Syria vows "iron fist" response after Damascus terror attacksJanuary 7, 2012 - 14:20 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Syria's interior ministry has vowed to "strike back with an iron fist" at what it say is a recent "escalation" of anti-government terror attacks. It comes after a bomb in the capital, Damascus, killed at least 25 civilians and members of the security forces on Jan 6. Opposition groups have accused the government of planting the bomb to discredit their opponents and influence Arab League monitors. The monitors are assessing the progress of a regional peace plan. But activists say the government crackdown has continued, with scores of people killed since the monitors arrived. The UN says more than 5,000 civilians have been killed since protests against President Bashar al-Assad began 10 months ago. The Damascus blast happened at a busy junction in the Midan district of Damascus. State TV showed the shattered blood-stained windows of what appeared to be a bus carrying policemen. Authorities say most of those killed were civilians, but some security personnel were among the casualties, BBC News reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |