Stenson pips Els, Woods in Dubai

DUBAI - HENRIK Stenson, Europe's Ryder Cup hero, beat Ernie Els and Tiger Woods to the Dubai Desert Classic title yesterday.

The Swede, who holed the winning putt against the United States last September, was steadiest among the leaders on a difficult day.

He overcame a 30km/h warm desert wind and sank a testing uphill 10-footer for birdie at the last for a one-shot win over Els.

He had five birdies in his four-under 68 (269 total) to overturn Els' two-shot overnight lead.

The South African (71), a three-time winner here, struggled to recover from a three-bogey outward half of 37.

Defending champion Woods (69) was a further stroke back. Back-to-back bogeys after the turn made his chase almost impossible.

The world No1 managed three straight birdies from the 12th, but it was too late.

Sweden's Niclas Fasth closed with a 68 to join the American in third.

The revelation of the week, 26-year-old Englishman Ross Fisher (71), was alone in fifth on 272.

Stenson reached the par-five 18th with a one-stroke lead over Els.

He laid up in two, while an attack-minded Els hit over the water to the back edge of the green.

The Dubai-based world No14 hit a wonderful approach over the water to 10feet and rolled in the winning putt confidently.

'I fought hard all week and, to beat Ernie by one, it feels awesome,' said the 30-year-old.

'Living down here in Dubai, and having my friends and family with me this week, is something special.'

The Asian challenge fell away on the final day. India's Jyoti Randhawa, who was joint-second overnight, struggled to a 74. He was on 275 with the promising Thai Prom Meesawat (71).

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

$151,000 for ST fund

NEEDY children, who do not get lunch money, benefited from clothing store chain Giordano's $151,125 donation earlier this week.

For every $100 that customers spent at Giordano outlets between October and December last year, $5 was given to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, which the chain has adopted.

A Giordano spokesman said it was 'glad to help young, eager minds remain in school' and get a 'fine education'.

Thailand's ITV wants payment deadline extended

BANGKOK - THAI television network ITV said it has appealed to the Thai government to extend a deadline for the payment of 97.8 billion baht (S$4.19 billion) in fines and interest.

Thailand's Supreme Administrative Court on Dec 13 ordered ITV, a network controlled by Temasek Holdings, to pay 2.2 billion baht in back fees and another 97.8 billion baht in fines by Monday.

The company has made proposals to pay off the back fees while the government has given it another 30 days to pay both.

'ITV begs that the debt repayment be limited to the remaining compensation in an amount' of 2.2 billion baht, ITV chairman Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan said in a statement to the bourse yesterday. 'ITV is now in the process of procuring the money to repay such a debt.'

The TV network, which has a 30-year concession to operate the only network of six in Thailand that is not owned by the government or the military, risks having its broadcast licence revoked if it fails to pay within the extended deadline, said Mr Julayuth Hiranyawisit, Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, on Tuesday.

ITV and parent Shin Corp were founded by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup on Sept 19.

The fine should be paid after an arbitration tribunal makes a decision about the dispute over the charge, Mr Niwattumrong said. ITV had asked the tribunal to consider the disagreement over the fine, he said.

Its proposal last week to offer the government a controlling stake to offset the back fees, or to pay in instalments, was rejected. ITV has also offered to pay the 2.2 billion baht in 30 days, Mr Niwattumrong said.

BLOOMBERG NEWS

Scented oils linked to breast growth in boys

BOSTON - THE lavender and tea tree oils found in some soaps, shampoos, hair gels and body lotions can produce enlarged breasts in boys, according to a study.

These plant oils were linked to abnormal breast development in three boys, a condition called gynecomastia, which was reversed when they stopped using them, said researchers.

The study, published in yesterday's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, suggested these oils can act in ways similar to the hormone estrogen.

'This report raises an issue of concern, since lavender oil and tea tree oil are sold over the counter in their 'pure' form and are present in an increasing number of commercial products, including shampoos, hair gels, soaps, and body lotions,' wrote Dr Clifford Bloch and a team of researchers from Paediatric Endocrine Associates in Colorado.

'Whether the oils elicit similar endocrine-disrupting effects in prepubertal girls, adolescent girls, or women is unknown.'

While it is very common for boys to develop temporary breast enlargement during puberty, the condition is very uncommon in young boys, Dr Bloch's team wrote.

They found the problem in three otherwise healthy boys - ages four, seven and 10 - who had used products that contained either lavender or tea tree oils.

In laboratory tests, scientists at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in North Carolina found that both substances can mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen and block male hormones that control both masculine characteristics and inhibit the growth of breast tissue.

REUTERS

'Study causes of floods before blaming S'pore'

MALAYSIA'S Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has called for a full study to be done into the causes of the recent flooding in Johor before fingers are pointed at Singapore.

'There have been all kinds of claims, but we cannot draw conclusions without an in-depth technical study,' Bernama news agency reported him as saying in Kuala Lumpur.

He said without a technical study, conclusions could not be drawn on the cause of the recent floods in Johor.

He made his remarks to reporters when asked to comment on Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman's claim that massive land reclamation works by Singapore at Pulau Tekong at the mouth of the Johor River had contributed to the floods in Kota Tinggi.

Datuk Seri Najib said the government was setting up a technical committee and the cause of the floods would be determined by experts.

His comments came as Singapore's Ministry of National Development (MND) yesterday rejected Datuk Abdul Ghani's claims as unfounded. Responding to media queries on the Johor Menteri Besar's remarks, an MND spokesman said in a statement: 'The comments are unfounded.

'This is confirmed by the results from technical studies that were commissioned separately by both the Malaysian government and the Singapore government as part of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) dispute settlement proceedings on Singapore's land reclamation works at Pulau Tekong and Tuas View Extension.

'A coastal hydraulic study undertaken by Malaysia's Department of Irrigation and Drainage in September 2002 on the impact of Singapore's reclamation works concluded that...there is no increased flooding due to Singapore's reclamation works.'

It added: 'A separate Environmental Impact Assessment report prepared by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia commissioned by the Malaysian government reported similar findings.

'Technical studies commissioned separately by the Singapore government in 2003 also reached the same conclusions.

'In fact, based on the results of these studies, the Group of Experts which both governments appointed to study the impact of the reclamation works had recommended that it would not be necessary for the flood impact to be further assessed by the technical consultant appointed for the joint study.

'This was accepted by both governments. There is therefore no scientific basis to the allegations that the flooding is caused by Singapore's land reclamation works at Pulau Tekong.'

A News Straits Times report yesterday said the land reclamation work by Singapore at Pulau Tekong might have contributed to the recent floods in Johor.

The land reclamation is said to have narrowed the river mouth of Sungai Johor, causing the massive destruction in Kota Tinggi.

Datuk Abdul Ghani told the paper that the narrowing of the river mouth had slowed the discharge of excess rain water into the Johor Strait.

Manager jailed for taking bribes to rig Biopolis deal

AN OPERATIONS manager at a multinational company who took bribes to fiddle a contract at the Biopolis project has been sentenced to 10 months' jail.

Lim Niann Tsyr, 40, was yesterday also ordered to pay a penalty of about $176,000 - $27,000 plus US$96,000 (S$149,000) - the amounts he accepted as bribes from the chief executive officer of Linair Technologies Tommy Oh Boon Hua.

The penalty will be paid from the bribery money that Lim had surrendered to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau during its investigation in March 2005.

Lim is appealing against the sentence, and is out on $120,000 bail pending the outcome.

At the time of the offences in 2003 and 2004, he worked for Honeywell and was in charge of part of the Biopolis project, Singapore's biomedical research complex.

Honeywell had engaged its subsidiary, Phoenix Controls Corporation, to supply and commission a laboratory air-flow control system for various blocks at the Biopolis.

The court heard that Phoenix regional sales manager Anthony Lim Tiong Teck offered Lim about $100,000 to convince Honeywell's management to allow Phoenix to sub-contract the job to a local representative. Lim agreed.

Mr Lim of Phoenix had Linair in mind as the local representative company.

Linair, together with a front company set up by Mr Oh called Integrated Solutions Engineering, was subsequently appointed to carry out the works. The job was estimated to be worth US$935,000.

Lim pleaded guilty last week to two corruption charges and one of cheating Honeywell of $21,445 relating to fictitious supplies.

Four other corruption charges were taken into consideration.

None of the others has been charged.

Defence counsel Nicholas Narayanan had asked for a fine, saying it was Mr Anthony Lim who had made the unsolicited offer of money to his client, who succumbed in a moment of weakness.

Lim, whose wife is expecting their third child and having a difficult pregnancy, had co-operated with the authorities.

Now unemployed, Lim could have been fined up to $100,000 or jailed for up to five years, or both for each corruption charge. The maximum penalty for cheating is a year's jail or fine, or both.

ERP rates at three expressways to go up by 50 cents

ELECTRONIC road-pricing rates are going up next week.

When the next round of revisions kicks in on Monday, it will cost as much as $4 per pass for car owners - the highest since ERP was introduced in 1998.

The new rate is a result of a 50-cent increase for use of the Central Expressway (CTE), East Coast Parkway (ECP) and Pan-Island Expressway (PIE).

For car drivers using the PIE slip road into the CTE between 8.30am and 9am, the 50-cent hike takes the charge up to $4. For drivers of very heavy goods vehicles, this levy is $8.

The new $4 charge is raising eyebrows.

'I foresee 40 per cent of my customers will not take that route,' ventured 51-year-old cabby S.H. Ngiam. 'They will bypass that and cause bottlenecks elsewhere.'

Car drivers passing the CTE gantry north of Braddell Road towards the city will pay $2 between 7.30am and 9am - up from $1.50.

Those passing the ECP Fort Road gantry will pay $1.50 between 7.30am and 8am; $2.50 between 8.30am and 9am and $1 between 9am and 9.30am - up from $1, $2 and 50 cents, respectively.

And on the PIE slip road into the CTE between 7.30am and 8.30am, drivers will pay $3 - from $2.50 now.

Charges at all other gantries will remain unchanged.

Transport researcher Paul Barter described the $4 rate as 'kind of alarming', but noted that ERP rates changed according to traffic patterns.

The assistant professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy predicted that the next generation of ERP might 'spread the charges around' to more roads to avoid sharp pricing at isolated gantries.

He also envisaged distance-based charging, in which motorists pay according to the length of the journey rather than the current flat rate.

One way to make this palatable, he said, was for ERP revenue to be used more directly to improve public transport in congested corridors.

The Land Transport Authority reviews ERP rates quarterly to 'achieve optimal traffic flow' - defined as speeds of 45kmh to 65kmh for expressways, and 20kmh to 30kmh for main roads.

Rates for some gantries were reduced by 50 cents during the last review, in November last year.

The next review will be in May.

christan@sph.com.sg

Exploit Thailand's error-prone defence, says Riedl

THEY are the undisputed soccer kingpins of South-east Asia.

But, as Vietnam showed in the semi-finals, Thailand are by no means infallible.

Said Vietnam coach Alfred Riedl: 'Man for man, the Thais are the best side in South-east Asia.

'But they are not prolific enough in front of goal.

'And defensively, they make mistakes when you put them under pressure.

'These are their weaknesses and Singapore must exploit them in the final.'

Despite going down 0-2, the Vietnamese dominated the first leg of the semi-final in Hanoi last Wednesday.

They had several clear-cut scoring chances, including a penalty, which they missed.

The second leg in Bangkok on Sunday ended 0-0.

For all the attacking talent of Sutee Suksomkit and Datsakorn Thonglao, the Thais have struggled in front of goal.

They managed only six goals in the group stage, four of them against minnows the Philippines.

Sarayoot Chaikamdee is their top scorer with three.

The Lions can gain some pointers from Vietnam's performance, particularly in the first leg.

The Vietnamese took the game to their opponents, having more possession and preventing the talented Thai midfielders from dictating play.

They also managed to exploit the space behind Thailand's fullbacks by attacking down the flanks.

Said Riedl: 'We were unlucky. Over the two games, we were the better side.

'We had the chances to score in the first leg, but we did not take them.

'The Thais had two chances and they scored.'

Even Thailand team manager Thavatchai Sajakul agreed.

He told the Bangkok Post: 'The win in Hanoi was almost a fluke because the two goals we got were from a 30-metre free kick and a defensive error. Vietnam were always dangerous.'

However, the odds are stacked against the Lions.

Singapore have not beaten Thailand in regulation time since a 2-0 win in a World Cup qualifier in 1977.

According to Riedl, gaining a first-leg advantage will be crucial to Singapore's hopes of retaining the title.

He said: 'Singapore have a good chance, provided that all 11 players put in their best performances.

'The first game at home is very important.

'Singapore have to score. If not, it will be very hard in Bangkok.'

'Reopen probe into murder of Mongolian'

KUALA LUMPUR - SENIOR lawyer Karpal Singh urged the police yesterday to reopen investigations into the gruesome murder of Mangolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.

He said the revelations in Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda's affidavit read in the High Court last week made this necessary.

In the affidavit, the political analyst revealed his seven-month affair with the model and gave details of events that took place before and after her murder.

He also implicated Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 30, in the killing.

The political analyst has been charged with abetting the murder.

Last Friday, he had his affidavit read out in the Shah Alam High Court.

On the face of it, the affidavit amounted to an admission of complicity in the crime, said Mr Karpal, who holds a watching brief for the family of Ms Shaariibuu.

'Abdul Razak's statement is a sworn statement and amounts to evidence as if given from the witness box under oath. The evidence in the affidavit is stronger than a cautioned statement which is not given under oath,' he said in a statement.

'The startling revelations in the affidavit in support of his bail application brings into sharp focus the necessity for the police to reopen investigations.

'There is no doubt that investigations can, in law, be conducted even after an accused has been charged in court or for that matter even during his trial.'

BERNAMA

Aide gears up to play in midfield

AIDE Iskandar could be drafted in as an emergency defensive midfielder for Singapore's Asean Championship first-leg semi-final with Malaysia today.

The Singapore captain will start in his usual central defensive role, but could be moved just in front of the back-four should the need arise.

Midfielder Mustafic Fahrudin's one-match suspension has left a hole in Singapore's middle.

Although Isa Halim is slated to replace Fahrudin, it would make the Lions' midfield rather young.

For Isa is only 20, while their other central midfielder, Shi Jiayi, is 23.

With veterans K. Nanthakumar and Mohamed Shukor Adan expected to occupy Malaysia's engine room, the Singapore pair could be in for a tough and rough night.

Said Aide: 'It is an option we are exploring because of the lack of experience we have in that position.

'I have played in that position at international youth tournaments, so adapting is not a problem for me.

'It is like playing as a sweeper in front of the back-four.'

Mohamed Noh Rahman could also be a candidate to fill the gap left by Mustafic.

But the experienced 26-year-old has just recovered from an ankle injury.

A decision on his fitness will be made only at the last minute.

A youthful midfield is not the only thing the Lions have to contend with.

Yesterday, it rained for the second straight day, though they trained after the rain stopped.

Worse, a torrential downpour is expected for tonight's match at the Shah Alam Stadium.

It kicks off at 8pm.

Said Aide, who won the Malaysia Cup at Shah Alam in 1994 when the Lions beat Pahang 4-0: 'We will be hoping for good weather so we can play good football.

'So far, the ground has held up well.

'I have good memories of the stadium.

'I will be playing a big match at Shah Alam for the second time.

Hopefully, we can win again.'

MARC LIM

Call for review

BENEFIT limits under the Workmen's Compensation Act have not been reviewed since 1995.

Insurers believe that if payouts under the Act are bumped up to be in line with much bigger common law payouts, then costly lawsuits would be discouraged.

The move by the GIA comes amid rising workmen claims which have plunged the already unprofitable business of insuring building firms deeper into the red.

In the last revision to the Act, the work-related death benefit was raised to $111,000 from $78,000 while the cap for permanent incapacity rose to $145,000 from $105,000.

Suu Kyi evaded tax on Nobel money: Paper

YANGON - MYANMAR'S rulers have accused democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, in prison or under house arrest for 11 of the past 17 years, of evading taxes by not spending her Nobel Peace Prize money inside the country.

'She avoided paying taxes to the state by asking her family members abroad to spend all her cash awards provided by international organisations and honorariums,' said the official New Light of Myanmar newspaper in an editorial yesterday.

It said she was lucky to be under house arrest and not in jail after criticising the army and its attempts to write a new Constitution.

'It was very considerate of the government to put only restriction on her, instead of punishing her in accordance with law,' it added.

Ms Suu Kyi, 61, leads the National League for Democracy, which won a landslide election victory in 1990 but was not allowed to take power. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in October 1991.

The award is worth 10 million Swedish crowns (S$2.2 million).

REUTERS

US envoy hopes to fix date for six-party talks

BEIJING - THE US envoy to the North Korean nuclear talks, Mr Christopher Hill, arrived in China while his Pyongyang counterpart conferred with Russia yesterday as hopes revived for progress in the long-running six-country negotiations.

Mr Hill, hoping to fix a date for resuming the talks, said he would brief China's chief negotiator, Mr Wu Dawei, about discussions he held last week in Berlin with North Korean representative Kim Kye Gwan.

'I will ask (Mr Wu) about his thoughts on when they can schedule the next round of six-party talks,' Mr Hill told reporters on arrival at Beijing airport.

Before visiting Beijing, Mr Hill briefed officials in Tokyo and Seoul. He and South Korean envoy Chun Yung Woo said they hoped the next round of talks would open before Chinese New Year on Feb 18.

Japan Foreign Minister Taro Aso told reporters in Tokyo yesterday that the negotiations were likely to resume early next month.

The talks began in 2003 with the aim of persuading Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear arms development. The countries involved in the talks are China, two Koreas, the US, Japan and Russia.

The urgency of making headway has grown since the North defied international warnings last October and conducted its first nuclear test, triggering UN sanctions.

However, the last round of negotiations in December ended inconclusively.

Hopes were raised when the North's official news agency said last Friday a 'certain agreement' had been reached between Mr Kim and Mr Hill in Berlin.

Mr Kim held talks in Moscow yesterday with Russian chief negotiator Alexander Losyukov on prospects of solving the dispute, the Russian foreign ministry said.

Russian news agencies quoted Mr Kim as saying he was pleased with the outcome.

One agency, RIA, said North Korean and US financial representatives would meet today to discuss the possibility of cancelling financial sanctions against Pyongyang. Mr Hill will see Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei before returning to Washington today.

REUTERS

World Quickly

CONTROVERSIAL EDITOR SHOT DEAD

MOSCOW: A Turkish-Armenian editor, who had been convicted of insulting Turkey's identity over his comments on Armenians, was shot dead outside his newspaper office in Istanbul yesterday.

Turkish broadcaster NTV said Mr Hrant Dink, a controversial writer and journalist, was shot by an unknown assailant as he left his newspaper Agos around 1300 GMT (9pm Singapore time) in central Istanbul.

Last year, Turkey's appeals court upheld a six-month suspended jail sentence against Mr Dink for referring in an article to an Armenian nationalist idea of ethnic purity without Turkish blood.

The court said the comments went against an article of Turkey's revised penal code and which lets prosecutors pursue cases against writers and scholars for 'insulting Turkish identity'.

Mr Dink was one of dozens of writers who have been charged under laws against insulting Turkishness, particularly over issues related to an alleged genocide of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during WWI. Turkey denies genocide was committed.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WORKERS DIE IN DUBAI BLAZE

DUBAI: Four workers died in a fire which engulfed a high-rise building under construction in Dubai, newspapers reported yesterday.

Police said the blaze, which broke out on Thursday in the upper floors of the building, killed two Asian nationals and injured 57 workers on the site before it was brought under control.

But newspapers quoted hospital sources as saying four workers died in the incident.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

'NO DARLING, YOU CAN'T BE SPANISH'

MADRID: A Colombian woman called Darling has been told she cannot become a Spanish citizen because her name is unacceptable.

Years of waiting to obtain Spanish citizenship for Ms Darling Velez, 33, appeared to end with success a few months ago when her application was accepted, but she was shocked when the public registry rejected her name, El Mundo newspaper said yesterday.

Spanish law prohibits names which could expose a person to ridicule or do not clearly indicate gender. Without registering her name, Ms Velez cannot become a citizen.

REUTERS

RUSSIA CLOSER TO NUCLEAR REFORM

MOSCOW: The Russian parliament's Lower House yesterday gave final backing to legislation to restructure the nation's nuclear industry.

Lawmakers in the 450-seat State Duma voted 351-57 with three abstentions to approve a Bill that would create a fully state-owned holding company encompassing all enterprises involved in the civilian nuclear sector. The military nuclear complex would be managed separately.

The Bill must still win approval of the parliament's Upper House and be signed into law by the President.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Why no huge canopy over Chinatown stalls

I REFER to Ms Shirley Pang Guan Guan's letter, 'Build huge tent over Chinatown festive street stalls' (ST, Jan 16).

We thank Ms Pang for her suggestion to make Chinatown festive street stalls a more conducive place to visit and shop during the Chinese New Year period.

We had previously considered the idea of having a huge common tent to provide more shelter. However, several factors prevented us from implementing it.

Chinatown's inner streets, which are mostly flanked by shophouses, are generally narrower than most modern streets in Singapore. Given the limited space and close proximity of buildings, a common tent would block the upper floors of the shophouses.

When we stage a big celebration such as the Chinese New Year festivities, public safety is our top concern. We work closely with the Singapore Civil Defence Force to ensure that the event area provides easy access for fire-fighting and rescue operations. An expansive canopy over the street stalls will pose immense difficulties for fire engines to access affected shophouses quickly.

We will continue to work with the various agencies and stakeholders to improve the comfort and safety of visitors during these celebrations.

We wish all Singaporeans and visitors an enjoyable time in Chinatown as they soak in the festive atmosphere and enjoy the offerings at the street stalls this year.

David Ong
Chairman
Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens' Consultative Committee

Looks like a draw

'Liverpool will raise their game after losing face so badly to Arsenal. Chelsea are a good team, but they know they have to win and they'll be anxious.'
LEONG CHEE MUN, teacher

'Anfield has the best crowd in the world, but Chelsea are an excellent team and their physical strength will get them something.'
DANIEL YAP, businessman

'Anfield is a fortress, unless the opponents happen to be Arsenal. Chelsea are a bit messed up at the moment, but the players might go all out for their manager. I think it could come down to a hard-fought 2-2 draw.'
JAMIE YEO, TV presenter

'Chelsea and Liverpool will draw 2-2. The trouble within the Chelsea camp versus Liverpool's poor track record against top teams makes for a very interesting match.'
FELICIA CHIN, actress

Spectator safety must be priority in planning F1 race here

I REFER to the article 'Thriller of a Singapore F1 race' (ST, Jan17) accompanying the layout of a proposed race track.

I have been following the media reports regarding the proposed establishment of Singapore Formula One (F1) Grand Prix racing, but nothing has been mentioned about the safety of spectators.

Watch any racing documentary on the TV and one can see that crashes do happen. Race car components, such as rear flaps, wheels and body kits become dislocated or damaged when the cars crash into guard rails or into each other, and these components often fly off to where spectators are seated or standing in the grandstands.

Very close to the proposed race circuit, we have tourist attractions, government and commercial buildings, and well-known hotels.

Is the safety of these structures being looked into as well?

A close look at racing documentaries on TV shows that, where the sharp turns are, the road is tilted in such a manner that the outer edge is raised in order to help the race car when it turns.

As released to the media, the layout shows at least seven grandstands located at such turns.

The safety of spectators should be the foremost concern of the race organisers.

Abdul Islam

Sports world

TRAINING STINT AT CHELSEA IN DOUBT

BEIJING: The Chinese Olympic soccer team's two- week training stint at Chelsea's training ground next month has been jeopardised by visa problems.

Chinese media reported yesterday that the Under-21 side are scheduled to arrive at the English champions' training centre in Surrey on Feb 1.

But a failure to apply in time for their visas from the British consulate at Marseilles may force them to reconsider their London trip and stay on in France, Sohu.com reported.

REUTERS

NOT AMUSED BY ON-LINE SPOOFS

BEIJING: Beijing Games organisers have threatened legal action against on-line pranksters who poke fun at official Olympic symbols.

A rash of digital spoofs on the 2008 Olympic emblem and mascots had appeared on the Internet, in Chinese websites and chat rooms.

The Beijing Organising Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games condemned the practice as 'tarnishing the Olympic spirit'.

REUTERS

Morocco a model of tolerance: SM

RABAT - MANY countries look upon Morocco as a model of a successful and tolerant Islamic country.

Therefore, it is well-placed to play an active role in using the Asia-Middle East Dialogue process to promote moderation, mutual understanding and a progressive outlook among all nations, said Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

He said this in an e-mail interview with Morocco's French-language daily Le Matin, which was published on its front page on Monday.

Speaking to the Singapore media on Wednesday, he added that Morocco can, in particular, 'play a very active role in reaching out to the non-Muslim countries in Asia to tell them what Islam is about'.

'Otherwise some countries and some people may be mistaken that Islam is all about terrorism. It is not,' he said.

Asked how Morocco can learn from Singapore's economic success, SM Goh said that while Singapore is more than happy to share its developmental experiences, the two countries are very different.

'What worked well for Singapore, a city state, may not work for a larger country like Morocco,' he said. It is up to Morocco to draw lessons from Singapore's experiences and determine what is relevant.

He urged Moroccan businessmen to visit Singapore to see what opportunities are available there and in Asia.

He was also asked for his view on Morocco's proposal to grant wider autonomy to Western Sahara, which was annexed by Morocco in 1975.

Singapore supports efforts to find a 'fair and equitable' solution to the long-standing issue, he said.

'The settlement of this issue will promote durable and stable peace in the region,' he said.

Singapore's position on such issues is guided by two key considerations, he said. 'First, it is preferable for any solution to be reached peacefully and by consensus. Second, we place primacy on the observance of international law, agreements and commitments.'

LI XUEYING