Armed Terrorist Group Attacks al-Ikhbariya TV Channel, Three Journalists Martyred
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi on Wednesday said the armed terrorist groups perpetrated the worst massacre against journalism and the freedom of media when they executed the Syria media figures in cold blood.
The Minister held those who instigate against Syria and escalate terrorism against its people fully responsible for this massacre.
Minister al-Zoubi said “This massacre won’t go unpunished and the broadcast of the Syrian al-Ikhbariya Satellite Channel will not stop and we hold the EU, Arab and International organizations responsible for this massacre.”
Al-Zoubi added: “Those who committed this crime had carried out the decision of the Arab League Council to silence the voice of Syria.”
Minister al-Zoubi asserted that the armed terrorist groups who broke into the headquarters of al-Ikhbariya perpetrated a heinous crime executing the journalists, employees and civil guards, telephone operators, exploding the studios, looting some of the Channel technical sets.
Minister al-Zoubi added that the EU decision in Luxembourg to impose sanctions on Syrian TV and Radio in addition to the continued campaigns of provocations against Syria have been crowned today with this terrorist attack against al-Ikhbariya Satellite Channel.
Minister al-Zoubi referred this heinous crime against the Syrian Media to the EU with all of its institutions, to all ministers of information worldwide, Arab and foreign press, UN, UN Security Council, UN Human Rights Council, Arab League, as well as to Arab league Secretary General.
Syria’s voice with all of its media outlets would ever remain as to encounter the hatched conspiracies, blasting the Arab League recent decision to prohibit Syrian media transmission via Arabsat and Nilesat, holding the League Secretary-General accountable for this legal and political liability.
Three journalists and workers in the Syrian al-Ikhbaryia Satellite Channel were martyred Wednesday morning in a brutal terrorist attack by an armed terrorist group targeting the headquarters of al-Ikhbaryia.
The martyrs who were killed in the terrorist attack against al-Ikhbariya Channel are: Sami Abu Amin, Zaid Kahl and Mohammad Shamma.
The terrorists planted explosive devices in the headquarters of al-Ikhbaryia following their ransacking and destroying of the Satellite Channel studios, including the newsroom studio which was entirely destroyed.
al-Ikhbaryia Satellite Channel, an active Syrian media means in confronting misleading and misinformation campaigns, continued, however, its transmission regardless of the brutal terrorist attack.
Syria has been facing a sinister campaign launched by some Arab media means, especially the Qatari and Saudi, and western media means fabricating and disseminating false, virtual and biased news.
Information Ministry: Terrorist Attack against al-Ikhbariya Channel is an attack against Freedom of Information
The Ministry of Information stressed that on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 an armed terrorist group perpetrated an attack against al-Ikhbariya TV channel headquarters in Damascus Countryside.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry said ”At Wednesday dawn, June 27th, an armed terrorist group attacked the headquarter and buildings of the Syria News Satellite Channel in the Damascus countryside, adding that ”The terrorists assassinated a number of journalists, media men and technicians of the channel and its security guards.”
”They also planted many explosive charges in the news studio, the administration offices and the technical equipments rooms which completely destroyed them, then set fire to the remaining offices and tied a number of the workers and shot them dead, and abducted others,” the statement added.
The statement went on to say ”As announcing what happened and the martyrs of free word and nationalist honest media, the Ministry of Information places this horrible crime where it must be, as a crime against human norms, media conventions, and journalism.”
”This evil aggression on the freedom of media, its cadre and foundations comes in concurrence and as completion to the attempts to prevent the Syrian national media from satellite broadcasting, and carrying them out directly via the sanctions adopted against this media, the latest of which is what was issued yesterday evening by the EU Council against the General Organization of Radio &Television in Syria, and Addounia private TV channel before,” added the statement.
The statement said that ”The repeated attempts to silence and prevent the Syrian media from delivering the full truth honestly and directly to the Syrian, Arab and world public opinion will end in failure based on the creativity of this free media supported by the decent Syrian people.”
The statement added ”The Syrian Ministry of Information calls on the Council of Arab Ministers of Information to hold responsibility and become aware of the full truth of the aggression against the media men who were martyred, abducted or injured in the incident, and exercise its role to guarantee freedom of media, satellite broadcasting, life and safety of journalists everywhere.”
”The Syrian News Channel and the Syrian media, along with the souls of the martyrs, will always remain nationalist and human minarets despite hatred and terrorism,’ the stamen concluded.
People’s Assembly Denounces Attack against al-Ikhbariya TV as Attempt to Silence the Voice of Right
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Members of the Peoples’ Assembly condemned the barbarian massacre against the Syria media and journalists which aim at silencing the voice of Syria.
In a People’s Assembly session on Wednesday, the Assembly members asserted that terrorism against the Syrian journalists will not dissuade them from continuing their media message to convey the truth. The MPs stressed that the U.S. and Isreali agents in the region and the oil monarchies are behind this terrorist act which targeted the Syrian media because of its role in exposing terrorists who are destroying Syria and those who back them up with funds and arms.
Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Mohammad Jihad al-Laham stressed that the massacre aimed at replacing the stability and security in Syria with terrorism to silence the free voice of the right.
In turn, MP Fayez al-Sayeigh said that targeting journalists leave no room for doubt that what is taking place in Syria has nothing to do with freedom or the ‘Other Opinion’, calling upon Arab and international humanitarian and media organizations to shoulder their responsibilities towards this crime.
For his part, MP Faisal Azzouz stressed that the attack against the Syrian al-Ikhbariya TV is an attack against every Syrian and every journalist in the world, adding that they want Syria to bow down not to change the regime.
MP Omar Ossi stressed that the crime came in line with their theory of ‘creative chaos’ to implement a geopolitical scheme in the region with Israel as its center.
MP Sharif Shhadeh said that the conspirers are angry with Syria because of their failure in misleading others and the success of Syrian media in exposing their crimes.
MP Adnan Suleiman said that the attack against the Syrian al-Ikhbariya TV is a violation of the principles of human rights and part of the conspiracy to prevent conveying the reality and mislead the international public opinion.
In turn, MP Mohammad Ali al-Khabi stressed that Syria will come out stronger thanks to its army, people and leadership and the criminals will be punished for their crimes.
MP Khalil Mashhadiyeh said that those who committed the crime and those who support them do not believe in the freedom of expression, stressing that the Syrian blood is sacrosanct just as the Syrian territories.
The MPs concluded that this terrorist act is rejected and condemned as it aims at concealing the voice of right and truth.
The People’s Assembly approved reports submitted by the permanent committees on electing its offices’ staffs.
The Assembly referred draft laws forwarded by the President on combating terrorism and amending Article 556 of Penalties Law to the constitutional and legislative committee for studying.
The session also tackled establishing new faculties in the Syrian universities and opening a branch for Agriculture Bank in Deir Ezzor in addition to establishing al-Dmeir National Hospital.
The comments dealt with investing transfer plants in Banias and means of distributing essential food materials to villages and towns.
Jamil: Establishing a Ministry concerned in Consumer Protection a message that the State will play a basic role in Economy
DAMASCUS, (SANA)-Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Qadri Jamil said that establishing a new ministry concerned in the affairs of consumer and the control of markets has a big meaning and a message that the State wants to play a pioneering and basic role in the economic process.
“There is no alternative to the role of the State which particularly occurs during the crises.. concentration will be on promoting the private productive sector,” Jamil said during a meeting with directors of institutions affiliated to the Ministry Wednesday.
He added “we will work to achieve an important step in the social policy within the modernization and development policy and make use of all previous experiments as well as formulating an economic pattern for Syria.”
Jamil referred to some issues and negative indicators which need reconsideration through communicating with citizens, like issues of trouble between wages and profits and the economic loss because of corruption.
Russian Foreign Ministry: UN Report on al-Houla Massacre doesn’t Reflect Violence Carried out by Terrorists in Syria
MOSCOW, (SANA)- The Russian Foreign Ministry underlined that the report of the UN Human Rights’ investigation Committee into al-Houla massacre, issued today, doesn’t reflect the volume of the acts of violence carried out by the armed terrorist groups in Syria.
“The report on al-Houla massacre indicates to the tension of situation where this massacre benefited powers which have interest in destabilizing the situation before debating the Syrian file at the UN Security Council,” Vasily Nebenya, Director of the Human Rrights Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
Russia Today quoted Nebenya as saying that the meeting which will be convened on June 30th in Geneva aims at supporting the plan of the UN Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan, adding that Moscow calls on all sides not to take steps that foil these constructive efforts.
The Russian official warned that the situation in Syria is escalating, calling for backing Annan’s plan to stop bloodshed in Syria.
Syrian Journalists Stage Sit-in in Condemnation of Terrorist Attack against al-Ikhbariya TV
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Syrian journalists staged a sit-in in front of the General Organization of Radio & Television building, with the participation of Minister of Information Omran al-Zoubi in condemnation of the terrorist attack against al-Ikhbariya TV Channel.
Minister of Information Omran al-Zoubi, in a statement to the journalists, said that the massacre committed against the journalists and a free Syrian TV channel is a literal implementation of the Arab League Council’s decision on stopping the broadcast of Syrian TV channels by force.
He added that the package of sanctions issued by the European Union on Tuesday has been implemented today at the expense of civilians and journalists.
He added that the EU, the UN Security Council, the UN observer team in Syria, the UN Secretary General, the President of the Human Rights Council, the AL Secretary General, Council and foreign ministers are partners in this crime and they should shoulder their responsibilities.
The Minister said that the Ministry of Information and the Syrian state and journalists will not keep silent about what happened, expressing hope that the site of the crime would be available for all those who want to go there and met the locals to closely inspect the reality of what happened and who committed the massacre.
Minister Omran offered condolences to all journalists, adding that the incident requires calmness and review and there is team for this purpose.
Director of al-Ikhbariya TV Channel, Imad Sarah, said that targeting al-Ikhbariya means targeting the national media, the word of right and the other opinion.
A number of journalists, cultural and political figures who participated in the sit-in condemned this terrorist act, expressing confidence that the national media will continue to shoulder its responsibilities now and in the future.
Chairman of Journalist Union Elias Murad said that the AL decisions and the EU sanctions could not silence the Syrian voice.
Director of the Syrian TV , Ma’an Saleh said that targeting media aimed at targeting Syria in all its capabilities, adding that this terrorist act is a message of their failure in political violence so that they turned to terrorism and destruction.
Political analyst Afif Della said that his participation in the sit-in came to express rejection of all attempts to silence the voice of truth.
The participants prayed for the souls of the martyrs of the terrorist attack to rest in peace.
They stressed that terrorism will make them more determined in the face of terrorist acts and the media campaign launched against Syria.
Al- Ikhbariya Journalists: We’ll Continue Conveying Reality of Events
Number of al- Ikhbariya channel journalists stressed that the massacre committed against the channel will not dissuade them from conveying the reality of the events, adding that they are more resolved to defend Syria’s dignity.
Editor-in-Chief of the channel, Abdo al-Assadi, said that this massacre targeted not only al- Ikhbaryia channel, but also all the Syrian media.
Al-Assadi added that the workers who were martyred in the attack were armed only with their words and views.
For his part, Chief Editor Adham al-Taweel, said that this terrorist attack targeted the Syrian media as it managed to confront the misleading and provocative media campaign against the country.
Yara Saleh, al-Ikhbariya correspondent, said that this terrorist attack will motivate all journalists and workers at the channel to unmask these terrorists and their actions.
Sit-in in Tartous to Denounce Massacre Committed against al-Ikhbariya Journalists and Workers
Journalists in Tartous also gathered in front of the headquarters of al-Thawra Newspaper to denounce the massacre committed against al-Ikhbariya TV Channel and all other terrorist acts targeting the Syrian people.
The participants stressed that this criminal acts will push journalists to exert more efforts to expose facts and divulge the lies of the misleading channels.
The participants raised national flags and banners that stress national unity in the face of all instigative campaigns which aimed at spreading chaos.
Journalists in Lattakia pointed out that the attack against al-Ikhbariya TV proved the success of national media in confronting the lies and fabrications of instigative media.
Wide Condemnations of Attack against al-Ikhbariya TV
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Syrian Journalists Union and National Media Council mourned the martyrdom of three journalists.
They condemned the heinous terrorist attack targeted the Syrian al-Ikhbariya Satellite channel causing the martyrdom of three of its staff.
Chairman of Journalist Union Elias Murad said “We pray for the mercy for the souls of the martyrs of the terrorist attack against al-Ikhbariya Channel and those who failed in facing all kinds of aggression against Syria,” expressing the ability and determination of the Syrian journalists to foil the schemes targeting the Syrian media.
Murad added that the attack against al-Ikhabariya Channel comes in the framework of the continued aggression against the Syrian media and journalists.
In a statement, the National Media council offered sincere condolences for the families of the martyrs, expressing condemnation of all forms of terrorism which targets Syria’s security and stability.
The statement stressed that the Syrian national media will remain one of the most important basis of Syria’s resistance to protect its role and position in the region and the world.
Chairman of the National Media Council, Taleb Qadi Amin, stressed that the terrorist attack against the Syrian al-Ikhbariya channel is a “coward Terrorist act” which aims at silencing the voice of the truth of the Syrian media.
Amin condemned this coward act expressing support of all Syrian media figures to their mates in al-Ikhbariya channel.
He denounced the European Countries’ sanctions on the Syrian TV and the General Board of the Radio and TV, asserting that they completed this issue through this coward act against a Syrian national media institution which represents the voice of truth.
Former Information Minister Adnan Mahmoud stressed that the brutal terrorist crime against the Syrian al-Ikhbariya Channel is a part of the scheme which targets the Syrian media as it conveys the reality of the terrorist acts perpetrated against the Syrian people.
In a phone call with the Syrian TV, Mahmoud called on all the journalists to shoulder their ethical and legal responsibilities towards this crime.
Several Ambassadors accredited in Damascus expressed complete solidarity with the Syrian media and offered, on behalf of their countries, condolences for the families of the martyrs.
Arab Journalists Condemn Massacre against al-Ikhbariya TV as Criminal Act
Chairman of Iraqi Media Council, Hassan Selman, described the attack as a criminal act, adding that the Syrian people is facing a foreign-backed attack carried out by takfiri and terrorist tools.
Tunisian journalist Kawthar al-Beshrawi expressed shock over the silence of the Arab media towards the death of Syrian journalists, holding the instigators accountable for this crime.
“Today we are not taking about media, rather we are talking about camps in which journalists became reserve soldiers despite the fact that these journalists are not convinced with what they are doing,” she added.
Inspecting the site of the terrorist attack, Head of Iranian Radio & TV office in Damascus, Hassan Shemashdi, said that targeting al-Ikhbariya TV Channel aimed at taking revenge on its role in conveying the reality and revealing the conspiracy that Syria have been facing for 15 months.
Shemshadi said that some satellite channels did not broadcast the news on attacking al-Ikhbariya TV Channel which indicate the work mechanism of these channels in ignoring the massacres committed by the armed terrorist groups since these groups receive regional and Arab support.
Amnesty International condemns the attack
Amnesty International condemned the attack which targeted the Syrian al-Ikhbariya TV that claimed the lives of several press martyrs.
“Al-Ikhbariya TV is an independent entity.. its staff is civilian who should be protected against any aggression,” UPI quoted the International organization as saying in a statement today.
For her part, Ann Harrison, Deputy Director of the Organization’s Middle East and North Africa Program, said that all sides should condemn this attack.
Lebanese Amal Movement Condemns Terrorist Attack Against Syrian al-Ikhbariya TV
For its part, Lebanese Amal Movement condemned the terrorist attack against the Syrian al-Ikhbariya Channel and the massacre perpetrated by the armed terrorist group against its staff.
In a statement issued by the Movement’s Central Information Bureau, it said that the attack constitutes an aggression against journalism, media and the freedom of press by the armed terrorist groups.
The Movement expressed solidarity with the Syrian Channel and all free mass media which defend the Arab nation’s legitimate issues , offering sincere condolences for the families of the martyrs.
Golan People Condemn Terrorist Attack against al-Ikhbariya Channel
Citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan condemned the terrorist attack which targeted al-Ikhbariya channel that comes in the framework of the EU sanctions and other Arab-League sanctions against the national media as it conveys the reality of events on the ground and uncovers the western and Arab media fabrications aimed at destabilizing Syria.
In a statement, the Golan people stressed that terrorism will never silence the free Syrian voice from conveying the reality of events to the whole world.
United States Denounce Attack on al-Ikhbariya Channel
The United States denounced the attack which targeted al-Ikhbariya Channel, with White House Press Secretary Jay Carney reiterating his country’s condemnation of the violence in Syria.
Authorities Clash with Terrorists in Douma, Ariha and Deir Ezzor, Kill Many, Arrest Several Others
PROVINCES, (SANA) – Authorities in Damascus Countryside on Wednesday confronted an armed terrorist group who set up barriers at Khorsheed Street in Douma.
A source in the province told SANA reporter the clash resulted in killing 13 terrorists, including Mohammad Walid al-Idrees and Omar Darwish, and seizing their weapons.
In Idelb, the authorities clashed with an armed terrorist group who tried to block Ariha – Jisr al-Shughour highway in Ein al-Hamra village.
A source in Idleb province told SANA reporter that the clash resulted in killing 4 terrorists, among them Sattam Younes who was wanted for several crimes, injuring others and seizing their weapons.
The authorities in Deir Ezzor continued pursuing armed terrorist groups in al-Mwazafeen neighborhood in the city and arrested large number of terrorists who were wanted for charges of committing crimes against citizens and law-enforcement forces and sabotage acts.
Prime Minister Issues Decisions Granting State Ministers Ministerial Powers
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Prime Minister Riyad Hijab on Wednesday issued a number of decisions granting ministerial powers to the state ministers.
Hijab empowered the State Minister Abdullah Hussein Khalil to exercise the ministerial powers related to administrative development and other tasks assigned to him by the Prime Minister.
Minister of State Najm Eddin Khreit was tasked with following up on development projects in the eastern northern region while minister of State Joseph Sweid was tasked with issues related to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent organization.
Premier Hijab empowered Minister of State Mohammad Turki to exercise the ministerial powers related to the People’s Assembly while Minister of State Jamal Shaaban Shahin was tasked with following up investment and development projects in the southern area.
The Prime Minister also issued a decision on delegating Minister of State Hussein Mahmoud Farzat to carry out the tasks assigned to the Minister who is responsible for following up vital projects in the Syrian provinces in coordination with Deputy Prime Minister for Services.
Al-Hamwi: Politicized Work of the UNHRC Might Cause Syria to Consider Halting Cooperation With It
GENEVA, (SANA) – Syria’s Representative to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Faisal al-Hamwi on Wednesday said that the global conspiracy against Syria aims at achieving Israel’s desire to instigate edition and fighting among the Syrian people.
The remarks came during his speech before the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva to discuss a report on al- Houla massacre.
He added that the continued shameful situation in the work of the Human Rights Council, its politicized sessions, sterile resolutions and the biased and non-objective statements by the Office of the Higher Commissioner, may push Syria to seriously consider halting all forms of cooperation with these bodies as they remain unable to offer constructive and objective solutions for the problems.
“How could some sides pretend to be worried about the Syrian people and at the same time arming the terrorists and conspiring against the Syrians,” al-Hamwi said.
He added that “Had these sides been honest, they would have supported Annan’s plan and urged all sides to hold a constructive national dialogue.”
He concluded that Syria’s delegation will not take part in this session in condemnation of its bias which aims at undermining Syria and offend its people.
China: International Community Should Work for Launching Early Political Dialogue in Syria
BEIJING, (SANA) – Spokesman at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Hong Lei, on Wednesday said that “the international community should work on launching a timely political dialogue in Syria.”
He added that the international community should focus on carrying out the proposals of the UN Special Envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, urge all Syrian sides to implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, halt the violence and launch a political dialogue without preconditions or pre-set results.
The spokesman said that China believes “it is imperative to adhere to the right direction” in regard to finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria.
He reiterated his country’s readiness to work with the international community to push for a peaceful, fair and proper solution to the crisis in Syria as soon as possible.
People of Occupied Golan Express Appreciation for Russia’s Stances towards Syria
QUNEITRA, (SANA) – People of the occupied Syrian Golan expressed appreciation for Russia’s stances in support of Syria against the conspiracy hatched by western and some regional countries.
In a statement to the Russian Embassy, the people of Golan said that they want to convey a letter of thanks to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, after the Palestinian authorities prevented a popular delegation from the occupied Golan from entering Bethlehem city to greet its honorable guest Putin despite earlier coordination.
In a statement to SANA reporter in Quneitra, the delegation members expressed dissatisfaction with the humiliating behavior of the Palestinian authorities, stressing their firm stance in support of their homeland, Syria.
In a statement to SANA reporter in Quneitra, the delegation members expressed dissatisfaction with the humiliating behavior of the Palestinian authorities, stressing their firm stance in support of their homeland, Syria.