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Syria blast kills 13 as Russia bans civilian flights
[Pak Daily Times] A bombing in the heart of Damascus...Capital of the last remaining Baathist regime in the world... killed at least 13 people on Tuesday, as Russia banned its civilian planes from Syrian airspace after the crew of one reported coming under threat over the war-hit country. US President Barack Obama Republicans can come along for the ride, but they've got to sit in the back... , meanwhile, expressed concern ...meaning the brow was mildly wrinkled, the eyebrows drawn slightly together, and a thoughtful expression assumed, not that anything was actually done or indeed that any thought was actually expended... s over the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syria's regime in a telephone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin  ...Second President of the Russian Federation and the first to remain sober. Because of constitutionally mandated term limits he is the current Prime Minister of Russia. His sock puppet, Dmitry Medvedev, was installed in the 2008 presidential elections. Putin is credited with bringing political stability and re-establishing something like the rule of law. During his eight years in office Russia's economy bounced back from crisis, seeing GDP increase, poverty decrease and average monthly salaries increase. During his presidency Putin passed into law a series of fundamental reforms, including a flat income tax of 13%, a reduced profits tax, and new land and legal codes. Under Putin, a new group of business magnates controlling significant swathes of Russia's economy has emerged, all of whom have close personal ties to Putin. The old bunch, without close personal ties to Putin, are in jail or in exile...The kaboom in the Damascus district of Marjeh came a day after Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Haqi survived a boom-mobileing in an upscale neighbourhood of the capital. "The number of casualties in the cowardly terrorist blast targeting the commercial and historic centre of Damascus in the Marjeh district rose to 13 deaders and more than 70 injured," state television ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe? said, citing the interior ministry. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported "14 dead, including nine civilians and five members of the security forces, in a car kaboom near the old interior ministry headquarters." Official television channels aired footage of smoke billowing over the site of the kaboom, which blew out windows of cars, knocked off the bumpers of some and started fires. The windows of the interior ministry building were blown out and a commercial complex, Burj Dismshiq, was devastated. Uniformed and plainclothes security forces could be seen running near the scene, as residents fled. "Internationally financed and supported terrorism committed a terrible massacre against civilians," state television ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe? said. Mutilated bodies could be seen in the street, and at least one body wrapped in a white sheet was laid out alongside an ambulance. "What mistake have we committed? I was going to work. Look at the bodies. Is this the freedom they want?" a bystander told state media. On Monday, a boom-mobile targeted Haqi's convoy as it passed through Mazzeh neighbourhood, killing one of his bodyguards and five other people, said the Observatory. Halqi, appointed prime minister in August 2012 after his predecessor Riad Hijab defected to the opposition, is the latest in a growing list of regime officials to be targeted for liquidation. In July 2012, a suicide kaboom killed Syria's defence minister and deputy defence minister and seriously maimed the interior minister. As bloodshed continued unabated, Obama raised the issue of chemical weapons in a telephone call with his Russian counterpart Putin. "President B.O. and President Putin reviewed the situation in Syria, with President B.O. underscoring concern over Syrian chemical weapons," the White House said. Obama is under pressure because he warned last year the use or movement of chemical weapons by  Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad Light of the Alawites... 's forces would cross a US "red line". Key political players in Washington are now saying his credibility is on the line, though the White House is seeking more detailed intelligence into exactly how and when such weapons may have been used. Washington has been deeply frustrated that Russia has blocked tougher action in the UN Security Council, including sanctions, against its long-time ally Syria. On Tuesday, Russia's air transport agency banned all Russian civilian flights over Syria until further notice. The ban comes after the crew of a charter plane flying from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to the Russian city of Kazan on Monday said it had come under threat when it flew over Syria. The plane carrying 159 passengers said it detected "signs of combat actions" on the ground in Syria, Russian officials said without providing further details. Interfax news agency, citing a source in Moscow, said person or persons unknown fired two land-to-air missiles at the plane. The aircraft did not suffer any damage and landed in Kazan on time. The Observatory said air raids on Tuesday killed 15 people on the outskirts of Mennegh airport, near the northern city of Aleppo which rebels have been trying to capture for months. Warplanes also bombed the Jubar area of Damascus, and areas of Homs, Raqa and Latakia provinces. On Monday, at least 159 people were killed in nationwide violence, said the Observatory. Posted by: Fred 2013-05-01 |
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