RIYADH: A Saudi Arabian court yesterday sentenced a man to death for links to a 2006 attack claimed by Al Qaeda on the kingdom’s biggest oil facility. Two other Saudis were jailed for 33 and 27 years respectively, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said. In February 2006, suicide bombers with explosive-laden vehicles attempted to penetrate the oil-processing plant at Abqaiq, in Eastern Province, killing two security guards. The pair of militants also died in the attack, which failed to breach the compound and was claimed by the Saudi branch of Al Qaeda. Saudi security forces later killed five men linked to the plot during an armed clash in the capital. The court in Riyadh convicted the men of various charges including “participation by agreement” with the Abqaiq attack, the SPA said. “One of them had been responsible for Al Qaeda’s media activities inside the kingdom,” it added. They were also found guilty of offences including the possession of bombs, weapons and ammunition. Authorities in 2011 established specialised tribunals to try Saudis and foreigners accused of belonging to Al Qaeda or of involvement in deadly attacks in the kingdom from 2003 to 2007.
Somalia parliament okays new PM
MOGADISHU: Somalia’s lawmakers yesterday approved the appointment of new Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, who vowed to end the infighting slowing Somalia’s efforts to rebuild after decades of war. Sharmarke, who served as prime minister between 2009-2010, becomes Somalia’s third premier in just over a year. The previous two fell out with the president over the make-up of their cabinets. The ouster of Sharmarke’s predecessor, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, frustrated Western powers that say the political paralysis encouraged Islamist al Shabaab rebels and paralysed the country’s fragile state institutions. “I will soon name an all-inclusive cabinet of ministers,” Sharmarke said soon after 218 of the 224 legislators present in Mogadishu’s parliament approved his appointment. Most of the high-ranking political positions in Mogadishu are divided amongst Somalia’s clans, which tend to compete against each other for resources and power. “I assure you that there will be no political conflict, everything will be solved through consultation and discussion,’ Sharmarke added. Sharmarke, 54, quit as prime minister in 2010 due to the government’s failure to counter a raging Islamist insurgency.
Syria dissidents to meet in Cairo
DAMASCUS: Opponents of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s regime will meet in Cairo to try to reach a common “vision” to end the nearly four-year war, an opposition source said yesterday. “Several opposition groups and individuals have been in talks for more than two months, and we have been in contact with them to try to reach a joint vision to solve the crisis,” said Munzer Khaddam of the National Democratic Body for Democratic Change, which is tolerated by the regime. A “national gathering” is planned in Cairo, followed by a second meeting in Moscow, Khaddam said without giving a timetable. Twelve opposition groups as well as Kurdish officials and members of the exiled opposition National Coalition will join the Cairo meeting, said Khaddam. Another opposition source said the meeting was expected to take place in mid-January. Agencies
