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Al-Riyadh newspaper reports settlement of Qatari Premier's lawsuit against Asharq Al-Awsat

Riyadh, August 04, SPA --The lawsuit filed by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabr Al-Thani against Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper before a British Court had been settled within the framework of the settlement that did not include paying any financial compensation.

Al-Riyadh newspaper which published the item in its edition yesterday (Sunday) pointed out that the case was withdrawn under the auspices of an amicable settlement accord reached between the two negotiating lawyers over a period of one year and some months.

The newspaper said the agreement included the following points:
Each Party shall bear its own expenses and fees of proceedings of the case.

Publication of a ccourt an in "Asharq Al-Awsat" on its hard copy and on-line editions within the corner entitled "Corrigendum" published by the "Asharq Al-Awsat" occasionally.

Reading before the court a statement that depends on wordings of the published correction.

Pledging not to re-publish the articles that were the subject of the complaint, specifically with regard to what had been published and then disowned as regards Sheikh Hamad's alleged visit to Israel when he was on his way from Damascus to Beirut to attend a meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers during 2006 summer war launched by Israel in Lebanon.

Sheikh Hamad through lawyers in London filed a lawsuit in 2007 against "Asharq Al-Awsat" which revolved around three articles; the first and second articles were published in August 2006 and the third was an article on the opinion page written by Editor-in-Chief of "Asharq Al-Awsat" Tariq Al-Humaid in March 2007.

In accordance with the settlement accord between lawyers, Asharq Al-Awsat published a "Corrigendum", which contained an apology for any embarrassment caused by the publication of the articles as regards Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem that pertains to the alleged visit to Israel by him on his way to Beirut in the summer of 2006.

The newspaper has learned that what has been said by some quarters regarding Al-Asharq Al-Awsat publishers' apology as these quarters did not investigate the precise wordings of the statement that was read by lawyers before the court under the settlement which in fact refers to the publishing company (i.e. the Saudi Research and Publishing Company in the United Kingdom).

Al-Riyadh newspaper stated that the Qatari media which reported on the settlement between Sheikh Hamad and Asharq Al-Awsat, had portrayed it as if the court had considered the case and that the Asharq Al-Awsat had lost the case, but the truth is that the case was dealt within the framework of an amicable settlement accord.

Al-Riyadh Newspaper pointed out that "there have been many claims and through negotiations between the two parties' lawyers, Sheikh Hamad waived a number of things and also Asharq Al-Awsat waived a number of things within the auspices of the settlement that led to resolving the case and withdrawing it before the court's consideration.

© Saudi Press Agency 2008