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A10 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 26 sepTember 2019
Former rebel stronghold in Syria begins to rebuild

By YURAS KARMANAU At the nearby Suran check-
Associated Press point, Syrian authorities
KHAN SHEIKHOUN, Syria on Wednesday greeted a
(AP) — Portraits of Syr- group of about 100 people,
ian President Bashar Assad mostly women and chil-
adorn a few buildings still dren, crossing into the gov-
intact after years of fight- ernment-controlled territory
ing and Russian soldiers from the rebel-held areas.
hand out food and other “Life is horrible there, I saw
supplies to residents of this dead bodies every day,”
Syrian town that was re- said 80-year old Amina Na-
cently captured by the Syr- has. “I want my family to
ian army. Khan Sheikoun, live a peaceful life.”
which holds a strategic po- On April 3, 2017 an at-
sition in Syria’s northwest- tack on Khan Sheikhoun
ern Idlib province, fell to left residents gasping for
Assad’s forces last month breath and convulsing
following weeks of a mas- in the streets and over-
sive offensive by Syrian crowded hospitals. Nearly
troops backed by Russian 90 people were killed. The
military support. United States, Britain and
On Wednesday, a group of France accused the Syrian
foreign reporters on a trip to Syrian soldiers prepare to take part in military exercises led by Russian military advisers at a government of using nerve
Syria organized by the Rus- military base about 50-kilometers away from Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. agents in the attack and
sian Defense Ministry saw Associated Press days later, the U.S. fired 59
municipal workers clearing the country’s eight-year country, has insisted the of- 45-year-old Khalia Umran U.S. Tomahawk missiles at
the streets of debris, and civil war, and Syrian troops fensive in Idlib was neces- said after receiving her aid the Shayrat Air Base in cen-
Russian troops distributing have been on the offensive sary to uproot militants who package. “We can eat and tral Syria, saying the attack
aid. The town, which had a since April 30 to take control used the area as a base sleep quietly. Under the on Khan Sheikhoun was
population of 65,000 when of the area. The onslaught to launch attacks on Syr- rebel control, life was like launched from the base.
Syria’s civil war erupted in has provoked frictions be- ian government troops and hell. They killed my brother Assad’s government and
2011, now has only about tween Russia and Turkey, Russia’s military base. and abducted my daugh- Russia rejected the charg-
4,000 residents. which struck a de-escala- Sadoun said authorities are ter, but the suffering is now es, alleging the chemical
“People are afraid to come tion agreement for Idlib a working to reopen seven over.” Anas Pserini, a father attack was staged by the
back, we still need to in- year ago. Turkey protested local schools, even though of seven who returned to rebels to provoke the U.S.
spire public confidence,” the offensive, describing it the front lines remain close Khan Sheikhoun after it was strike. On Wednesday, Ravil
said Mohammed Sadoun, as a violation of the deal by. Water and electric- captured by government Muginov, a Russian army
the acting mayor. “People and urged Russia to rein in ity supplies are still missing, forces, was also grateful for general, charged that the
are paralyzed by fear.” Assad. But Russia, which to- and Russian troops distrib- the Russian aid. “I want to rebels in Idlib were trying
Idlib, which lies on the bor- gether with Iran has helped ute food and other items to have a job, but it will only to prevent civilians from
der with Turkey, is the last Assad’s government regain the population. be possible after peace is leaving the areas they
major rebel stronghold in control over most of the “It’s like before the war,” restored,” he said. control.q

Lawyers: 3 Egyptian activists detained amid wave of arrests

Associated Press Dawoud. trading for 30 minutes on
CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian se- Hosny and Nafaa are po- Sunday, the first day of the
curity forces arrested three litical science professors at country’s work week, af-
political activists known for Cairo University and were ter its main index fell by 5
their outspoken criticism of arrested Tuesday. Hosny percent. After three days
Egypt’s government and also was a spokesman for of losses, the exchange
president, defense lawyers the 2018 presidential cam- went up 3.22 percent
said Wednesday, amid an paign of Sami Annan, who Wednesday, according to
intensified crackdown on served as chief-of-staff the state-run MENA news
dissent following small but for former president Hosni agency.
rare anti-government pro- Mubarak. Annan was de- Over the past week, au-
tests over the weekend. tained in January last year. thorities have conducted
The demonstrations erupt- Dawoud, a journalist and a wave of arrests, accord-
ed over corruption alle- former head of the liberal ing to rights lawyers. The ar-
gations earlier this month al-Dustour party, was ar- rests came amid new calls
against the military and rested Wednesday. Da- for protests in the coming
President Abdel-Fattah In this Feb. 23, 2015 file photo, Khaled Dawoud, then spokesman woud, Hosny and Nafaa days on social media, from
for the liberal al-Dustour party, waves to 21 activists sentenced
el-Sissi, by an Egyptian by an Egyptian court to prison terms over an unauthorized street have been brought before which Friday’s demonstra-
businessman living in self- protest in 2013, at a court, in Cairo, Egypt. prosecutors, according to tors took their cue.
imposed exile. El-Sissi, who Associated Press attorney Khaled Ali. Prosecutors have ques-
is currently attending the fied a startling eruption of ceiving lengthy prison sen- A spokesman for the Inte- tioned at least 750 people
United Nations General As- street unrest. Demonstra- tences. rior Ministry, which over- about claims that they took
sembly, has dismissed the tions have been almost Attorneys Nour Farahat sees police, could not be part in activities of an out-
corruption allegations as completely silenced in re- and Khaled el-Masry iden- reached for comment. lawed group, a reference
“sheer lies.” cent years, with those who tified the three detained The short-lived protests im- to the Muslim Brotherhood,
Police quickly dispersed dare take to the streets be- activists as Hazem Hosny, pacted Egypt’s stock ex- and disseminating false
the protests, but they signi- ing quickly arrested and re- Hassan Nafaa and Khaled change, which suspended news, he said. q