Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Russia signals to Syria's Assad to stay silent on re-election (Reuters)
(Reuters) - A Russian diplomat signalled on Thursday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should refrain from statements suggesting he might seek re-election because it could fuel tension before planned peace talks.
Russia has been Assad's most important international ally during Syria's civil war, but the remarks by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov to Interfax news agency appeared to be a rare public criticism of Assad by Moscow.
Assad told Syria's Al Mayadeen television in October that he had no intention of quitting, despite pressure to do so from the United States and rebels fighting government forces. He also saw no obstacles to being nominated for a new term.
"Such rhetorical statements affect the atmosphere and do not make the situation any calmer," Bogdanov was quoted as saying.
Looking ahead to an international peace conference which is planned on Syria next month in Geneva, he said: "Our position is that ahead of the start of negotiations, there should be no remarks that could displease anyone or provoke emotions and a response. They should rather be avoided."
Bogdanov has been involved in preparations for the peace talks that are due to start in Geneva on Jan 22.
Russia has blocked Western-backed efforts to condemn Assad at the U.N. Security Council or to push him out of power. Moscow says it is not trying to prop up Assad but that his departure cannot be a precondition for peace moves.
Al-Qaida-linked group accused of torture in areas of Syria, says Amnesty (The Guardian)
Among documented victims of ISIS are children as young as 13 who have been subjected to repeated floggings and other abuses, while eight-year-olds have been detained.
In a report prepared by Amnesty International the group is charged with running a regime of terror in the secret prisons that it operates both in al-Raqqa governorate and in Aleppo which it operates under its own version of sharia law.
Detailing violence against minors, the reports describes the case of one child whom ISIS had accused of stealing a motorbike who was flogged 30 or 40 times a day for several days.
It also detailed cases of death penalties being handed down in hearings at sharia courts lasting less than a minute.
In one of the most chilling parts of the report, witnesses described the ISIS judge's practice of sitting in judgment wearing an explosive suicide belt at the Sadd al-Ba'ath prison at al-Mansura. The group accuses the judge of a reign of terror over the prison's detainees.
Among those held in the ISIS prisons are known to be a number of foreign journalists kidnapped by the group.
The report comes amid growing concern among western diplomats over the rising strength of Islamist groups among the Syrian opposition, which now threaten to eclipse the Free Syrian Army.
Identifying seven separate prisons run by the group, and accusing it of abuses amounting to war crimes, Amnesty called on states in the Gulf whose citizens are backing ISIS – and Turkey – to take action to prevent the flow of arms and recruits to the jihadi group.
People who had been held at ISIS detention centres told Amnesty researchers of a shocking catalogue of violence including beatings with cables.
Some of those held by ISIS were suspected of theft or other crimes, while others were accused of "crimes" against Islam, such as smoking cigarettes or sex outside marriage. Amnesty International's Middle East and north Africa director, Philip Luther, said: "After years in which they were prey to the brutality of the al-Assad regime, the people of al-Raqqa and Aleppo are now suffering under a new form of tyranny imposed on them by ISIS, in which arbitrary detention, torture and executions have become the order of the day.
"Gulf states that have voiced support for the armed groups fighting against the Syrian government should take action to prevent arms flows, equipment or other support reaching ISIS in view of its appalling human rights record."
He added: "The Turkish government, in particular, should prevent its territory being used by ISIS to bring in arms and recruits to Syria."
PM stresses importance of Syrian experts in developing national establishments (SANA NEWS)
Damascus, (SANA) – Prime Minister, Wel al-Halqi, stressed the importance of making use of Syrian experts in developing the work of national establishments in light of the administrative and economic reform process which was launched by the government.
During a ceremony held on the occasion of graduating the 9th batch of the National Institute for Public Management students, the Prime Minister hailed the role of the institute in preparing the administrative cadres, stressing that the government is interested in the students who have graduated from the institute as a basic step in the comprehensive institutional and administrative reform process in Syria.
Al-Halqi reiterated the government's commitment to combating terrorism and providing the requirements of the Syrian people's steadfastness.
He added that the government has allocated SYP 615 billion in the general budget for 2014 in addition to SYP 50 billion for reconstruction.
ICSR : Thousands of foreigners fight in Syria
Most of them had fought for al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, two groups linked to al Qaeda.
The Centre said “we estimate that - from late 2011 to 10 December 2013 - between 3,300 and 11,000 individuals have gone to Syria to fight .These figures include those who are currently present (in Syria) as well as those who have since returned home, been arrested or killed”.
The report showed that Arabs and Europeans made up the bulk of foreign fighters, with up to 80 per cent, but militants from southeast Asia, North America, Africa, the Balkans and countries of the former Soviet Union were also represented.
Western Europeans, with the largest contingents from France and Britain, represent up to 18 per cent of the foreign fighters in Syria. Up to 70 percent were from the Middle East.
