1. The Armed Forces Restore Security and Stability to al-Qseir
City
The armed forces on Wednesday restored security and stability to the
whole city of al-Qseir in Homs countryside.
An official source said that the army carried out qualitative and prompt
operations to restore security and safety to the city after the killing of a
big number of terrorists and the surrender of others.
The army destroyed the terrorists' hideouts with all the weapons and
ammunition inside them, and the tunnels and barricades where the
terrorists were fortified.
The source added that the armed forces dismantled dozens of explosive
devices planted by terrorists in the citizens' houses and on the public
roads to hinder the progress of the army.
"However, the determination of the army to save the city from the armed
terrorist groups led to those groups' full defeat and collapse," the source
said.
The source went on saying "Our armed forces are now continuing
the process of looking for explosive devices and criminal tools which the
terrorists left behind in al-Qseir city."
Syria: UNHRC Committee Insists on Exaggeration, Ignores Crucial
Events

2. Syria's Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC),
Fayssal al-Hamwi, stressed that the UNHRC investigation committee on Syria still
premeditates exaggerating results and ignores crucial events.
Addressing the UNHRC session held Tuesday to discuss the situation in Syria, al-
Hamwi denounced the delay in publishing the report of the investigation committee
giving no time enough for delegations to study the report and send it to their
countries.
"In spite of our warnings against using sectarian expressions, basically rejected by
the Syrian society, the committee used such terms and ignored in its conclusions
and recommendations the causes of deteriorating the social and economic
situation, including the unjust unilateral sanctions imposed by some Arab and
western countries on the Syrian people," al-Hamwi added.
He pointed out that the committee ignored in its report the role of Qatar in the
abduction of UNDOF personnel in the Golan which is being investigated by
United Nations Under-Secretary-General HervéLadsous after he received evidence
about that.
Concerning the situation in al-Quseir city, Al-Hamwi added that the report did not
mention the hundreds of rockets and shells which were launched by the armed
terrorist groups on Lebanon and the losses sustained by the Lebanese citizens and
al-Quseir residents since these groups controlled the city two years ago.
He noted that when member of the committee, Carla Del Ponte, confirmed that the
armed groups in Syria used the poisonous Sarin gas, pressures were intensified on
head of the committee to issue a statement refuting Ponte's conclusions.
Putin: Any Attempts at Using Force in Syria Are Doomed to
Failure
Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that the attempts to influence
the situation in Syria through direct military intervention will yield no
fruits and is doomed to failure, warning that these attempts would result
in heavy humanitarian consequences.

3. Speaking during a press conference following the end of the 31st Russia-
EU Summit, which kicked off Tuesday in the Russian city of
Yekaterinburg, President Putin expressed his country's disappointment
with the European Union's decision to lift the embargo on exporting
arms to the "opposition" in Syria.
"I won't hide that we were disappointed by this issue," he added.
He reiterated that Russia's arms exports to Syria are being carried out
on the basis of transparent contracts that are internationally recognized,
noting that the contract on exporting S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems
to Syria has not yet been implemented.
"The S-300 systems are, really, one of the best air defense systems in the
world, probably the best...It is a serious weapon," said Putin. "We do
not want to disturb the balance in the region. The contract was signed
several years ago. It has not yet been realized."
The Russian President pointed out that Russia and the European Union
agreed to closely coordinate their efforts to address the urgent
international issues.
"We agreed to further coordinate the joint efforts to succeed in holding
the Geneva conference on Syria as well as in the other urgent
international issues," he said.
He pointed out that both sides' agreement was arrived at within the
framework of the UN and with an initiative from Britain for an
international treaty on not sending arms to non-government formations.
President Putin added that a document was adopted within the
framework of the European Union that prohibits sending weapons to
conflict areas in the world.
He expressed his hope that no "man-eaters" would be among the
representatives of the "Syrian opposition" to the conference on Syria due
to be held in Geneva, referring to footages aired by some TV channels

4. showing members of the "armed opposition" cutting out and eating
internal organs of people they had killed.
He added that the participation of "such types of people" in the
international conference on Syria "would make it difficult to ensure the
security of the Russian participants in the conference."
President Putin said that absence of good will and a unified program on
the part of the "armed opposition" in Syria, in addition to the inability to
determine their representatives to the conference, are all issues that
hinder the holding of the conference on Syria.
He pointed out that Moscow and Brussels share the same stance on the
need to hold the international conference on Syria 'Geneva 2', saying
"this is what unites us with our European colleagues."
Lavrov: the appointment of international conference about
Syria will be specified after the specification of the names of
participators
Russian foreign minister announced that the appointment of
international conference about Syria will be specified after the
specification of the names of the participators.
Russia Rejects Deployment of Foreign Countries' Arms in
Syria's Neighboring Countries
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Alexander Lukashevich, stressed
his country's rejection of the deployment of foreign countries' weapons

5. in the territories of Syria's neighboring countries, saying what is
happening is injecting a dangerous region with foreign arms.
"I remember that early this year such missiles were deployed in Turkey
which are similar in their tactical and technical characteristics to the S-
300 missile systems…There are also foreign fighter jets in air bases,"
said Lukashevich in a press conference in Moscow.
"We expressed our position on that several times and it is that what is
happening is a dangerous region being injected with foreign arms," he
added.
He clarified that the U.S. State Department spokesperson, Jen Psaki,
earlier stressed that the deployment of the American F 16 fighter jets
and Patriot missiles to Jordan aims to participate in joint military drills
and noted that these weapons could stay in Jordan in case it requested
that
Russian Foreign Ministry Expresses Concerns over Terrorists Attempts
to Use Chemical Weapons in Syria and Iraq
Russian Foreign Ministry Expressed concerns over the news published
by Iraqi authorities over the possession of terrorists in Iraq equipment to
produce chemical weapons and poisonous gases.
Russia Today website reported the Ministry as saying in a statement "the
news coming from Baghdad confirms the need of caution over terrorists'
attempts in both Syria and Iraq to use poisonous materials."
The statement pointed out that the terrorist groups in Syria, particularly
Jabaht al-Nusra, had pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda forming "Islamic
State in Iraq and Syria."

6. The Iraqi military intelligence arrested a terrorist cell specialized in
manufacturing chemical compounds that produce sarin, mustard and
nerve gases that they intended to use inside Iraq and in neighboring
countries.
The Iraqi defense ministry said that the 5-member terrorist cell has been
under surveillance for three months.
The Iraqi defense ministry spokesman, Mohammad al-Askary said
during a press conference on Saturday that ''the terrorist cell attempted
to target visitors with chemical weapons.''
US State Department: Washington Committed to Further
Funding for Syrian Opposition
The U.S. Department of State stressed that it is committed to further
funding for the "armed opposition" groups and it has no intention to cut
off money to them.
Many Western intelligence reports, including from the US, admitted that
the money which goes to the so-called "Syrian opposition" mostly ends
up in the hands of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group with links to al-
Qaeda.
U.S. State Department Spokesperson, Jen Psaki, affirmed that has
already provided the "opposition" with USD 123 million and is now
studying the most effective means to provide additional USD 127
million.

7. She denied media reports on Washington withholding the provision of a
sum of USD 55 million to the "Syrian opposition", stressing that the US
is continuing support for the opposition.
A lot of information has revealed the scale of the U.S. involvement in
supporting the terrorist groups in Syria. The Washington Post
highlighted in several articles the role of the CIA in directing the crisis
in Syria in the interest of Washington and exchanging information with
Saudi Arabia and Qatar- both Gulf states that have been providing the
terrorists with weapons.
On the possibility that the assistance to the "opposition" would be
withheld in case it failed to participate in the international conference
due on Syria in Geneva, Psaki said the U.S. State Secretary, John Kerry,
is confident that the "opposition" will attend the conference.
The "Doha Coalition" has set preconditions to participate in the
international conference, which drew criticism from Moscow that
considered the Coalition was putting obstacles in the path of holding the
conference and finding a political solution to the crisis.
White House asserts that it needs more evidences about using
Sarin Gas in Syria
The White House asserted yesterday that it needed more
evidences to prove officially of the using of Sarin Gas in Syria.

8. American Study: the most people of foreign terrorists who
fight in Syria are Libyans
An American study revealed that the most people of foreign
terrorists who fight in Syria are Libyans.
Israeli Occupation Starts Two Fires in Occupied Syrian Golan
The Israeli occupation authorities on Tuesday started two fires in Ein al-
Tineh site and the slopes of al-Sheikh Mountain in the occupied Syrian
Golan.
Selectman of Ein el-Tineh Yousef al-Bassar that these fires aren't the
first such acts, as the Israeli occupation started a large fire on Monday
evening that spread from the slopes of al-Sheikh Mountain overlooking
Majdal Shams to Ein al-Tineh, causing massive damage to farmlands
and pastures before the locals managed to put it out.
Al-Bassar said that fires started by the occupation authorities destroy
lots of green spaces in the Golan and threaten the extinction of many
types of animals and plants, in addition to polluting the air.

9. The Israeli occupation authorities start dozens of fires every year in the
occupied Syrian Golan as part of their policy of aggression against it
and its people.
Patriarch Yazaji Calls for Finding Solution to Crisis in Syria
Patriarch of Antioch and the entire East for Greek Orthodox
Yohanna X Yazaji called for finding a peaceful solution to the
crisis in Syria through dialogue and understanding.
"We hope to find a solution to the crisis in Syria through national
dialogue, not through violence or any other language those
contracts with peace and amity," Yazaji said in a statement at
Beirut Airport coming back from Turkey where he discussed
efforts to release the two abducted bishops of Aleppo Yohana
Ibrahim and Paul Yazaji.
"We are in continuous contacts with all sides concerned to
release the two bishops.. We discussed with the Turkish officials
the situation in Syria and prevailing peace in it," Yazaji added.
An armed terrorist group abducted the two bishops on April 22nd
while they were on a human mission in Kafr Dael in Aleppo
countryside.
Syrian, Tunisian Women Launch Women against Hatred and Terrorism
Initiative

10. Syrian and Tunisian women on Tuesday launched the "Women against
Hatred and Terrorism" initiative at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.
This initiative aims for drawing attention to violence against women,
particularly Syrian women who were forced out of their homes due to
the events in Syria and took refuge in camps in neighboring countries
which exploit them and subject them to physical and psychological
abuse.
The Tunisian women who participated in the initiative are members of a
Tunisian delegation currently visiting Syria, encompassing civil,
popular, and religious and media figures and representatives of unions,
in addition to parents of Tunisian youths misled into fighting in Syria.
During the event, Grand Mufti of the Republic Ahmad Badreddin
Hassoun said that there are sides who misled Tunisian youths and
presented them with an incorrect image of what is happening in Syria,
which caused them to be misled into fighting alongside armed terrorist
groups.
Hassoun cited an example of a disabled Tunisian youth who was
brought to Syria where terrorists attempted to rig his wheelchair with
explosives to perform a terrorist bombing, but the youth's brother
managed to prevent this and took him home.
In turn, Patriarchal Deputy of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, Bishop
Luca al-Khouri, said that Syrians always coexisted and will remain so,
asserting that Syria is facing a war in which those who don't agree with
the terrorists' horrendous and atrocious acts are singled out and marked
for death.
For his part, Tunisian Islamic scholar Abdelmajid al-Barari said that
the suspicious "fatwas" that misled Tunisian youths to fight in Syria are

11. unlike the true qualities of the Tunisian people, and that these fatwas are
paid for by the enemies of Arabs and Muslims.
Members of the Tunisian delegation voiced wishes for Syria to emerge
victorious and safe from the conspiracy, apologizing to the Syrian
delegation for what some of their countrymen did.
In turn, relatives of martyrs and members of civil societies in Syria
voiced appreciation for the misguided Tunisian youths' parents who
came to Syria to try and make up for their sons' actions, asserting that
the full responsibility for this situation is on those who exploited youths
to do their dirty work.
Al-Halqi: Government is Mobilizing National Resources for
Reconstruction
Prime Minister, Dr. Wael al-Halqi said that the government is
mobilizing all national resources for the reconstruction and
comprehensive development process after the crisis ends, and works to
improve the millennium development goals indicators.
Al-Halqi's comments came during his meeting on Monday with the
Resident Coordinator of the UN activities in Syria, Adam Abdul-Mawla.
The two sides discussed Syria's cooperation with international
organizations in various humanitarian and development fields and
means of expanding it.
Al-Halqi said that the government will continue to offer all necessary
facilitations for delivering basic materials, especially food and

12. medicine, to citizens in all areas, adding that it is working to provide big
numbers of the temporary residential centers.
He added that the government is ready to cooperate with all
international organizations in various fields according to the principle
of national sovereignty, hailing the efforts of NGOs in helping the
displaced Syrians and providing them with food packages and medicine.
Premier al-Halqi hailed the achievements of the Syrian armed forces
and their defense of the homeland for restoring security and stability,
indicating that the armed groups are working methodically to vandalize
the development, service and economic sectors in service of US, Western
and Israeli schemes.
Abdul-Mawla said that the UNDP has accomplished the humanitarian
response plan in Syria and plans were set for reconstruction and helping
the Syrian people improve their living conditions in coordination with
the government through creating job opportunities in several areas.
He expressed appreciation for the Syrian government's efforts and
facilitations for delivering aid to citizens, indicating that the UN work in
Syria is restricted to delivering humanitarian aid.
Electricity Ministry, Iranian Company Sign Four Contracts Valued at
EUR 40 Million
The Electricity Ministry and the Iranian Engineering Company for
Importing Electric and Petroleum Materials signed on Tuesday four
contracts for supplying high-voltage capacity conductors and other
equipment for power relay stations valued at EUR 40 million.

13. In a statement to journalists, Electricity Minister Imad Khamis said
these contracts are part of the ongoing cooperation between Syria and
Iran, and that they aim at outfitting new power plants and restoring
damaged relay stations, in addition to providing spare parts to
guarantee that the electricity sector remains working at high efficiency.
He pointed out that after installing the new equipment procured through
these contracts, the Ministry will link the new generator array to the
power grid to provide more electricity across Syria.
The contracts were signed by Director General of the Electric Power
Establishment Nasouh Semsmiyeh and Director of Marketing at the
Engineering Company for Importing Electric and Petroleum Materials
Majid Shemis.
Arab popular initiative to support Syria in its battle against the
terrorism
An Arab popular initiative was to support Syria in its battle against
terrorism.
Levant Scholars' Union: Qaradawi's Takfiri Fatwas Contradict Islam,
Prophet Teachings

14. Levant Scholars' Union said that the takfiri fatwas of Yusuf al-
Qaradawi, Chairman of the International Union of Muslim Scholars
(IUMS), go against the teachings of Islamic Sharia law and Prophet
Mohammad (Peace Be upon Him).
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Union said that these fatwas
affect the creditability of the IUMS as a representative of Muslim
scholars from the Islamic nation.
"The Islamic nation is urgently in need for those who could help stop the
bloodshed among its people and find an exit from seditions," the
statement said, calling for the nation's people to search for the factors of
their strength and unity and point weapons to those who are violating
and desecrating the sanctity of al-Aqsa Mosque.