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 Louay Safi, spokesman for the Syrian Coalition, said that the regime’s evasion of discussion of the transition process is an attempt to disavow all terms of Geneva I as the forming of a transitional ruling body is the sole guarantor for the application of all of the terms agreed upon by the international community.” Safi also stresses that the Assad regime is trying to buy time at the expense of the blood of Syrian people,” adding that the regime’s delegation is following Assad’s…Read more
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Faisal Al Miqdad Accuses a Journalist of Terrorism Just Because of a Question He Does Not Like
Riyad Masas, director of the Association of Syrian Journalists denounced the accusations made Faisal al-Miqdad, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Assad regime against Syrian journalists such as Ahmad Zakaria and the correspondent of Orient TV of belonging to armed terrorist groups. Miqdad was replying to Ahmad Zakaria’s questions in a press conference when the latter asked: “Isn’t it a shame the Assad regime uses barrel bombs and starvation as cards to put pressure on the opposition at the Geneva II conference?” When Orient TV correspondent asked Miqdad about the reason behind the support provided by Hezbollah’s terrorist militias to the Assad regime, Miqdad and kill Syrians, Miqdad accused him of “insolence, decadence and rudeness.” Masas said that “it has become known to everyone that the charges of terrorism are already made by the regime against those who oppose him, and through which the regime tries to cover up its crimes against the Syrian people who are trying to convey the truth to the world.” Masas recalled accusations made by the regime’s Foreign Minister against almost all the attendees at Geneva II conference of being a group of ambassadors of terrorist organizations not countries. “Bashar al Assad described all the Syrian people as terrorists when they demanded freedom to express their opinion,” Masas said. He also called on respecting the rights of all journalists regardless of their political affiliation. It is important to note that Reporters without Borders said in a report that Syria is “one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists,” adding that it “at least 110 journalists have been killed while performing their work since March 2011, while there 60 journalists who are detained or missing.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)
Assad’s Media Advisor Denies Knowledge of Opponents of Assad
Luna Al Shibil, Assad’s media advisor, pretended that she does not know the former U.S. Ambassador to Damascus Robert Ford, during a press conference in Geneva, responding to a question about remarks made by Ford, who accused the Assad regime of committing a “war crime” because he refused to enter humanitarian aid to the besieged neighborhoods of Homs. She added that as a persona non grata Ford then does not have the capacity to make statements about Syria.” Similarly, Al Shibil denied she knows Rima Fleihan when asked to comment on remarks made by the latter, despite the fact both of them are Druze from Swaydaa’. In her first statement upon arriving at Geneva, she said to the reporters traveling with the delegation: “Be assured, Assad will not step aside.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)
3,000 Bread Packs are produced daily in Yabroud
Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU) helped the residents of Yabrood produce bread and distribute it free of charge. The move comes as a part of the campaign dubbed “From a Syrian to a Syrian.” 3,000 packs of bread are produced every day in Yabroud, where more than 2,500 families live. ACU gives aid to the local council in the town to secure flour and additives necessary for the production of bread, as well as to secure the labor required for the production and transport and distribution to the needy households. The project has begun production and distribution of bread since the January 10 and has produced 45,000 packs of bread in 15 days. The campaign also included the distribution of food rations to needy families in Kalamoon and distribution of winter clothing, blankets, stoves and other heating materials. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
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Death Toll: 50 People Killed Today, 114 Yesterday.
The Local Coordination Committees documented 114 civilians killed yesterday, while 50 people were killed as of 6:00 pm of today, including five children and two women. Deaths were cited as: 26 in Aleppo, 13 in Damascus, 8 in Dara’a, 2 in Deir Ezzor and one in Idlib. (Source: LCC + Syrian Coalition)
Barrel Bombs Kill Eight in Dariya
Assad’s warplanes launched barrel bomb attacks on Dariya, killing a family of eight people, including children. Regime forces also conducted artillery shelling on the towns of Ein Fija, Zabadani, Al Qadam, and Yabrood, killing two people and injuring others, some in critical condition. Meanwhile, the regime’s warplanes bombarded Erbin district, with reports of civilian casualties. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)
Five FSA Fighters Killed in Quneitra
The Free Syrian Army lost five fighters during clashes with regime forces in Quneitra province. The Free Syrian Army captured a building where regime forces were stationed in Manshiya of Dara’a. Regime forces shelled the town of Jlein, killing three civilians and wounding many others. Regime forces also targeted the towns of Kahil, Mazirab, Tel Shehab and Al-Ajmi, causing civilian casualties. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)
FSA Downs a Warplane in Aleppo as Aerial Shelling Kills Dozens
The Free Syrian Army shot down a MiG-23 jet fighter in Hanano district of Aleppo, while Assad’s warplanes launched barrel bombs attacks on eastern Aleppo, killing 16 civilians in Qadi Askar and 10 in Sheikh. Air strikes were also reported on Saharra and Haritan in rural Aleppo, causing civilian casualties. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)
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