This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/may/10/syria-damascus-explosions-live
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Syria: Damascus explosions - live updates | Syria: Damascus explosions - live updates |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 10.18am: Syria: A little known Islamist group, the al-Nusra Front has claimed responsibility for a series of previous explosions in both Damascus and Aleppo. | |
| Reuters said it was impossible to verify a statement from the group claiming responsibility for last month's apparent suicide attack in Damascus which killed at least nine people. | |
| 10.08am: Syria: Lena, a spokeswoman for the Revolution Council of Damascus, speculated the government was to blamed for today's attack. | |
| She claimed an eye witness to the attack was shot by a government sniper. | |
| Speaking via Skype she said: "Some people say the security forces were there in order to stage the whole operation and in order to stop people seeing it and recording whatever might happen." | |
| Lena conceded that there was no evidence for government involvement in the attack, but insisted it was unlikely to be the result of a rebel attack. | |
| We still have no conclusive evidence. Logically speaking the Free Syrian Army has no advantage in targeting civilians, that they took an oath to protect. | |
| However right from the start the regime has targeted cities ... so it is not strange now for it to target people in Damascus. It wants to create instability in the area, it wants to breach [Kofi Annan's] six point plan. | |
| The regime is trying to pull the area into a pool of violence. It doesn't believe in political solutions it only believes in violence. | |
| Lena said the blast was largest she had heard in Damascus. She said: "We woke up to the sound of the blast it was very very huge. It was certainly larger than the former explosions we have had before in Damascus." | |
| She said many parents were concerned about their children in the area because the area hit was near a school. | |
| Civilians were targeted by this explosion, the intelligence building is still in tact it is not destroyed. And the explosion happened in the middle of a road so many civilian cars were damaged and buses, pedestrians, passers by. It was horrible. | |
| 9.57am: Syria: The roadside bomb that exploded yesterday just moments after a UN convoy had passed by did not hit their military escort car but instead a bus carrying accompanying media, an eyewitness has told the activist organisation, Avaaz: | |
| Initial reports said that the bomb wounded six soldiers in a car escorting the UN team on the road between Deraa and the town of Khorbet Ghazala. But eyewitness Abu Abdul-Rahman told Avaaz: "At 11:45am, during the passing of the convoy of UN monitors on the Deraa-Khorbet Ghazala road, a bomb that was planted on the side of the road exploded, but the bomb missed the monitors' vehicle, hitting instead a bus of Addounia TV that was driving behind the monitors. | |
| "There were journalists inside the bus. White smoke was coming from the bus but we do not know yet if there were any injuries. It is not true that the bomb targeted a military vehicle, we were in the area and we did not see any damaged military vehicles." | |
| Abu Abdul-Rahman told Avaaz that the bomb went off only a few dozen meters away from one of the largest military checkpoints in the area. Activists confirmed Abdul-Rahman's account, but told Avaaz that they had no information about who planted the bomb. | |
| 9.47am: The death toll in Damascus has now reached 40, according to a tweet from Jihad Makdissi of the Syrian foreign ministry: | 9.47am: The death toll in Damascus has now reached 40, according to a tweet from Jihad Makdissi of the Syrian foreign ministry: |
| Primary toll of this morning terrorist attack in Damascus : 40 killed and 170 injuredMinistry of Interior will issue a Statement. | Primary toll of this morning terrorist attack in Damascus : 40 killed and 170 injuredMinistry of Interior will issue a Statement. |
| — Dr.Jihad Makdissi (@Makdissi) May 10, 2012 | — Dr.Jihad Makdissi (@Makdissi) May 10, 2012 |
| 9.24am: Algeria: The authorities have being using arrests and other tactics to keep people from demonstrating in the capital during the run-up to today's elections, Human Rights Watch says. | 9.24am: Algeria: The authorities have being using arrests and other tactics to keep people from demonstrating in the capital during the run-up to today's elections, Human Rights Watch says. |
| Security forces are detaining people who try to demonstrate peacefully in Algiers, including at least one candidate for election, and have prevented people from reaching the city if they suspect them of intending to demonstrate. | Security forces are detaining people who try to demonstrate peacefully in Algiers, including at least one candidate for election, and have prevented people from reaching the city if they suspect them of intending to demonstrate. |
| The government lifted a state of emergency in February 2011. Security forces justify their actions, however, on the basis of repressive laws on public gatherings, including a ban on gatherings in Algiers, the capital, imposed after a demonstration turned violent in 2001.These laws are contrary to Algeria's binding human rights obligations under international law ... | The government lifted a state of emergency in February 2011. Security forces justify their actions, however, on the basis of repressive laws on public gatherings, including a ban on gatherings in Algiers, the capital, imposed after a demonstration turned violent in 2001.These laws are contrary to Algeria's binding human rights obligations under international law ... |
| The right to freedom of assembly remains severely compromised. Authorities have neither lifted the indefinite 2001 ban nor revised the 1991 law governing assembly, which requires prior authorisation for public demonstrations. | The right to freedom of assembly remains severely compromised. Authorities have neither lifted the indefinite 2001 ban nor revised the 1991 law governing assembly, which requires prior authorisation for public demonstrations. |
| An indefinite ban on all demonstrations is not a proportionate response to a march that degenerated into violence 11 years ago but rather the negation of the people's right of assembly. | An indefinite ban on all demonstrations is not a proportionate response to a march that degenerated into violence 11 years ago but rather the negation of the people's right of assembly. |
| 9.23am: Syria: It is unclear when the government will announce the results of Monday's parliamentary election. The official news agency, Sana, says the Higher Committee for Elections will announce a date for the results one day in advance. | 9.23am: Syria: It is unclear when the government will announce the results of Monday's parliamentary election. The official news agency, Sana, says the Higher Committee for Elections will announce a date for the results one day in advance. |
| Results from some areas have already been unofficially published but the committee says it was not responsible for any leaks. | Results from some areas have already been unofficially published but the committee says it was not responsible for any leaks. |
| Sana also says elections are being re-run in al-Zahiriyyeh and Amarat in al-Hasaka constituency because of "objections submitted to the judicial subcommittee in Hasaka". | Sana also says elections are being re-run in al-Zahiriyyeh and Amarat in al-Hasaka constituency because of "objections submitted to the judicial subcommittee in Hasaka". |
| 9.19am: Syria: Syria's health minister says 29 people have been killed and 103 wounded in the explosions, according to Reuters citing state TV. | 9.19am: Syria: Syria's health minister says 29 people have been killed and 103 wounded in the explosions, according to Reuters citing state TV. |
| The state news agency Sana has published horribly graphic photographs of the aftermath of the blasts [warning: disturbing content]. | The state news agency Sana has published horribly graphic photographs of the aftermath of the blasts [warning: disturbing content]. |
| 9.03am: Syria: A source in Damascus told the Guardian that both of the explosions were caused by car bombs and that they killed up to 20 people and wounded a further 35. | 9.03am: Syria: A source in Damascus told the Guardian that both of the explosions were caused by car bombs and that they killed up to 20 people and wounded a further 35. |
| The blasts were close to the university's faculty of mechanical engineering, he said. He said: | The blasts were close to the university's faculty of mechanical engineering, he said. He said: |
| They were very large explosions. They could be heard from far away. People couldn't believe that this happened ...There are ambulances rushing to the area. | They were very large explosions. They could be heard from far away. People couldn't believe that this happened ...There are ambulances rushing to the area. |
| 8.43am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. Two bomb attacks against a military intelligence unit have killed or wounded dozens of people, according to Syrian state TV, shattering the already widely flouted ceasefire. | 8.43am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. Two bomb attacks against a military intelligence unit have killed or wounded dozens of people, according to Syrian state TV, shattering the already widely flouted ceasefire. |
| Here's a round up of the main developments: | Here's a round up of the main developments: |
| Syria | Syria |
| • State-run TV blamed terrorists for the blasts, which were in the Qazaz area, where a Syrian intelligence agency has its headquarters. The explosions occurred at about 7.50am local time on Thursday during the rush hour, according to the state news agency Sana. | • State-run TV blamed terrorists for the blasts, which were in the Qazaz area, where a Syrian intelligence agency has its headquarters. The explosions occurred at about 7.50am local time on Thursday during the rush hour, according to the state news agency Sana. |
| • A video posted online showed a plume of thick black smoke rising above Qaza as the second explosion appeared to strike. | • A video posted online showed a plume of thick black smoke rising above Qaza as the second explosion appeared to strike. |
| • More than 1,000 people have been killed since the start of international envoy Kofi Annan's mission to end the violence, according to the activist group the Local Co-ordination Committees in Syria. It claims to have documented the names of 1,025 killed in the last month. | • More than 1,000 people have been killed since the start of international envoy Kofi Annan's mission to end the violence, according to the activist group the Local Co-ordination Committees in Syria. It claims to have documented the names of 1,025 killed in the last month. |
| • The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, has condemned yesterday's attack on Syrian troops who were escorting a UN monitoring visit to the southern city of Dera'a. Ban, said the attack undermined the UN peace plan, which he claimed was "possibly the only remaining chance to stabilise the country and avert a civil war." | • The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, has condemned yesterday's attack on Syrian troops who were escorting a UN monitoring visit to the southern city of Dera'a. Ban, said the attack undermined the UN peace plan, which he claimed was "possibly the only remaining chance to stabilise the country and avert a civil war." |
| • The Syria uprising is decentralised, distrustful of the expatriate opposition, and in favour of both Sunni empowerment and equal rights, according to interviews with more than 20 activists conducted by the New York Times. | • The Syria uprising is decentralised, distrustful of the expatriate opposition, and in favour of both Sunni empowerment and equal rights, according to interviews with more than 20 activists conducted by the New York Times. |
| If there was unanimity, it was in the fierce conviction that future leaders should come from their own ranks — "exclusively from this popular movement," Abu Omar said — not from exile groups, like the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and secular movements. | If there was unanimity, it was in the fierce conviction that future leaders should come from their own ranks — "exclusively from this popular movement," Abu Omar said — not from exile groups, like the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and secular movements. |
| The fighters and activists knew they were talking to journalists and have an interest in appearing neither sectarian nor extremist. But many spoke candidly of the uprising's flaws and challenges, and one — a former interior decorator — volunteered that he had executed three men. | The fighters and activists knew they were talking to journalists and have an interest in appearing neither sectarian nor extremist. But many spoke candidly of the uprising's flaws and challenges, and one — a former interior decorator — volunteered that he had executed three men. |
| Algeria | Algeria |
| • Today's parliamentary elections are expected to be hit by low turnout, according to blogger and Algeria expert the Moor Next Door. | • Today's parliamentary elections are expected to be hit by low turnout, according to blogger and Algeria expert the Moor Next Door. |
| This is a regularly scheduled election taking place on time for a legislature with little authority or power (the real power in the Algerian legislature rests with the upper house, the Majlis al-Umma, which is indirectly elected, except for a third of delegates who are directly appointed by the president and which exists (circa 1997) precisely to prevent the parliament from acting as a credible challenge to the executive) and a poll in which most Algerians will probably not vote, out of indifference or as part of an active boycott. Though there were important reforms undertaken last year, these were largely pro forma and should not be taken as an indicator of significant change as yet. | This is a regularly scheduled election taking place on time for a legislature with little authority or power (the real power in the Algerian legislature rests with the upper house, the Majlis al-Umma, which is indirectly elected, except for a third of delegates who are directly appointed by the president and which exists (circa 1997) precisely to prevent the parliament from acting as a credible challenge to the executive) and a poll in which most Algerians will probably not vote, out of indifference or as part of an active boycott. Though there were important reforms undertaken last year, these were largely pro forma and should not be taken as an indicator of significant change as yet. |
| • Speaking at a campaign rally before the election, Algeria's prime minister Ahmed Ouyahia described the Arab Spring as a "plague". Harking back to the country's independence struggle against France, he said: "The Arab spring for me is a disaster. We don't need lessons from outside. Our spring is Algerian, our revolution of 1 November 1954." | • Speaking at a campaign rally before the election, Algeria's prime minister Ahmed Ouyahia described the Arab Spring as a "plague". Harking back to the country's independence struggle against France, he said: "The Arab spring for me is a disaster. We don't need lessons from outside. Our spring is Algerian, our revolution of 1 November 1954." |
| Egypt | Egypt |
| • The two leading candidates in the presidential race, former foreign minister Amr Moussa and Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood, are preparing to go head-to-head in a televised debate tonight. A court decision to suspend the poll is expected to be overruled but it underlines the chaotic build up to the first round of voting which is due to start on 23 May. | • The two leading candidates in the presidential race, former foreign minister Amr Moussa and Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood, are preparing to go head-to-head in a televised debate tonight. A court decision to suspend the poll is expected to be overruled but it underlines the chaotic build up to the first round of voting which is due to start on 23 May. |
| • The conservative Salafi group are divided over whether to back Abul Fotouh's presidential campaign. Fotouh, who has been backed by many leading revolutionaries, was backed by the Salafist Nour party but many Salafits doubt his commitment to Sharia law, according to Reuters. | • The conservative Salafi group are divided over whether to back Abul Fotouh's presidential campaign. Fotouh, who has been backed by many leading revolutionaries, was backed by the Salafist Nour party but many Salafits doubt his commitment to Sharia law, according to Reuters. |
| • Amr Moussa says there is a danger of the Muslim Brotherhood monopolising the levers to power in Egypt. In an interview with Majalla he said: | • Amr Moussa says there is a danger of the Muslim Brotherhood monopolising the levers to power in Egypt. In an interview with Majalla he said: |
| I fear the Muslim Brotherhood would be tempted by their new authority especially if they win the presidency. Their political power would extend to include administrative, economic, banking, media, cultural and judicial sectors. Thus, Egypt would be governed by one political segment represented by the Brotherhood. | I fear the Muslim Brotherhood would be tempted by their new authority especially if they win the presidency. Their political power would extend to include administrative, economic, banking, media, cultural and judicial sectors. Thus, Egypt would be governed by one political segment represented by the Brotherhood. |
| Iran | Iran |
| • An Iranian cartoonist has been sentenced to be 25 lashes for a caricature of MP Ahmad Lotfi Ashtiani. The cartoonist, Mahmoud Shokraye, depicted Ashtiani dressed as a footballer, with a congratulatory letter in one hand to reflect criticism of political involvement in sport. | • An Iranian cartoonist has been sentenced to be 25 lashes for a caricature of MP Ahmad Lotfi Ashtiani. The cartoonist, Mahmoud Shokraye, depicted Ashtiani dressed as a footballer, with a congratulatory letter in one hand to reflect criticism of political involvement in sport. |