and Licensing
at the ministry, said the drug contained very harmful bacteria. A team from the ministry
inspected the plant of the drug’s manufacturer, Pharmacare FZE,

and found major violations, which prompted the ministry to shut down the plant. Al
Amiri said the person in charge of drug tests admitted that fake results were registered
in the Carelox analysis report. See also Page 9

Dubai Kuwait was heading towards another political deadlock yesterday as attempts
to sway Islamist MPs from challenging the Prime Minister failed. Salafi lawmakers
Waleed Al Tabtabai, Abdullah Al Barghash and Mohammad Hayef submitted a request to
Prime Minister Shaikh Nasser Mohammad Al Ahmad Al Sabah, a nephew of the Emir, in
parliament, accusing him of incompetence. The move came after the Prime Minister
was accused by the Sunni MPs of allowing a prominent Iranian Shiite cleric to enter
Kuwait despite a legal ban being in place. Shaikh Nasser has “failed to perform
his constitutional duties ... and that it was time that Kuwait had a premier capable
of running the state and achieving the wishes of

the people,” the three MPs said in their request. The questioning could take place
in two weeks. Other lawmakers yesterday tried but failed to convince their colleagues
to drop the request. Local media quoted sources as saying that the Kuwaiti Emir,
Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad, is studying the possibility of another dissolution of the
parliament.

Court role Leading Shiite MP Hussain Al Qallaf went as far as calling the Emir to
suspend the parliament, “which has become as source of instability and division
in the country.” Other MPs suggested that the grilling request be sent to the constitutional
court to decide on it, as a way out of the current crisis. — With additional inputs
from AFP See also Page 15

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