Three firemen die in training accident in Qatar ahead of World Cup

Three Pakistani firemen have died in a training accident in Doha weeks before the start of the World Cup. Authorities said the three were not taking part in a multi-national World Cup security exercise currently being held around the city that includes simulations of "chemical incidents" and demonstrations. Officials did not give details of the accident which occurred late on Wednesday but accounts given by friends of the three and posted on social media said they were on a crane that collapsed in Doha's Hamad port. Photographs accompanying the posts showed the crumpled crane. AFP could not immediately verify the pictures. Fifteen foreign governments including the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the Palestinian territories have sent security forces and experts for the Watan exercise that ends on Thursday. Exercises have included fighter jet drills, a chemical attack on a stadium and handling demonstrations.

Turkey has sent about 3,000 police to reinforce Qatar's domestic force during the World Cup, while Morocco and Pakistan will also reportedly send police reinforcements. Some diplomats have questioned whether the foreign police have had proper training on handling the one million fans predicted to come to Qatar for the games.