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| Syria and Middle East - live updates | Syria and Middle East - live updates |
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| 1.01pm: Syria: The leading opposition group will not take part in talks sponsored by the Arab League aimed at fixing deep divisions within its ranks, a member of the group's executive council has told Reuters. Ahmed Ramadan said: | |
| The SNC (Syrian National Council) will not be going to the meeting in Cairo because it (the Arab League) has not invited the group as an official body but as individual members. | |
| Another SNC member, Radwan Ziadeh, said the Arab League had failed to make good on a promise to involve the group - which is now meeting in Rome to try to unite its ranks and decide its leadership - in preparations for the talks. | |
| Political jockeying within the SNC has prevented it from gaining full international endorsement. Executive members told Reuters they may choose a new president or restructure the council in a bid to garner broader support. | |
| 12.41pm: Syria: UN observers have been in Aleppo governorate today and demonstrators have greeted them with anti-regime protests. | |
| This video shows crowds chanting: "Hafez ...Assad ...dog of the Arab world." | |
This video shows the monitors in al-Bab, in Aleppo. | |
| Another video shows an observer in Ariha, Idlib. | |
| 12.17pm: Syria: Students at the universities in Aleppo and Damascus have already been reported to be demonstrating against the regime today. Now the faculty of agricultural engineering at Deir Ezzor, as purportedly shown in this video, can be added to the list. | 12.17pm: Syria: Students at the universities in Aleppo and Damascus have already been reported to be demonstrating against the regime today. Now the faculty of agricultural engineering at Deir Ezzor, as purportedly shown in this video, can be added to the list. |
Deir Ezzor is in eastern Syria and borders Iraq. | Deir Ezzor is in eastern Syria and borders Iraq. |
| 12.06pm: Syria: While state news agency Sana has reported the assssination of an army colonel in Jobar, Damascus (see 11.36am), the Revolution Leadership Council of Damascus says the area has been raided by the security forces: | 12.06pm: Syria: While state news agency Sana has reported the assssination of an army colonel in Jobar, Damascus (see 11.36am), the Revolution Leadership Council of Damascus says the area has been raided by the security forces: |
| More than 2000 fully armed security forces' troops raid the area and they are accompanied with armoured vehicles and cars with fixed machine guns on them. These forces surrounded the mosques in the area. | More than 2000 fully armed security forces' troops raid the area and they are accompanied with armoured vehicles and cars with fixed machine guns on them. These forces surrounded the mosques in the area. |
| Jobar is in strike in support of the innocent arrested civilians, so security forces threatened shopkeepers and said they'd burn and destroy all stores in case the strike continues. However, a demo was staged regardless of the dangerous security situation. | Jobar is in strike in support of the innocent arrested civilians, so security forces threatened shopkeepers and said they'd burn and destroy all stores in case the strike continues. However, a demo was staged regardless of the dangerous security situation. |
| It also reports a raid on a demonstration at the faculty of mechanical engineering at Damascus university: | It also reports a raid on a demonstration at the faculty of mechanical engineering at Damascus university: |
| Security forces raid the faculty building to disperse a silent student sit-in that took place to claim formerly arrested students of the faculty. Many arrests were reported, in addition to several injuries. | Security forces raid the faculty building to disperse a silent student sit-in that took place to claim formerly arrested students of the faculty. Many arrests were reported, in addition to several injuries. |
| 11.42am: Syria: A protest is being held at Aleppo University where a raid by security forces earlier this month left at least four dead, according to activists, and led to the closure of the university. | 11.42am: Syria: A protest is being held at Aleppo University where a raid by security forces earlier this month left at least four dead, according to activists, and led to the closure of the university. |
| In the video above they can be seen praying for the dead. | In the video above they can be seen praying for the dead. |
| 11.36am: Syria: State news agency, Sana, reports the assassination by "armed terrorist groups" of two officers - Colonel Ahmad Salman Moalla in Damascus and Lieutenant Colonel Qais Sarrout in Deraa. | 11.36am: Syria: State news agency, Sana, reports the assassination by "armed terrorist groups" of two officers - Colonel Ahmad Salman Moalla in Damascus and Lieutenant Colonel Qais Sarrout in Deraa. |
| The British-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said earlier (see 10.06am) that a captain was killed in Idlib governorate today. | The British-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said earlier (see 10.06am) that a captain was killed in Idlib governorate today. |
| 11.21am: Syria: Regular below the line contributor Brown Moses blogs about a supposed al-Qaida member pictured with UN observers who says he was in fact a member of the regular army. | 11.21am: Syria: Regular below the line contributor Brown Moses blogs about a supposed al-Qaida member pictured with UN observers who says he was in fact a member of the regular army. |
| This video has been posted online, showing a young man dressed in a black uniform with a al-Qaida flag armband | This video has been posted online, showing a young man dressed in a black uniform with a al-Qaida flag armband |
| In the video he explains he was a member of the Republican Guard in the Syrian Army, displaying his ID, and was given the uniform to wear. Images of him wearing the uniform were then used in the Syrian media, including this article where he's meeting UN inspectors, described as "Armed takfiris with UN inspectors". | In the video he explains he was a member of the Republican Guard in the Syrian Army, displaying his ID, and was given the uniform to wear. Images of him wearing the uniform were then used in the Syrian media, including this article where he's meeting UN inspectors, described as "Armed takfiris with UN inspectors". |
| He goes on to say he doesn't know how many people were given this uniform, and he's now defected. | He goes on to say he doesn't know how many people were given this uniform, and he's now defected. |
| 11.00am: Libya: This is the video accompanying Human Rights Watch's report on unacknowledged deaths in Libya. It says 72 civilians, including 20 women and 24 children, were killed by eight Nato airstrikes HRW investigated in detail. | 11.00am: Libya: This is the video accompanying Human Rights Watch's report on unacknowledged deaths in Libya. It says 72 civilians, including 20 women and 24 children, were killed by eight Nato airstrikes HRW investigated in detail. |
| HRW special adviser Fred Abrahams said: | HRW special adviser Fred Abrahams said: |
We were in Tripoli and heard news about a Nato strike that had killed dozens of people. When I got to Majer the day after the strike both of the houses were still smouldering, relatives were distraught and in shock. Nato targetted three compounds clustered near each other. In one of those compounds Nato hit the house that was full of displaced persons from around the conflict, people that had fled areas of fighting to take refuge in this house. | We were in Tripoli and heard news about a Nato strike that had killed dozens of people. When I got to Majer the day after the strike both of the houses were still smouldering, relatives were distraught and in shock. Nato targetted three compounds clustered near each other. In one of those compounds Nato hit the house that was full of displaced persons from around the conflict, people that had fled areas of fighting to take refuge in this house. |
| 10.41am: Syria: In the wake of last week's twin suicide bomb attack in Damascus, Abdel al-Bari Atwan, editor-in chief of the London-based pan-Arab newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi, writes on Comment is free that Kofi Annan's peace plan has "been blown out of the water by the apparent arrival of an extremist group, or groups, intent on escalating the sectarian aspect of the conflict, which neither the regime nor the opposition can hope to control". | 10.41am: Syria: In the wake of last week's twin suicide bomb attack in Damascus, Abdel al-Bari Atwan, editor-in chief of the London-based pan-Arab newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi, writes on Comment is free that Kofi Annan's peace plan has "been blown out of the water by the apparent arrival of an extremist group, or groups, intent on escalating the sectarian aspect of the conflict, which neither the regime nor the opposition can hope to control". |
| If the extremist groups manage to hasten the fall of the regime, their agenda is unlikely to end there. In post-Saddam Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al-Qaida offshoot fanned the flames of a Sunni-Shia sectarian war that was only extinguished by the US army's "surge" and General Petraeus's "Awakening" campaign, which overwhelmed the jihadis temporarily. But in Syria there are no US forces, no Petraeus in sight. | If the extremist groups manage to hasten the fall of the regime, their agenda is unlikely to end there. In post-Saddam Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al-Qaida offshoot fanned the flames of a Sunni-Shia sectarian war that was only extinguished by the US army's "surge" and General Petraeus's "Awakening" campaign, which overwhelmed the jihadis temporarily. But in Syria there are no US forces, no Petraeus in sight. |
| Whoever governs post-revolutionary Syria is unlikely to rule over a united country, but rather sectarian or ethnic pockets, engaged in ongoing battles with each other. The historical precedent here is Lebanon, which was mired in civil war from 1975 for 16 years. | Whoever governs post-revolutionary Syria is unlikely to rule over a united country, but rather sectarian or ethnic pockets, engaged in ongoing battles with each other. The historical precedent here is Lebanon, which was mired in civil war from 1975 for 16 years. |
| Nor is the prospect of sectarian conflict confined to Syria's borders. Regional polarisation might see a Sunni bloc, headed by Turkey and Saudi Arabia and incorporating any number of extremist groups, facing off a Shia alliance led by Iran. Here we have an even more chilling template – from 1514 the Sunni Muslims of the Ottoman empire and the Shia Safavid of Persia battled over the region for more than a century, fuelled by their religious differences. | Nor is the prospect of sectarian conflict confined to Syria's borders. Regional polarisation might see a Sunni bloc, headed by Turkey and Saudi Arabia and incorporating any number of extremist groups, facing off a Shia alliance led by Iran. Here we have an even more chilling template – from 1514 the Sunni Muslims of the Ottoman empire and the Shia Safavid of Persia battled over the region for more than a century, fuelled by their religious differences. |
| 10.22am: Syria: The results of the Syria's parliamentary elections will be announced tomorrow, the state news agency, Sana, reports. | 10.22am: Syria: The results of the Syria's parliamentary elections will be announced tomorrow, the state news agency, Sana, reports. |
| The chair of the Higher Committee for Elections, Judge Khalaf al-Azzawi, told Sana that the results will be announced at 11am (9am BST) Tuesday at the palace of justice in al-Mezzah, Damascus. Voting took place on 7 May. The opposition boycotted the vote and claimed turnout was low, with many polling stations empty, but the government described the turnout as "remarkable". | The chair of the Higher Committee for Elections, Judge Khalaf al-Azzawi, told Sana that the results will be announced at 11am (9am BST) Tuesday at the palace of justice in al-Mezzah, Damascus. Voting took place on 7 May. The opposition boycotted the vote and claimed turnout was low, with many polling stations empty, but the government described the turnout as "remarkable". |
| 10.06am: Syria: An army captain has been "assassinated" in Kafrouma, Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says: | 10.06am: Syria: An army captain has been "assassinated" in Kafrouma, Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says: |
| Information given by local activists states that the officer was from the coastal town of Jableh and was responsible for killing tens of locals in the Hamidiyyah base, south of Ma'arat al-Nu'man. He was also known for abusing his position and mistreating the local inhabitants. | Information given by local activists states that the officer was from the coastal town of Jableh and was responsible for killing tens of locals in the Hamidiyyah base, south of Ma'arat al-Nu'man. He was also known for abusing his position and mistreating the local inhabitants. |
| The Free Syrian Army claims to has been observing the 12 April ceasefire but reportedly threatened last week to resume attacks because the government had failed to honour it. The UN peacekeeping chief says there have been violations of the ceasefire on both sides. | The Free Syrian Army claims to has been observing the 12 April ceasefire but reportedly threatened last week to resume attacks because the government had failed to honour it. The UN peacekeeping chief says there have been violations of the ceasefire on both sides. |
| 9.51am: Syria: A demonstration is reportedly taking place at Aleppo University. The university reopened on 13 May after it was closed following a raid by security forces earlier this month that left at least four dead, according to activists | 9.51am: Syria: A demonstration is reportedly taking place at Aleppo University. The university reopened on 13 May after it was closed following a raid by security forces earlier this month that left at least four dead, according to activists |
| Photo from a protest taking place now in #Aleppo University twitter.com/#!/aboodyx/sta… via @aboodyx #Syria | Photo from a protest taking place now in #Aleppo University twitter.com/#!/aboodyx/sta… via @aboodyx #Syria |
| — Rose Alhomsi (@tweets4peace) May 14, 2012 | — Rose Alhomsi (@tweets4peace) May 14, 2012 |
| 9.43am: Iran: A senior UN nuclear watchdog official said Iran needed to give his inspectors access to information, people and sites as he began a two-day meeting with Iranian officials on the Islamic state's disputed atomic activities, Reuters reports. | 9.43am: Iran: A senior UN nuclear watchdog official said Iran needed to give his inspectors access to information, people and sites as he began a two-day meeting with Iranian officials on the Islamic state's disputed atomic activities, Reuters reports. |
Herman Nackaerts, deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told reporters as he arrived at an Iranian diplomatic mission in Vienna that Iran should now engage on issues of substance with the U.N. agency, which is investigating suspicions that Tehran may be seeking nuclear weapons capability. | Herman Nackaerts, deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told reporters as he arrived at an Iranian diplomatic mission in Vienna that Iran should now engage on issues of substance with the U.N. agency, which is investigating suspicions that Tehran may be seeking nuclear weapons capability. |
| "The aim of our two days is to reach agreement on (an) approach to resolve all outstanding issues with Iran, in particular clarification of the possible military dimensions remains our priority," Nackaerts said. | "The aim of our two days is to reach agreement on (an) approach to resolve all outstanding issues with Iran, in particular clarification of the possible military dimensions remains our priority," Nackaerts said. |
| 9.15am: Syria: The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 23 Syrian soldiers were killed in Rastan, near Homs, by opposition Free Syrian Army fighters, who destroyed three armoured personnel carriers. | 9.15am: Syria: The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 23 Syrian soldiers were killed in Rastan, near Homs, by opposition Free Syrian Army fighters, who destroyed three armoured personnel carriers. |
| Earlier, opposition sources said nine people, including a local rebel commander, were killed in heavy army shelling of Rastan. | Earlier, opposition sources said nine people, including a local rebel commander, were killed in heavy army shelling of Rastan. |
| This video purports to show the effect of shelling overnight. | This video purports to show the effect of shelling overnight. |
| Another video (warning: graphic) claims to show injured people including a young girl, whose father was killed according to activists, being treated at a field hospital. | Another video (warning: graphic) claims to show injured people including a young girl, whose father was killed according to activists, being treated at a field hospital. |
| 9.07am: Israel/Palestinian Territories: The leaders of the hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners have denied reports that a deal has been agreed to end the strike. | 9.07am: Israel/Palestinian Territories: The leaders of the hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners have denied reports that a deal has been agreed to end the strike. |
| Urgent : The Hunger Strike leadership Committee denies all rumors have been published in media about deals to end the strike #PalHunger RT | Urgent : The Hunger Strike leadership Committee denies all rumors have been published in media about deals to end the strike #PalHunger RT |
| — #Palhunger (@Palhunger) May 14, 2012 | — #Palhunger (@Palhunger) May 14, 2012 |
| 8.40am: Good morning. Welcome to Middle East Live. Here is a summary of the main developments today. | 8.40am: Good morning. Welcome to Middle East Live. Here is a summary of the main developments today. |
| Syria | Syria |
| • Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad shelled the town of Rastan on Syria's main northern highway this morning, killing at least nine people and wounding 40 in an offensive to retake the area from Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels, opposition sources told Reuters. "Shells and rockets have been hitting the town since 3am (1am BST) at a rate of one a minute. Rastan has been destroyed," an FSA member in the town, 25 kms (15 miles) north of the city of Homs, who declined to be named, told Reuters by satellite phone. | • Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad shelled the town of Rastan on Syria's main northern highway this morning, killing at least nine people and wounding 40 in an offensive to retake the area from Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels, opposition sources told Reuters. "Shells and rockets have been hitting the town since 3am (1am BST) at a rate of one a minute. Rastan has been destroyed," an FSA member in the town, 25 kms (15 miles) north of the city of Homs, who declined to be named, told Reuters by satellite phone. |
| • China has today sent six observers to join the UN monitoring mission, Syrian state media reported. The observers are monitoring the ceasefire, which was supposed to have taken place on 12 April but has seen violations on both sides. | • China has today sent six observers to join the UN monitoring mission, Syrian state media reported. The observers are monitoring the ceasefire, which was supposed to have taken place on 12 April but has seen violations on both sides. |
| Lebanon | Lebanon |
| • The violence in Syria spread to neighbouring Lebanon on Sunday with deadly clashes between Alawite supporters of the Assad regime and opponents, security officials said. From Business Day: | • The violence in Syria spread to neighbouring Lebanon on Sunday with deadly clashes between Alawite supporters of the Assad regime and opponents, security officials said. From Business Day: |
| Ten people were injured and four killed in the Lebanese port city of Tripoli when clashes broke out between residents of the Jabal Mohsen suburb, mainly populated by Alawites, and rivals from the Sunni Muslim-dominated district of Bab al-Tabbaneh, witnesses said. | Ten people were injured and four killed in the Lebanese port city of Tripoli when clashes broke out between residents of the Jabal Mohsen suburb, mainly populated by Alawites, and rivals from the Sunni Muslim-dominated district of Bab al-Tabbaneh, witnesses said. |
| Israel/Palestinian territories | Israel/Palestinian territories |
| • Egypt has brokered a deal aimed at ending a hunger strike of some 1,600 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, Reuters reports, citing a Palestinian source close to the negotiations . "Egypt has concluded a deal to resolve the prisoner crisis that included Israel's acceptance of prisoners' demands in exchange for ending the hunger strike," said the source, who is close to the talks in Cairo. Two of the hunger strikers, who have refused food for 77 days, are thought to be close to death with another six in a critical condition, according to Palestinian groups. | |
| Libya | Libya |
| • Nato air strikes killed 72 civilians in Libya last year, Human Rights Watch has said, accusing the western alliance of failing to acknowledge the scope of collateral damage it caused during the campaign that helped to oust Muammar Gaddafi.In a report based on investigations at bombing sites during and after the conflict, the New York-based group said Nato strikes killed 20 women and 24 children. It called on the alliance to compensate civilian victims and investigate attacks that may have been unlawful. Fred Abrahams, special adviser at HRW, said in a statement: | • Nato air strikes killed 72 civilians in Libya last year, Human Rights Watch has said, accusing the western alliance of failing to acknowledge the scope of collateral damage it caused during the campaign that helped to oust Muammar Gaddafi.In a report based on investigations at bombing sites during and after the conflict, the New York-based group said Nato strikes killed 20 women and 24 children. It called on the alliance to compensate civilian victims and investigate attacks that may have been unlawful. Fred Abrahams, special adviser at HRW, said in a statement: |
Attacks are allowed only on military targets, and serious questions remain in some incidents about what exactly Nato forces were striking. | Attacks are allowed only on military targets, and serious questions remain in some incidents about what exactly Nato forces were striking. |