13-Jun-11 World View — Pro-Assad Crowd Attacks Turkey's Embassy In Damascus

This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com.

Pro-Assad crowd attacks Turkey’s embassy in Damascus


Syrian refugees living in tents in refugee camp in Yayladagi, Turkey (Reuters)
Syrian refugees living in tents in refugee camp in Yayladagi, Turkey (Reuters)

Some 2,000 supporters of the Assad regime in Syria ralliedon Sunday near Turkey’s embassy in Damascus, trying to bring down the Turkish flag. The attempt was repelled by embassy security and Syrian security forces. The protesters are angered because Turkey is providing protection to over 5,000 refugees in the refugee camp in Yayladagi. Zaman

Assad likely to succeed in bid to quell Syria protests

Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad is operating on the assumptions that time is on his side and that even if Turkey or other states sever ties with Syria it will still be able to count on cooperation from Iraq, Iran and Russia. Another assumption, presumably correct, is that Syria will not be subject to a Libya-style international military onslaught. This analysis concludes that Assad is likely to survive the current protests. Haaretz

Recep Erdogan wins by a landslide in Turkey


Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday
Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has become the most successful prime minister in the history of Turkey’s multiparty system after a landslide victory at the country’s general election, though the result falls short of the two-thirds majority needed to rewrite Turkey’s 1982 military constitution without having to consult parliament. His centre-right Justice and Development party (AKP — pronounced “aak party” or “ay-kay party”), in power since 2002, won 49.9% of all votes, giving it 325 seats in parliament. Journalist Oral Çalislar said: “Prime minister Erdogan has already indicated that after the elections, the honeymoon with Syria will be over. Turkey will take a much harder stance, and side with the EU to solve the Syrian problem.” The handling of Turkey’s large Kurdish minority will also be a key issue. Guardian

Iran’s security forces attack silent rally with batons and teargas

It’s the two-year anniversary of the alleged rigged reelection of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president of Iran, and tens of thousands of people came out on the streets of Tehran for a silent protest. According to one protester, “People were pretending that they were in the streets for a walk but it was obvious that they were out in protest to mark the rigged election in 2009.” Security forces attacked the crowd with batons and teargas, and arrested dozens. Guardian

Pakistan Taliban complain of being ‘maligned’ after suicide bombing

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Pakistan’s Taliban terrorist group, is complaining of being “maligned” by “foreign secret agencies” who are blaming TTP for the twin suicide bomb blasts in Peshawar that killed 39 people and injured dozens on Saturday. The attack was one of the deadliest since the killing of Osama bin Laden, for which TTP has promised revenge. A TTP spokesman said, “We did not carry out this attack in Peshawar. It is an attempt by foreign secret agencies who are doing it to malign us.” AFP

Palestinian reconciliation jeopardized by choice of unity head

After yesterday’s news that Palestinians are reconsidering their decision to apply to the U.N. General Assembly for a vote on unilateral statehood, it now appears that the Palestinian reconciliation agreement is jeopardized by a dispute over the nomination of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to head the unity government. Fatah has nominated Fayyad, a former World Bank economist, because he’s respected in the West, while Hamas opposes him because of his alleged cooperation with the Israelis against some Hamas members. Reuters

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