Four Workers Martyred, Others Injured in Terrorist Attack against a Bus in Homs
Oct 15, 2012
PROVINCES, (SANA) – An armed terrorist group on Sunday targeted a bus carrying workers with an explosive device near al-Aabrini crossroad on Zaydal – al-Jaberiyeh road to the east of Homs city, killing 4 workers and injuring 20 others, a source in the province said.
The source added that the engineering units dismantled 12 explosive devices of various weights planted by terrorists on Zaydal-al-Jaberiyeh road in Homs countryside.
The Armed Forces targeted a terrorists’ gathering in the city of al-Rastan in Homs province, killing and injuring dozens of the terrorists.
SANA reporter was informed by a source in the province that terrorists Mahmoud Obeid, Iyad Idrees, Mahmoud Shahhoud, Samer Rahmoun and a terrorist of Tunisian nationality nicknamed Abu al-Qaqa’a were identified among the dead.
Another army unit clashed with and eliminated an armed terrorist group in al-Dayabyeh town in al-Qseir countryside, among the killed terrorists was the leader of the group, terrorist Abdul-Salam Harba.
Authorities clashed with an armed terrorist group in al-Husn area in Homs countryside, killing scores of terrorists, among them was terrorists Nizar Mirza, the leader of the terrorist group.
Armed Forces Destroy Terrorists’ Hideouts, Anti-aircraft Missiles
A unit of the Armed Forces on Sunday destroyed terrorists’ hideouts and a number of anti-aircraft missiles near al-Zeraa school and al-Inzarat neighborhood in Masaken Hanana in Aleppo City.
The army members also killed scores of terrorists in the area.
Also, amilitary unit destroyed two cars equipped with DShK machineguns, two large trucks supplied with a mortar launcherand eight cars for carrying terrorists, killing dozens of them near Issam al-Ghadiri School in al-Halwaniyeh in Aleppo.
Authorities foil attempt to detonate booby-trapped truck loaded with about 3 tons of explosives near al-Layramoon Roundabout in Aleppo city.
Another military unit targeted terrorists’ gatherings in Bab al-Nairab and near the Park in Aleppo, destroying four mortar launchers and ten vehicles for carrying terrorists and killing tens of them including terrorist groups’ leaders.
The body of terrorist Ahmad Abdul-Rahman nicknamed with Sheikh al-Jabal, of non-Syrian nationality, was identified.
Units of the armed forces destroyed 4 dens for armed terrorists and two cars equipped with DShK machineguns, and several vehicles loaded with weapons and ammunitions in qualitative operations near al-Ajazeh roundabout and the Sports Institute in Bustan al-Basha in Aleppo city, killing and injuring scores of terrorists.
A unit of the armed forces destroyed three cars carrying weapons and ammunition in a qualitative operation that left several terrorists killed near al-Sroubian pool in Bustan al-Basha in Aleppo.
The terrorist Mohammad Mahmoud al-Sukhni, leader of a terrorist group, was killed, along with all his group’s members in a qualitative operation by the armed forces near al-Marjeh roundabout in Aleppo.
In Aleppo countryside, a unit of the Armed Forces attacked a terrorist gathering in Arab Fattoumeh area and destroyed five pick-ups and killed all terrorists in them.
Among the killed terrorists were Riad al-Sarhan, the leader, of Egyptian nationality, Azz Eddin al-Masri, RPG shooter, of Egyptian nationality, and Khalil Abdul-Aziz, sniper, of Saudi nationality.
A number of terrorists were killed in a explosive device explosion in Khan al-Assal area and five cars and a truck loaded with weapons and ammunitions were destroyed.
In Aleppo city, the Armed Forces carried out qualitative operations attacking terrorist gatherings near Antakia Gate in the old City of Aleppo, Kastal Harami, al-Hatab and al-Tananir squares, al-Ahrar square in al-Kallaseh and al-Haj Bridge. Heavy losses were inflicted on the terrorists.
The Armed Forces attacked terrorist gatherings in al-Jandoul, al-Fursan, Deir Hafer, Ein Jara and Kafar Naha areas leading to killing and wounding tens of terrorists and destroying their DShK-equipped vehicles.
A Citizen Injured in Explosive Device Blast in Mazzeh, Damascus
Citizen Ayman Yousef Wannous was injured in a blast of an explosive device planted by an armed terrorist group inside a car near al-Fatah Mosque in al-Mazzeh area in Damascus city.
SANA reporter was informed that Wannous, who works for al-Azmena private magazine, was severely injured.
The reporter added that Wannous was admitted to the hospital to receive treatment.
Army Units Clean Some Towns in Eastern Ghota in Damascus Countryside from Armed Terrorist Groups
Units of the Armed Forces cleared towns of Zbdeen, Deir al-Assafir, Shaba’a, Muhamadiyeh and Jisreen in the Eastern Ghota in Damascus Countryside of armed terrorist groups.
Army Eliminates Scores of Terrorists in Idleb
The Armed Forces eliminated large numbers of terrorists during qualitative operations carried out in several areas in Idleb province.
A source in the province told SANA that the army targeted terrorists’ gatherings in the areas of Saraqib, Jabal al-Zawya, al-Alyah, al-Ghassanyeh and al-Zi’inyeh, eliminating large numbers of the terrorists and destroying a Mortar and DShK-equipped cars.
The source added that the army killed scores of terrorists in Heish town in Idleb countryside, destroying rocket launchers and dozens of DShK-equipped cars.
A unit of the Armed Forces clashed with an armed terrorist group in al-Doweila area in Idleb countryside, eliminating all of the group’s members.
Among the killed terrorists was Salaheddin Ayyoub, leader of the so-called “Mohammad’s Soldiers Battalion”.
A Civilian Martyred, Two Others Injured by Terrorist’s Gunfire in Hama
An armed terrorist group opened fire on civilians in al-Aaydeen Camp in Hama City, Killing a civilian and injuring two others.
An official source told SANA reporter that terrorists were shooting citizens in the Camp from their Taxi car causing the martyrdom of civilian Rashid Saadi and the injury of two others.
Authorities Arrest Terrorists in Hama City
The authorities in Hama city arrested two terrorists, one of them disguised as a woman, who were planting an explosive device in al-Hader area in the city.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that the authorities seized a bag including 15 kilo grams of highly explosive materials attached to batteries and a number of detonators.
The source added that the authorities clashed with a terrorist group which tried to cover the two terrorists while planting the explosive device and eliminated two members.
A Number of Terrorists Eliminated, Weapons Seized in Countryside of Hama
The authorities carried out a qualitative operation against terrorists near Kafr al-Ton crossroad in the countryside of Hama, Killing some of them and seizing their weapons.
Armed Forces Eliminate Terrorists in Deir Ezzor
A unit of the Armed Forces targeted on Sunday a number of terrorists gathering near al-Orfi Mosque in Bor Said street in Deri Ezzor city and killed several of them.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that a unit of the Armed Forces eliminated a gathering of terrorists in al-Takaya Street in al-Jbeilieh area and arrested one of the most wanted terrorists and eliminated an armed terrorist group near al-Rawdah Mosque.
Meanwhile, a terrorist was killed while he was planting an explosive device in Cinema Fouad Street.
Authorities eliminate a number of terrorists in Hama Countryside, Seize Weapons
The authorities in Hama province eliminated several terrorists in a qualitative operation against an armed terrorist group.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that machineguns and ammunitions were seized.
In Idleb province, the Armed Forces eliminated large numbers of terrorists in Hish town and destroyed missile launchers and tens of DShK-equipped vehicles.
Armed Forces Confront Terrorists Trying to Infiltrate into Prophet Younes mountain top
A unit of the Armed Forces confronted an armed terrorist group that tried to infiltrate into Prophet Younes Mountain top in Lattakia countryside and eliminated tens of them and injured others.
SANA reporter quoted a source in the province as saying that large amounts of ammunitions were seized including machinguns, NATO sniper rifles and RPG launchers.
Authorities Inflict Heavy Losses Upon Terrorists in Hasaka
Authorities clashed with an armed terrorist group in al-Kantari area on Hasaka-Raqqa road, inflicting heavy losses upon terrorists.
A source in the province told SANA that scores of terrorists were killed, adding that the authorities confiscated a DShK-equipped pick-up, 2 PKC machineguns and large amounts of munitions.
Salehi and Brahimi Stress Need to End Crisis in Syria Peacefully
Oct 14, 2012
TEHRAN, (SANA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi reiterated his country’s call for resolving the crisis in Syria through peaceful means, hoping that UN Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi will be able to cooperate with regional and other influential countries and carry out his task of finding a peaceful solution and ending the crisis by the Syrians themselves.
In a joint press conference with Brahimi held on Sunday in Tehran, Salehi said that the Syrian government has repeatedly showed willingness to realize the demands of its people and took the necessary steps in this regard, affirming that the Syrian people are free and democratic and have the right to elections and choosing a People’s Assembly, constitution and laws based on their own opinions.
He said that Iran’s viewpoint regarding the crisis in Syria matches Brahimi’s in that violence and killing must stop before any other step, adding “unfortunately, every day passes and a number of innocents are killed in Syria, which isn’t in the interest of Syria nor the region nor the Islamic nation nor the international community.”
Salehi said that the faster the crisis in Syria is resolved, the better, adding that Iran is prepared to cooperate fully with Brahimi to find a suitable solution.
He noted that the UN has specific qualities and ideas, and that the responsibilities shouldered by Brahimi place him in a neutral and non-biased position, stressing that non-bias may be questioned but Brhaimi represents a neutral side and can take effective steps.
Salehi also pointed out to the suggestion Iran presented during the ministerial committee meeting in New York, stressing that any other ideas will be within the agenda of resolving the crisis.
He concluded by saying that Brahimi is working hard to bring differing opinions closer together, hoping that he will be able to present a suggestion that resolves the crisis in Syria in the future.
For his part, Brahimi said that the UN is fully aware of the critical nature of the situation in Syria and the need to resolve it quickly, noting that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon calls for the cessation of violence every day.
He said that Ki-moon calls on daily basis for stopping the flow of weapons to all sides in Syria and pressing all influential countries to call for an end to violence and seeking peaceful solutions to the real issues.
Brahimi stressed the need to resolve these real issues in peaceful ways, affirming that the UN is ready to offer help to bring viewpoints closer and help the Syrians resolve their problems.
He said that he’s looking forward to continuing talks with Iran along with other countries in the region that affect what is happening in Syria and are affected by it, thanking Iran for the document it presented in New York.
Brahimi concluded by hoping that all these ideas would unite in a single project that end the suffering of the Syrian people and resolves the crisis properly in a manner that serves the interests of the Syrians.
People’s Assembly Passes Bill on Law for Biosecurity of Genetically-Modified Life Forms and Products
Oct 14, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – During a session on Sunday chaired by Speaker Mohammad Jihad al-Lahham, the People’s Assembly passed a bill on the law of biosecurity of genetically-modified life forms and their products.
The law aims to guarantee the health of humans, animals, plants and protect the environment by setting guidelines for the import, export, transportation, production, circulation and use of genetically-modified life forms and their products, in addition to setting a framework for research and development in genetic engineering.
The law also seeks to keep up with advances in genetic engineering, particularly in the field of agriculture such as the production of high-yield crops or ones that can survive in soils with high salinity, in addition to monitoring the use of genetic technology according to the standards and regulations of biosecurity.
Agriculture Minister Sobhi al-Abdullah pointed out that the Establishment for the Procurement of Agricultural Production Requirement, an affiliate of the Agricultural Scientific Research Agency, is currently doing work in the field of modern biotechnology to help develop the agricultural sector.
The Assembly referred a number of legislative decrees and bills to the appropriate committees for processing and study, including a bill on ratifying the cooperation agreement signed by Syria and the International Center for Geopolitical Analysis and Commercial Cooperation in Moscow, and a bill on exempting people with overdue electricity bills from interests and fines.
The Assembly also referred members’ written questions to the appropriate authorities, with the questions dealing with various issues including educational hospitals, postponing the debts of what farmers to the Agricultural Banks, reinstating workers who were fired or who quit their jobs and were not convicted of anything, amending the basic workers law.
The session was adjourned until 12 PM on Monday.
SYP 1 Billion Allocated to Compensate Damages to Citizens’ Properties Caused by Terrorism in 2012, SYP 30 Billion More to Be Allocated in 2013
Oct 14, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Deputy Prime Minister for Services Affairs, Minister of Local Administration Omar Ghalawanji said that SYP 1 billion has been allocated to the building committee established in September 23rd to compensate for the damages caused to uninsured private properties affected by terrorism in 2012.
During the first meeting of the committee on Sunday, Ghalawanji, who chaired the committee, said that half of the money will come from the budget of the Local Administration Ministry and the other half from the state general budget, adding that SYP 30 billion has been allocated to the committee and will become available to it by the start of 2013.
Ghalawanji reviewed the committee task which include setting basis and criteria for compensating damages, taking necessary steps for rehabilitating damaged infrastructure and utilities, and providing humanitarian relief to affected citizens.
He pointed out that his Ministry requested sub committees in provinces to finish documenting actual damage to private properties and put the data in charts within a week, adding that the issues of raising the values and the cap of compensations and finding mechanisms for compensating owners of vehicles damaged by terrorism are being discussed.
Ghalawanji called for presenting accurate reports on repairs that have been completed and their costs, noting that no repairs should be made in hotspots or unsafe areas until they are fully cleared of terrorists.
Regarding humanitarian relief, Ghalawanji underlined the efforts made by his Ministry in cooperation with international organizations such as the UNHCR, WFP, UNDP and UNICEF.
During the meeting, it was decided that damages estimated anywhere between SYP 30,000 and 250,000 receive 40% compensation, while damages estimated between 250,000 and 350,000 will be compensated with 100,000, with damages over 300,000 receiving a 30% compensation of no less than 100,000 and no more than 1.5 million.
Damages estimates at over 1.5 million will be presented to the Prime Ministry, and an advance payment of 50% of the estimated damages will be given to affected citizens.
Governors are also authorized to allocate extra funds from the sums other than the funds from the allocated budget of this project when needed, given that the extra funds don’t exceed 20% of the value of the funds allocated to them.
The committee also discussed requests from the ministries of interior, electricity, health, education and national reconciliation on the committee’s work in rehabilitating infrastructure and utilities.
Booby-trapped Car Explodes on al-Mazzeh Highway Causing Material Damage Only
Oct 14, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – A suicide terrorist blew up his booby-trapped car on al-Mazzeh Highway in the early morning on Sunday, resulting in material damage only.
An official source told SANA reporter that the explosion was carried out by a Kia Rio car loaded with large amounts of explosives, causing material damage only and no casualties.
Based on Principle of Reciprocity, Syria Decides to Not Allow Turkish Civilian Planes to Fly Over Syria as of Midnight of October 13
Oct 14, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Foreign and Expatriates Ministry announced that based on the Turkish government’s decision to not allow Syrian civilian planes to fly over Turkey, and based on the principle of reciprocity, the Syrian government decided to not allow Turkish civilian planes to fly over the territories of the Syrian Arab Republic as of midnight of Saturday, 13/10/2012.
In a press statement issued on Saturday evening, the Ministry said that the Syrian government regrets the Turkish government’s escalatory decision which primarily targets the interests of the Syrian people.
Petroleum Minister Discusses Means of Increasing and Maintaining Production
Oct 14, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Saiid Hneidi discussed on Sunday with heads of petroleum workers’ trade unions means for increasing and maintaining production and dealing with difficulties facing workers.
Discussions focused on workers’ demands and the difficulties hindering their work, in addition to issues related to equipment maintenance, increasing workers’ compensation, extending contracts, exchanging technical expertise, and increasing fuel allocations for some provinces.
Minister Hneidi noted that the petroleum sector was targeted heavily by terrorists due to its importance and impact on national economy and citizens’ livelihood, while some countries targeted this sector through sanctions, affirming that his Ministry is exerting huge efforts to circumvent these sanctions.
He lauded the efforts of workers in the petroleum sector who are working around the clock under the difficult circumstances to maintain production and provide citizens’ fuel requirements.
The Minister also affirmed that all the points raised in the meeting will be studied and the applicable suggestions will be implemented, and that other issues such as the difficulty some workers are facing in reaching their workplaces due to terrorism will also be tackled.
Lebanon Keen on Syria’s Security and Stability, Lebanese Foreign Minister Says
Oct 14, 2012
BEIRUT, (SANA)- Lebanese Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Adnan Mansour, stressed Lebanon’s keenness on the security and stability in Syria due to the geographical position and distinguished historical relations between the two countries.
In a statement to the Lebanese An-Nahar newspaper published on Sunday, Mansour said that there are some who want to exploit the events in Syria to undermine the situation in Lebanon and other countries, pointing out to the necessity of that Lebanon has to control its borders with Syria to prevent the infiltration of gunmen into or out of Syria.
He stressed that the Lebanese army is doing its duty in this regard, but it doesn’t prevent the infiltration of the armed members into Syria.
Minister Mansour added that the repercussions of the situation in Syria will influence the whole region, particularly Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan.
He called for fortifying the Lebanese internal front and national awareness to foil any attempt to undermine Lebanon’s security.