CAIRO/DUBAI, Nov 20 (Reuters) – Egypt’s benchmark index tumbled to a six-week low on Sunday after renewed street violence in central Cairo and in other cities, and Kuwait fell after protesters stormed its parliament.

The clashes represent one of the biggest security challenges yet for the country’s ruling generals, a little more than a week before a parliamentary election.

The index fell 2.5 percent to its lowest finish since Oct. 11.

“The market is acting cautiously,” said Osama Mourad of Arab Finace Brokerage. “It was falling dramatically in the first minutes of trading and then recovered slowly because of the mixed messages we are receiving from the media. Investors are worried about the implications for elections.”

Cairo youths chanting “The people want to topple the regime” rushed at police, who fired rubber bullets and tear gas. Protesters clashed with police in at least two other cities. Two people were killed and hundreds wounded.

Egypt will hold a parliamentary election in a staggered vote that starts on Nov. 28, the first such vote since President Hosni Mubarak was forced from office.

Orascom Construction Industries, the country’s biggest listed developer, fell 3.3 percent and Commercial International Bank dropped 3.1 percent.

DOHA, Nov 15 (Reuters) – Leaders Iran’s passage into round four of Asian World Cup qualifying was secured when 2022 hosts Qatar were held to a 0-0 draw by gulf rivals Bahrain in a Group E qualifier on Tuesday.

Bahrain, coached by former England winger Peter Taylor, missed a glorious opportunity at the air-conditioned Al Sadd Stadium as Dawood Saad hit the post in the 26th minute when it looked easier to score.

Playmaker Khalfan Ibrahim fluffed Qatar’s best opportunity 15 minutes from time when he drove a shot straight at keeper Sayed Mohamed from 10 metres.

Ibrahim, the 2006 Asian player of the year, was the game’s outstanding performer.

The 15,000-capacity venue was only two-thirds full and the small Bahrain contingent used drums and megaphones to drown out the home support with non-stop chanting and singing.

The red replica shirts of the visiting supporters contrasted with the Qatari fans’ traditional white robes and their unstinting support seemed to inspire the away team.

After the 2022 World Cup hosts dominated possession in the early stages without creating any real chances, Bahrain took control by winning a succession of corners.

DOHA (Reuters) – Europe’s top clubs want world and European soccer governing bodies FIFA and UEFA to pay players’ wages during international tournaments, Barcelona president Sandro Rosell said on Tuesday.

The former Barca ball boy also wants to cut the top European leagues to 16 teams and wants the Champions League expanded.

Speaking at a conference in Doha, Rosell warned UEFA that leading clubs may break away unless their demands were met.

Asked whether clubs would ask FIFA and UEFA to pay players during the World Cup or European Championship, Rosell said: “This is what we are discussing with both institutions.

“That could happen in the near future because we don’t think it’s fair that we pay the salaries and they use our players and they get income using our players. This is something that has to be treated very seriously.

“We hope they will hear what we want to tell them.”

Europe’s top leagues – Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A and England’s Premier League all have 20 teams, which Rosell said was too many.

DOHA, Nov 15 (Reuters) – Europe’s top clubs want world and European soccer governing bodies FIFA and UEFA to pay players’ wages during international tournaments, Barcelona president Sandro Rosell said on Tuesday.

The former Barca ball boy also wants to cut the top European leagues to 16 teams and wants the Champions League expanded.

Speaking at a conference in Doha, Rosell warned UEFA that leading clubs may break away unless their demands were met.

Asked whether clubs would ask FIFA and UEFA to pay players during the World Cup or European Championship, Rosell said: “This is what we are discussing with both institutions.

“That could happen in the near future because we don’t think it’s fair that we pay the salaries and they use our players and they get income using our players. This is something that has to be treated very seriously.

“We hope they will hear what we want to tell them.”

Europe’s top leagues – Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A and England’s Premier League all have 20 teams, which Rosell said was too many.

Doha, Nov 15 (Reuters) – Former Italy coach Marcello Lippi wants to take charge of a team at the 2014 World Cup but has ruled out returning to club management.

Lippi, who guided the Azzurri to their fourth World Cup triumph in 2006, took the helm again for the 2010 finals in South Africa but the defending champions went out at the group stage without winning a game.

“In life in general, in any kind of work, there are highs and lows, good moments and bad and I was lucky I had a lot of success,” Lippi told the Aspire4Sport conference in Doha.

“The last one hasn’t been a success, South Africa. I took one year off, a mental break. I want to start my work again, but I don’t want to go back to a club.

“I want another experience…in a national team to build a team, a new national team and play another World Cup — Brazil in 2014.”

Cesare Prandelli succeeded Lippi as Italy coach and has shrewdly guided them to Euro 2012.

Lippi won five Serie A titles and the Champions League with Juventus in two stints in charge of the Turin club, but he is wary of returning for a third time.

DOHA, Nov 14 (Reuters) – Jonas Oliviera scored his first international goals to earn Brazil a 2-0 friendly victory over Egypt, for whom midfielder Ahmed Hassan made a record-equalling 178th international appearance on Monday.

The Valencia forward subdued a 25,000 strong crowd in Doha with simple strikes in the 39th and 59th minutes as Brazil strolled to victory against a limited, but willing Egyptian side playing for the first time under former United States coach Bob Bradley.

Hassan, 36, came on as 73rd minute substitute, putting him level with Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohamed Al Deayea, who last played in 2006.

Many fans missed the start of a match, held to raise money for famine victims in Somalia, as gridlocked traffic outside the Rayyan Stadium prompted some cars to drive down dirt tracks, dodging flag sellers, while others gave up and abandoned their cars by the roadside or central reservation, walking the last mile to the ground.

Oliviera broke the deadlock as halftime neared, scoring with a simple tap-in after strike partner Hulk drilled in a low cross from the right byline.

Bradley replaced playmaker Mohamed Zidan with Ibrahim Salah for the second half and the Zamalek midfielder shone with some important interceptions and intelligent passes.

Egypt initially did little to threaten Diego Alves’ goal and only a desperate goalline clearance by Ahmed Hegazi prevented Oliviera netting his second immediately after the re-start.

DOHA (Reuters) – Qatar would obey a FIFA order to host a winter World Cup but no discussions have taken place on switching the 2022 football tournament from the summer, a top bid official said on Monday.

“Currently our plans are to host the World Cup during the summer,” Hassan al-Thawadi, general-secretary of Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, told a conference in Doha.

“If FIFA, the international football community, ask for Qatar to host the World Cup in the winter then we won’t be fighting the football community. As of yet, no such discussions have been put in place.”

Qatar, where summer temperatures top 45 degrees Celsius, was the surprise winner of a December FIFA vote to choose the 2022 host country.

The Gulf state says it will build solar-powered, air-conditioned stadiums to overcome the sweltering heat, although the technology remains unproven in a full-size stadium.

A winter World Cup would come mid-season in Europe and the continent’s leagues are likely to fiercely resist such a move.

Whatever the timing, Thawadi estimates 800,000 foreign fans will visit Qatar during the tournament.

DOHA, Nov 14 (Reuters) – Qatar would obey a FIFA order to host a winter World Cup but no discussions have taken place on switching the 2022 soccer tournament from the summer, a top bid official said on Monday.

“Currently our plans are to host the World Cup during the summer,” Hassan al-Thawadi, general-secretary of Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, told a conference in Doha.

“If FIFA, the international football community, ask for Qatar to host the World Cup in the winter then we won’t be fighting the football community. As of yet, no such discussions have been put in place.”

Qatar, where summer temperatures top 45 degrees Celsius, was the surprise winner of a December FIFA vote to choose the 2022 host country.

The Gulf state says it will build solar-powered, air-conditioned stadiums to overcome the sweltering heat, although the technology remains unproven in a full-size stadium.

A winter World Cup would come mid-season in Europe and the continent’s leagues are likely to fiercely resist such a move.

Whatever the timing, Thawadi estimates 800,000 foreign fans will visit Qatar during the tournament.

DOHA (Reuters) – Venus Williams has changed her diet following the autoimmune disease that kept her out of this year’s U.S. Open and is hoping the new approach will propel her back to the top of the women’s tennis rankings.

“I changed my diet completely, so lots of vegetables,” the 31-year-old former world number one told a sports conference in Qatar Sunday.

“I (altered) my mind frame completely because I was the person who always ate their steak first and their salad second.”

The lifestyle change follows her shock withdrawal from September’s U.S. Open with Sjogren’s Syndrome, a chronic disease where white blood cells attack moisture-producing glands and can cause dysfunction of organs and body systems.

The seven-times grand slam champion suffered with fatigue and swelling because of the illness and has slipped to 103rd in the rankings having not played much this year.

“My goal next year is to play a full schedule. It will take some work to get there, but I’m no stranger to hard work,” she said.

“I love the game. The racket feels right in my hand and I’m planning on going right back to where I was at the top of the rankings in the singles and doubles sometime within the next 12 months.”

DOHA, Nov 13 (Reuters) – Venus Williams has changed her diet following the autoimmune disease that kept her out of this year’s U.S. Open and is hoping the new approach will propel her back to the top of the women’s tennis rankings.

“I changed my diet completely, so lots of vegetables,” the 31-year-old former world number one told a sports conference in Qatar on Sunday.

“I (altered) my mind frame completely because I was the person who always ate their steak first and their salad second.”

The lifestyle change follows her shock withdrawal from September’s U.S. Open with Sjogren’s Syndrome, a chronic disease where white blood cells attack moisture-producing glands and can cause dysfunction of organs and body systems.

The seven-times grand slam champion suffered with fatigue and swelling because of the illness and has slipped to 103rd in the rankings having not played much this year.

“My goal next year is to play a full schedule. It will take some work to get there, but I’m no stranger to hard work,” she said.

“I love the game. The racket feels right in my hand and I’m planning on going right back to where I was at the top of the rankings in the singles and doubles sometime within the next 12 months.”