DUBAI // The mother of the Syrian president, Bashar Al Assad, has moved to Dubai, according to unconfirmed reports on Sunday.
Anisa Makhluf has been living in the emirate for 10 days, reported the Agence France-Presse news agency, which cites Syrians living in Dubai. She is believed to be living with her daughter, Bushra, the sister of Mr Al Assad.
Bushra's husband, Gen Assef Shawkat, was killed in a bombing in Damascus in July last year.
She is reported to have moved to Dubai in September and enrolled her five children in a private school.
Shadi Al Khesh, a UAE-based member of the opposition's National Coalition, said Ms Makhluf could have been in Dubai longer than 10 days but could not confirm her presence. "All indications are that she has been in Dubai at least for a month now," he said, and that other members of the family had recently moved to the UAE.
Mr Al Assad's only surviving sibling in Syria is his brother, Maher, commander of the army's Fourth Brigade.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place play-off
Results
2.30pm: Dubai Creek Tower – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Marmara Xm, Gary Sanchez (jockey), Abdelkhir Adam (trainer)
3pm: Al Yasmeen – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: AS Hajez, Jesus Rosales, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.30pm: Al Ferdous – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Soukainah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
4pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah – Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: AF Thayer, Ray Dawson, Ernst Oertel
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup – Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: George Villiers, Antonio Fresu, Bhupat Seemar
5pm: Palma Spring – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Es Abu Mousa, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud