Indicators are in the red, entrepreneurs are operating at a loss, and families are resorting to loans even to pay for weddings. High fuel costs are leading to illegal logging, and people are increasingly forced to forgo necessities. Despite warnings from the IMF, the banking lobby holds 90 per cent of account holders in a stranglehold.
The two car bombs exploded outside a police headquarters and a center of aviation. Yesterday from Geneva Kofi Annan held a videoconference with the UN Security Council. So far the answers to his Syrian mediation are "disappointing". Annan hopes to involve all the Security Council in an attempt to pacify the country by stopping the violence on both sides - the army and rebels - and creating a process of democratization in Syria.
In an interview with AsiaNews, Mgr. Mario Zenari, for the past three years nuncio in Damascus, described all the elements that make up the tangled skein of Syria. The deep division between Sunnis and Alawites (Shiites) and the growing hatred. The too fearful Christians must commit themselves to building a society where there is respect for man and his rights, equality for women, equality among all citizens, freedom of religion and of conscience. Being in Syria is a mission. At Homs a priest talks with the rebels and with the army to provide aid to the poor, to save the lives of the inhabitants, to bury the dead that nobody wants to touch. In a year of violence at least 800-900 children have been killed. The majority were shot in the streets by unknown snipers. Syria is changing and there's no turning back.
With Iran delivering medical aid and Saudi Arabia and Qatar willing to arm the rebels, Syria appears to be breaking up. A witness to the events, a Catholic priest describes the situation of communal hatred and fear but also the action of Christians and Muslims, working together to help the victims. The country's Churches are divided between blind support for Assad and non-violent opposition in favour of the rule of law and a state where Christians and Muslims are equal before the law.
Lawmakers vote symbolic resolution calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and the cancellation of the peace treaty with Israel. The call is a response to Israeli raids in Gaza. Sources tell AsiaNews that such moves exemplify the conceited populism of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafists.
The content has not yet been announced. Immediate ceasefire and the opening of a humanitarian corridor to protect the wounded in question. Assad announces parliamentary elections for next May 7. Borders with Turkey and Lebanon mined.
In 2011, there were 65 hangings, 19 in 2020 and 9 in 2009. With today's executions, the number of public executions rises to 15 this year. The United Nations calls for a moratorium and legal guarantees for the accused. Iran slams the West for using human rights to strike at the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The ceasefire came into effect last night in Gaza. The truce follows four days of Israeli shelling and Palestinian rocket launching that killed 25 and wounded 30.
The United States, the European Union and the Arab League want action against Assad, Russia and China do not, calling instead on both sides to accept a ceasefire. The death toll reaches 8,000 as the refugee count tops 230,000. Exiled Syrian activists call for a peaceful, not an armed struggle to undermine the regime.
The UN envoy leaves Syria without any agreement between President Assad and the rebels, but is optimistic for the future. Over 120 dead in two days of clashes in the city Idblid, Homs and Hama.
The Turkish foreign minister visits the Fanar: Turkey wants to show a change and more respect towards non-Muslim minorities. Discussions will focus on the situation of Christians in Syria, where fear for the future dominates. Turkey is among countries pushing for the fall of Assad.
New Delhi has arrested a journalist linked to an Iranian group over terrorist attacks against Israeli diplomats. But India still does not take sides in favor of Israel, against Iran.
Former UN Secretary General will meet President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus to negotiate a political solution to the civil war. For the rebel troops, only "a waste of time." Yesterday, violence around the country left more than 80 dead.
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