Sixteen Army, Law-Enforcement Martyrs Laid to Rest
PROVINCES,(SANA)- Sixteen army and law-enforcement martyrs on Sunday were escorted from Tishreen Military Hospital in Damascus, Zahi Azraq Military Hospital in Lattakia and the National Hospital in Sweida to their final resting place.
The martyrs were targeted by the armed terrorist groups while they were in the line of duty in Quneitra, Idleb, Homs and Daraa.
Solemn funeral ceremony was held for the martyrs as they were covered with flower and laurel wreaths to the Military Band playing the music of the “Martyr” and the “Farewell.”
The martyrs are :
• First Lieutenant, Mukhles Issa Shahla from Lattakia.
• First Lieutenant, Hazem Moneer Salloum from Hama.
• Sergeant Major, Rami Sa’adou al-Halabi from Sweida.
• Sergeant, Mohanad Rashid al-Mala from Deir Ezzour.
• Sergeant, Mohammad Tamer Najla from Homs.
• Corporal, Issa Abdul-Haji from Raqqa.
• Corporal, Mustafa Fayyad Hilal from Aleppo.
• Corporal, Salim Mohammad Khaddour from Hama.
• Corporal, Mohammad Abdul-Ghafour al-Hassan al-Khudeir from Aleppo.
• Conscript, Elias Jres Shamma from Damascus Countryside.
• Conscript, Bilal Fares Da’aboul from Aleppo.
• Conscript, Ali Mohammad Radwan from Raqqa.
• Conscript, Ghassan Matar al-Hassouneh from Hasaka.
• Conscript, Naji Awad al-Mutlak from Sweida.
• Policeman, Naji Hamesheh from Lattakia.
• Policeman, Mohammad Ali Fayyad from Lattakia.
The martyrs’ relatives affirmed that their sons’ blood will make Syria stronger and more capable of facing challenges, and that Syria proved its ability to confront difficult conditions concocted by malicious hands.
They denounced the crimes of the armed terrorist groups, warning people not to believe the lies of the misleading satellite channels which are accomplices in the shedding of Syrian blood.
Authorities Start Removing Debris Left by Terrorists in Homs
HOMS, (SANA) – The authorities on Sunday started removing the destruction and debris left by the armed terrorist groups in al-Insha’at and Baba Amro neighborhoods in Homs city.
The repair and maintenance teams started rehabilitating roads and service institutions and removed the roadblocks set by the terrorists in the area.
In Baba Amro neighborhood, the authorities discovered other caches and dens which the armed terrorist groups resorted to in their operations against the civilian residents.
A field hospital was also discovered in the neighborhood in addition to explosive-manufacturing facility.
For its part, the Syrian Petroleum Company started repairing the petroleum pipeline in al-Sultaniyah area, the pipeline was sabotaged by armed terrorist groups.
Information Minister: Syria Adapted Political Solution and Reforms Since the Beginning of the Crisis
DAMASCUS, (SANA) –Minister of Information Adnan Mahmoud on Sunday stressed that since the beginning of the crisis, Syria has adapted the political solution and started implementing the reform program within a set timetable.
In a meeting with an Ukrainian delegation comprising parliamentary and media figures, Dr. Mahmoud stressed the importance of the visit to inspect the reality of Syria’s events.
The Information Minister pointed out to Syria’s keenness on bolstering cooperation with Ukraine in all domains and expanding media cooperation in order to convey the reality of events.
Dr. Mahmoud underlined that the unjust economic sanctions imposed by the USA and some western countries in addition to some Arab states harmed the interests of the Syrian people.
He lauded the stances of Ukraine regarding its rejection of foreign interference in Syria’s affairs and the crimes committed by armed terrorist groups against its public and private properties.
For her part, Head of the Parliamentary Committee of Friendship Relation with Syria and head of the delegation, MP Alla Aleksandrovska, called for enhancing cooperation with Syria, particularly in the media sector.
“Ukraine stresses its support to Syria and rejection of foreign interference in its affairs. Ukraine also stresses support to dialogue among all the Syrian sides,” she added.
Later, the Ukrainian delegation met Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Ignatius IV Hazim, who affirmed to them that the crisis affected all Syrians yet it failed to undermine their unity, warning against calls for foreign interference in Syria’s affairs.
During the meeting, members of the delegation stressed the strength of the relations between Ukraine and Syria, voicing readiness to relay the reality of the events taking place in Syria.
One of the journalists, Lydia Denisenko, said that she spoke to people in the streets after the meeting with Patriarch Hazim, and that these people were clear in their adherence to the reform program.
She said that as a journalist, she must be objective, affirming that what is being broadcast by some media outlets contradicts reality completely.
Child Martyred, Five Injured in Explosive Device Blast in Aleppo
ALEPPO/IDLEB, (SANA) – A child was martyred and five persons from the same family got injured Sunday in a blast of an explosive device planted by a terrorist group in the northern province of Aleppo.
An official source in the province told SANA correspondent that the explosive device was planted in park in Bustan al-Basha area in Aleppo, martyring an eleven-year-old boy, Mahmoud Batayhi and injuring other four teenagers from the same family, in addition to an elderly man.
The injured are Mustafa Batayhi (11 years old), Hasan Mohammad Batayhi (14 years old), Ahmad Batayhi (9 years old), Hasan Mustafa Batayhi (17 years old) and Khalaf al-Juma’a (55 years old).
A doctor at al-Razi Hospital said that one of the patents sustained a severe injury to the left thigh, shattering the femur, in addition to injuries to the tissue and bones of the left hand which may necessitate amputation at the wrist.
Hasan Mustafa Batayhi said that explosion happened when he went out to call his cousins – who were playing in the park – to come home.
One of the injured children said he saw a man wrapping the bomb – which he believed to be trash – in papers and placing it by the wall. He called the attention of his cousin Hasan to the man, which is when the bomb exploded.
Three Explosive Devices Dismantled in Idleb
Meanwhile in the northern province of Idleb, the military engineering units dismantled three explosive devices planted by an armed terrorist group on Ariha-Saraqeb road at Tarnabeh crossroad.
A source in the province told SANA correspondent that the explosive devices weigh 80 kg each and were ready to explode by remote control to target citizens and law enforcement personnel.
Flat with Various Sorts of Torture Tools Used by Armed Terrorist Groups uncovered in Homs
Competent authorities seized on Sunday a flat with various torture tools inside used by armed terrorist groups to mutilate citizens in Jawbar farms in Homs province.
SANA reporter said that the armed terrorist groups named this flat as “Investigation Division”.
Ammoura: Reform Steps Did Not Please the Countries Calling for Arming the Opposition to Kill the Syrians
DAMASCUS, (SNA)- Assistant Foreign and Expatriates Minister Abdel Fattah Ammoura on Sunday stressed the Arab and regional-backed conspiracy against Syria is aimed at undermining it national stances, stability and geostrategic position in the region.
Meeting a Ukrainian parliamentary and media delegation, Ammoura said that Syria will come out of the crisis stronger thanks to the awareness of it people and the support of the friendly countries.
Ammoura briefed the Ukrainian delegation on the process of comprehensive reforms in Syria and the laws and legislative decrees issued such as the laws of parties, elections, media, local administration and the latest of which is the new constitution.
He indicated that these reform steps did not please the Western and Arab countries which stand behind the conspiracy against Syria, especially Qatar and Saudi Arabia that started to publically call for arming the opposition to kill the Syrian people.
Heading the Ukrainian delegation, MP Alla Aleksandrovska of the Communist Party said that what is taking place in Syria is not a crisis, rather it comes within the framework of the US so-called ‘creative chaos’ policy which might affect the neighboring countries and the whole region including Ukraine.
Aleksandrovska, who is the head of the parliamentary committee of friendship relations with Syria, highlighted the strong human, social and economic relations binding Ukraine and Syria, referring to the thousands of Syrians who have studied in Ukraine.
Patriarch al-Rahi: Syria is Closest to Democracy in Arab World, Needs the Reforms Announced by President al-Assad
BEIRUT, (SANA) – Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi affirmed that Syria is the closest to democracy in the Arab world, and that much like all countries, it needs reforms which President Bashar al-Assad announced since March 2011.
In an interview with Reuters, Patriarch al-Rahi stressed that reforms cannot be achieved through force of arms, noting that the religion of the state in Syria is Islam, but Syria is unique among Arab countries in that it doesn’t proclaim itself to be an Islamic country, rather it simply states that the President’s religion is Islam, therefore it’s the closest country to democracy in the region.
He regretted the violence and destruction taking place in Syria, saying that there are destructive plans in world politics and that the people don’t want the extremists who are receiving financial, military and political support from certain countries.
“How can the Arab Spring be a spring when people are killed every day? They talk about Iraq and democracy while a million Christians out of one and a half million were forced to leave Iraq… where is democracy in Iraq?” he asked, saying that this so-called spring is closer to a winter of war, destruction and killing.
“What good is democracy if it wants to kill people and throw away stability?” Patriarch al-Rahi wondered.
Iranian Media Delegation: Daraa is Normal and Stable despite Terrorists’ Attempts to Stoke Crisis
DARAA, (SANA) – The Iranian media delegation visiting Daraa City condemned the conspiracy against Syria which aims to undermine its role in the region, wondering at the extent of media exaggeration and the instigative campaign launched against the Syrian people by some Arab channels.
Heading the delegation, Director of Foreign Press at the Iranian Information Ministry, Mohsen Emami, said that the enemies of Syria tried to exploit the situation and exaggerate the events, indicating to the atrocity of terrorism and destruction they witnessed in Daraa.
He added that despite the loss of souls, properties and infrastructures, it is an important experience for the Syrian people to be sure that there are hostile parties that exert continuous efforts to fragment their country due to Syria’s resistant role and its support to the Resistance.
Head of the delegation stressed that life in Daraa is normal and the situation is stable in spite of the terrorists’ attempts to stoke the crisis in Syria and give the iamge that there is division between the people and the government, adding that touring Daraa governorate gave an image contradictory to that promoted by some media which is that the government and the people desire to overcome the current situation.
Editor-in-Chief of the semi-official Mehr news agency Hassan Hani Zadeh said that he expected the situation in Daraa to be unstable as the instigative Arab media continued to broadcast false news about terrorism prevailed in this governorate, but the reality was different as he walked down in its streets.
He added that life is normal and people were everywhere at streets and shops, indicating to the government’s serious attempts to rehabilitate the building and institutions damaged by the armed terrorist groups, hailing the popular support to the government to overcome the situation.
The Iranian delegation also met the Governor of Daraa Mohammad Khaled al-Hannous, in addition to touring some of sabotaged and burnt state institutions such as the Justice Palace and the TV and Radio Center in the governorate.
The delegation included a number of correspondents from several Iranian newspapers, websites, TV channels and Mehr News Agency.
Mauritanian Political Parties Announce Establishing Popular Movement to Support Syria, Iran and the Resistance
NAWAKSHOT, (SANA) – A number of Mauritanian political parties have announced the establishment of popular movement to support Syria, Iran and the Resistance in the face of plots which target the Arab and Islamic Resistance.
In its founding statement, the movement stressed determination to organize protests in front of the embassies of countries involved in the conspiracy to convey a message to their people and regimes that the Mauritanian people voice full support to Syria, its resistant leadership and President Bashar al-Assad, in addition to their rejection of all forms of political or economic siege and foreign interference in Iran.
The statement warned that what Syria is facing comes in the framework of the conspiracy targeting the Arab and Islamic nations with the help of reactionary Arab forces which financed the arming of armed groups in the Syrian cities in line with the wide western mobilization to isolate Syria’s leadership and weaken its role as a supporter for the Resistance.
The movement condemned hosting the meeting of those conspiring parties in Tunisia to voice hostility to Syria while at the same time the holy and sacred places in Palestine were being desecrated and copies of Quran were being burnt in Afghanistan.
The statement said that the movement will organize a number of political, cultural and intellectual activities to expose the conspiracy against Syria and the dangers of exploiting the so-called “Arab Spring” to practice systematic killing by Takfiri terrorist groups recruited by the Zionism and some regimes in the Gulf to fragment the Arab nation starting of Somalia, the Sudan, Iraq and then Libya.
The statement mocked at the claims of democracy by some leaders in the Gulf, whereas the Peninsula Shield Force are deployed in Bahrain and the tanks of Al Saud in al-Qatif and al-Awamiyah.
The founding members of the popular movement to support Syria, Iran and the Resistance include the Popular Front, Movement for Direct Democracy, the Welfare Party (Hizb al-Rafah), the Social-Democratic Unionist Party and the Arab-Islamic Gathering to Support the Option of Resistance in Mauritania, the Party for Labor and Equality, the Reform Party, the Gathering of Youth Technocrats, the Sustainable Development Organization and Majd Party.