End nightmare in Syria: UN chief

Sept. 25: The National Ferries Company (NFC) on Sunday launched a ferry service from Khasab Port in the Governorate of Musandam to its second regional destination Bandar Abbas city in Iran. The two-hour journey was on a ferry ‘Al Halaniyat.’

Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry, arrived at Bahonar Port ahead of the launch.

He said the short marine distance between the two countries offers a “good opportunity for expanding ties in all fields that would bring prosperity and advancement in the region”.

“Both the friendly and neighbouring states are determined to expand political, commercial and economic ties.” “In the past, we have proved that we were, and still are, very serious in expanding political, commercial and economic relations,” said Dr Sunaidy, adding that by launching ferry services between Oman and Iran, we will be “participating in the prosperity of tourism in the region”. nTh The minister is expected to participate in the 16th meeting of joint economic committee between Oman and Iran in Tehran on Monday.

TURN TO P 3 UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Ban KiMoon on Sunday urged world powers to work harder to end the nightmare in Syria as the Security Council met for urgent talks on the escalating war.

“What excuse is there for anything less than determined action to stop the mayhem? How much longer will all those with influence allow such cruelty to continue? I urge all involved to work harder for an end to the nightmare,” Ban said.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Russia may have committed a war crime in Syria. Johnson was asked in an interview with British broadcaster BBC whether he considered the bombing of a humanitarian aid convoy near Aleppo on September 19 to be a war crime.

“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s regime is not only, as it were, handing Syrian leadership the revolver he is in some instances actually firing the revolver himself,” Johnson said.