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Abu Dhabi SWF joins Morgan Stanley in UK rail bid - report
DUBAI |
DUBAI (Reuters) - The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has agreed to join Morgan Stanley and private equity group 3i in a bid for the high-speed railway linking London with the Channel Tunnel, Abu Dhabi's National newspaper said.
State-owned ADIA, considered the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, is in the "very early stages" regarding its involvement in the bid, the paper said, citing a source close to the sale process.
The sale process could fetch 1.5 billion to 2 billion pounds according to the paper.
An ADIA spokesman declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.
The sale of the 110-km High Speed 1 (HS1) line, which links central London to the Channel Tunnel, will be the first major British transport infrastructure sale since airport operator BAA sold London's Gatwick airport late last year.
ADIA bought a 15 percent stake in Gatwick Airport earlier this year.
Britain began the sale of the rights to operate the country's only high-speed railway in June, helping raise much-needed funds for the public purse.
Other bidders include Channel tunnel operator Groupe Eurotunnel SA which is working on a bid with Goldman Sachs Infrastructure Partners, its biggest shareholder, and with Infracapital, the infrastructure arm of Prudential unit M&G, another big shareholder.
($1=.6402 Pound)
(Reporting by Dinesh Nair, Editing by Jason Neely)
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4 years of neglect and incompetence by the British Government and the FCO.
Press Release, 1st August 2010
The 15th July 2010 marked the 4th Anniversary of the mysterious abduction of Ahmed Al-Samarai President of the Iraqi Olympic Committee IOC.
To date the British Government [both under labour and the present coalition government] have failed to formally acknowledge the plight of Al Samarai . Requests for information by his British wife and son are continuously ignored
“ The British Government’s failure to intervene or to follow up the matter is of great concern, it suggests that there may be two tiers of British citizens with different rights depending on the origin of that British citizen . It is quite clear that Mr Al Samarai is not receiving any attention because of his Arabic origin “ stated Amjad Salfiti , a lawyer and head of the Arab Organisation of Human Rights [aohr] in the UK .
“Mr Al Samarai – as a British citizen – is entitled to the full protection of the British Government and its allies in Iraq including the US Government. Both states maintain a intelligence and military presence in Iraq” added Amjad Salfiti .
To date the British Government has failed in taking any steps on behalf of Al Samarai. This contrasts glaringly to the significant efforts that secured the release of another British captive, Peter Moore, released on the 30th December 2009, when the British Government negotiated the release of an Iraqi prisoner in return for the release of Mr Moore.
“ I am shocked to discover that neither the British Government or the FCO have kept a file or had up to date information about the welfare of a British citizen kidnapped by a friendly government .The incompetence of the British Government, is a blatant case of calculated discrimination “Added Salfiti.
“For the last three and a half years I have not received any news or even a telephone call from a British official to even enquire about Ahmad’s case or to comfort me or my son. I was totally left on my own to find out if my husband is alive and to plead with Iraqi officials to provide me with information about my husband “ stated Niran AL-Samarai.
For Further Information contact A Salfiti:by Email : aohr@europe.com or by mobile on : 07767216956 Links : www.alsamarrai13.org
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