Merkel Scolds Putin on NGOs

By Madeline Schiesser
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

HANNOVER, Germany – During Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the opening of the Hannover Industry Trade Fair, the world’s biggest industry show, on Sunday, the Chancellor called on Moscow to give non-governmental organizations (NGOs) “a good chance in Russia.”

Putin’s visit to Germany and the Netherlands to focus on trade and business has been overshadowed by his harsh political crackdowns on NGOs at home. (Photo Courtesy of The Local)

In a speech to the trade fair in Hannover, Merkel said in front of Putin that while Germany wants to encourage Russian economic diversity and innovation, NGOs are a healthy component of that plan.  “We believe this can happen most successfully when there is an active civil society,” she said, “We must intensify these discussions, develop our ideas, and we must give the NGOs, who we know as a motor for innovation, a good chance in Russia.”

Throughout Putin’s visit, protestors rallied against his recent policies.  Outside the trade fair, some protestors showed their support for NGOs, while others carried Syrian flags or wore devil masks, waving images of Putin dressed in a prisoner’s striped uniform. One banner read, “Stop political terror.”

President Putin defended the ongoing Russian investigations into NGOs on German television, claiming Russians had a right to know which NGOs were receiving foreign funds “and for what”.

Russian authorities have conducted a storm of unannounced inspections of NGOs in Russia, which appear intended to intimidate these groups.  In the last weeks, more than 200 Russian NGOs, as well as foreign organizations, including Amnesty International, Transparency International, and at least two German political foundations, have received surprise inspections by Russian police, tax inspectors, and prosecutors.  The crackdown on Russian civil society has drawn widespread international criticism.

The two German NGOs: the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in St Petersburg and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) in Moscow, are of significant political importance to Germany’s political parties because the KAS think tank is linked to Chancellor Merkel’s Christian Democrats, while the FES is particularly close to the main German opposition, the Social Democrats.

While Germany has maintained a close relationship with Russia in many areas, including business and trade, foreign investment, energy security, and cultural issues, Chancellor Merkel has previously emphasized the importance of human rights and the rule of law.  She has furthermore come under pressure to address her concerns to Putin, not only on the NGO inspections, but also regarding Syria and Russia’s criticism of the German-orchestrated financial bailout of Cyprus.  As explained by Human Rights watch, Russia’s domestic repression of NGOs erodes the foundations of its foreign relationships.

“Trade fairs are about doing business, but Merkel should make clear to Putin that it cannot be business as usual for Germany’s relations with Russia until the attacks on civil society stop,” said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

President Putin is also scheduled to visit Amsterdam on Monday.  Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has also been called upon to demand Putin halt the NGO inspections.  Germany and the Netherlands are Russia’s biggest trading partners.

Williamson further said, “This is the worst crackdown in Russia in 20 years. It is admirable to promote deeper understanding between Russia and the Netherlands, but this has very little meaning if vital parts of Russian society cannot express themselves freely.”

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Merkel Chides Putin Over NGO Inspections – 7 April 2013

BBC News – Angela Merkel Tells Vladimir Putin – Russia Needs NGOs – 7 April 2013

Returns – Russia Needs Active Civil Society, Merkel Tells Putin – 7 April 213

The Local – Merkel ‘Should Push Putin for Reforms’ – 6 April 2013

HRW – Russia: Merkel, Rutte Should Press Putin on Rights – 4 April 2013

Syrian Network for Human Rights: Casualty Report – 6 April 2013

 The Syrian network for human rights documented 119 victims , Saturday 6/4/2013 all across Syria, most of them in Aleppo  Among the victims , 19 children , 9 ladies , 15 under torture , 12 free army
Aleppo : 46 victims
Damascus and countryside : 25 victims
Hama : 21 victims
Homs : 10 victims
Idlib : 4 victims
Daraa : 7 victims
Hasaka: 2 victims
Qunatira : 2 victims
Dier Alzoor : 2 victims

Serbia-Kosovo Normalization Talks Break Down

By Madeline Schiesser
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

BRUSSELS, Belgium – On Tuesday, E.U.-brokered normalization talks in Brussels between leaders from Serbia and Kosovo broke down early after a final 12-hour negotiation session.  Although many countries have recognized Kosovo, a former Serbian province, since its declaration of independence in 2008, Serbia has refused.  As both sides failed to come to an agreement, mediator and E.U. foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, released a statement saying that the gap between the two was “very narrow, but deep.”

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, left. (Photo Courtesy of b92)

Tuesday’s session concluded the eighth in several EU-guided rounds of talks since October 2012. Both Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Kosovar Prime Minister Hashim Thaci intended to return home and consult with colleagues about what further steps could be taken.

Serbian Prime Minister Dacic explained to the Serbian media, “Despite all these long meetings, we do not have an agreement at this moment.”

The critical sticking point between Serbia and Kosovo is the political status of ethnic Serbs in Northern Kosovo.  Kosovo’s proposals, in accordance with its laws and constitution, were aimed at integrating all citizens, including ethnic Serbs, into Kosovo.

However, according to Kosovo’s Prime Minister Thaci, Serbia was not ready to agree upon this term and requested more time. “Unfortunately from the Serbians, we still have hesitation and stances which are not based on principles,” Thaci said. “They have asked for additional time and additional consultations which is within their autonomous authority.”

Kosovar Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, right. (Photo Courtesy of RFE/RL)

However, after a meeting of the Serbian leadership, Serbian Presidential adviser Marko Djuric said that it was the ethnic Albanian officials from Kosovo who rejected the Serb proposals during the Brussels negotiations.

Serbian officials desire a high level of political autonomy for Kosovo’s Serbs, including police and judicial authorities particular to the Northern Serbs.  However, Kosovo would consider this arrangement to be an unacceptable de facto partition of the country, which would risk the North eventually breaking away.

Even so, Kosovo’s government in Pristina already has a tense relation with its ethnic northern Serbs.  Some 50,000 people in and around the divided city of Mitrovica identified ethnically as Serbian, do not follow the authority of Pristina and instead have created parallel institutions, e.g., hospitals and schools, which are financed and supported by Serbia’s capital, Belgrade.  The tension in this region has led to violence in recent years, particularly along the border shared with Serbia.

The E.U. has attempted to mitigate conflict in the region by playing a supervisory role through its Eulex rule-of-law mission.  Furthermore, soldiers from E.U. states have been deployed in Kosovo as part of the K-For peacekeeping mission.

The ultimate success of the normalization talks is particularly important to Serbia because in order for Serbia to join the E.U. it must normalize relations with its neighbors, including Kosovo.  Normalization includes not only resolving issues such as trade and border control, but also establishing the status of northern Kosovo and acknowledging whether or not the region will be under the authority of the government of Kosovo in Pristina

There is still hope that an agreement may be reached within the next days.  Nevertheless, mediator Catherine Ashton said last Tuesday was the last formal meeting she would call between the parties.

“They will now both go back and consult with their colleagues in their capitals and will let me know in the next few days of their decision,” She said in a statement.

If an agreement is to be reached, it will need to be arrived at by April 9.  Apparently, the E.U. in Brussels has suggested a compromise to the countries, but this proposal has not been disclosed to the public.  However, speculation from a Serbian newspaper is that the compromise would be based on the 1995 Erdut Agreement with an interim E.U. administration for the northern region.  However, if accurate, the result of such an agreement would be that the northern region of Kosovo would temporarily have a different status in the community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo until it accepted Pristina’s authority.

For further information, please see:

b92 – Belgrade to decide on EU’s offer by April 9 – 4 April 2013

RFE/RL – Serbia Blames Kosovo For Failed Talks – 4 April 2013

RFE/RL – Serbia-Kosovo Talks End Without Deal – 4 April 2013

Al Jazeera – Serbia-Kosovo Talks End Without Accord – 2 April 2013

BBC News – Serbia-Kosovo Talks Fail to Reach Accord in Brussels – 2 April 2013

RFE/RL – Serbia, Kosovo Resume Normalization Talks – 2 April 2013

Syrian Network for Human Rights: Casualty Report – 4 April 2013

The Syrian network for human rights documented 116 victims , Thursday 4/4/2013 all across Syria, most of them in Aleppo  Among the victims , 16 children , 6 ladies , 7 under torture , 27 free army
Aleppo :41 victims
Damascus and countryside : 29 victims
Homs : 13 victims
Idlib : 11 victims
Daraa : 8 victims
Dier Alzoor : 10 victims
Hama : 3 victims
Lattakia : 1 victim
Aleppo :41 victims : 11 children , 1 lady , 5 free army , 2 dissident solider
1-     Child Husain Ghash – 7 years old –shelling on Shahadin neighborhood
2-     Girl Child Ayah Bei – 2 years old –shelling on Shahadin neighborhood
3-     Mohamad Hasan – shelling on Shahadin neighborhood
4-     Mohamad Jawdah – shelling on Shahadin neighborhood
5-     Girl Child Rana Hamsho – 11 years old – shelling on Shahadin neighborhood
6-7 Two unknown victims – shelling on Shahadin neighborhood
8- Ali Sharoukh – executed by Alassad troops , shot on head , when Alassad troops rid the village
9- 10-11 Three unknown victims ( Rashid family ) shot on head in Azizia village , when Alassad troops rid the village
12- Unknown name ( Hriatani family ) shot on head in Azizia village , when Alassad troops rid the village
13- 15 Three unknown victims shot on head in Azizia village , when Alassad troops rid the village http://halabnews.com/?p=21062 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.642506085775674.1073741847.542161639143453&type=1
16-Samer Kabani – executed by Alassad troops , shot on head , when Alassad troops rid the village
17- Ammar Baa – executed by Alassad troops , shot on head , when Alassad troops rid the village
18- Yousef Haj Mosa – executed by Alassad troops , shot on head , when Alassad troops rid the village
19- Subhi Shsaroj – executed by Alassad troops , shot on head , when Alassad troops rid the village
20 – Najeb Abdi – 65 years old – missile shelling on Nozha neighborhood
21- Mahmod Zaghnab – missile shelling on Nozha neighborhood
22- Mohamad Saed Ramadan – missile shelling on Nozha neighborhood
23- Child Radwan Sankari -13 years old – missile shelling on Nozha neighborhood
24- Girl Child Rana Hamod -10 years old – missile shelling on Nozha neighborhood
25- Child Hasan Dankaz -5 years old – missile shelling on Nozha neighborhood
26- Child Mohamad Bin Raei -3 years old – missile shelling on Nozha neighborhood
27- Unknown female victim – shelling on Dahra Awad
28 -Unknown Child– shelling on Dahra Awad
29- Child Noor Bazarbashi –16 years old –  sniper bullet in Saif Aldaola neighborhood
30 – Child Rami Razok –16 years old – sniper bullet in Saif Aldaola neighborhood
31- Child Ahmad Baoadkji – high school –sniper bullet
32- Mohanad Alhusain – 18 years old – free army – clashes
33- Faraj Matar – dissident soldier – clashes
34-  Mosa Albostani – dissident soldier – clashes
36- Unknown victim – clashes in Azizia village
37 – Mohamad Dawalibi – clashes near Alkindi hospital
38- Mahmod Hamosh – free army – clasheshttp://youtu.be/WP_Fy3Bq9Qs
39- Mahmod Mashael – bomb on his car
40- Unknown vicitm – by Alassad troops bullet
41- Mohanand Hasan – free army – clashes
Damascus and countryside : 29 victims , 2 children , 1 lady , 3 under torture , 10 free army
2-     Yaser Abo Jamal – free army – clasheshttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=216903608434151
3-    Mohamad Sukari – engineering student – Palestinian – sniper bullet http://bit.ly/XZy1NQ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=629255593755653
4-    Abdulsatar Aklofi – free army – clasheshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKEhkZlKwek
5-    Basel Hori – free army – clashes
6-    Unknown name – free army – clashes
7-    Unknown name – free army – clashes
8-    Child Tarek Alnajar – Doma – shelling
9-    Mohamad Alkhawaja – Arbin – shelling http://bit.ly/13U2S6m https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=511828045541807 
10-                       Ammar Jamos – Shifonia – By Alassad troopshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2oUiMV0TbU
11-                        Mohamad Shakaer Alhamwi – under torture after he was arrested from his shop near Eman mosque – in 21 -3-2013 in the day of bombing the mosque  http://bit.ly/14GpsP0 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=520971427954228 http://youtu.be/WHfTox0EQJc
12-                       Basem Sheikh Aldiah – shelling on Doma http://bit.ly/10yyqso https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=453502381397349
13-                       Bilal Alhalak – shelling on Domahttp://bit.ly/YxPd0l https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=453507674730153
14-                       Ahmad Raef Alzin – free army – clashes
15-                       Sari Khaled – under torture
16-                       Ahmad Basher – under torture https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=453298614739028
17-                       Tarek Shehada – Palestinian – sniper bullet
18-                       Ali Alwatar – under torturehttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=585266201484192&set=a.249505655060250.76535.243963362281146&type=1&theater
19-                       Child Yasin Abara – 15 years old – shelling
20-                       Basel Almasri – free army – clasheshttp://youtu.be/KlfJKRZ7LO8
21-                       Eyad Abdulmotaleb – free army – clasheshttp://bit.ly/16soZMM http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=635550013137247
22-                       Sobhi Alkordi – free army – clasheshttp://bit.ly/13TNjeZ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=371506916298898 http://youtu.be/6BIiDzfvk40 
23-                       Shahada Saed – free army – clash
24-                       Mohamad Alturk – free army – clashhttp://youtu.be/jwuofljU6L8
25-                       Mohamad Shakra his body found on Damascus – Homs highway , near to Homs countryside
26-                       Basam Abo Rafik – free army – clash http://bit.ly/10vzU7F https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=217009761756869
27-                       Shaban Altakla – free army – clashhttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=437512756336561&set=a.165901226831050.44190.162632447157928&type=1&theater
28-                       Osama Khamis – Palestinian – executed by troops claims that they are Free army
29-                       Mohanad Khaiti – 19 years old – free army – clashes
Dier Alzoor : 10 victims , 3 ladies , 1 free army
1-     Ms. Marwa Alforati – affected of her wounds cause of shelling
2-     Rakan Alkhalifa – free army – clashes
3-     Ms. Amenah Mahmod –Alassad troops targeted civilian passengers bus by shell and bullets on Dier Alzoor Damascus highway
4-      Wael Abdulrahman –Alassad troops targeted civilian passengers bus by shell and bullets on Dier Alzoor Damascus highway
5-     Salamah Alawad –Alassad troops targeted civilian passengers bus by shell and bullets on Dier Alzoor Damascus highway
6-     Jamal Alabdullah –Alassad troops targeted civilian passengers bus by shell and bullets on Dier Alzoor Damascus highway
7-     Ahmad Alobaid –Alassad troops targeted civilian passengers bus by shell and bullets on Dier Alzoor Damascus highway
8-     Ibrahim Alrawawi –Alassad troops targeted civilian passengers bus by shell and bullets on Dier Alzoor Damascus highway
9-     Unknown victim –Alassad troops targeted civilian passengers bus by shell and bullets on Dier Alzoor Damascus highway
10-Khalaf Alsatam – sniper bullet
Idlib : 11 victims ; 3 children , 2 free army :
1-    Alaa Daimis – warplane shelling on Marshoshin
2-    Child Ahmad Alghawi – warplane shelling on Marshoshin
3-    Unknown victim – warplane shelling on Marshoshin
4-    Abdulbaset Khansa – sniper bullet in Qabon / Damascus  http://youtu.be/fn7mhi87wbA
5-    Yosef Khorshed – free army – clashes
6-    Child Abdulkader Haj Omar – shelling on Maardabsahttp://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.581789558497870.1073741899.245325925477570&type=1
7-     Child Abdulkader Haj Omar – shelling on Maardabsahttp://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.581789558497870.1073741899.245325925477570&type=1
9-    Basel ( Unknown surname ) – free army – clasheshttp://youtu.be/FfRC_xEBY-8
10-           Daughter of Mohamad Alrajab – affected her wounds cause of shelling
11-           Taha Aldarwish – shelling
Homs : 13 victims ; 2 ladies , 2 under torture , 1 dissident soldier , 5 free army
1-    Bilal Akraa – free army – clashes
2-    Mahmod Shikh Mohamad – shelling on Apel
3-    Ms. Farha Alahmad – shelling on Apelhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r__uERXWnbQ&feature=youtu.be
4-    Alaa Abo Zaid – free army – clashes
5-    Basam Alsoki – under torture in Sydnaya prison
7-    8- Two unknown victims : Dablan neighborhood – shelling
9-Hasan Satof – free army – clashes
10-Ahmad Wakia- 65 years old – under torture in Hama prisons
12-Ms. Anisa Bakar – shelling on Boaida Sharkia
 Daraa: 8 victim ; 3 free army :
1-    Moafak Alghonem – shelling on Gharia Sharkia https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=497387473642678
2-    Milan Shahadat – under torture by Alassad troops after he was arrested for 7 days , signs of torture appears on his body https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN8TDFYRf54
4-    Adnan Alhasan – sniper bullethttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrHvsQRw79U
5-    Ali Altotanji – shelling http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb1ppuDpaA0
6-          Ahmad Almasalmah – free army – clashes
7-    Rashid Alakrad – free army – shellinghttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=535657926484377
8-    Hasan Farokh – free army – clashes
 
Hama: 3 free army :
1-     Khaled Madarati – free army – clashes
2-     Mahmod Khalaf – free army – clashes
3-     Mohamad Btesh – free army – clashes
Lattakia : 1 victim :
1-     Jamil Karba – killed in mysterious circumstances after he was arrested for one month , his body found in National Hospital

Syrian Revolution Digest: Friday, 5 April 2013

Going for Broke!

Syrian Revolution Digest – April 5, 2013 

You picked a fine time to go broke UN. Then again, we all go for broke these days. Killers who don’t want to stop, governments that don’t want to intervene, governments that do want to intervene, and rebels who cannot afford to give up. Meanwhile, there is this little miracle child in North Korea who feels left out. What can a UN do?

 

News

Rebels say take army post near Syria’s southern border Fighters from the Free Syrian Army said they captured the Um al-Mayathen post on the main Damascus-Jordan highway in heavy fighting overnight that ended a siege that lasted more than a week. Dozens died in the clashes they said. “It (the garrison) is a major defense and now we will lay siege to the border crossing and cut their (the Damascus government’s) supply lines,” Abu Omar, commander of the Lions of the Sunna Brigade, told Reuters by phone.

Putin insists peace talks the only way to end Syria’s ‘massacre’Speaking to the German ARD television in remarks released by the Kremlin on Friday, he rejected the Western criticism of Russia for its continuing supply of weapons to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime. Putin said that such shipments don’t violate international law, and he criticized those who send weapons to the Syrian opposition. Putin said that peace talks should spell out the future of Syria and provide guarantees to all parties.

Syria: Humanitarian aid, a lifeline for displaced people The displacement of millions of people across Syria has resulted in complete dependency on humanitarian assistance in some parts of the country. Crossing front lines and finding ways to reach people in need is becoming more urgent than ever before.

Report: Hamas training Syrian rebels in Damascus area The Times reports that the military unit of Hamas, which broke ties with former ally Syrian President Bashar Assad in the wake of the insurgency, began training the rebels in the Damascus neighbourhoods of Yalda, Jaramana and Babbila. “The Kassam Brigades have been training units very close to Damascus,” a Western diplomat with contacts in both the Assad regime and the Syrian opposition told the London daily newspaper. “These are specialists. They are really good.” According to the Times, Hamas has assisted in the digging of a tunnel beneath Damascus in preparation for an attack on the city, a skill that Hamas has honed smuggling supplies from Egypt into the Gaza Strip.

Western sanctions put squeeze on ordinary Syrians, regime unfazed“We’ve been without electricity in the entire city for about two weeks now. We’ve only had a few hours of water too, as it takes electricity to pump water through the city,” he told The Daily Star over Facebook, adding that it was not unusual for hospitals to go for much of the day without power due to the lack of diesel for generators, and some have even stopped their services. “Sanctions only hurt normal people. The regime doesn’t care, and gets the weapons and fuel for its army from Russia, while the ordinary people suffer from high living costs and outages.”

Obama to meet regional leaders on Syria The White House said Jordan’s King Abdullah II would meet with Obama on April 26… Obama will then host Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 16… Obama will also host Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed al-Nahayan of the United Arab Emirates on April 16, and will meet with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani on April 23. Turkey, Jordan and Qatar have strongly backed the 2-year-old revolt against Syria’s President Bashar Assad.

Rebels look to extend gains from Raqqa Raqqa – a predominantly Sunni city that sits at a strategic gateway between Aleppo in the northwest, Deir al-Zor to the east and Homs in the center – fell to the rebels March 4 after a combined attack led by Islamist brigades. The fall of the city was swift and coordinated. Units from the Islamist Nusra Front and the Salafi al-Sham brigade, in coordination with other Islamist brigades, easily overran Syrian army units positioned at checkpoints around the city, sparsely manned by one army unit, Division 17.

 

Special Reports

Syria in ruins: Photos capture shocking devastation caused to war-torn country Buildings are in tatters and fallen drainpipes lay across the road after fierce fighting in Deir al-Zor in the war-torn country.

My new paper, prepared for a briefing in Washington, D.C. that took place on January 15, 2013, is now out and is titled “Syria 2013: Rise of the Warlords.” It should be read in conjunction with my previous briefing “The Shredded Tapestry,” and my recent essay “The Creation of an Unbridgeable Divide.

 

Below the Radar

* The Kurdish Majority city of Qamishly in the northeast corner of Syria has been ben witnessing some interesting developments of late. The city, in a sense, is being administered in accordance to an unofficial power-sharing arrangement of sorts allowing both regime representatives as well as leaders of local Kurdish parties, especially the PYD to take part in administering the city and its surroundings. Both sides in fact maintain a strong military presence on the city, the Kurds through the Popular Defense Committees (YPGs), and the regime through the local police force and loyalist militias. But power is really on the side of the Kurds, if the YPGs wanted to take complete control of the city, they could probably do it with minimal resistance. Indeed, yesterday, following an incident in which pro-regime forces killed three Kurdish activists, Kurdish groups held a major funeral in which thousands of people showed bearing arms. The YPGs also attacked several regime checkpoints killing three and arresting 7. The situation remains tense. http://youtu.be/Iii7MaGA0M0

* Meanwhile, in the Arab-majority city of Deir Ezzor also in the northeast, a new rebel group has been making a name for itself and is projecting itself as a tribal alternative to Jabhat Al-Nusra (JAN). Its founders, said to be Syrians based in Saudi Arabia and are disciples of the late Syrian religious scholar, Nasser Al-Din Al-Albani, seem to be trying to imitate the Sahwa movement in Iraq that challenged Al-Qaeda’s dominance in Sunni majority areas there. The group is called Jabhat Al-Assalah wa Al-Tanmiya (JAT), or the Front for Authenticity and Development, but it has so far garnered little attention beyond the borders of Deir Ezzor. This video shows a recent “exploit” by JAT members against their loyalist prisoners http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=493388297388460JAT was formed in early November 2012. This is their YouTube channelhttp://www.youtube.com/user/alasalawatanmya This is their Facebook pagehttp://www.facebook.com/alasalawatanmya?fref=ts

 

Video Highlights

Like marauding killer sharks, pro-regime tanks keep roving around the outskirts of the town of Daraya in Damascus Suburbs http://youtu.be/W25DzJVO9NYPounding their way in http://youtu.be/VCs0ognV_5w and outhttp://youtu.be/vhqpRha8IQg Other parts of town are targeted by missile launchers http://youtu.be/RjKuzVFbuXg , http://youtu.be/EHfbI2BGHX0 The result a wasteland http://youtu.be/9TA587zQ40E

To the East, the town of Eastern Ghoutah continue to come under aerial bombardment and missile attacks: Saqba http://youtu.be/OdQDH2AKiR0Kafar Batna http://youtu.be/UhN82JQkzWg , http://youtu.be/7pv3Kj33q8gZamalka http://youtu.be/X7kbLmZbkTM Jisreenhttp://youtu.be/gjQVBljS7Ss The pounding reaches the neighborhood of Jobarin Damascus City http://youtu.be/Txs29FU_3Zc ,http://youtu.be/8I52ZGJ3vnU

In Aleppo City, clashes in and around the Kurdish-majority neighborhood ofSheikh Maqsoud intensify http://youtu.be/TKBsaXfmXPM Despite the climate of panic that ensue following attacks, people rush to help the woundedhttp://youtu.be/Vn8SDZBFj-o

Elsewhere in Aleppo and across Syria, rallies like this one in Boustan Al-Qasrhttp://youtu.be/Aqx84g0oIFk and this one in Al-Wa’er neighborhood (Homs City) http://youtu.be/5yl7-zbOqaU took place as is the case on Fridays.