InfoAnda - Syrian forces seal off Banias, sectarian tension mounts |

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

In NY, Ralph Lauren opts for Chinese opulence | 18 February 2011
Last Chinese veteran of liberation of France dies | 18 November 2009
Pakistan offers joint probe of Mumbai attacks | 2 December 2008

Iran to hand nuclear deal letter to IAEA on Monday | | 22 May 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Syrian forces seal off Banias, sectarian tension mounts |

Edition: U.S. Article Comments (0) Slideshow Video Full Focus Photos of the week Our top photos from the past week. Full Article Follow Reuters Facebook Twitter RSS YouTube Read Japan says may extend nuclear evacuations | 2:21am EDT China tells U.S. to quit as human rights judge 10 Apr 2011 Texas wildfires destroy homes, buildings 10 Apr 2011 Gaddafi accepts peace plan but rebels say he must go | 3:40am EDT U.S. gallon of gas jumps to $3.76, could see $4-survey 10 Apr 2011 Discussed 131 Reid says Republicans want shutdown to close clinics 124 U.S. to reach debt limit by May 16: Geithner 113 Obama, Congress struggle to find budget deal Watched African Union leaders meet with Gaddafi Sun, Apr 10 2011 Wall St. dominated by oil swing Fri, Apr 8 2011 Rebels near Brega, Gaddafi on tv Sat, Apr 9 2011 Syrian forces seal off Banias, sectarian tension mounts Tweet Share this By Khaled Yacoub Oweis AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian security forces sealed off the coastal city of Banias overnight following sectarian killings by irregulars loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, witnesses said on Monday. Violence in Banias, home... Email Print Related News Syria says army unit ambushed in Banias, one killed Sun, Apr 10 2011 Analysis & Opinion Fight against corruption good; what about the method? Can autocrats tolerate citizen participation? Related Topics World » Syria » Related Video Mass funeral in Deraa Sun, Apr 10 2011 Protests sweep across Syria 1 / 4 EDITORS NOTE: THE CONTENT OF THE VIDEO FROM WHICH THE STILL IS OBTAINED CANNOT BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED Thousands of people attend a mass funeral for pro-democracy protesters in the Syrian city of Deraa in this still image taken from an amateur video posted to a social media site on April 9, 2011. The National Organisation for Human Rights in Syria, a Syrian rights group, said on Sunday that 26 protesters had been killed in the city of Deraa and two in Homs province after security forces opened fire on a peaceful gathering on Friday. Syria has prevented news media from reporting from Deraa and mobile phones lines there appeared to be cut on Sunday. Credit: Reuters/Amateur video footage via Reuters TV By Khaled Yacoub Oweis AMMAN | Sun Apr 10, 2011 11:58pm EDT AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian security forces sealed off the coastal city of Banias overnight following sectarian killings by irregulars loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, witnesses said on Monday. Violence in Banias, home to one of Syria's two oil refineries, erupted on Sunday when irregulars from the ruling Alawite minority, known as "shabbiha," fired at residents with automatic rifles from speeding cars, following pro-democracy protests in the mostly Sunni Mediterranean city. At least three people were killed, a human rights activist in the city told Reuters. The authorities said an armed group had ambushed a patrol near Banias, killing nine soldiers. Another rights activist said roads to the town were blocked. "We tried to get to Banias from the main exit off the coastal highway, but secret police had blocked the road and were turning cars back. Side roads were also blocked," he said. Facing an unprecedented challenge to his authoritarian rule, Assad has said the protests are part of a foreign conspiracy to sow sectarian strife. His father, the late President Hafez al-Assad, used similar language when he crushed leftist and Islamist challenges to his rule in the 1980s, killing thousands. Civic leaders and opposition figures reject the allegation and issued a declaration last month denouncing sectarianism, committing to non-violent democratic change and stating that Syria's people "as a whole are under repression." ALAWITES PROTEST The ruling family -- Bashar's brother Maher is the second most powerful person in Syria -- belong to the Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam, which comprises around 10 percent of the country's 20 million population. "The Alawites, like other minorities living under tyrannical systems, fear the unknown if the regime falls. But this does not mean that they support the violence it is committing," an Alawite human rights lawyer said. The protests have spread across Syria despite Assad's attempts to defuse resentment by making gestures toward demands for an end to an emergency law in force for five decades and to appease minority Kurds and conservative Sunni Muslims. With popular dissent now in its fourth week, security forces fanned out in tanks on Saturday night near the Banias oil refinery -- one of two in Syria -- near the Alawite district of Qusour, where its main hospital is located. Gunfire could be heard across the city on Sunday. A human rights activist in Banias told Reuters at least three civilians died when the shabbiha came from mountains overlooking Banias. "Banias's residents know they were thugs under orders and that sectarian strife would spell destruction for everybody," he said, pointing out that Alawites, along with Sunnis, have participated in pro-democracy protests in Banias. 1 2 Next World Syria Tweet this Share this Link this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language, all capital letters or appear to be spam, and we review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above. Social Stream (What's this?) © Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters Editorial Editions: Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom United States Reuters Contact Us Advertise With Us Help Journalism Handbook Archive Site Index Video Index Reader Feedback Mobile Newsletters RSS Podcasts Widgets Your View Analyst Research Thomson Reuters Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Professional Products Professional Products Support Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Careers Online Products Acquisitions Monthly Buyouts Venture Capital Journal International Financing Review Project Finance International PEhub.com PE Week FindLaw Super Lawyers Attorney Rating Service Reuters on Facebook Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Monday, 11 April 2011
Japan PM weakened by local elections and nuclear woes |
Gulf states call for Yemen's Saleh to transfer power |
Cartoon birds, bunnies rule world box office |
Red Wings put defending champion Blackhawks on the brink of missing playoffs
East-leading Bulls running over competition, win 60th by knocking off Magic
Royals' hitting explosion, Hochevar's pitching too much for Tigers
UNLV spurns ex-NBA coach Larry Brown; selects David Rice as hoops coach
Nuggets look to get healthy as playoffs approach; several players banged-up
Mets score two in bottom of first, lead Nats 3-1 in sixth inning
Getz going: RBI, run scored lifts Royals to 5-1 lead over Tigers after five frames
Mets struggling to come up with clutch hits in early part of season
Pens in waiting game: Pittsburgh could open playoffs without Sid Crosby
Peter DeBoer dumped as Florida Panthers coach after three seasons
Japan says may extend nuclear evacuations |
Humala leads Peru vote, rivals battle for run-off spot |
U.N. and French attack Gbagbo heavy weapons in Ivory Coast |
Gaddafi accepts peace plan but rebels say he must go |
More than 1,000 defy Egypt army order to quit square |
Syrian forces seal off Banias, sectarian tension mounts |
Nitrate-tainted milk case in China deemed intentional poisoning |
Hamas can't set terms of truce: Israel's Lieberman |
French full veil ban goes into force |
Analysis: Alliance Data may face high Epsilon breach costs |
Scientists find way to map brain's complexity |
Sharp suspends two TV panel plants as demand tumbles |
Raine Group receives investments from media, tech |
South Korea watchdog probes Hyundai Capital data breach |
Glee and Modern Family honored by gay group |
Cartoon birds, bunnies rule world box office |
Michael Shannon to play villain in Superman movie |
Japan to declare 20-km Fukushima zone off-limits
James delivers big numbers in Heat's win over Celtics
No. 1 Halo: Jered Weaver off to great start after impressive but unheralded 2010 campaign
Sizzling Tribe build 6-0 lead, hang on to edge Mariners
Libya accepts African Union peace plan
Older workers and pregnant women likely to be hit hard in next wave of job losses
Tornados rip through Iowa
LiLo hides from dad inside closet
Tiger's charge comes up short at the Masters
Despite turnaround, Devils coach Jacques Lemaire retires again
People on stretchers in Belarus metro blast-witness |
Yemen opposition rejects Gulf plan, Saleh accepts |
Hardship blunts Iranian interest in Arab protests |
France starts ban on full-face veil |
Rebels resort to guerrilla tactics in western Libya |
Apple to stay ahead in tablet boom: Gartner |
Apple's Steve Jobs' life story due in 2012 |
Japan quake to color phonemakers quarterly figures |
Swedish firm starts using Russian satnav |
New app calculates calories through photos of food |
Bahrain accuses activist of doctoring corpse pictures |
Level 3 to buy Global Crossing for $1.9 billion in stock |
Michael Shannon to play villain in Superman movie |
Canucks relish first-round matchup with defending champion Blackhawks
Rapper Nate Dogg's home foreclosed on after death
Vanessa Hudgens speaks up about nude photos
Red Sox revival: Beckett blanks Yanks, Buchholz signs extension
Ivory Coast dictator Gbagbo arrested
Rihanna, Britney Spears collaborate on "S&M" remix
Laid off construction workers join Yemen protests
Benghazi calm, but in need
Bahrain crackdown risks its future as financial center
Palestinian road warriors give Jerusalem streets new names
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01