[THS] Syria: Headlines

[The Harder Stuff in news and commentary]

More Than 300 Killed in Syria, "Rights Group Says":   The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday that nearly 100 of the people killed in the violence were government troops. Many civilians were also killed.  http://is.gd/M1eNnz 

 

In case you missed it: 
The The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights: The Inside Story:   The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has become the most quoted, and most disputed, primary source of casualty figures in Syria. Al-Akhbar investigates the political disputes, personal gain and prejudice, and media role behind a recent row over its ownership.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31934.htm 

 

Syrian troops secure Damascus neighborhood:   Syrian troops and tanks on Friday drove rebels from a Damascus neighborhood where some of the heaviest of this week's fighting in the capital left cars gutted and fighters' bodies in the streets.  http://is.gd/295TsY 

 

Free Syrian Army executes 22 Syrian soldiers: Iraq official :   Iraqi border guards had witnessed the Free Syrian Army take control of a border outpost, detain a Syrian army lieutenant colonel, and then cut off his arms and legs. "Then they executed 22 Syrian soldiers in front of the eyes of Iraqi soldiers."  http://is.gd/4uxA6u 

 

Iraqi army seals border with Syria:   Iraqi army officials shut off their side of the gate with huge oblong blast walls on Friday, the Reuters photographer said. Officials told him they were preparing for possible outbreaks of fighting on the Syrian side during the night.  http://is.gd/QsQxI7 

 

Syrian troops 'claw back' Turkish border posts:   Rebels gained control of key border posts into Iraq, say Iraqi officials, threatening to open up access for weaponry supplies  http://is.gd/HXmdZ2 

 

Insurgents forming unit to "secure" chemical weapons site:   The opposition Free Syrian Army is creating a special unit of men trained to secure Syria's chemical weapons sites, a former general in the country's chemical and biological weapons administration has told the Daily Telegraph.  http://is.gd/KQcLfQ 

 

Russian envoy to France: Assad ready to step down:   Assad accepted the final statement of the June 30 Geneva agreement for a transition "toward a more democratic regime" and in essence this meant that "he accepted to leave, but leave in a civilized way."  http://www.goupstate.com/article/20120720/API/1207200622 

 

UNSC unanimously extends Syria observer mission for 'final' 30 days:   "We are glad because, first of all, the resolution is balanced and second, we appreciate the role the UN mission observers have played and will play in the Syrian conflict. We were the initiators who launched this mission, that is why we believe that is important to extend it," Russia's Ambassador to the UN said.  http://www.rt.com/news/un-council-mission-vote-701/ 

 

Putin Warns Against Bypassing Security Council Syria Veto:   After Russia and China vetoed the Western-backed UN Security Council resolution, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said that the United States and its partners "have no choice but to look to partnerships and actions outside of this council to protect the Syrian people."  http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120720/174704600.html 

 

Russian Arms Ship Offloads Syria Helicopters:   A Russian cargo ship carrying a batch of Mi-25 attack helicopters and air defense systems for Syria has offloaded the aircraft in the Russian port of Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region, a security source said on Friday.  http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120720/174698082.html 

 

Not Everyone Hates Syrian President Bashar al-Assad:   "Now that the army is gone, there is no one to stop them from killing us for speaking out," she said.  http://is.gd/zw2St9