Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 11 May 2019
UN says more displaced likely if Syria violence mounts

By SARAH EL DEEB vened in the conflict, with
Associated Press Russia and Iran backing the
BEIRUT (AP) — The U.N. food government and Turkey
agency warned Friday of supporting rebel factions.
a worsening humanitarian The U.S. backs Kurdish-led
situation in Syria’s last rebel fighters in the east.
stronghold in the country’s Late on Thursday, Turkey’s
northwest as rebel groups state-run Anadolu Agency
battled government forces said Foreign Minister Mevlut
to regain territory they lost Cavusoglu spoke with his
earlier this week. Russian counterpart Sergey
The latest wave of fighting, Lavrov and requested that
which began 10 days ago, the attacks on Idlib stop.
is the most serious chal- According to Anadolu,
lenge to a cease-fire bro- Lavrov told Cavusoglu that
kered by Russia and Turkey the government’s attacks
last September. Already, on Idlib had been halted.
some 150,000 people have A readout of the call post-
been displaced inside the ed on Russia’s Foreign
enclave, which is home to Ministry website, however,
3 million people and spans did not mention a Russian
most of Idlib province and pledge to stop the attacks.
part of Hama in the coun- In this Friday, May 3, 2019 file photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, which has It only said that the two min-
try’s northwest corner. been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows smoke rising after Syrian isters discussed Idlib and
The U.N. Security Council government and Russian airstrikes hit the town of al-Habeet, southern Idlib, Syria. the importance of “fighting
was to meet later Friday to Associated Press against the terrorist threat
discuss the violence. displaced, many uprooted fensive to reclaim Kfar Rights said the insurgents, on the principles of sover-
“The situation inside Idlib by violence several times Nabudah, a village some led by al-Qaida-linked eignty and territorial integ-
and northwest Syria is dire before, are living out in the described as the first line Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, ad- rity of Syria.”
and should escalation in open in olive groves, un- of defense for Idlib, which vanced into the village, On Friday, Turkey’s Defense
violence continue, more able to afford transporta- was captured by the gov- sparking intense clashes Minister Hulusi Akar ac-
desperate families will be tion to camps further north, ernment Wednesday. Its and government airstrikes. cused the Syrian govern-
displaced,” said Marwa Awad said. capture enabled govern- A spokesman for the rebel ment of trying to expand
Awad, spokeswoman for The violence escalated in ment troops to advance to umbrella group National its field of control in Idlib in
the World Food Program in the last few days as govern- the east, regaining control Front for Liberation, Naji al- violation of the cease-fire.
Syria. ment forces advanced on of the town Qalaat Madiq. Mustafa, said clashes are Akar called for the govern-
The agency was already the southern edge of the Syria state al-Ikhbariya TV ongoing and the govern- ment attacks to be halted.
forced to suspend aid de- rebel stronghold — gaining claimed troops repelled the ment has suffered losses. He made the comments
livery in the last few days to control since Wednesday insurgent attacks against The rebel stronghold is the during a visit to Turkey’s
about 47,000 people of a of a couple of villages and Kfar Nabudah village. last pocket of anti-gov- border with Syria where he
total of 580,000 it had been towns there. But the Britain-based war ernment opposition in the inspected troops, together
reaching before the vio- On Friday, rebel groups monitoring group Syr- eight-year civil war. Multiple with the country’s top mili-
lence. Dozens of the newly launched a counterof- ian Observatory for Human foreign powers have inter- tary commanders.q

As Lebanon leaders talk austerity, protesters cry ‘thieves!’

By SARAH EL DEEB who tried to prevent them vants and reducing early
Associated Press from burning tires. retirement compensation.
BEIRUT (AP) — Dozens of “We are back today to Senior officials would also
Lebanese military and se- tell this government to be- see their salaries cut and
curity veterans burned tires ware: our pensions and capped. Income taxes on
and shouted angrily out- our family rights are a red the highest brackets, along
side government offices on line,” said retired Gen. Sami with taxes on interest from
Friday, their second protest Rammah. “We are wait- bank deposits, are expect-
in less than two weeks amid ing for the decisions of the ed to be raised, according
fears a proposed auster- government meeting. If it to a leaked budget pro-
ity budget may affect their is good, then all good and posal. Another measure
pensions and benefits. well. If it is evil, we will let that might also meet resis-
The protesters gathered in them know about evil.” tance is a debt swap with
downtown Beirut as minis- He warned of escalating local banks.
ters met to discuss a bud- protests around Lebanon. Thousands of civil servants
get bill that aims to cut Lebanese retired soldiers protest in front of the government The government’s planned and staff of the Central
public spending and tackle building during a cabinet meeting to discuss an austerity budget cuts have un- Bank held brief strikes to
a national debt that stands budget, in Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, May 10, 2019. leashed a wave of public pressure the government
at more than 150% of GDP. Associated Press discontent that has wid- to spare them cuts.
They denounced leaked all thieves,” the protesters be they can smell,” the un- ened. On Friday, professors in the
reports of cuts to their pen- chanted. One protester named protester told Leba- Local media reported the state-owned Lebanese Uni-
sions, calling on the gov- said they were burning tires nese station MTV. planned cuts target pub- versity also protested po-
ernment to address corrup- to draw the ministers’ at- Some protesters scuffled lic wages, chipping away tential cuts to their wages
tion instead. tention to their warnings. outside the Cabinet meet- at end of service and so- and the learning institu-
“Thieves. Thieves. They are “If they can’t see us, may- ing with security personnel cial benefits of civil ser- tion’s budget.q