Activists: Syrian warplanes, tanks pound rebel stronghold of Homs - Washington Post [getdailynow.blogspot.com]
BEIRUT â€" Syrian warplanes and artillery pounded the central city of Homs on Friday, subjecting the rebel stronghold to its heaviest bombardment in months, activists said.
The reported tank and mortar shelling as well as airstrikes come alongside a push by government force on another front, the embattled northern city of Aleppo.
Here is a look at some of the week’s best photographs from around the globe.
More World News
Authorities concerned about Imran Kahn’s plan to bring demonstrators to off-limits, Taliban-controlled territory.
A group of North Koreans visit Sweden to learn about the country’s economy
Millions of beer drinkers from around the world will ‘Prost’ in the Bavarian capital for the 179th Oktoberfest, which runs through Oct. 7.
The stepped-up pace of government attacks on Syrian cities suggests that the Damascus regime’s forces have not been distracted by escalating tensions with its northern neighbor, Turkey. Ankara’s parliament on Thursday authorized cross-border military operations after a Syrian shell killed five civilians on Turkish territory the day before.
Syria has attempted to defuse the situation, and a Turkish Foreign Ministry official said Friday that Syria has pulled tanks and other military equipment away from the border with Turkey since Wednesday to remove the “perception of threat.†He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations.
Also Friday, amateur video posted by activists showed what appeared to be a Syrian government helicopter hurtling to the ground with a trail of white smoke behind it. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a network of local activists, said it was told by rebels fighters that they shot down the helicopter over Saqba, a town east of Damascus.
Syria imposes tight restrictions on foreign journalists, and the video and rebel claims could not be confirmed independently.
In another development, an activist said rebels captured an air defense base in the Eastern Ghouta area near Damascus earlier this week.
A video showed dozens of gunmen outside a building where smoke is billowing. One of the gunmen says that a “missile air defense battalion†was captured. Another clip showed missiles inside a room.
Activist Mohammed Saeed, who is based in the Damascus suburb of Douma, said rebels captured the base on Monday, but the videos were released late Thursday, three days after the operation. They gave no reason for the delay.
The rebels did not give any other evidence that would confirm the seizure of the base, or identify the location of the video. If confirmed, the capture of a stock of working anti-aircraft missiles would be a boost to a lightly-armed force that says it faces frequent attacks by low-flying helicopters and warplanes.
Homs has been one of the flashpoints of the 18-month old uprising against Assad’s regime. The focus of fighting has shifted to other areas in recent months, including Aleppo, since a government offensive against rebel strongholds in Homs slowed down in April.
The Observatory said Friday’s attack is the worst Homs has seen in five months. The Observatory, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said the bombardment had hit the city’s Khaldiya neighborhood.
“Around dawn, the regime went crazy and started shelling hysterically,†a Homs-based activist known as Abu Rami told The Associated Press via Skype on Friday. “An average of five rockets a minute are falling.†Abu Rami was speaking from the central rebel-held old quarter known as Old Homs. He asked to be identified by his nickname for fear of regime reprisal.
Find More Activists: Syrian warplanes, tanks pound rebel stronghold of Homs - Washington Post Issues Question by Cynthia: What did William Blackstone mean when he said, "A free press is essential to a free state."? What did William Blackstone mean when he said, "A free press is essential to a free state." Im having trouble interpreting it. I just need a short answer to what he meant. This was under the civil liberties chapter in my government book by the way. Best answer for What did William Blackstone mean when he said, "A free press is essential to a free state."?:
Answer by ateitelb
Freedom of the press (first amendment.) It means that in order to be a free country, the press must be allowed to criticize the government.
Answer by johninjc
It meant that if the press is not free to let the people know what the politicians are doing, the politicians can keep the people in the dark and do all kinds of things. The press is suppose to report to the people what is going on, if the press is not free to do so then the people do not get the information. If the government controls what you hear then you would never hear of the bad things that are happening. Pretty simple really.
Armin Van Buuren - A State of Trance 490 [06.01.2011] HDwww.arminvanbuuren.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment