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| Syria live: UN monitors attempt to reach al-Qubair | Syria live: UN monitors attempt to reach al-Qubair |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| 11.54am: Syria: The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned that the humanitarian situation in Syria is deteriorating and not just at the sites of recent massacres. | |
| Hicham Hassan told reporters in Geneva: | |
| Currently the situation is extremely tense, not only in Houla, not only in Hama, but in many, many places around the country. | |
| Hassan cited the countryside of the northern city of Idlib, suburbs of the capital Damascus, the eastern province of Deir el-Zour and the coastal region of Latakia as those targeted in the latest attacks | |
| The ICRC wants to help 1.5 million people, some of whom need basic assistance such as bread. | |
| 11.47am: Muslim women: The wife of the al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri has praised Muslim women for their role in the Arab spring uprisings and said the unrest will soon lead to an "Islamic spring", according to a rare message posted online. | |
| The letter, signed by Omaima Hassan, singled out women beaten during Egypt's unrest and lauded mothers for bringing up the revolutionaries who went on to topple four heads of state it described as "tyrant criminals". | |
| 11.40am: Libya: Former oil minister Shukri Ghanem "offered to tell Libyan officials everything he knew about a range of suspect oil deals in exchange for immunity from prosecution", Robert Worth reports in an article for the New York Times. | |
| Ghanim was mysteriously found dead in the river Danube just a few days after the alleged information-for-immunity conversation. | |
| In a WikiLeaks document from 2008, Ghanim was quoted as saying that Colonel Gaddafi's sons had been attempting to use the Libyan national oil company "as a personal bank". | |
| 11.32am: Syria: National Public Radio's Deborah Amos is with the UN monitors in Hama. She says they have still yet to reach al-Qubair, to investigate Wednesday's reported massacre. | |
| At a hotel in Hama with the UN observer mission. Seems to be a slow down on gov side. Massacres in qubeir still not investigated. | |
| — deborah amos (@deborahamos) June 8, 2012 | |
| UN mission still in Hama. Haven't made it to Qubeir yet. | |
| — deborah amos (@deborahamos) June 8, 2012 | |
| 11.19am: Syria: Protesters have come out to demonstrate in Kafarzeita, Hama province, two days after six burned corpses were reportedly found there (very graphic video) following the withdrawal of the army. | 11.19am: Syria: Protesters have come out to demonstrate in Kafarzeita, Hama province, two days after six burned corpses were reportedly found there (very graphic video) following the withdrawal of the army. |
| Kafarzeita is close to al-Qubair, which reportedly suffered a massacre on the same day as the burnt corpses were found in Kafarzeita. | Kafarzeita is close to al-Qubair, which reportedly suffered a massacre on the same day as the burnt corpses were found in Kafarzeita. |
| 10.55am: Syria: A car bomb exploded in a suburb of Damascus on Friday, killing at least two security force personnel, activists said. | 10.55am: Syria: A car bomb exploded in a suburb of Damascus on Friday, killing at least two security force personnel, activists said. |
| The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human rights said the blast in the suburb of Qudsiya targeted a bus transporting members of Syrian security forces, and was followed by heavy gunfire. | The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human rights said the blast in the suburb of Qudsiya targeted a bus transporting members of Syrian security forces, and was followed by heavy gunfire. |
| The Revolution Leadership Council of Damascus said there was an unexplained explosion in the capital this morning, highlighting this video, which is difficult to make out. It is unclear whether the two reports are linked. | The Revolution Leadership Council of Damascus said there was an unexplained explosion in the capital this morning, highlighting this video, which is difficult to make out. It is unclear whether the two reports are linked. |
| 10.33am: Syria: President Assad is on the way out, Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a news conference yesterday. | 10.33am: Syria: President Assad is on the way out, Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a news conference yesterday. |
| "In my opinion the Syrian opposition advances. Bashar tries to stay in power only with the help of a few countries. The whole world is against Bashar," he said. | "In my opinion the Syrian opposition advances. Bashar tries to stay in power only with the help of a few countries. The whole world is against Bashar," he said. |
| Guardian correspondent Constanze Letsch adds: | Guardian correspondent Constanze Letsch adds: |
| Underlining that Turkish-Syrian relations had been very good until the beginning of 2011, he also used the word "genocide" to describe the massacres carried out inside Syria, urged more UN supervisors to be sent to the country and said that a new process was needed in dealing with the crisis in Syria. | Underlining that Turkish-Syrian relations had been very good until the beginning of 2011, he also used the word "genocide" to describe the massacres carried out inside Syria, urged more UN supervisors to be sent to the country and said that a new process was needed in dealing with the crisis in Syria. |
| There's more about Erdogan's news conference here. | There's more about Erdogan's news conference here. |
| 10.18am: Syria: Blogger and activist Razan Ghazzawi has been named as winner of this year's Human Rights Defenders at Risk award by the Dublin-based Front Line Defenders organisation. | 10.18am: Syria: Blogger and activist Razan Ghazzawi has been named as winner of this year's Human Rights Defenders at Risk award by the Dublin-based Front Line Defenders organisation. |
| She is currently facing trial before a military court in Syria, charged with "possessing prohibited materials with the intent to disseminate them". | She is currently facing trial before a military court in Syria, charged with "possessing prohibited materials with the intent to disseminate them". |
| She and six other female activists were recently freed from detention. They had been seized during a raid on the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression and held by the air force intelligence. | She and six other female activists were recently freed from detention. They had been seized during a raid on the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression and held by the air force intelligence. |
| 10.07am: Syria: Some opponents of the Assad regime have adopted a new tactic - appealing for help to the US president's children. | 10.07am: Syria: Some opponents of the Assad regime have adopted a new tactic - appealing for help to the US president's children. |
| A message from kids of #Syria to Obama's daughters twitter.com/monakareem/sta… | A message from kids of #Syria to Obama's daughters twitter.com/monakareem/sta… |
| — Mona Kareem (@monakareem) June 8, 2012 | — Mona Kareem (@monakareem) June 8, 2012 |
| Message from Syrian children to Barack Obama's daughters #Syria #Obama twitter.com/BintAlRifai/st… | Message from Syrian children to Barack Obama's daughters #Syria #Obama twitter.com/BintAlRifai/st… |
| — BintAlRifai (@BintAlRifai) June 8, 2012 | — BintAlRifai (@BintAlRifai) June 8, 2012 |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |