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| Syria live: UN monitors attempt to reach al-Qubair | Syria live: UN monitors attempt to reach al-Qubair |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 9.58am: Gaza: Readers of this live blog may be interested to know that today, for one day only, we are also running a live blog on Gaza. It aims to dig behind the usual headlines and give a picture of daily life there. | |
| There is also an editor's Q&A explaining the idea behind it. | |
| 9.54am: Syria: Activists say Syrian troops are shelling the rebel-held neighbourhood of Khaldiyeh in the central city of Homs, AP reports. | |
| The activists told AP the bombardment appears to be a preparation for the troops to storm the area, which has been in rebel hands for months. | |
| Syrian blogger Abdul Aziz Al-Sibaai has collated a number of videos purporting to be of the shelling. | |
| The video above is just one of them. The Guardian cannot independently verify these videos. | |
| 9.45am: Syria: Reports of white dust clouds and strange lights in the sky caused some alarm in Syria last night – and well as a flurry of activity on Twitter. Some feared they were being attacked with chemical weapons. | |
| However, sightings were also reported from Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Turkey. | |
| The video above, posted on YouTube, was allegedly filmed in the Syrian city of Deraa last night. The Israeli news website, Ynet, suggests it was the result of a Russian missile test. | |
| The glowing light reported in Israel's skies around 8.45pm Thursday apparently resulted from of a failed intercontinental ballistic missile test by the Russian military, according to estimates. | |
| Hundreds of Israelis nationwide flooded police hotlines Thursday evening with reports of an unidentified flying object in the nation's skies. | |
| The official line from Damascus, on the other hand, is that it was "an aerolite piece". The government news agency says: | |
| Chairman of the Syrian Society of Astrology [sic], Dr Mohamad al-Assiri, asserted that a 20 to 30 centimetre diameter aerolite piece burnt in the troposphere near the earth sending light flickers for about 30 seconds. | |
| Al-Assiri added that the aerolite appeared as a strong light spot observed by the inhabitants of Damascus and the sparkles stretched to Aleppo and to some parts of Lebanon. | |
| No damage from the aerolite, none of its component fell on the earth, was reported. | |
| 9.19am: Syria: The unarmed UN monitors, who came under fire while trying to reach al-Qubair yesterday, have previously faced other attacks. | 9.19am: Syria: The unarmed UN monitors, who came under fire while trying to reach al-Qubair yesterday, have previously faced other attacks. |
| On several occasions they have been deliberately targeted with heavy weapons, armour-piercing ammunition and a surveillance drone, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon told the security council, according to a senior UN official cited by the Associated Press. | On several occasions they have been deliberately targeted with heavy weapons, armour-piercing ammunition and a surveillance drone, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon told the security council, according to a senior UN official cited by the Associated Press. |
| The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because Thursday's council meeting was private, said Ban also reported repeated incidents of firing close to UN patrols, apparently to get them to withdraw. | |
| 9.00am: Egypt: Following weeks of argument about the 100-member body that will draft Egypt's new constitution – and how to ensure that it reflects the composition of Egyptian society – the BBC has a breakdown of its membership as agreed at yesterday's meeting: | 9.00am: Egypt: Following weeks of argument about the 100-member body that will draft Egypt's new constitution – and how to ensure that it reflects the composition of Egyptian society – the BBC has a breakdown of its membership as agreed at yesterday's meeting: |
| Party representatives in parliament: 39 seats Public figures: 21 Trade unions: 13 Legal experts: 9 Judges: 6 Al-Azhar university: 5 Coptic Orthodox Church: 4 Armed forces: 1 Police: 1 Justice ministry: 1 | Party representatives in parliament: 39 seats Public figures: 21 Trade unions: 13 Legal experts: 9 Judges: 6 Al-Azhar university: 5 Coptic Orthodox Church: 4 Armed forces: 1 Police: 1 Justice ministry: 1 |
| 8.45am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. Here is summary of the latest developments: | 8.45am: (all times BST) Welcome to Middle East Live. Here is summary of the latest developments: |
| Syria | Syria |
| • UN monitors in Syria are expected to make a fresh attempt today to reach al-Qubair village, the scene of a reported massacre on Wednesday. | • UN monitors in Syria are expected to make a fresh attempt today to reach al-Qubair village, the scene of a reported massacre on Wednesday. |
| They returned to their base yesterday after General Robert Mood, head of the observer team, said they were turned back by Syrian soldiers and also stopped by civilians. Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, also said the observers had come under small arms fire. | They returned to their base yesterday after General Robert Mood, head of the observer team, said they were turned back by Syrian soldiers and also stopped by civilians. Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, also said the observers had come under small arms fire. |
| • The six-point plan drawn up by Kofi Annan is still the focus of diplomatic efforts over Syria, even if there is little evidence that it is working, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon says. | • The six-point plan drawn up by Kofi Annan is still the focus of diplomatic efforts over Syria, even if there is little evidence that it is working, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon says. |
| He told the UN general assembly the international community must "speak with one voice and deliver a clear, unmistakable message" to Syria. | He told the UN general assembly the international community must "speak with one voice and deliver a clear, unmistakable message" to Syria. |
| • Britain's UN ambassador, Mark Lyall Grant, says it is time to try to adopt a new security council resolution "with clear time lines for sanctions in the event of non-compliance" [with the Annan plan]. | • Britain's UN ambassador, Mark Lyall Grant, says it is time to try to adopt a new security council resolution "with clear time lines for sanctions in the event of non-compliance" [with the Annan plan]. |
| Russia and China have so far opposed any mention of sanctions in a resolution. Yesterday, Russia's UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, told reporters that the Syrian government hasn't complied with all provisions in the Annan plan but there have been "encouraging developments" | Russia and China have so far opposed any mention of sanctions in a resolution. Yesterday, Russia's UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, told reporters that the Syrian government hasn't complied with all provisions in the Annan plan but there have been "encouraging developments" |
| Egypt | Egypt |
| • Deadlock over the make-up of a 100-member assembly to draft Egypt's new constitution appears to have been broken following a seven-hour meeting yesterday, Reuters reports. | • Deadlock over the make-up of a 100-member assembly to draft Egypt's new constitution appears to have been broken following a seven-hour meeting yesterday, Reuters reports. |
| The previous assembly was dissolved by court order after liberals and others withdrew, complaining it was dominated by Islamists. On Tuesday the ruling military council set a 48-hour deadline for political parties to agree on the composition of new assembly. | The previous assembly was dissolved by court order after liberals and others withdrew, complaining it was dominated by Islamists. On Tuesday the ruling military council set a 48-hour deadline for political parties to agree on the composition of new assembly. |