'Syria: Fierce fighting in Damascus - Monday 16 July' diff viewer (5/6)

This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on July 16, 2012 08:10 (UTC). It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

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Version 5	Version 6
Syria: Fierce fighting in Damascus - live updates	Syria: Fierce fighting in Damascus - live updates
2012-07-16 11:40:09 UTC	2012-07-16 12:20:05 UTC (40 minutes later)
	1.09pm: As some people have been discussing below the line, the UK foreign secretary, William Hague, is in Libya today. He has been talking about Syria. Chris Stephen, in Tripoli, writes for guardian.co.uk:
	William Hague has called for a UN security council resolution warning Syria of "serious consequences" for breaches of a peace plan, as the UN envoy Kofi Annan arrived in Moscow to urge stronger Russian support for pressure on Damascus.
	"The situation in Syria continues to deteriorate alarmingly. We have seen even more terrible massacres in recent days," the foreign secretary said during a visit to Libya.
	"The British government believes it is it is imperative to have a chapter seven resolution of the security council, which should mandate the implementation of the Kofi Annan peace plan and of a transitional government."
	He said the language of the resolution should "threaten serious consequences for non-compliance in that plan", but did not spell out what those consequences should be.
	Hague also revealed that Metropolitan police officers would visit Tripoli this week to continue investigating the killing of PC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan embassy in London in 1984.
	12.45pm: A map created by the Guardian shows where the fighting is occurring in the Syrian capital. There is a screengrab below but if you click through to the original and hover over the place names you will be able to find out more about what is happening where.
	The fighting in Damascus yesterday was described as the heaviest in the capital since the conflict in Syria began and there have been further fierce clashes today.
12.30pm: Syria has wasted little time in retaliating after Morrocco asked the Syrian ambassador to leave the country immediately and declared him persona non grata (see 11.23am).	12.30pm: Syria has wasted little time in retaliating after Morrocco asked the Syrian ambassador to leave the country immediately and declared him persona non grata (see 11.23am).
Syria has just considered the accredited Moroccan Ambassadorto Syria ( Persona Non Grata) #Syria #Morocco	Syria has just considered the accredited Moroccan Ambassadorto Syria ( Persona Non Grata) #Syria #Morocco
— Jihad Makdissi (@Makdissi) July 16, 2012	— Jihad Makdissi (@Makdissi) July 16, 2012
12.22pm: Regime troops have been looting and burning shops in al-Tadoman, Damascus, according to the Local Co-ordination Committees opposition group.	12.22pm: Regime troops have been looting and burning shops in al-Tadoman, Damascus, according to the Local Co-ordination Committees opposition group.
Yesterday, an activist told Reuters that what happened in Tadoman could determine whether the government is able to stop the fighting in the capital escalating. He said:	Yesterday, an activist told Reuters that what happened in Tadoman could determine whether the government is able to stop the fighting in the capital escalating. He said:
If the regime is able to crush the fighters in Tadamon, the clashes should stop, but if not they may spread further.	If the regime is able to crush the fighters in Tadamon, the clashes should stop, but if not they may spread further.
Some of the fiercest fighting today appears to be in the Midan neighbourhood of Damascus.	Some of the fiercest fighting today appears to be in the Midan neighbourhood of Damascus.
11.52am: Reuters has more from the central Damascus neighbourhood of Midan, where fierce fighting has been reported between government troops and the rebel Free Syrian Army.	11.52am: Reuters has more from the central Damascus neighbourhood of Midan, where fierce fighting has been reported between government troops and the rebel Free Syrian Army.
"The rebels are trying to hold the army off in al-Zahra al-Jadeeda (neighbourhood). There is fighting there and the sound of bombardment and rocket-propelled grenades is echoing from there," Radeef, an opposition activist, said by phone from Midan. "Armoured vehicles are now deployed in the rest of Midan and army snipers have taken positions on rooftops."	"The rebels are trying to hold the army off in al-Zahra al-Jadeeda (neighbourhood). There is fighting there and the sound of bombardment and rocket-propelled grenades is echoing from there," Radeef, an opposition activist, said by phone from Midan. "Armoured vehicles are now deployed in the rest of Midan and army snipers have taken positions on rooftops."
Another activist said residents of the large neighbourhood were staying indoors and the only movement seen was that of the army and its armour and rebels in the alleyways of the old district, which has been rebuilt since it was shelled during a rebellion against French occupation in the 1920s.	Another activist said residents of the large neighbourhood were staying indoors and the only movement seen was that of the army and its armour and rebels in the alleyways of the old district, which has been rebuilt since it was shelled during a rebellion against French occupation in the 1920s.
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and other opposition sources said residents of Nahr Aisheh, a poor Sunni neighbourhood south of Midan, had blocked the main Damascus-Amman highway with rocks and burning tyres to try and relieve pressure on Midan.	The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and other opposition sources said residents of Nahr Aisheh, a poor Sunni neighbourhood south of Midan, had blocked the main Damascus-Amman highway with rocks and burning tyres to try and relieve pressure on Midan.
A video (WARNING: graphic content) has been posted on YouTube purporting to show a security forces car destroyed by the Free Syrian Army in Midan today, with personnel still inside it.	A video (WARNING: graphic content) has been posted on YouTube purporting to show a security forces car destroyed by the Free Syrian Army in Midan today, with personnel still inside it.
11.23am: Morocco's foreign ministry says it has asked the Syrian ambassador to leave the country immediately and declared him persona non grata, Reuters reports.	11.23am: Morocco's foreign ministry says it has asked the Syrian ambassador to leave the country immediately and declared him persona non grata, Reuters reports.
There was no immediate comment from the Syrian embassy. Earlier in the day, a Syrian embassy official denied speculation that the ambassador had defected	There was no immediate comment from the Syrian embassy. Earlier in the day, a Syrian embassy official denied speculation that the ambassador had defected
11.11am: Armoured vehicles have entered the district of Midan in central Damascus to help troops drive out rebels who have secured a foothold at a striking distance from major state installations, neighbourhood activists have told Reuters.	11.11am: Armoured vehicles have entered the district of Midan in central Damascus to help troops drive out rebels who have secured a foothold at a striking distance from major state installations, neighbourhood activists have told Reuters.
This video purports to show smoke rising near Midan today.	This video purports to show smoke rising near Midan today.
From Reuters:	From Reuters:
In the biggest armoured deployment in Damascus in the 17-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, infantry fighting vehicles took positions along the main thoroughfares of Midan, a strategic Sunni Muslim neighbourhood, as rebels withdrew to alleyways and sporadic fighting was reported, they said.	In the biggest armoured deployment in Damascus in the 17-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, infantry fighting vehicles took positions along the main thoroughfares of Midan, a strategic Sunni Muslim neighbourhood, as rebels withdrew to alleyways and sporadic fighting was reported, they said.
~~10.49am: A video (Arabic) purports to show Major-General Adnan Sillu, the former head of Syria's ~~former~~ chemical weapons programme, confirming his defection.~~	10.49am: A video (Arabic) purports to show Major-General Adnan Sillu, the former head of Syria's chemical weapons programme, confirming his defection.
The text accompanying the video says Sillu is now the head of the joint military leadership of the FSA.	The text accompanying the video says Sillu is now the head of the joint military leadership of the FSA.
10.19am: The Guardian's Moscow correspondent, Miriam Elder, has been sitting through the press conference given by the Russian foreign minister. She writes:	10.19am: The Guardian's Moscow correspondent, Miriam Elder, has been sitting through the press conference given by the Russian foreign minister. She writes:
Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, just wrapped up an hour long press conference, confirming that despite an increase in diplomatic activity, Russia's fundamental position on Syria hasn't changed.	Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, just wrapped up an hour long press conference, confirming that despite an increase in diplomatic activity, Russia's fundamental position on Syria hasn't changed.
Lavrov is due to host Kofi Annan tonight. Annan will then meet with Vladimir Putin, the president, tomorrow. Syrian opposition leaders were in Moscow last week.	Lavrov is due to host Kofi Annan tonight. Annan will then meet with Vladimir Putin, the president, tomorrow. Syrian opposition leaders were in Moscow last week.
Lavrov reiterated his stance that Russia is not taking sides in the conflict, but that it remains opposed to western intervention there. He lashed out at the west for blaming Russia and said that he saw "elements of blackmail" in threats that the UN observer mission in Syria, which Russia supports, would fail to see its mandate extended later this month if Moscow failed to agree to UN sanctions, which it has criticised.	Lavrov reiterated his stance that Russia is not taking sides in the conflict, but that it remains opposed to western intervention there. He lashed out at the west for blaming Russia and said that he saw "elements of blackmail" in threats that the UN observer mission in Syria, which Russia supports, would fail to see its mandate extended later this month if Moscow failed to agree to UN sanctions, which it has criticised.
10.13am: Hundreds of people have fled fierce fighting in the Syrian capital, activists have told Reuters:	10.13am: Hundreds of people have fled fierce fighting in the Syrian capital, activists have told Reuters:
Heavy clashes broke out between rebels and government forces in the Syrian capital Damascus for the second day running on Monday, forcing hundreds to flee, activists said. "There are clashes now in Midan and Zahera, two cars were burned," said one activist referring to two districts in Damascus.	Heavy clashes broke out between rebels and government forces in the Syrian capital Damascus for the second day running on Monday, forcing hundreds to flee, activists said. "There are clashes now in Midan and Zahera, two cars were burned," said one activist referring to two districts in Damascus.
Another activist said violence had also broken out in the city's southern district of Tadamon.	Another activist said violence had also broken out in the city's southern district of Tadamon.
Earlier in the morning columns of armoured vehicles were seen on the main road leading to Tadamon.	Earlier in the morning columns of armoured vehicles were seen on the main road leading to Tadamon.
Activists said Sunday's violence was the heaviest fighting in the capital since the start of the 17-month-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.	Activists said Sunday's violence was the heaviest fighting in the capital since the start of the 17-month-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.
10.05am: Damascus is not the only place where there are clashes between government troops and the rebel Free Syrian Army, according to the Local Coordination Committees activist group.	10.05am: Damascus is not the only place where there are clashes between government troops and the rebel Free Syrian Army, according to the Local Coordination Committees activist group.