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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 4 april 2017

Syrian government forces besiege rebel-held Damascus area

PHILIP ISSA have suffered major de-
BASSEM MROUE feats in recent months,
Associated Press including the loss of east-
BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops ern neighborhoods of the
intensified their bombard- northern city of Aleppo,
ment of opposition-held ar- Syria’s largest, and the
eas around Damascus on western Damascus suburb
Monday and besieged a of Wadi Barada, a main
rebel neighborhood north- source of water for the
east of the city, the latest in capital, earlier this year.
the government’s push to In March, insurgents
erase battlefield advanc- launched a counter-at-
es made by insurgents in tack, capturing several ar-
March. eas northeast of Damascus
Airstrikes on the rebel- before losing much of them
held Damascus suburb of over the past few days.
Douma killed at least 16 Assad’s forces are seeking
people, including three to capture rebel-held parts
children, according to the of Qaboun, Tishrin, Jobar
Britain-based Syrian Obser- and Barzeh — areas that In this frame grab, a Syrian army rocket launcher fires at insurgent groups position, in Hama, north
vatory for Human Rights. opposition fighters have Syria. Syrian troops intensified their bombardment of opposition-held areas around Damascus on
Douma-based activist Ma- held for years. Losing them Monday.
zen al-Shami said 16 peo- would deal a new blow to (Syrian Central Military Media, via AP)
ple were killed in Douma, the opposition.
including a whole family. The Hafez road represents Earlier on Monday, Syr- calation north of Hama in than 70 bombs and rockets
He gave no further details. a strategic artery, though ian government forces the directions of Maardes had fallen on the adjoining
The government’s siege of the rebels have been wide- stepped up the bombing and Souran,” said a local village and town.
the Barzeh neighborhood ly known to use tunnels in of opposition-held areas in media activist who goes Syrian state media said
came as President Bashar the nearby neighborhoods and near Damascus and by the name of Obeida government forces had re-
Assad’s forces work to ex- to smuggle fighters, weap- the central city of Hama. Hamawi fearing for his own claimed Maardes by mid-
pand their security belt ons and food. “There’s been a major es- safety. He estimated more day. q
around Damascus, his seat
of power. President’s party wins Armenian parliamentary vote
After hours of fighting un-
der the cover of airstrikes
and intense bombard- AVET DEMOURIAN Serzh Sargsyan, won 49 per- control of the country after vants and employees of
ment, government forces Associated Press cent of the vote, and the he steps down in 2018 due private companies.
and their allies captured YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — bloc led by businessman to term limits. If his party “Reform is a never-ending
Hafez Road, according to Armenia’s ruling party has Gagik Tsarukian trailed with controls parliament, he process,
the Observatory and op- won just under half of the 27 percent, the Central could be appointed prime and I encourage the par-
position activist Anas al-Di- vote in the nation’s parlia- Election Commission said minister after that. liamentary majority and
mashqi, who is based near mentary election, enough on Monday after all ballots The observer mission of the new government to
Damascus. to claim a majority of seats, were counted. the Organization for Secu- continue their efforts to
The capture of the road authorities said Monday. Two more parties cleared rity and Cooperation in Eu- transform the country’s po-
cut off Barzeh from the Qa- Sunday’s election was the the 5-percent barrier nec- rope said in a statement on litical culture, in partnership
boun and Tishrin neighbor- first since the ex-Soviet na- essary to get seats in parlia- Monday that the vote was with the opposition, civil so-
hoods, which are partially tion modified its constitu- ment. “well administered and fun- ciety and the international
held by the rebels. tion to expand the pow- The official results are to be damental freedoms were community,” Ignacio San-
Monday’s developments ers of parliament and the announced later this week. generally respected.” The chez Amor, the mission’s
will increase pressure on prime minister. Critics see the constitution- mission, however, pointed special coordinator, said in
opposition fighters who The Republican Party of al amendments as part of to reports of vote-buying, the statement.q
Armenia, led by President Sargsyan’s efforts to retain and pressure on civil ser-