kl:20,24 18|06|2012 Sawtalkurd
Top
Stories
UN suspends mission after escalation of violence: UN observers mission Director, Robert Mood, announced the suspension of the mission’s activities in Syria after increasing threats against them from the regime and the opposition’s alleged lack of cooperation. Mood added that the observers will remain stationed in their assigned locations but will not be patrolling. The suspension came after the regime prevented UN observers from entering several cities and opening fire at their vehicles.
Russia’s intervention leads to a clash with revolutionaries: According to international media outlets, several Russian ships of the Black Sea fleet are on standby waiting for orders to depart to Syria. The ships are loaded with battalions from the Russian navy infantry. Meanwhile, the regime tightened its security grip on the city of Banyas and the surrounding areas in the province of Tartous, as its forces deployed many more checkpoints and scrutinised passersby. This came after the Free Syrian Army announced its intention to target the Russian military personnel sent to assist the regime.
Uprising Developments
HRW reveals more regime crimes: Human Rights Watch announced that regime forces use rape and other forms of sexual violence against women, men and children. HRW added that sexual assaults take place in detention centres and during raids on houses and invasions of residential areas.
Regime’s terrorist explosions continued: The regime set up another car bomb in the city of Deir Azzour which followed the exact scenario of past explosions in Deir Azzour, Damascus and Aleppo. The car was detonated in an area occupied by military and intelligence bases and completely dominated by regime forces, while the car used was itself confiscated a few months ago by the Military Intelligence Division after its owner was detained. This counts as one of the regime’s last attempts to convince the West of the presence of terrorists.
Economy
Regime struggles to provide gas: Damascus Chamber of Commerce member said that Syrian industrialists have received gas-import offers from Iraq, Iran, and Russia, adding that the first shipment will arrive soon on a Turkish carrier. This came as the Syrian government decreased the weight of gas cylinders used by households as cooking fuel by 20% without changing its price, and meeting up with local industrialists to guarantee their support; the most recent effort of such nature was last week when Assad met up with the new members of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce to improve bilateral relations.
Russia expands its support to the regime: The regime circulated new bank notes printed by the Russian public sector enterprise Goznak to relieve the financial deficit that put the payment of many governmental expenses and salaries on hold. The circulation of unbacked new bank notes should contribute to the inflation that has reached levels higher than 30%.
International Reactions
International pressure mounts on the regime: France called for the enactment of Annan’s peace plan under the UNSC’s Chapter Seven; ‘power to maintain peace’, after the unrest in Syria has escalated. International pressure has been mounting on the regime after its increased massacres.
Syrian Press Focus
Suspension of observers mission: Regime media blamed Jihadists on the suspension of the UN observers’ mission, and not its forces.
Results of the Arab Spring: The regime is trying to portray the Arab Spring as a negative phenomenon in the Middle East due to its effect on Syria. An article entitled “Results of the Arab Spring” was published about children militants in Yemen.
Denial of Russian fleet departure: Local media published a statement by the Russian fleet denying the news of sending some of its fleet with infantry to Tartous.
President meets up with merchant guilds: Bashar Assad’s meetings with members of the Chamber of Commerce made it to the first pages of most newspapers in Syria after his meetings with merchant guilds last week were the highlight.
UN suspends mission after escalation of violence: UN observers mission Director, Robert Mood, announced the suspension of the mission’s activities in Syria after increasing threats against them from the regime and the opposition’s alleged lack of cooperation. Mood added that the observers will remain stationed in their assigned locations but will not be patrolling. The suspension came after the regime prevented UN observers from entering several cities and opening fire at their vehicles.
Russia’s intervention leads to a clash with revolutionaries: According to international media outlets, several Russian ships of the Black Sea fleet are on standby waiting for orders to depart to Syria. The ships are loaded with battalions from the Russian navy infantry. Meanwhile, the regime tightened its security grip on the city of Banyas and the surrounding areas in the province of Tartous, as its forces deployed many more checkpoints and scrutinised passersby. This came after the Free Syrian Army announced its intention to target the Russian military personnel sent to assist the regime.
Uprising Developments
HRW reveals more regime crimes: Human Rights Watch announced that regime forces use rape and other forms of sexual violence against women, men and children. HRW added that sexual assaults take place in detention centres and during raids on houses and invasions of residential areas.
Regime’s terrorist explosions continued: The regime set up another car bomb in the city of Deir Azzour which followed the exact scenario of past explosions in Deir Azzour, Damascus and Aleppo. The car was detonated in an area occupied by military and intelligence bases and completely dominated by regime forces, while the car used was itself confiscated a few months ago by the Military Intelligence Division after its owner was detained. This counts as one of the regime’s last attempts to convince the West of the presence of terrorists.
Economy
Regime struggles to provide gas: Damascus Chamber of Commerce member said that Syrian industrialists have received gas-import offers from Iraq, Iran, and Russia, adding that the first shipment will arrive soon on a Turkish carrier. This came as the Syrian government decreased the weight of gas cylinders used by households as cooking fuel by 20% without changing its price, and meeting up with local industrialists to guarantee their support; the most recent effort of such nature was last week when Assad met up with the new members of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce to improve bilateral relations.
Russia expands its support to the regime: The regime circulated new bank notes printed by the Russian public sector enterprise Goznak to relieve the financial deficit that put the payment of many governmental expenses and salaries on hold. The circulation of unbacked new bank notes should contribute to the inflation that has reached levels higher than 30%.
International Reactions
International pressure mounts on the regime: France called for the enactment of Annan’s peace plan under the UNSC’s Chapter Seven; ‘power to maintain peace’, after the unrest in Syria has escalated. International pressure has been mounting on the regime after its increased massacres.
Syrian Press Focus
Suspension of observers mission: Regime media blamed Jihadists on the suspension of the UN observers’ mission, and not its forces.
Results of the Arab Spring: The regime is trying to portray the Arab Spring as a negative phenomenon in the Middle East due to its effect on Syria. An article entitled “Results of the Arab Spring” was published about children militants in Yemen.
Denial of Russian fleet departure: Local media published a statement by the Russian fleet denying the news of sending some of its fleet with infantry to Tartous.
President meets up with merchant guilds: Bashar Assad’s meetings with members of the Chamber of Commerce made it to the first pages of most newspapers in Syria after his meetings with merchant guilds last week were the highlight.