Skip to main content

Syria’s Assad makes rare appearance for Eid prayers


BEIRUT | Sun Aug 19, (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad performed prayers in a Damascus mosque marking the start of the Muslim Eid holiday on Sunday, state television showed, his first appearance in public since a July bombing that killed four members of his security brass.

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (3rd L) attends Eid Al Fitr prayers at al-Hamad mosque in Damascus August 19, 2012, in this handout photograph released by Syria’s national news agency SANA. REUTERS/Sana/Handout

Opposition activists reported anti-government protests at cemeteries and mosques around Syria including Damascus, Hama and Idlib at the outset of the three-day Eid al-Fitr feast, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Assad, battling a 17-month-old uprising against 42 years of rule by his family, was accompanied to the Damascus mosque by his prime minister and foreign minister but not his vice president, Farouq al-Shara, whose reported defection was denied the previous day.

His administration shaken by the July 18 bomb attack in Damascus and defections including that of his last prime minister, Assad’s recent appearances had been restricted to state television footage of him during official business. He was shown swearing in the new prime minister a week ago.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

MBINU ZA KUMFIKISHA MWANAMKE MWENYE MAKALIO MAKUBWA KILELENI KWA HARAKA

Kwa kawaida wanawake wanafikia kilele (mwisho wa utamu wa ngono) kati ya dakika ishirini na saa moja, yaani kwa kifupi inawachukua muda mrefu sana hali inayopelekea mpenzi mvivu kuchoka na ufanyaji wake utakuwa wa “ovyo” hali itakayo kufanya wewe kuishiwa na hamu ya kuendelea. Pamoja na kuchelewa huko ambako kunatokana na utofauti wetu kati ya mwanaume na mwanamke lakini nakumbuka hapo nyuma nilikutana na wanawake 2 waliokuwa ndani ya ndoa na wamezaa lakini hawajawahi kabisa kujua utamu wa tendo hilo alimaharufu kama “kufanya mapenzi”. Natambua kuwa ni ngumu au niseme si wanawake wote ambao wamejaaliwa kimaumbile kwamba wanafanikiwa kufika kileleni zaidi ya mara mbili kila wanapofanya mapenzi/ngono (kumbuka ni kati ya dakika 15 na saa moja hivyo Jibaba hapa awe na uwezo wa kujizuia kwa zaidi ya dk 45) na ikiwa jamaa ni “mzamiaji” basi unaweza ukaondoka na goli 3 ktk mzunguuko mmoja. Lakini kwa nini basi baadhi yao tu ndio wafike kileleni na wengine was...

Saudi King urges U.N. action against religious insults

Saudi King Abdullah urged the United Nations to produce a resolution condemning insults on monotheistic religions after the anti-Islam film in the U.S. that sparked deadly protests in many Muslim countries last month. (AFP) By AFP, MINA/SAUDI ARABIA Saudi King Abdullah on Saturday demanded a U.N. resolution condemning insults on monotheistic religions after a low-budget film produced in the U.S. sparked deadly protests last month. “I demand a U.N. resolution that condemns any country or group that insults religions and prophets,” he said during a meeting at his palace with religious figures and heads of hajj delegations in the Mina valley where pilgrims were performing final rituals of hajj. “It is our duty and that of every Muslim to protect Islam and defend the prophets.” A low-budget film produced in the U.S., Innocence of Muslims, triggered a wave of deadly anti-American violence last month across the Muslim world targeting US symbols ranging ...

Uganda Police issue fresh terror alert

  By Chris Kiwawulo, The Police have issued a fresh terror alert against a possible attack on Uganda by four terrorists from Kazakhstan. Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba “We have received a security notification in form of an orange notice of four terrorists originating from Kazakhstan who are planning to travel to foreign countries in order to commit attacks and participate in hostile acts,” Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said in a statement on Monday. Nabakooba named the four active members of radical organizations as; Nassiruauly Kairat, Umurzakov Marat Eskendirovich, Kovtun Denis Valerevich and Mazhibayen Alimzhan Akhlazhanovich. By press time, a search on the international web has not yielded anything on the named persons.Last evening, police said that in collaboration with other security agencies vigilance has been stepped up to avert the terrorists’ evil plans. Police have in the past issu...