BAGHDAD // Iraq sent police reinforcements today to the Syrian border after last weekend's US raid against an alleged al Qa'eda hideout in Syria raised tension between the two countries, officials said.
Police Col Jubair Rashid Naief said a police quick reaction force for Anbar province moved to the border town of Qaim, about 320 kilometres north-west of Baghdad, to prevent al Qa'eda from moving into the area from Syria.
Al Arabiya television quoted witnesses as saying scores of armored vehicles were seen moving from the Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi to Qaim, which had been a major al Qa'eda stronghold until Anbar's Sunni tribes turned against al Qa'eda.
The police moves follow last Sunday's bold US raid on the Syrian border town of Abu Kamal, during which US officials say they killed a top al Qa'eda militant who operated a network of smuggling fighters into Iraq.
The US has not officially acknowledged the attack.
Syria says eight civilians were killed and has branded the raid as aggression. Syria has demanded that Washington apologise for the strike and has threatened to cut off co-operation on Iraqi border security in response to the attack.
Earlier this week, Damascus also sent additional troops to the border following the raid, but has since withdrawn them. The Iraqi government has rejected the attack, but has urged Syria to crack down on organisations on its territory that are trying to hurt Iraq.
*AP
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
