Foreign and Expatriates Ministry Welcomes Statement Issued by Tehran Consultative Meeting
Aug 13, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said that is has followed with interest Tehran’s Consultative Meeting on Syria, held in the Iranian capital Tehran on August 9th, with the aim of enhancing international and regional efforts to help Syria find an exit to the crisis based on implementing the six-point plan of UN Envoy Kofi Annan and paving suitable ground for national dialogue within a peaceful atmosphere among the Syrian people.
In a press release, the Ministry welcomed the statement issued by the meeting and thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran and all participating countries for their efforts exerted to help Syria overcome the crisis based on the principle of defending the right against the wrong and supporting the legitimate demands of the Syrian people through peaceful national dialogue far from foreign interference in the Syrian affairs.
The Ministry stressed that it will continue building on these positive initiatives, and it will continue communicating with all countries concerned to help encourage constructive initiatives to help Syria.
Authorities Inflict Heavy Losses upon Armed Terrorist Groups in Homs, Lattakia, Idleb and Daraa
Aug 14, 2012
PROVINCES, (SANA) – A unit of the Syrian armed forces pursued an armed terrorist group in Jouret al-Shayah in Homs, killing a large number of mercenary terrorists and wounding others. The armed forces unit also destroyed a warehouse of weapons and ammunition.
Several Terrorists Killed and Wounded in Clash with Authorities in Homs
Authorities in Homs province chased a group of armed terrorists who attacked civilians and properties near Souq al-Ghanam on al-Salamiyah-Homs highway.
A source in the province told SANA correspondent that clashes resulted in killing and wounding several gunmen.
Authorities Storm Terrorists’ Den, Kill Large Number of Terrorists
With residents’ cooperation, authorities stormed a terrorists’ den in Talbiseh area in Homs Countryside and killed large numbers of terrorists.
Authorities chased armed terrorist groups that attacked citizens, cut off roads and fired on passing cars in al-Ghanto town and Telbiseh city to the north of Homs.
SANA reporter quoted a source in the province as saying that the lash resulted in killing and wounding large number of terrorists.
Authorities Destroy Den used by terrorists in Homs countryside
The competent authorities today destroyed a den which was used by the armed terrorist groups as a base for their operations at al-Eznea town in al-Qseir, Homs countryside.
A source in Homs told SANA reporter that the authorities inflicted heavy losses among the terrorists, Killing and injuring all of them.
Authorities Seize Explosive Devices Factory in Homs
Authorities stormed a den used by an armed terrorist group to make explosive devices in al-Shammas area in Homs.
SANA reporter quoted a source in the Province as saying that the authorities seized 11 explosive devices in addition to equipment and raw materials used in manufacturing explosives.
Armed Forces Seize Car Transporting Anti-Armor Rounds in Daraya, Damascus Countryside
An armed forces unit seized a car in Daraya area, Damascus Countryside, and arrested the terrorists in it who were attempting to transport weapons and ammo to an armed group.
The weapons, which were concealed inside the car, a Kia Cerato, included an anti-armor rocket launcher and rounds and charges for it.
Authorities Pursue Armed Terrorists in Lattakia, Kill and Wound many Gunmen
Authorities in Lattakia Province pursued a group of armed terrorists who attacked law-enforcement forces in al-Khadra town in Lattakia countryside and inflicted heavy losses upon them.
A source in the province told SANA correspondent that the authorities pursued last night a gang of armed terrorists who terrified civilians in al-Rihaneh town and killed all gang members.
Authorities Inflict Heavy Losses Upon Terrorists in Idleb
Authorities continued pursuing the armed terrorist groups in Areha area in Idleb, inflicting heavy losses upon them and seizing weapons and stolen cars.
Armed Forces Pursue Terrorists in Daraa Province
The Syrian Armed Forces continued to pursue armed terrorist groups in several areas in Daraa province, killing and injuring several of their members.
A source at the province told SANA’s correspondent that an armed forces units pursued a terrorist group in the town of Tafas in Daraa countryside, killing a large number of its members and arresting others.
The dead terrorists include Adhamd Bdewi al-Zoubi, Mohannad Ahmad Haza’a al-Zoubi, Qasem Mohammad al-Masri, and Mohammad Ahmad al-Zoubi.
The armed forces also pursued terrorists in Bosra al-Cham and Izra’a in Daraa, and clashed with terrorists in the town of al-Sanamin, killing a anumber of them including Khedr Qassem Abdelkader and Mufid Ahmad al-Mehdi.
Salehi: Tehran Opposes Suspending Syria’s Membership at OIC
Aug 13, 2012
TEHRAN, (SANA)-Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on Monday underlined his country’s opposition to suspending membership of any member country at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation OIC.
“Any country, particularly members of the OIC, should put hand in hand to resolve the crisis in Syria in the service of the region’s security and stability, Salehi said in a statement in the Saudi city of Mecca, in response to comments by OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu on suspending the membership of Syria at the OIC.
Salehi reiterated Iran’s rejection of any foreign intervention in Syria’s domestic affairs.
Syria’s Ambassador in Tehran: Syria was first in implementing political and economic reforms
Syria’s Ambassador in Tehran Hamid Hassan underlined that Syria was first in implementing the political and economic reforms in the country.
During a meeting held by the Establishment of Mobilization at the TV& Radio Center in Iran today, Hassan said “Syria has taken its reform steps continuously and truly.. Syria has clearly announced its rejection of any foreign intervention.”
Military Source: Military Aircraft Suffers Technical Failure during Ordinary Training Flight over Eastern Area
Aug 13, 201
DAMASCUS, (SANA)_A military source said that a technical failure that happened to a military aircraft while it was on an ordinary training flight over the eastern area caused the command devices to break down, and the pilot to leave the plane by the ejection seat.
The source added that search for the pilot is underway.
Head of UN Observer Mission in Syria: The Mission will Continue its Work according to UNSC Resolution 2059
Aug 13, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)_General Babacar Gaye, head of the UN Observer Mission in Syria, said that the mission will continue its work according to the UN Security Council Resolution No. 2059.
In a press conference held in Damascus on Monday, Gaye said that the UN observers in Syria are monitoring the increasing violence in Syria and are visiting the displaced Syrians inside the country, adding that the mission has enhanced its efforts in an attempt to reach a ceasefire to deliver humanitarian aid to those in need.
”The mission is determined to continue its work until the end of its mandate,” he said, demanding that all sides end violence and come to the negotiating table, expressing the UN readiness to back political dialogue among the Syrians.
Gaye noted that he recently held a meeting with the Syrian government and discussed holding dialogue.
He added that the mission has scaled down its presence in certain areas like Aleppo due to the developments there, indicating that it will redeploy its monitors temporarily in Damascus.
Answering a question on abducting and killing journalists, Gaye said that the UN is committed to protecting the freedom of press, adding that media in Syria is playing a pivotal role.
He condemned the violence targeting media by either side.
Terrorist Gharibo: I Issued Several Fatwas Upon which the Terrorists Perpetrated Crimes Against Civilians
Aug 13, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)-Terrorist Ahmad Ali Gharibo, one of the armed terrorist groups’ Muftis in al-Maliha, Damascus countryside, admitted that he has issued several fatwas to the armed groups that permit killing upon which terrorists have depended to perpetrate a number of crimes against civilians.
“I was born in Aleppo countryside in 1964 and live in al-Maliha, East Ghouta.. I work as the Imam and preacher of Khadija mosque,” Terrorist Gharibo said in confessions to the Syrian TV broadcast Monday.
“One day, a car came to my house at 12 midnight.. four armed men came down and asked me to go with them for one hour.. they threatened me of my son if I rejected to go with them.. they took me to Dir al-Asafeer town.. when we arrived in there, we entered a tent where a group of people were inside with drugs in front of them,” the terrorist added.
He said “After interrogating me by the armed group, I pleaded to them to inform me about the person which threatened me.. they answered that his name was Mazen Zamzamm, a leader of an armed terrorist group in al-Maliha.”
Terrorist Gharib added that those evil persons were drug addicts, and one of them has raped a married woman.
“Later, they introduced me to a man called Abu Adi from Homs who has escaped from the army in Saqba.. they told me that they will give him the leadership of the group and they will name themselves as the free army, I told them you are free, it is up to you,” terrorist Gharibo said.
He added that a fatwa has been issued on a website, known as the fatwa No. 107, because it was issued by 107 Sheikhs inside and outside Syria.. it permits to kill anyone who deals with the State if he was proven a killer, they asked me about my opinion, I answered yes, it is true.
“It was my first fault to give a fatwa to kill.. they were killing in a unnatural way.. they were mutilating the bodies.. I remember that they have killed five persons and threw their bodies in the sewage and rubbish containers,” he said.
Terrorist Gharibo went on to say that al-Qaeda and Jabhat al-Nasra in Syria are takfiris, they believe in sectarianism, they regard bloodshed as lawful and they have no problem to kill civilians during their evil acts.
People’s Assembly General Freedoms and Human Rights Committee Discusses Draft Charter
Aug 13, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The People’s Assembly General Freedoms and Human Rights Committee on Monday discussed its draft charter in preparation for approving it so that the Committee may play its intended role of tackling issues related to protecting freedoms and human rights.
The General Freedoms and Human Rights Committee is one of four new permanent committees at the People’s Assembly which joins the 12 existing committees. It is charged with looking into everything pertaining to protecting citizens’ freedoms and human rights based on article 33 of the constitution.
Chairman of the Committee, Bade’a Saqer, reviewed the draft work guide of the Committee, affirming that it is an independent entity that is subject only to the supervision of the People’s Assembly via reports.
Saqer said that human rights are inherent, not earned, and human cannot live without them as all people are born free, explaining that the Committee aims to fulfill a number of goals listed in the constitution, particularly ensuring that all executive authorities in the state establishments conform to the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in addition to formulating legislations to improve the state of freedoms.
He went on to add that other goals include preparing an annual report to the Assembly on the state of freedoms in Syria, studying the conditions of people detained for criminal and political reasons, monitoring illegal detainment, and working to spread the culture of freedoms and human rights.
Saqer said that the Committee members will establish direct and indirect contact with people to receive complaints, and that they will also work to protect cultural rights and intellectual, cultural and religious pluralism, adding that several ministries will be work to include the issue of constitutional freedoms in their work programs and translate them in practice, while relevant ministries will be asked to present the necessary data on the implementation of human rights according to the constitution.
He also said that the Committee will coordinate with the Syrian Human Rights Network, along with relevant organizations and parliaments around the world.
On this note, the Committee addressed the world’s parliaments, saying that citizens’ rights and freedoms are being violated due to unjust sanctions imposed on Syria and the escalation of the aggressive acts carried out by armed terrorist group which reject dialogue and reconciliation and are supported by the US, some EU countries and Arab countries.
The Committee called upon these parliaments to pressure their governments into adopting the six-point program to resolve the situation in Syria and prevent it from escalation.
The Committee members stressed the need for it to begin work as soon as possible, given the exceptional situation in Syria.
They said that the Committee is a necessity, voicing hope that it will be effective and carry out its work properly through fieldwork and keeping in touch with citizens.
The members affirmed that this Committee is one of the most important of the new committees and is the first such committee in an Arab parliament, adding that there’s a distorted image of Syria being spread abroad regarding freedoms and human rights violations, and that the Committee should relay the truth about what is happening in Syria in this field.
Stand in Honor of Martyr Journalist Ali Abbas Tomorrow
Aug 13, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Syrian Journalists’ Union organizes a stand in honor of the martyr journalist Ali Abbas and the kidnapped Syrian journalists outside the building of the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m.
Martyr Abbas, who was the head of the Internal News Department at SANA, was assassinated by an armed terrorist group in his home in Jdeidet Artouz in Damascus Countryside.
Kidnapped al-Ikhbariya TV Cameraman Hatem Abu Yehya Martyred
Aug 13, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Syrian al-Ikhbariya TV channel announced that the cameraman Hatem Abu Yehya, who was kidnapped along with a press team in Tal Mnin area, was martyred.
The TV channel added that the other press team members are in good health after two days of being kidnapped while covering the events in Tal Mnin area in Damascus Countryside.
Decree on Establishing two New Faculties in Aleppo University
Aug 13, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – President Bashar al-Assad on Monday issued a legislative decree No. 301 for 2012 on establishing the Third Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the Third Faculty of Education in Aleppo University.
The decree provides for that the two new faculties to be based in Manbij city, Aleppo.
Minister Haidar: Ministry’s Doors Open to Every Possible Help that Might Contribute to Solving Problems
Aug 13, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Minister of State for National Reconciliation Affairs Ali Haidar said that the Ministry’s door are open to every possible help that might contribute to making its tasks a success and solving issues under discussion through objective viewpoints on what is taking place in Syria and embracing honesty in conveying the reality.
Following his meeting with Hungarian ambassador in Damascus Janos Budai, Haidar told reporters that he briefed the ambassador on the Ministry’s tasks and work mechanisms as well as means of potential cooperation between the two sides.
The minister stressed the importance that the Syrians be united in the current stage, indicating that any stance to support the Syrian people should fit their national interests.
Regarding the Ministry’s role in tackling the issue of the kidnapped, Haidar said that this issue is a priority for the Ministry, stressing that all kidnapping operations are condemned whatever their motives or purposes, particularly if they aimed at silencing the voice of the right just like what happened with the Syrian al-Ikhbariya TV channel.