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Egypt, Hazemoun member sentenced to life imprisonment
La Corte Penale del cairo ha confermato la sentenza precedentemente emessa in contumacia contro Ahmed Arafa, un membro del gruppo Hazemoun, sostenitore del predicatore salafita Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, detenuto ed ex candidato alla presidenza, con l’accusa di possesso di un’arma da fuoco e di munizioni senza licenza. Il predicatore islamista Hazem Salah Abu Ismail – ex agitatore di folle e già candidato alle presidenziali – era il ledaer del movimento degli attivisti islamici ultraconservatori, ‘Hazemoon’.Quest’ultimo gruppo, accusato di ‘fanatismo’, è sostenuto anche dal leader di Al Qaeda Al- Zawahiri. Hazemoun aveva pubblicato un video in cui si spiegava, dettagliatamente, le motivazioni che spingono il gruppo fondamentalista ad abbracciare la causa di Abu Ismail in Egitto, sottolineando ancora una volta che “la rivoluzione egiziana avrà successo solo con l’applicazione della legge islamica nella vita di tutte le persone”.
Arafa was also charged with forming an armed terrorist organization called “Ahrar,” along with six others. The defendants testified that it wasn’t a terrorist group but a movement aiming to “counter military rule, calling for the return of civilian rule with an Islamist reference.”
Arafa faced retrial after he was caught by the police.
He was initially arrested on 19 December of last year in Nasr city, while in possession of an automatic weapon and shots. He was referred to prosecution, which released him pending the case.
The case was then referred to court and he was sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia until he was arrested again and retried.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
South Sudan army defectors are in control of Bor: SPLA
L’Esercito del Sud Sudan (SPLA) ha riconosciuto che “non controlla la cittadina di Bor” dopo che le forze fedeli al Generale Peter Gatdet Yak hanno invaso le basi militari il martedì e conquistato la città mercoledì sera (ieri). Il portavoce del SPLA, il colonnello Philip Aguer, ha dichiarato che l’esercito nazionale si riunisce per impostare la prossima mossa, alla luce della crescente preoccupazione internazionale per la situazione umanitaria nella capitale dello stato di Jongeli.
Earlier today, South Sudan army said that Gen. Gadet, who was a commander in charge of the SPLA’s 8th Division in Jonglei state, has defected from its ranks.
He reportedly broke off from the national army ranks on allegations that his tribe, the Nuer, have been targeted in the current tension.
Over the weekend clashes erupted in Juba between among units of the presidential guards from competing tribes of Dinka and Nuer. The fighting spread throughout the city which lead to the death of at least 500 people with hundreds more injured.
On Monday, Kiir appeared on TV to declare that his former deputy Riek Machar, who hails from the Nuer tribe, staged a coup attempt along with other prominent South Sudanese officials who were part of the government and are leading figures in the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
Observers and independent analysts have expressed fears that Gadet’s defection could complicate the security situation in Jonglei where government forces have been battling to exert full control in areas where rebel David Yau has remained active since 2012.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a news release today that the “security conditions in the Jonglei State capital of Bor have deteriorated significantly during the course of the day”.
“UNMISS has received reports that heavy fighting erupted in the city in the wee hours of this morning and continued for four hours. The violence triggered an exodus of civilians out of Bor, and thousands have sought shelter at the Mission’s compound on the southeastern outskirts of the city” the statement said.
“As is the case in Juba, UNMISS is providing water, sanitation facilities and medical care to civilians who have taken refuge in its Bor compound. A limited number of tents have been erected to house some of these civilians. Late this afternoon, UNMISS staff members reported that heavy weapons fire erupted in a neighborhood of Bor about a kilometer away from the Mission’s compound”.
In Bor, residents fled to nearby bushes and swampy areas across the Nile River.
One resident, still hiding within the town, told Sudan Tribune by phone on Thursday that “a huge building is burning in the market” raising possibility of looting and destruction in Bor trader center of Maror.
Jonglei acting governor John Kong Nyuon, who arrived to Bor Wednesday evening from Juba, is said to be taking refuge in UNMISS camp while a number of senior state officials have reportedly fled the town with civilians.
South Sudan Red Cross said at least 19 bodies were found on Wednesday bringing the death toll to 22 when three children who perished in a boat capsizing in Nile River are included.
Source Sudan Tribune
Syria’s devastation by the numbers
Gli attivisti dell’opposizione siriana hanno celebrato i primi “1.000 giorni della Rivoluzione” con immagini e videoclip che ricordano le manifestazioni dai primi giorni della rivoluzione, dando così un quadro roseo del movimento popolare. Ma la realtà sul terreno è diversa. E ‘un quadro desolante di sangue e rovina che ha portato a una spaccatura sociale che può richiedere molto tempo per guarire.
A thousand days have passed in Syria, during which time armed groups have emerged trying to divide up among themselves the areas outside government control. Radical groups have set up their own fiefdoms. Jihadists of different nationalities roam the streets of Syrian cities as they dream of entering “paradise” through the Syrian gate. Children have started carrying weapons and warlords are taking part in the devastation.
There’s a story that in Homs a child has died from the cold. And there’s another story that land in the east has become polluted by oil. Now the wheat-producing region is hungry and looking for a loaf of bread. It is trembling from the cold. And its sons, its wealth and its 7,000-year-old civilization are being bled dry.
The figures may help showcase the depth of the Syrian wound. According to a recent study by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the Syrian refugees are “the fastest-growing refugee population in the world. If this pace continues, they will be the world’s largest contemporary refugee population by the end of 2013.”
The Syrians are being spread out throughout the world, where they are put up in tents that do not protect from the summer’s heat or from winter storms such as Alexa.
The report describes the situation of the Syrians by saying, “By the first half of 2013, the population of Syria had been hollowed out by 8% and more than a third (36.9%) left their normal place of residence, while 1.73 million refugees fled the country, [an additional] 1.37 million emigrated and a further 4.8 million people have been internally displaced.”
The report, titled “War on Development” and conducted by the Syrian Center for Policy Research on behalf of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), tries to draw a picture of the Syrian situation using numbers. It shows that “more than half the population now live in poverty, with 7.9 million people having become poor since the beginning of the crisis, of whom 4.4 million now live in extreme poverty.” It shows that the unemployment rate has reached 48.6% and more than 2.33 million people have lost their jobs, which means that the livelihood of nearly 10 million people is in danger.
Regarding the Syrian casualties, the report said: “The appalling loss of human life is the most horrendous aspect of the armed conflict. Conflict-related deaths grew by 67% in the first half of 2013, reaching an estimated 100,000 deaths over the course of the conflict. It is estimated that another 400,000 people have been maimed or injured during the conflict. Thus, more than 2% of the population has been killed, maimed or wounded.”
About the educational situation, the report said: “Education is in the midst of a silent disaster. The school dropout rate reached 49%, indicating that almost half of all Syrian school children are no longer being formally educated. At the same time, the educational system lost almost 3,000 schools as a result of damage and destruction, while another 683 provide shelter for internally displaced persons. There is also a shortage of teachers as thousands have joined the throng of refugees and internally displaced persons.”
In the health sector, the report said: “Some 57 hospitals are damaged and 37 are out of service, while 593 primary care centers — which are the main source of medicines to the chronically ill — are affected; 359 centers are out of service, 203 are unsafe and 31 are damaged.” The report also said that in July 2013 there were about 4,000 persons per doctor, compared to 661 persons per doctor in 2010.
On the economic front, the picture is not much better. The report points out that the Syrian economy is facing the disintegration of the industrial sector and the flight of investment on a large scale due to the closing of businesses, bankruptcy, capital migration, looting and destruction. Total economic losses have reached $103.1 billion by the second quarter of 2013, which is equivalent to 174% of gross domestic product in 2010. The report added: “As the formal economy has imploded, there has been a growth in informality, rent-seeking activities, criminal enterprise and economies of violence that will plague post-conflict economic regulation, reform, equity and development.”
The above is just a small inventory of the first 1,000 days of the Syrian revolution. This period has carried with it a lot of pain and brought Syria back to the Middle Ages. These 1,000 days have left no family without a martyr or someone injured. They have been more like 1,000 years. In those 1,000 days, Syria has seen cannibals, those who kill on the basis of identity and refugees packed in tents. Those 1,000 days have turned Syria into a football being kicked among the nations, pending the Geneva II conference — which is supposed to close this bleeding wound — that, if it stops bleeding, will leave scars that will last for a long time.
Source Al-Monitor
Ain Shams Brotherhood students en route to Defense Ministry, Azhar students storm faculties
Centinaia di studenti dell’Università di Ain Shams de Il Cairo, affiliati ai Fratelli Musulmani, stanno bloccando oggi pomeriggio la strada al-Khalifa al-Mamoun, verso il ministero della Difesa, immobilizzando il traffico. La manifestazione é stata organizzata dopo che si é diffusa la notizia che il deposto presidente egiziano Mohamed Morsi, esponente dei Fratelli Musulmani esautorato dai militari a luglio, sarà processato anche per presunte accuse di ‘spionaggio’ e ‘cospirazione con forze straniere’.
Verbal tussles erupted between drivers and students.
The students aimed to voice their demands of releasing detained students and eliminating police presence on campus.
On Sunday, clashes erupted between police and Ain Shams University students, affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood, near the Defense Ministry.
Police used water hoses from fire engines to disperse the students ahead of firing teargas bombs on students, who in turn responded by hurling stones.
In related news, Azhar students also affiliated with the MB stormed the university’s Faculty of Agriculture. Clashes erupted among them and with others opposing their on-campus protests.
Meanwhile, female Brotherhood students at Azhar University closed the Faculty of Engineering and assembled before the female branches of the Faculties of Medicine and Commerce to express the same demands.
On Monday, Legal Adviser to Al-Azhar University Mustafa al-Argawy said eight university professors were referred to investigation over preaching to students about political matters that fall under the charges of clear incitement to violence and rioting.
“They were videotaped while inciting students to riot,” Argawy told the satellite channel Mehwar. “The statements they used to incite violence included ‘stick to your beliefs,’ ‘defend your religion’ and ‘be [strong] men,’” Argawy said.
Source Egypt Independent
Iran inaugurates powerful long-range radar system
L’agenzia di stampa iraniana Fars ha annunciato che l’Iran ha acquisito un sistema radar di nuova concezione, con funzioni di rilevamento avanzate. “Il radar è complementare al sistema radar inaugurato il 1 settembre e la sua manutenzione è molto semplice” ha dichiarato il comandante della base aerea di Khatam ol-Anbia, il generale di brigata Farzad Esmayeeli. Esmayeeli ha spiegato detto che il nuovo sistema Arash aumenta la potenza del radar in tutte le bande di frequenza VHF , UHF e HF e sarà il sistema di rete radar integrato più potente per la guerra elettronica . ” Il radar ha un’alta capacità di individuare e identificare gli obiettivi”, ha aggiunto, rifiutando di rivelare ulteriori dati o informazioni circa i dettagli del nuovo scudo di difesa aerea.
Iran’s state TV is saying Tehran has inaugurated a powerful new long-range radar system capable of detecting small drone aircraft.
Gen. Farzad Esmaili, head of Iran’s air defense headquarters, told the station that the system is named Arash, after a mythical Iranian hero. He said the radar will work on all UHF, VHF and HF frequencies and will improve Tehran’s ability to engage in electronic warfare.
Iran frequently announces breakthroughs in military technology that are impossible to independently verify.
The Islamic Republic launched an arms development program during its 1980-88 war with Iraq. Since 1992, it has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles, torpedoes, drones and fighter planes.
Egypt: the nuances of writing a constitution
La seconda settimana del prossimo gennaio il progetto egiziano di Costituzione sarà sottoposto a referendum pubblico. Fino ad allora il progetto verrà accuratamente esaminato, sezionato, e valutato.
Anba Pola, vescovo di Tanta, rappresenta la Chiesa ortodossa copta nel Comitato che ha scritto il progetto di Costituzione, in questa intervista spiega le difficoltà incontrate durante la redazione.
Anba Pola, vescovo di Tanta, rappresenta la Chiesa ortodossa copta nel Comitato che ha scritto il progetto di Costituzione, in questa intervista spiega le difficoltà incontrate durante la redazione.
There has been recent debate over claims made by a number of members of the Committee of the Fifty that the wording of the Preamble of the Draft Constitution underwent a last minute change before printing the draft, thus changing the wording approved by the committee. It was claimed that “civil rule” was changed into “civil government”. How does this affect the draft?
First, we should not turn a wedding into a funeral because of one word. We are all celebrating; why call the bride ugly? This whole issue has been overblown by the media.
The explicit mention of Egypt as a ‘civil State’ was never made in previous constitutions because this was then an implicit given. Once Egypt experienced a year [from June 2012 to June 2013] under Islamist rule by the Muslim Brothers (MB), which Egyptians overthrew last July, the fact that the country might come under the power of non-civil forces became all too real. It became obvious then that the Constitution must stipulate the civil nature of Egypt. Since the Islamists in the committee objected to that, discussion of the issue was pushed—together with a few other highly controversial issues—to the last minute in order to avoid a climate of conflict.
It was finally decided to mention “civil rule” in the Preamble, and also to define sharia, Islamic law which the Constitution stipulates as the main source of legislation, to be the historically proved, unambiguous interpretations of sharia. We also decided that it was the responsibility of the Supreme Constitutional Court, not any religious authority, to define shariain the legal system. The Church and the seculars were adamant that sharia should not be left to questionable interpretations, and we succeeded in that.
Since national interest and inclusion of all Egyptian sectors is our top priority, we were at one point willing to forego the mention of “civil State” in the Preamble, since the Constitution in its entirety secures the civil nature of the State. However, the Mufti suggested the phrase “civil rule” to which everyone agreed.
On voting day the head of the committee, Amr Moussa, read the text as “civil government” and explained that it meant civil rule. This brought about murmurs among the members, but they voted for it. When the final draft was printed after the vote, the phrase read “civil government”. Mr Moussa was under pressure to edit the phrase, but he decided to leave it as is.
Where does Mr Moussa stand after that change?
Mr Moussa understands the situation and his patriotic intentions are beyond doubt. He made a sincere effort to reach consensus, so I see that the change of phrase might have been to achieve balance. I would prefer the original phrase, but if it leads to problems we can skip the whole issue because of the Constitution’s many positive aspects. We have written a constitution that takes into account all Egyptians; it was completed by consensus.
But the 30 June Revolution slogan was all about recovering Egypt as a civil State?
The civil State provisions are enshrined in all the articles, even if not so unambiguously in the Preamble.
The Salafis have said they are content with the Draft Constitution, even though they opposed much of it before. How do you see the change in the Salafi position?
The Salafis see things in the perspective of their own interests, which is perfectly normal. What matters is the final result, and they have supported the Draft Constitution.
I respect the representatives of the Salafis, although they are religiously extreme and hold an opinion about Christianity that does not regard Christians as equal. I respect them because they are not double-faced. They are opposite of the MB. They don’t stand up for the national anthem or for a minute of silence to mourn the death of anyone, but this is their belief.
Was there conflict between the Church and al-Azhar?
Al-Azhar is a venerable Islamic institution of international standing and renown. It leads Muslims just as the Church leads Christians. Despite our differences, we—the Church and al-Azhar—agree on everything that helps rebuild Egypt and doesn’t negatively affect any of us.
The conflict was about considering al-Azhar the reference to interpret the principles of sharia law, because that should be the job of the Constitutional Court. After negotiations we decided to make al-Azhar the “reference for Islamic affairs” which the Sheikh of al-Azhar said denotes matters that relate to religion and al-Azhar.
The third article says that ‘Christians and Jews’—as opposed to ‘non-Muslims’ in general—have the right to apply their own doctrines to their family laws and choice of their religious leaders? This aroused much debate.
Our first proposal was to cite ‘non-Muslims’ in their entirety not only Christians and Jews. Al-Azhar, however, insisted on rejecting this on account of religious reasons, and when al-Azhar objects this means that so will all Muslims. So we discussed the issue again and agreed to “Christians and Jews”.
How can the word ‘civil State’ be real when the second article in the Constitution sets Islam as the State religion, Arabic its language, and Islamic ++sharia++ as the main source of legislation?
We have to look to the Constitution as a whole. The Preamble states that Egypt “embraced the Holy Virgin Mary and her Son”, and that Egyptians “offered thousands of martyrs to defend the Church of Jesus Christ”. This is a first for an Egyptian Constitution, the first acknowledgement of Christian martyrs and of ‘Jesus Christ’ not His Islamic denotation as Eissa the son of Mariam. It also includes Pope Shenouda’s famous quote: “Egypt is not a country we live in, but a country that lives in us.” In reference to the 30 June Revolution, it states: “…with the blessing of al-Azhar and the national Church.” So the Constitution speaks of Christians as an original part of this country.
There are also articles which criminalise discrimination, stipulate absolute freedom of belief, and specify legislating a modern law for building churches.
If we say that the Constitution is for all Egyptians, where does it stand on non-Muslim, non-Christian, and non-Jewish Egyptians, as Baha’is for instance?
Baha’is in Egypt have already gained some benefits including the right to legal papers that leave the religious box vacant instead of citing them as Muslim. But they still face countless problems, mainly on the social level. This can only be dealt with through better public awareness, education, and acceptance of the other.
How do you see the Islamist threats of violence once the Constitution is put to the vote?
A Christian doesn’t fear. He stood with his Muslim fellow citizen to defend the country during and after the 30 June Revolution. Copts were brutally attacked by the Islamists, and their homes, businesses, property and churches looted and burnt. The Islamist threats can’t defeat the Constitution.
Does the positive discrimination for marginalised sectors cited in the Constitution guarantee Copts a quota in parliament?
From Day One we have rejected a quota for Copts. Just look at Lebanon for an example of what may happen if the community is sectorised. But we also reject ignoring or marginalising Copts, or women and young people. We also rejected the practice of the appointment of Coptic MPs by the president of the republic, because the number of appointees was in all cases non-representative of the volume of Copts in general, and because an appointed MP doesn’t have full authority. Besides, the appointed member is loyal to whoever appoints him, not to the people.
So how can positive discrimination be applied?
There are many ways. If we speak about the individual system in elections, constituencies could be smaller, and a seat may be allocated for the marginalised sectors. With the slate system, the chances are even better, because the lists may be made to include a Copt, a woman, and a peasant for instance.
How about positive discrimination in jobs?
In this regard we need equality and anti-discrimination measures not positive discrimination.
The Constitution allows for presidential elections ahead of parliamentary elections. This contradicts the Roadmap for Egypt’s future drawn by the country’s civilian and military leaders last July. What do you think of that?
I had been strongly against tampering with the Roadmap. But now that the security situation in Egypt is far from stable, I think that it is better to hold the presidential elections first. Presidential elections include a limited number of nominees, but parliamentary elections involve thousands of candidates. We need a president first.
Source Watani International
Militia withdrawal “so slow it has almost stopped”: Elbadri
Il processo di ritiro delle milizie dalle aree urbane libiche sta avvenendo così lentamente, che si é quasi fermato, Sadat Elbadri, ha dichiarato il capo del Consiglio locale di Tripoli, Sadat Elbadri, denunciando lo stop del ritiro agli altri capi dei Consigli libici riunitisi a Tripoli. Il 15 novembre scorso almeno 45 persone sono morte e più di 500 ferite in seguito agli scontri avvenuti nel quartiere Ghargour di Tripoli, quando uomini armati hanno aperto il fuoco contro un gruppo di manifestanti che chiedevano maggiore sicurezza nella capitale libica. Più precisamente, la manifestazione era stata indetta per chiedere l’evacuazione da Tripoli delle milizie al-Nusour, provenienti da Misurata e protagoniste di numerosi episodi di violenza. L’elevato bilancio delle vittime e la criticità della situazione hanno messo in luce tutte le fragilità delle nuove istituzioni libiche. Oltretutto, il giorno successivo, nuovi scontri si sono verificati a Tajoura, alla periferia della capitale, tra milizie locali e quelle provenienti da Misurata, mentre un’altra milizia, questa volta governativa, conosciuta come Libya Shield si è assicurata il controllo di Ghargour riuscendo ad allontanare dalla capitale le brigate al-Nusour. Come appare evidente anche da altri numerosi episodi di violenza all’interno del paese, la situazione risulta oramai fuori controllo. Il fenomeno delle “Kataeb” (brigate, milizie armate), costituite su base localistica è oramai una realtà affermata in Libia sin dallo scoppio della guerra civile e non è stata eliminata nemmeno dopo la caduta di Gheddafi. Ciò si accompagna a una particolare struttura sociale del paese, contraddistinta da una frammentazione tribale molto accentuata, una costante della storia libica. Il fenomeno della frammentazione caratterizza, tuttavia, anche altri settori della vita del paese, sollevando fondati timori per una possibile esplosione della Libia.
Elbadri, told a forum representing 34 local councils: “We need the government to solve the problems of citizens as soon as possible. The individual wants to see something tangible achieved on the ground which touches his life.”
He commented that Law 27 for the removal of militias had been implemented too slowly, to the point that it has almost stopped. He added that the presence of heavy weapons has caused social as well as security problems.
The forum, which was attended by delegates from virtually all local councils except Misrata, discussed the general security situation and the need to strengthen border protection.
The council leaders also welcomed the local elections with are now under way on a rolling system which will be completed in February. They called them”an important step to transform revolution into the formation of a state and face future challenges.”
Source Libya Herald
Car bomb, rockets target Hezbollah stronghold
Hezbollah sotto attacco in Libano: due soldati e un civile sono rimasti feriti ieri in attacchi missilistici su Hermel, chiara escalation di violenze legate alla guerra siriana. Sei razzi lanciati dalla Siria hanno colpito la città libanese nel pomeriggio di ieri, ferendo due soldati e un civile. Due gruppi sunniti hanno dichiarato congiuntamente la responsabilità dell’attacco, citando il coinvolgimento militare di Hezbollah in Siria.. L’esercito libanese ha confermato l’attacco, dicendo che uno dei razzi ha colpito una caserma nel quartiere di alle 16:30 ferendo due soldati e causando danni materiali.
The wounded soldiers were identified as Rabih Francis and Hussein al-Musawi. Both were both taken to hospital for treatment, the sources said.
Sweydan Nasreddine, a Hermel resident, was wounded when one rocket fell some 200 meters from the Army barracks, the sources said.
Areas struck by rockets included the Bditat and Morh areas, according to the sources. One rocket also hit close to Hermel’s Serail, falling just 200 meters from the government building, they added.
Rockets fired from Syrian territories have frequently targeted the east of the country this year.
Two Syrian rebel groups jointly claimed responsibility for the rocket fire: “The Nusra Front in Lebanon and the Marwan Hadid Brigades announce the targeting of strongholds of Iran’s party [Hezbollah] with 10 Grad-type rockets in the Hermel region,” they said in statement linked to on Twitter.
They added: “Hezbollah’s military intervention in Syria, the continued killing and detention of Sunni youths in Lebanon,” had prompted the attack.
The Marwan Hadid Brigades has already claimed responsibility for several rocket attacks on Hermel this year.
The attack came the same day as an explosives-laden vehicle went off near a Hezbollah post in the country’s northeast in the early hours of the morning.
Images of the site showed four burned-out vehicles, their frames mangled, strewn across a barren area near the village of Sbouba in the Bekaa Valley.
Multiple versions of what happened have emerged.
Security sources said Hezbollah fighters in a convoy were attempting to intercept the vehicle when it exploded near where the group maintains a station for rotating fighters.
The car bomb wounded at least two of the party’s fighters, the sources said.
The vehicle was rigged with 50 kilograms of explosives and was likely detonated remotely as the Hezbollah fighters approached, the sources said.
A judicial source, citing a preliminary investigation, said the vehicle used in the explosion was a Kia Cerato and had been stolen from somewhere in the Bekaa Valley.
Hezbollah cordoned off the area soon after the explosion, the source said, adding that when Military Police arrived at the scene they found several body parts and cement blocks.
Locals said Hezbollah had removed the bodies of victims before the arrival of the military. The Daily Star war unable to confirm whether there were any deaths.
Another security source said that more than 10 fighters were wounded in the attack, with Al-Jadeed TV reporting that at least one of the injured men was in a grave condition.
Military Police were reportedly collecting DNA samples to identify the body parts and determine whether a suicide bomber was involved.
Hezbollah took away two convoy vehicles that had only been slightly damaged, the source said.
The source said the cement blocks at the site were from the Hezbollah post, suggesting the station may have been the target of the attack.
In a brief statement, the Lebanese Army said that a Jeep Grand Cherokee blew up on the road to Sbouba, northwest of Baalbek, at 2:50 a.m., damaging a number of vehicles.
In its evening report on the incident, Hezbollah’s Al-Manar said that around 3:30 a.m. members of the party in a convoy of five vehicles spotted a suspicious car parked on the side of the road as they were making their way to the rotation station.
A man stepped out of the vehicle as soon as the convoy approached and the car was then remotely detonated, the television station said.
Suspecting an ambush, Hezbollah members opened fire and launched a hunt for the driver, the station said, adding that there were casualties. Hezbollah has been targeted on numerous occasions over its role in Syria, where it is fighting alongside forces loyal to President Bashar Assad against rebels.
The attack is a grave security breach of the party’s political, popular and military apparatus. The area is home to several Hezbollah camps and the road where the car bomb exploded is frequently used by the party’s military vehicles, suggesting that extensive surveillance preceded the attack.
President Michel Sleiman described the attacks in Sbouba and Hermel as the latest attempt to import terrorism into Lebanon.
He urged Lebanon to “continue fighting terrorism and confronting it with all strength,” and said the people should rally around the military and security forces.
South Sudan ex-VP denies coup attempt, calls Kiir ‘illegal president’
L’ex vice presidente del Sud Sudan, Riek Machar ha categoricamente smentito l’esistenza o il suo coinvolgimento nel presunto tentativo di colpo di stato nella capitale, Juba, dichiarando che si tratterebbe dell’ennesimo tentativo antidemocratico dal presidente Salva Kiir per sbarazzarsi dei suoi avversari politici, nel partito e nel governo. Intanto, un diplomatico europeo riferisce che secondo i colleghi Usa “questa notte – tra martedì 17 e mercoledì 18 – sarà decisiva per capire se i fronti rivali troveranno una soluzione o se al contrario ci sarà un ulteriore bagno di sangue”. Gli Stati Uniti hanno deciso di sospendere tutte le normali attivita’ della loro ambasciata ed evacuare tutto il personale non essenziale.
“There was no coup. What took place in Juba was a misunderstanding between presidential guards within their division. It was not a coup attempt. I have no connection with or knowledge of any coup attempt”, said Machar.
No SPLM [Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement] official has connection with the alleged coup, he added.
President Kiir, at a press conference held on Monday, accused Machar of alleged involvement in Sunday’s attack on a military base in the country’s capital, Juba.
Unusually clad in full military attire, the president said a group of soldiers allied to Machar and his group attacked the army headquarters near Juba University.
“These attacks continued until this morning”, added Kiir, flanked by his deputy James Wani Igga and defense minister, Koul Manyang Juuk.
The South Sudanese leader described Machar as a “prophet of doom [who] continues to persistently pursue his actions of the past”, making reference to the 1991 split which saw the latter defect from rebel movement during its long civil war with Sudan.
“However, I would like to inform you, at the outset, that your government is in full control of the security situation in Juba”, assured the president.
The SPLM is fully committed to the peaceful and democratic transfer of power and will never allow political power to be transferred through violence, he added.
CALLS FOR REFORMS
But the former vice president insisted Kiir was only looking for a way to falsely accuse them in order to frustrate the democratic processes his group was persistently calling for within the country’s governing party.
Machar told Sudan Tribune the Kiir was repeatedly violating the constitution and was “no longer a legal president”.
“What we wanted was to democratically transform the SPLM. But Salva Kiir wanted to use the alleged coup attempt in order to get rid of us to control the government and the SPLM. We don’t want him the president of South Sudan any more,” he said, without further explaining his next moves.
He said he and his arrested colleagues were being victimised for no reason.
Machar also condemned Kiir’s actions for encouraging or condoning the recent massacres targeting one ethnic group in the nation’s capital in the last three days.
On Tuesday, the government in Juba said that it seeking the arrest of Machar and other officials, including suspended SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum, former Unity governor Taban Deng plus ex-ministers Alfred Lado Gore and Adwok Nyaba.
At least 10 South Sudanese officials, mainly ex-ministers, have been arrested in connection with what government says was a failed “coup attempt” in the capital.
Source Sudan Tribune
