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Kapil Sibal: Supreme Court judgement vindicates govt stance

Thursday 27 September 2012

Kapil Sibal: Supreme Court judgement vindicates govt stance

Hailing Supreme Court judgement on auction of natural resources, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today said the apex court has brought "constitutional clarity" on the issue.
Stating that the Court has upheld the government's stand, Sibal said that it has opined that auction was not the only way for allocating natural resources.
Institutions like CAG "might have perhaps unwittingly, erroneously interpreted the SC judgement relating to the 2G case and thought that all natural resources must be auctioned," he said. "The SC has provided Constitutional clarity today and we welcome it."
Welcoming the SC decision, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said the judgement "vindicates" the position that the government had taken.
"When a state has to take decisions, public good has to be kept in mind... The SC has also upheld, that it is public good which is important, and revenue maximisation is subservient to that, not the other way round," he said. "And all national resources (are) not meant to be auctioned."
Sharma said there has been lot of confusion, some deliberately created, and also fed by some elements of political forces who are opposed to the government.
"...there was never any doubt in my mind, or in the mind of my colleagues of the government, (that) there was no constitutional mandate for auction," he added.

Samsung launches Galaxy Note II in India

Samsung launches Galaxy Note II in India

Samsung launches Galaxy Note II in India
Samsung's much-awaited Galaxy Note II phablet has launched in India at Rs 39,990.
NEW DELHI: Samsung's much-awaited Galaxy Note II phablet has launched in India. The company launched the device at a press event in Hyderabad today, just a day after it was rolled out in Samsung's home country South Korea. Samsung Galaxy Note II is priced at Rs 39,990 in India.

The Galaxy Note II, with its 5.5-inch HD SuperAMOLED display, is slightly bigger than the original Galaxy Note, which had a 5.3-inch touchscreen. This device runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), the latest version of Google's mobile operating system, layered with the company's TouchWiz UI. The phablet has a quad-core 1.6GHz Cortex A-9 processor with 2GB of RAM and will come in 16, 32 and 64GB variants, with support for microSD card having capacity of up to 64GB.

For camera enthusiasts, Samsung has assimilated an 8MP snapper with LED flash on the rear, whereas the secondary camera has resolution of 1.9MP. The rear camera can capture full HD videos at 1080p@30fps and comes with features like geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, image stabilisation.

Connectivity options of the Samsung Galaxy Note II include 4G, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, NFC, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 4.0. The company has also provided proprietary connectivity features in the device, such as Samsung AllShare Play & Control and Samsung AllShare Cast. The phablet it powered by a 3,100mAh battery and will come in two colours - titanium grey and marble white.

Recently, post the launch of iPhone 5 worldwide, Samsung slashed the prices of the top-end products it sells in India, namely Galaxy S III, S II and Note.

Early last week, Samsung started taking pre-orders for the device on its India estore. Those users who pre-ordered the device have to make full payment for the Galaxy Note II within 15 days of launch, otherwise the booking will be cancelled and the sum of Rs 5,000 will not be refunded.

Galaxy Note II will be shipped on first-come-first-serve basis for those who booked it in advance, depending on the timing for completing the full payment. The South Korean manufacturer will ship a free desktop dock with the Galaxy Note II for free to those who pre-order the device early. Only those who make full payment within the first three days of the launch of the phablet will be given the free desktop dock.

Key specifications:

Display: 5.5-inch HD SuperAMOLED touchscreen;
Operating system: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean);
Processor: Quad-core 1.6GHz Cortex A-9;
Storage: 16, 32 and 64GB, expandable up to 64GB via microSD card;
RAM: 2GB;
Connectivity: 4G, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi, NFC, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth 4.0, Samsung AllShare Play & Control and Samsung AllShare Cast;
Camera: 8MP rear camera with LED flash, 1.9MP front camera; and
Battery: 3,100mAh

Too early for a federal front: Naveen Patnaik on Mamata's remark

Too early for a federal front: Naveen Patnaik on Mamata's remark

Bhubaneswar: A day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pushed for a front of regional parties, her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Thursday described the proposal as too early.
"About Mamata Banerjee's proposal, it is still early days for the third front in our country... it's early days," Patnaik told reporters replying to a question on the TMC chief's wish to form a front of regional parties.
Patnaik had, however, earlier favoured an alternative front while dubbing the Congress-led UPA as "scam ridden and the BJP-led NDA as "communally tainted."
Mamata had on Wednesday said that if the regional chief ministers can sit together for the future of the country, she would be very happy.
Too early for a federal front: Naveen Patnaik on Mamata's remark
Mamata had on Wednesday said that if the regional chief ministers can sit together for the future of the country, she would be very happy.
"If the regional Chief Ministers can sit together for the future of the country, I will be very happy. India should run from different parts of the country. We have already decided on federal front. I think states should be more powerful," she said.

India dismisses reports about its missiles targeting Sri Lankan sites

India dismisses reports about its missiles targeting Sri Lankan sites

India today dismissed reports that its missiles targeted strategic Sri Lankan locations, by calling them "completely baseless and fabricated."   In a statement, the Indian High Commission here said that India has a longstanding indigenous missile development programme, which is defensive in nature and not directed against any country.
"Speculation on such sensitive issues in a manner calculated to mislead, is out of tune with the spirit of the friendly and close relations India and Sri Lanka enjoy, including in the fields of defence and security," it said.
The statement, which dismissed these reports as "completely baseless and fabricated", came as Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed his satisfaction over his personal meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi last week.
"The visit was successful. It helped in further strengthening of our long and historical relations with India as our closest neighbour," Rajapaksa said during his monthly interaction with media.
Rajapaksa visited Madhya Pradesh on September 19 to lay the foundation stone for a Buddhist University in Sanchi and met Singh in Delhi.
His visit to India came against the backdrop of attacks on Sri Lankan pilgrims in Tamil Nadu, forcing the government here to issue a travel advisory warning against travel to the Indian state.
Rajapaksa's secretary Lalith Weeratunga, who was with the President at the media interaction, said Sri Lanka was keeping a tab on the latest developments.
Action would be taken to review the advisory depending on the developments, Weeratunga said.

BJP to disrupt parliament on FDI in retail

BJP to disrupt parliament on FDI in retail

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance will try to exploit the present political opportunity with the help of left parties, Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party
. Photo: Ramesh Pathania/Mint

Surajkund, Haryana: After stalling Parliament for over two weeks on allocation of coal blocks in Monsoon session, the principle opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday indicated a similar strategy for the upcoming winter session, though this time it would force the government to reverse its decision on foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail sector. Besides corruption, the second largest national party also hinted of making development and governance as central issues in general elections.
“FDI is not in favour of country’s farmers, traders and retailers. We are committed to change FDI decision in Parliament. With support from other political parties and under the leadership of L.K. Advani , Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitelywill force the government to roll back its decision in the Parliament session. I promise to the country that we will force the government to take back its decision,” BJP president Nitin Gadkari said, while addressing the party’s national council meet on the outskirts of the national capital.
“The FDI decision will affect 12 crore (120 million) traders in the country and we can not sit silently on this. Prime Minister is worried about companies like Wal-Mart, but he does not think about poor and common man,” he added.
Earlier the BJP and its allies had prevented functioning of Parliament over alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks directly under the nose of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh between 2006-2009. A report by the Comptroller Audit General, India’s apex audit body, has claimed a notional loss of Rs.1.86 lakh crore due to coal allocation to private companies between 2004-2009.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will try to exploit the present political opportunity with the help of left parties, Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Samajwadi Party (SP). TMC-led by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had withdrawn support from Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government over the issue of FDI in retail, hike in diesel prices and capping of cooking gas cylinders. Though, SP externally supports the UPA government, it is opposed to FDI policy in retail.
Gadkari, however, took shots at SP for its “double standards”.
“Lucknow mai kushti karte ho aur Delhi mai noora Kushti (you become enemies in Lucknow but friends in Delhi). Ek Chehare Pe Kai Chehare Laga Lete Hain Log, Jab Bhi Ji Chaahe Nai Duniya Basa Lete Hain Log (People put one face to another and settle in new life as per their wishes),” Gadkari said, without naming SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has opposed FDI in retail but continues to support UPA government.
BJP president said present UPA government has lost majority and its allies are in a dilemma. “They can not openly accept Congress decisions and at the same time can not bear the brunt as well. They are in a dilemma. TMC has proved that Congress can not run a coalition government,” he said.
On the second day of national executive and council meet of BJP, Gadkari was joined by party stalwart and veteran leader L.K. Advani, leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitely, former party president Venkaiah Naidu, BJP chief ministers Shivaraj Singh Chauhan, Manohar Parrikar, Raman Singh, Arun Munda, Prem Singh Dhumal. Karnataka was represented by two deputy chief ministers K.S. Eswarappa and R. Ashoka. Gujarat chief minister Narender Modi, who had attended the first day of convention, was absent, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Sawaraj, former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa were also absent from the meet.
Gadkari, who repeatedly targeted prime minister for economic policies, failed leadership, poor governance, directly blamed Singh for corruption. “After Bofors scam, Rajiv Gandhi government lost elections, (late prime minister) P.V. Narasimha Rao lost after Harshad Mehta scam, now Sonia-Manmohan led UPA government will loose majority after coal scam.”
BJP did not shy away from making another political promise of creating separate Telangana state—an issue on which ruling Congress has been dilly dallying. “Like we created Jharkhand, Uttrakhand, Chhattisgarh, we will create Telangana. This is my promise and it can only happen in NDA regime.”
Gadkari said BJP is preparing a vision document – India Vision 2025 – on the basis of best governance practises, party strategy, ideology and economic development.

UPA coordination panel endorses PM's economic reform measures

UPA coordination panel endorses PM's economic reform measures

After Congress, the UPA on Thursday endorsed government's recent tough economic decisions and discussed the need "to do more reforms". At a meeting of constituents of the UPA, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh underlined the need for economic reforms to ensure flow of foreign investment.
A fortnight after the announcement to allow FDI in retail, cap cooking gas subsidy and hike diesel prices, the leaders of the ruling coalition on Thursday expressed "general satisfaction" over the decisions, which saw the exit of Trinamool Congress-- the second largest UPA constituent.
"We reviewed the situation following the number of decisions announced in the last 10 days. There was general satisfaction that many of the steps taken by the government, although some of them would put a burden on the people, have been welcomed by stakeholders as necessary and unavoidable," finance minister P Chidambaram told reporters.
"The need to do more reforms was discussed," he said.
He said by and large the message had gone to the people that these measures were unavoidable and necessary.
"We thank the people for their understanding," he said.
The meeting of the UPA committee, chaired by Sonia Gandhi, comes two days after the Congress Working Committee endorsed the government's decisions on economic reforms.
At the UPA Coordination Committee meeting, Chidambaram said the Prime Minister underlined the need for a number of measures to ensure that investments continue to flow in India.
"The Prime Minister underlined the need for a number of measures that will ensure that there is no volatility in the rupee and investments continue to flow into India as well as stimulate domestic investors so that they would also invest in the economy," he said.
The finance minister said that the meeting did not discuss specific reform measures like FDI in insurance and pension.
The finance minister replied in affirmative when asked whether the reforms will continue.
He said though no specific reform measures were talked about in the meeting, the need to bring further reforms were discussed.
A meeting of the Congress Working Committee on Tuesday had fully backed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by endorsing Government's new economic reform decisions with party President Sonia Gandhi saying that the reforms were "very necessary" and the government has begun the moves in that direction.
The endorsement by the UPA Coordination Committee of the government's economic measures today apparently aims at dispelling the notion that the Prime Minister or the Congress was isolated on the issue of reform measures.
Opposition had alleged that the decision on FDI in multi-brand retail was a "minority decision" even within the UPA as constituents are opposed to it.
While Trinamool Congress walked out of the alliance on the issue, DMK had organized a bandh against the diesel hike and LPG cap on September 20 coinciding with the nation-wide agitation by the Opposition against the government's economic reform measures.
Chidamabaram said the issue of Sethusamudram project also came up for discussion in the meeting and it was stated that the ministry of shipping will file an affidavit in the Supreme Court, when the matter comes up for hearing.
He said the government had received the report of the Pachauri Committee and a final view on it will be taken by the Cabinet. The committee had gone into the issue of alternate alignment for navigation channel to save the mythical Ramsethu.
One of the members also raised the problems of coconut growers in states. Responding to it, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said that a market intervention is already in place and states have to implement the same.
Chidambaram said that the agriculture minister will be visiting the coconut growing states mainly Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Hina Rabbani-Bilawal romance: Husband moves application for call details

Hina Rabbani-Bilawal romance: Husband moves application for call details

Khar’s husband seeks her call details
Khar’s husband seeks her call details
New Delhi: Seems like Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar’s multi-millionaire husband Firoze Gulzar is paying heed to the media buzz, which speaks of a rumoured love tale between Hina Rabbani and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s son Bilawal Bhutto.

Reports claim that Gulzar has officially moved an application seeking details of Khar’s phone calls.
Their rumoured romance, which they otherwise managed to keep under the wraps, came to light when the duo was caught in a compromising position inside the President’s house by Zardari, where Bilawal also resides.
Reports have confirmed that Hina’s husband has submitted an application with Federal Investigation Agency for full call details of two ‘suspected’ numbers; however officials in Pakistan have completely brushed off the claimed affair.
Famous love affairs of politicians

President Zardari is miffed and strongly opposed to his son’s entering into marital relations with Khar — who is already married to multi-millionaire Firoze Gulzar and is a mother of two.
If reports are to be believed, apparently Bilawal has threatened to leave Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and also has strong plans to settle down with Khar in Switzerland post marriage.
The much-talked about romance between Hina Rabbani Khar and Bilawal Bhutto surfaced after a weekly Bangladeshi published the high-profile romance earlier this week.

Meanwhile, the hashtag world was abuzz on Wednesday, where Hina Rabbani Khar was touted to be a trending tale. Tweets like ‘And the word of the day is #KHAR:) Hina Rabbani Khar. Jiyo:)’ to even social messages like — ‘Hina Rabbani Khar is seeking a divorce for another man. '#Learn' is the social message’ ruled the social networking site Twitter.

Syria crisis: activists report 'bloodiest day yet' - live updates

Syria crisis: activists report 'bloodiest day yet' - live updates
LIVE• LCC claims 343 people were killed in a single day
• Cameron says Syrian bloodshed is a 'terrible stain' on UN
• Morsi warns against military intervention in Syria

A Free Syrian Army fighter holds a rocket-propelled grenade launcher while taking cover after a tank blast in Aleppo, Syria. Syria's unrest began in March 2011 when protests calling for political change met a violent government crackdown.

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Footage of Damascus clashes

A Lebanese TV station has broadcast footage of Syrian government troops driving rebels from a building they had occupied after a military compound in Damascus was attacked by car bombs, AP reports.
The images came from Lebanon's Al Manar TV station, whose correspondent was with Syrian troops on Wednesday on what was described as an assault to retake army command headquarters.
Flames engulfed the headquarters after rebels detonated two car bombs in carefully orchestrated attacks followed by over three hours of gunbattles in and around the compound. Four Syrian guards and a reporter for Iranian TV were killed according to the Syrian government.
The footage showed the bodies of three rebels inside the building after government troops took control. The bomb attacks highlighted the regime's growing vulnerability as rebels fighting to oust President Bashar Assad grow bolder.

Bahraini activist awaits verdict

Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab is awaiting a verdict on his appeal against a three-year jail sentence, writes Zoe Holman.
Rajab, is one of Bahrain's most prominent activists andbloggers and president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. He was convicted in August of taking part in “illegal gatherings” and anti-government protests.  He has since appeared in court twice to appeal againt the decision. Rajab's family are reported to have been barred by police from entering the courtroom.
The verdict will follow yesterday's conviction of pro-democracy activist, Zainab al-Khawaja, who was sentenced to two months prison for ripping up a picture of the king
Commenting on the role of activists like Rajab and the Khawaja family in Bahrain's pro-democracy struggle, Toby Jones of the Carnegie Endowment, wrote:
Rajab and the Khawajas have remained committed to holding officials accountable and seeking justice for those traumatized and victimized since the uprising began, proving considerably more adept than the formal opposition at drawing international attention. In the absence of more credible leaders, Rajab and the Khawajas have become de facto symbols of popular opposition and for a platform that blends political opportunity with social justice.
Earlier this week Amnesty International appealed for theprotection of Bahraini human rights activists. It called on the Bahraini authorities, who have come under international criticism for their detainment of opposition activists, to ensure the safety of civil society members who received threats of reprisals after participating in the 21st session of the UN human rights council in Geneva earlier this month. Citing the UN declaration on human rights defenders, Amnesty's report states that:
Amnesty International is concerned that Mohammad al-Maskati and other members of Bahraini civil society who participated in the UPR (Universal Periodic Review) exercise are being targeted on account of the peaceful and legitimate exercise of their right to freedom of expression and their role in exposing evidence of human rights violations.
Bahraini anti-government protesters hold posters with images of jailed human rights activist Nabeel Rajab during a gathering outside Rajab's home in Bani Jamra, Bahrain, on Wednesday. Rajab is expected  in court Thursday for the appeal of his conviction and three-year sentence on charges relating to organizing protests.Bahraini anti-government protesters hold posters with images of jailed human rights activist Nabeel Rajab during a gathering outside Rajab's home in Bani Jamra, Bahrain, on Wednesday. Rajab is expected in court Thursday for the appeal of his conviction and three-year sentence on charges relating to organizing protests. Photograph: Hasan Jamali/AP

Wednesday's death toll was 'third highest'

One of the activists groups that compiles casualty figures in Syria claim yesterday's death toll of 343 was the third highest it recorded.
An email from the Syrian Revolution Martyr Database points out that its tally hit 400 people killed on 4 February and 434 people on 25 August.
A table of its daily tally of killings available here.

Almost 300,000 Syrians refugees

It confirmed that it expects the number to increase to 700,000 by the end of the year.
The UNHCR's figures also showed:
• The number of people crossing the border into neighbouring countries has reached up to 3,000 people every day.
• Women and children make up three-quarters of the refugee population.
• The UNHCR needs to raise £301m to cope with the extra numbers. So far it has raised £87m.
Panos Moumtzis, UNHCR's regional co-ordinator for Syrian refugees, urged the international community to do more to help. He said:
Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey have set the example, keeping their borders open for Syrians fleeing violence. The neighbouring countries cannot do this alone. The international community must continue to demonstrate solidarity.
Updated 38m ago

Syrian troops enter Lebanon, destroy house – report

Syrian troops crossed into Lebanon this morning and destroyed a house belonging to Mohammed Akil al-Radi in the Qaa region of the Bekaa, the Lebanese National News Agency reports.
The agency's correspondent also reported of heavy machine gun fire on this region from the Syrian side.
There have been previous Syrian incursions in the area.

Iran to set up separate Syria contact group

Is Egypt's four-member contact group on Syria unravelling?
Iran, the most contentious member of the group, now says its is looking to set up another contact group on the Syria crisis, AFP reports.
It quotes President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad telling a press conference at the UN: 
We do believe that through a national dialogue and a national understanding and consensus, they can, the various Syrian sides, reach a more solid conclusion, a more tangible and long-lasting conclusion.
Therefore, we strive to pave the way for national dialogue and national understanding between the two sides and we are working hard to stand up and shape a contact group from various countries.
He gave no more details about which countries would be involved. Iran has been repeatedly accused of supplying weapons, soldiers and cash to Syria to prop up the Assad regime.
Egypt's president, Mohamed Morsi ,said his proposed quartet of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran represents the best way of finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis. But last week Saudi Arabia stayed away from a meeting in Cairo and this week a meeting had to be cancelled because of the absence of Turkey.
Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad address the UN's general debate.Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, address the UN general debate. Photograph: Shen Hong/Xinhua Press/Corbis
Updated 1h 18m ago

Tunisian rape victim accused of 'indecency'

A 27-year-old rape victim was summoned by an investigating judge in Tunisia on Wednesday to face charges of "indecency", al-Jazeera reports.
The charges have been brought by two police officers who are accused of raping the woman.
This is the first time that a woman allegedly raped by police has taken a case to court, al-Jazeera says quoting the Tunisian Equality and Parity organisation – and the "indecency" claim is seen as an attempt to persuade the woman to drop the rape charges.
The case comes among intense debate in Tunisia about the drafting of a new constitution, and in particular Article 28 which refers to women. The first draft described women as "complementary" to men rather than "equal".
Updated 1h 32m ago

Syrian refugees could reach 700,000

The UN's refugee agency has almost quadrupled its estimate for thenumber of people expected to flee the violence in Syria, Reuters reports
The number of refugees fleeing Syria could reach 700,000 by the end of the year, the UN refugee agency said, far surpassing its previous forecast of 185,000 reached in August.
About 294,000 Syrian refugees fleeing 18 months of conflict in their homeland have already crossed into four neighboring countries – Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey– or await registration there, it said.
"This plan provides for up to 700,000," Panos Moumtzis, regional refugee coordinator for the UN refugee agency UNHCR, told a news briefing.
Syrian refugees carry their belongings to their tent after arriving at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan.Syrian refugees carry their belongings to their tent after arriving at the Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan. Photograph: Reuters
Updated 2h 7m ago

Saudi killed in Aleppo

A Saudi was among 28 people killed in the Aleppo area on Tuesday, according to the opposition Aleppo News Network.
The website named him as Abdul Kareem al-Zaid Abu Saif. It said he went to Aleppo 25 days ago and was killed during clashes there.
In a report for the Guardian from Aleppo on Sunday, Ghaith Abdul-Ahad in Aleppo referred to "a babble of different languages" heard among fighters in the city – Chechen, Tajik, Turkish, French, Saudi dialect and Urdu.
The fighters sat outside the house in the shade of the trees, clutching their guns and discussing the war. Among them was a thin Saudi, dressed in a dirty black T-shirt and a prayer cap, who conversed in perfect English with a Turk sitting next to him. He had arrived the week before and was curious about how the jihad was being reported abroad.
The Saudi fighter had walked across the border from Turkey to the small Syrian town of Atmeh.
There, in a hilly landscape flecked with olive groves, the recruits were received by a Syrian who runs a jihadi camp and organised into fighting units. Each team was assigned an Arabic speaker and given 10 days' basic training, the point of which was not to learn how to shoot but to learn to communicate and work together.
The fighters were then dispersed among the different jihadi organisations, including Ahrar al-Sham ("the Free Men of Syria") and Jabhat al-Nusra ("the Front for the Aid of the People of the Levant").
Abdul Kareem al-Zaid Abu Saif, a Saudi national reported killed in Aleppo.Abdul Kareem al-Zaid Abu Saif, a Saudi national reported killed in Aleppo. Photograph: Facebook

Syria: 'a death-feud between Islamists and Ba'athists'

The Syrian uprising is only the latest, if by far the most violent, episode in a long war between Islamists and Ba'athists, which dates back to the founding of the secular Ba'ath party in the 1940s, veteran Middle East commentator Patrick Seale writes.
"The struggle between them is by now little short of a death-feud," he says.
Seale, who wrote a biography of President Bashar al-Assad's father, does not deny that other grievances such as poverty and the regime's brutality have contributed to the rebellion, "but beyond all this is the decades-long hostility of Islamists for Syria’s Ba'ath-dominated regime.
Today’s civil war – for that is what it has become – has deep roots in modern Syrian history. The rebellion has increasingly taken on an Islamist colouring, as the Swedish writer Aron Lund explains in an informative 45-page report on Syrian Jihadism, published this month by the Swedish Institute of International Affairs.
It is striking, as he points out, that virtually all the members of the various armed insurgent groups are Sunni Arabs; that the fighting has been largely restricted to Sunni Arab areas only, whereas areas inhabited by Alawis, Druze or Christians have remained passive or supportive of the regime; that defections from the regime are nearly 100% Sunni; that money, arms and volunteers are pouring in from Islamic states or from pro-Islamic organisations and individuals; and that religion is the insurgent movement’s most important common denominator.
Updated 2h 28m ago

'One of the bloodiest days yet'

Reuters is more slightly cautious than CNN over activists' claims about Wednesday's death toll. It cites the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claiming that more than 300 people were killed, "in one of the bloodiest days".
The British-based organisation, which monitors violence in Syria through a network of activists, said in a report released on Thursday that 55 people were killed in rural areas around Damascus. They included at least 40 who appeared to have been shot in cold blood in the town of al-Dhiyabia, south-east of the capital. Other activists have put the death toll in al-Dhiyabia as high as 107, blaming Assad's security forces for what they said was a massacre.
Updated 2h 55m ago

Summary

Welcome to Middle East Live. Syria continues to be the main focus after activists reported the highest daily death toll so far, and world leaders remain divided over the crisis at the UN.
Here's a summary of the main developments:

Syria

• The death toll in Syria reached 343 on Wednesday – the highest daily toll since uprising began, CNN reports citing the activist group, the Local Co-ordination Committees in Syria. Rafif Jouejati, a spokeswoman for the LCC, said: "The regime is escalating the violence at every possible opportunity and it is proof that it is determined to crush the revolution by any means necessary." The greatest number of dead on Wednesday occurred in Damascus and its suburbs, where LCC cited 162 deaths, including 107 in a reported massacre in Thiabieh.
• Rebels have forced the Syrian air force to cease flights from a strategically significant airbase south of Aleppo, reports the New York Times from near the Abu ad Duhur base. Jamal Marouf, a commander credited by the fighters with downing the first MIG-21, said: “We are facing aircraft and shooting down aircraft with captured weapons. With these weapons we are preventing aircraft from landing or taking off.”
• David Cameron has launched his strongest attack over UN inaction on Syria, declaring that the blood of young children is a "terrible stain" on the international body's reputation. He used this week's report by Save the Children, which said schools were being used as torture centres, to express exasperation with Russia and China which have blocked three UN security council resolutions on Syria. "The blood of these young children is a terrible stain on the reputation of this United Nations. And in particular, a stain on those who have failed to stand up to these atrocities and in some cases aided and abetted Assad's reign of terror," the prime minister said. 
• Egypt's new president, Mohamed Morsi, accused the Assad regime of "killing its people night and day" and called for a new Syria government representative of all the country's ethnic and religious groups. But in his UN speech, he said there should not be outside military intervention, pointing instead to a new diplomatic initiative begun by Egypt, Turkey and Iran, and called on other nations to join it. Morsi's comments contrasted with those of Qatari leader Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who called on Arab countries to bypass the UN and intervene directly in Syria. Morsi was also forced to cancel planned quartet talks at the UN on finding a diplomatic solution because of the absence of Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 
 Syrian commentator Camille Otrakji, who describes himself as a "mild regime supporter" puts forward a power-sharing compromise deal for resolving the crisis. Under his transition plan, outlined on Bloggingheads TV, the opposition would appoint a prime minister following elections to be in charge of all domestic policy, but the current regime would retain responsibility for foreign policy, defence and security monitored by neighbouring countries. "If we get to that stage we have to recognise that the regime and the opposition will keep doing things that will disappoint people for a while. It will be a difficult process," Otrakji said.
• Activists claimed that 40 people were killed when the rebel Free Syrian Army attacked an army headquarters in Damascus. The army said four guards were killed and 14 others wounded in what it said were suicide attacks. Analysts said the attack showed that the rebels continue to have the ability to strike at the heart of regime.
• A correspondent for Iran's Press TV was shot dead while reporting from the scene of devastating twin explosions in Damascus. Maya Nasser, a 33-year-old Syrian national, was killed after being hit by "insurgent" sniper fire, Press TV said.
• Fred Hof, the US state department special representative on Syria, who described the Assad regime as a "dead man walking", has resigned, according to Foreign Policy magazine. The US Syria team will now be led solely by the ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, it said, citing administration sources.

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