Articles
Cutting off Syrian state television
Cutting off Syrian state television
September 11, 2012
Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo on Wednesday agreed that the Arab world's two leading satellites would no longer host Syrian satellite channels. The move effectively curbs a major component of the Assad regime's propaganda arm, as the channels are to varying degrees pro-government.Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi called on the ministers to "intensify efforts to bring about an end to the Syrian tragedy."
Meanwhile, the Egyptian press reports 85 injuries following clashes between demonstrators in front of the Syrian embassy in Cairo Tuesday night and Egyptian security forces stationed in front of the building.
Syrian target practice
What appears to be a leaked video provides a view from inside Syrian tanks: Syrian soldiers laugh about shelling residential homes at an unknown location. The firing starts at 1:58. What is audible is the soldier who is filming shouting to the other one: "Come on, boss – you did it, boss!..."
Then you see the two of them giggling after the officer in command fires a couple of shells. "A four-story building .. actually there were more than four... it has now been destroyed completely," the filming officer says as more shells are being loaded into the canon. The sound drops about three minutes in.
Security measures while weapons on sale
The UAE’s official news agency WAM is touting its security measures ahead of the Hunting and Equestrian Expo in Abu Dhabi, during which weapons will be available for sale. Security is working around the clock, said Col. Hamid al-Afreet, the head of security for the event.
Applicants for gun ownership will be thoroughly screened, the colonel said, with the agency adding that the attention to security “shows the civilized face of the Emirates and its ability to organize and secure such international events that require great expertise and accuracy in performance.”
Col. al-Afreet also urged gun owners to take safety precautions while cleaning their weapons by removing live ammunition before cleaning them.
Bahraini youths protest opposition verdict
Dozens of Bahraini youths threw stones and Molotov cocktails at security forces in overnight clashes following an appeals court verdict upholding life sentences in prison for 13 opposition leaders. The demonstrators set fire to tires and garbage cans, and carried banners and chanted slogans (“Down with [King] Hamad”) to protest the verdict.
Syrian target practice
What appears to be a leaked video provides a view from inside Syrian tanks: Syrian soldiers laugh about shelling residential homes at an unknown location. The firing starts at 1:58. What is audible is the soldier who is filming shouting to the other one: "Come on, boss – you did it, boss!..."
Then you see the two of them giggling after the officer in command fires a couple of shells. "A four-story building .. actually there were more than four... it has now been destroyed completely," the filming officer says as more shells are being loaded into the canon. The sound drops about three minutes in.
Security measures while weapons on sale
The UAE’s official news agency WAM is touting its security measures ahead of the Hunting and Equestrian Expo in Abu Dhabi, during which weapons will be available for sale. Security is working around the clock, said Col. Hamid al-Afreet, the head of security for the event.
Applicants for gun ownership will be thoroughly screened, the colonel said, with the agency adding that the attention to security “shows the civilized face of the Emirates and its ability to organize and secure such international events that require great expertise and accuracy in performance.”
Col. al-Afreet also urged gun owners to take safety precautions while cleaning their weapons by removing live ammunition before cleaning them.
Bahraini youths protest opposition verdict
Dozens of Bahraini youths threw stones and Molotov cocktails at security forces in overnight clashes following an appeals court verdict upholding life sentences in prison for 13 opposition leaders. The demonstrators set fire to tires and garbage cans, and carried banners and chanted slogans (“Down with [King] Hamad”) to protest the verdict.