DAMASCUS, (SANA)- President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday issued Decree No. 169 for 2012 which includes the names of the elected members of the People’s Assembly for the first legislative term for 2012. |
The Higher Committee for Elections on Tuesday announced in a press conference the final results of the parliamentary elections for the first legislative term for 2012.
Head of the Committee, judge Khalaf al-Azzawi, said that the results reflected broad representation of the Syrian people with its different parties and sectors and highlighted the special position and presence of women in the Syrian community as the number of elected women members in the People’s Assembly reached 30.
Eleven Army, Law-Enforcement and Civilian Martyrs Laid to Rest
PROVINCES, (SANA)- The bodies of 11 army, law-enforcement and civilian martyrs were escorted on Wednesday from Tishreen Military Hospital in Damascus, Aleppo Military Hospital, Deir Ezzor Military Hospital, Homs Military Hospital and Police Hospital in Harasta to their final resting place. |
Solemn processions were held for the martyrs who were killed in the line of duty in Damascus Countryside, Aleppo, Deir Ezzor and Daraa.
The martyrs are:
Brigadier General Nizar Abdo al-Hussein, from Homs.
Captain Hussein Ali Dawood, from Damascus Countryside.
Sergeant Major Walid Ahmad al-Abdullah, from Deir Ezzor.
Sergeant Ali Ibrahim al-Zeer, from Homs.
Conscript Mahmoud Saleh al-Khudr al-Mohammad, from Aleppo.
Conscript Shafe’ al-Sayyad, from Homs.
Conscript Ahmad Alaa Eddin Dukmak, from Aleppo.
Conscript Rami Ahmad Nashawi, from Aleppo.
Policeman Issa Suleiman Balloul, from Homs.
Civilian Issa Attiya al-Jassim, from al-Quneitera.
Civilian Raed Munir Suleiman, from Homs.
The martyrs’ families expressed pride in the martyrdom of their sons who sacrificed their souls for the sake of defending Syria’s stability and pride.
They expressed confidence in Syria’s ability to overcome the crisis thanks to the sacrifices of the Syrian army. They called for dealing firmly with the armed terrorist groups and confront all those who try to tamper with the homeland’s security and stability.
Terrorist Groups kill and Injure Law-enforcement Members in Homs, Daraa
GOVERNORATES, (SANA)_Armed terrorist groups continued perpetrating massacres and targeting law-enforcement members and citizens, and vandalizing public and private properties. |
A sniper shot dead Hussein Ibrahim Sharbo, a law-enforcement member, near the Old Clock in Homs city.
A source in the governorate told SANA correspondent that Ma’an Abboud, 39 years old, and his son Yaarub, 9 years old, and Muntajab Abdul-Latif, 35 years old, from al-Zahraa neighborhood were injured by shrapnel from two mortar shells shot by armed groups from al-Khalidiieh neighborhood, also causing material damage to house and shops.
In Daraa, an armed terrorist group attacked with RPG al-Nazihin neighborhood in the city, killing a child, Hala Muhammad Rashid, 3 years old, and injuring 16 citizens, some seriously.
An armed terrorist group also broke into the house of Sheikh Moussa Ahmad al-Awda in Zayzoun town and shot him dead.
An armed terrorist group assassinated on Wednesday Engineer Hassan al-Ali and injured his colleague Subhi Jweid while they were heading to their workplace in the Operating and Maintenance Directorate, affiliated to the General Establishment for Land Reclamation in Deir Hafer in Aleppo.
SANA correspondent quoted a source in the governorate as saying that 4 terrorists in a car targeted the two engineers’ car in Aleppo. Engineer al-Ali was martyred and his colleague Jweid injured.
The source indicated that the engineering units dismantled an explosive device that an armed terrorist group glued to the bottom of a car in front of the house of a law-enforcement member in al-Fardous neighborhood in Aleppo.
In Idleb, an armed terrorist group detonated an explosive device in a petrol station near Salqin city in Idleb countryside, causing great damage to the station.
SANA correspondent quoted a source in the governorate as saying that the station is owned by Mustafa Jalkhi from Salqin city. No human injuries were reported.
72 persons, from Aleppo, Idleb and Damascus give themselves up to the authorities
72persons, from Aleppo, Idleb and Damascus who were involved in the latest events but didn’t commit crimes, gave themselves up with their weapons to the authorities Wednesday.
The authorities settled their cases and released them after they pledged not to bear any weapon or participate in acts of chaos.
Italy Sends 5 Observers to Syria, Observers Continue Tours in Homs and Deir Ezzor
ROME/SYRIAN PROVINCES, (SANA) – Italian military sources announced on Wednesday that five Italian observers arrived last night in Damascus including a woman to join the UN Observer Mission in Syria. |
The Italian news agency, AKI, reported the source as saying that the Italian Cabinet had approved sending observers to join the UN Observer Mission in Syria within the framework of the plan of UN envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan.
International Observers Tour Hospitals and Neighborhoods in Different provinces
A team of international observers on Wednesday met the Governor of Homs and toured the hospitals of Charity and Social Services, al-Za’eem and the Red Crescent in the city accompanied by Director of the Health Department.
The team also visited al-Fruqlus town in the countryside of Homs province.
The international observers in Deir Ezzor province visited the Military Hospital and toured some of the city’s neighborhoods.
Another observers’ team visited Tartous where they met its governor and inspected the work in al-Basel Hospital.
In Aleppo, another team inspected the site where Engineer Hassan al-Ali was martyred at the hands of an armed terrorist group.
The tem also visited al-Hamadaniya police station and the Military Hospital.
In Lattakia, the observers met its Governor, Abdelkader Mohammad al-Sheikh.
A member of the delegation said that this visit is mainly about logistics and providing the needs of the office which they will set up in the province. For his part, al-Sheikh briefed the delegation on life in the province which is going on as normal despite some incidents caused by terrorists in some areas.
He pointed out to the weapon smuggling and infiltration of armed groups taking place in Lattakia province through the borders with Turkey or by sea.
Al-Sheikh also called for providing the delegation with everything it needs to carry out its tasks.
Three Terrorists, a Libyan and Two Tunisians, Confess to Infiltrating into Syria to Carry out Terrorist Attacks in Coordination with al-Qaeda
DAMASCUS, (SANA)-Three terrorists, one of them Libyan and the two others are Tunisians confessed that they infiltrated into Syria through the Turkish borders in order to carry out terrorist attacks in coordination with al-Qaeda and militias of so-called the free army. |
Libyan terrorist Fahd Abdul-Kareem Saleh al-Freitis said in confessions broadcast by the Syrian TV Tuesday that he took part in the latest events in Libya, then he went to Istanbul in Turkey where he contacted with a person called Abu Ahmad, from al-Qaeda, who asked him to come to Antakya near the Syrian borders.
Al-Freitis added that he infiltrated into Syria on foot, later a car for Abu Ahmad took him to the Syrian port of Lattakia. “When we arrived in Lattakia, we stayed there for several days. Then we met Abu Ahmad who works with the free army to take us to al-Mujahedin,” the Libyan terrorist said.
Tunisian terrorist Osama Mukhtar Hazli confessed that he also went to Libya to participates in the events there. “When I was staying in Libya, one of my friends called Ridaa told me that he will go to Syria.. I told him that I wish to travel with him.. Later Ridaa came along with Sami and Walid,” Hazli added.
“We all went to Turkey where we phoned Abu Ahmad who pledged to guarantee our entrance to Syria.. He asked us to come to Antakya, he had relation with a person called Abu Talha who possesses a Jihadist group affiliated to al-Qaeda in Syria,” the Tunisian terrorist said.
“After entering Syria, we went to Lattakia and met Abu Ahmad who would take us to Abu Talha or the free army in order to travel to Idleb,” he added.
For his part, terrorist Majdi bin al-Ayashi al-Ayari, from Tunisia, confessed that he also went to Libya to take part in the fighting… later he joined a camp for al-Qaeda where he trained who to use weapons.
“Later, I went to Turkey where I contacted Abu Ahmad who told me to travel to Antalya… After arriving there, one of the persons took me by car and help me infiltrate into Syria… I went to Lattakia where a taxi for Abu Ahmad was awaiting me to get there,” Al-Ayari said.
He added “when we arrived there, they took us to one of the houses where I found several persons, of Arab nationalities… Abu Ahmad welcomed us and told us that one of the smugglers will take us in the next day to join al-Mujahedin.”
Gen. Mood: Those Who Use Violence against the Syrian People and International Observers Should Reconsider Their Acts
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- Head of the international observer mission to Syria, Gen. Robert Mood, on Wednesday said all those who are using violence against the Syrian people or against the international community represented by the observers should reconsider their acts as they will not contribute to realizing the aspirations of the Syrian people. |
In a press statement reported by the United Press International, Gen. Mood praised the cooperation provided by the Syrian government to the international observers in this regard.
He talked about the incident which happened to one of his teams in Khan Sheikhoun town in the province of Idleb, in which two of their vehicles broke down.
“This is definitely not the kind of violence we want,” said Gen. Mood, expressing hope that this kind of violence would not be repeated.
He noted that the observer team have just left Khan Sheikhoun and were on their way back to Damascus.
Head of the international observer mission thanked the Syrian authorities for their cooperation, applauding the Syrian government’s role in facilitating and coordinating the transport of the two hit vehicles and the team’s departure from the town of Khan Sheikhoun.
On Tuesday, a team of the observers were hit in an explosive device blast targeting one of their vehicles in Khan Sheikhoun town in the Idleb, which caused damage to two vehicles, while no one was harmed.
Visiting Russian Delegation to Produce Documentaries about Events in Syria
TARTOUS/LATTAKIA, (SANA) – Members of the Russian delegation visiting Syria underlined on Wednesday that they have shaped a clear image about the situation in the country, examining the fierce campaign targeting the Syrians upon being compared to the reality.
The delegation members, who came to produce documentaries about the events in Syria, pledged to be committed to objectivity and impartiality in documenting the facts related to the crisis.
Head of the delegation, Viktor Barabash, clarified that the Russian people realize the specialty of the Syrians who are an example of amity, expressing hope that the Syrians will remain united in defending their homeland and rejecting the foreign agendas. |
For his part, Tartous Governor, Atef Naddaf, stressed the importance of Russian delegation’s expected project in documenting the situation in Syria away from distortion which has been utterly adopted by anti-Syrian media campaigns seeking to spread hatred among the Syrians and disfigure their image before the Arab and international public opinion.
Naddaf hoped that these documentaries would be soon displayed on Arab and international TV channels to convey the reality to the world.
Russian Media Delegation Visits Lattakia
The Russian media delegation also visited the city of Lattakia, meeting its governor and the head of al-Baath Arab Socialist Party branch in the city.
During this meeting, the delegation members said that what they witnessed firsthand and the testimonies of wounded soldiers, families of martyrs and citizens made them more aware of the conspiracy against Syria, adding that they sensed the Syrians’ determination to supporting reforms and preserving the country.
They voiced commitment to portraying facts as they are and relay reality with transparency, objectivity and credibility.
For their part, Lattakia’s Governor Abdelkader Mohammad al-Sheikh and head of al-Baath Party branch Mohammad Shreiteh voiced the Syrians’ appreciation of Russia’s stances in support of the Syrians’ choices.
The delegation members toured Lattakia and visited families of martyrs, offering them condolences and listening to their testimonies.
The Russian delegation includes thirteen members of different specializations including directors, journalists, professors, photographers, reporters and others.
Iran Stresses Cooperation to Make Success of Annan’s Plan to Avoid Problems in the Region
TEHRAN, (SANA)- Iranian Foreign Minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, on Wednesday stressed the importance of cooperation among the region’s countries to make a success of the plan of the UN envoy to Syria Kofi Annan to avoid more problems in the region.
In a statement to the Iranian students news agency ISNA, Salehi expressed hope in the success of Annan’s plan to resolve the crisis in Syria, calling upon all countries interested in the Syrian issue not to take actions they would later regret.
He warned that the repercussions of not solving the Syrian crisis through dialogue would include the region entirely. |
The Iranian Foreign Minister stressed the importance of giving the Syrian government the chance to implement Annan’s plan, lauding the good reform steps made by the Syrian leadership particularly those of the new constitution and the recently conducted parliamentary elections.
Salehi noted that the Syrian government has expressed complete readiness to conduct dialogue with the opposition, voicing hope that no measures will be taken that would cause problems to the region.
Washington Post: Influx of Arms to Armed Syrian Opposition with Gulf States’ Money and U.S. Coordination
WASHINGTON, (SANA)- The Washington Post newspaper said that the Syrian opposition have begun receiving significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, an effort paid for by Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the United States. |
The newspaper added, according to opposition activists and U.S. and foreign officials, that the flow of weapons, most still bought on the black market in neighboring countries, has significantly increased after a decision by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other gulf states to provide millions of dollars in funding each month, after armed opposition figures warned two months ago that they were running out of ammunition.
The article titled ‘Syrian rebels get influx of arms with gulf neighbors’ money, U.S. coordination’ noted that Obama administration officials emphasized that the United States is neither supplying nor funding the lethal arms, which includes antitank weaponry. Instead, they said, the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.
“We are increasing our nonlethal assistance to the Syrian opposition, and we continue to coordinate our efforts with friends and allies in the region and beyond in order to have the biggest impact on what we are collectively doing,” the Washington Post quoted a senior State Department official as saying.
The newspaper said that “the U.S. contacts with the rebel military and the information-sharing with gulf nations mark a shift in Obama administration policy.”
It cited Mulham al-Drobi, a member of Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood’s executive committee, as saying that the Brotherhood also said it has opened its own supply channel to the rebels, using resources from wealthy private individuals and money from gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The newspaper added, according to another opposition figure that “large shipments have got through,” and that “Some areas are loaded with weapons.”
Other opposition figures were quoted as saying that they have been in direct contact with State Department officials to designate worthy rebel recipients of arms and pinpoint locations for stockpiles.
Mehmanparsat: Two of the Iranian Engineers Abducted by Terrorists in Syria Released
TEHRAN, (SANA) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparsat on Wednesday said that two of the Iranian engineers who were abducted by terrorists in Syria were released and that they will return to Iran soon. |
In a statement, Mehmanparsat said that efforts have resulted in releasing these two engineers who were delivered to the Iranian Embassy in Ankara, voicing satisfaction over this and hoping that the rest of the Iranians abducted by terrorists in Syria will also be released soon, especially the engineers who were in Syria to help the Syrian people.
Israeli Occupation Authorities Violate Intl Pacts by Continuing to Build Settlements in Syrian Golan amidst World Silence
QUNEITRA, (SANA) – The Israeli occupation authorities in the occupied Syrian Golan started constructing the first Zionist settlement five Km to the west of Quneitra city right after a month of the beginning of June aggression of 1967.
Moshe Dayan, the Israeli War Minister in the late 60s of the last century, is the one who came up with the idea of constructing settlements in the occupied Golan, saying ” We are going to consolidate a new settlement reality on Golan territories which cannot be changed in the future.”
Dayan’s remarks came after displacing 153 thousand Golan people in the aggression of 1967, as most of the 37 Israeli settlements are spread in the middle and southern parts of Golan.
Mohammad al-Mahameed, a researcher in the affairs of the occupied Syrian Golan from the occupied al-Bteiha area, said the Israeli authorities concentrate on the middle and southern sectors of Golan for building the settlements since the northern part is a rough and mountainous area and not suitable for agriculture. |
He clarified that the occupation authorities and the Israeli settlers invest 80,000 dunums in agriculture and 450,000 dunums in pastures, which annually need 30 million cubic meters of water supplied from Tabaria Lake in the southern sector of the occupied Golan.
He noted that more than 20, 000 Zionist settlers benefit from these seized areas where they plant different kinds of fruitful trees and build ranches and barns that include 6,000 cows and 20,000 sheep.
The Syrian librated prisoner Atta Farhat from the occupied village of Baqatha pointed out to the Zionist gang’s intentions behind building settlements in Golan in the course of fulfilling the dream of the Torah state and controlling Golan water sources and natural resources after displacing the original inhabitants, particularly after the Knesset’s unjust decision to annex the Golan to the artificial entity.
Hassan Fakher-Eddin from the occupied Majdal Shams village pointed out to the Israeli criminal acts including destroying the occupied Syrian villages and deporting the people by force in an attempt to change the features of the villages and eliminate the trace of the Arabs from them.
Popular Commission for Liberation of Golan: Israeli Decision on Oil Exploration in Golan Violates International Decisions
In another context, the Popular Commission for the Liberation of the Occupied Syrian Golan stressed that the Israeli entity’s decision on exploring oil and gas in the Golan is considered a flagrant violation of the international conventions and human rights in the occupied Arab territories.
The commission said in a statement on Wednesday that this decision comes in the framework of desperate attempts to exploit the current events in the region and the international silence on the Israeli violations that are aimed at changing the demographic situation in the occupied Arab lands, contrary to the international decisions which prevent changing the nature of occupied regions or the use of their natural resources, that are considered the property of the original inhabitants.
It highlighted the Zionist practices and violations in the occupied Syrian Golan, including the burial of nuclear waste, burning cultivated lands, providing farmers with harmful agricultural drugs, seizing vast areas for military purposes, stealing the Golan water and maltreating the Golan prisoners, in addition to the increasing danger of mines which claimed the lives of many and left several others maimed.