News Intro for Sunday 08-04-2012

Happy Easter to all Christian sects who celebrate it on this day           

Another bloody Sunday in Syria, only 36 hours before the implementation of the Western-backed Arab League envoy Kofi Annan’s peace plan. The plan previously calling upon the Syrian army to withdraw from cities was shot down today when Damascus revealed their statements were taken out of context since Annan’s plan did not offer any assurances that opposition fighters would also lay down their arms.            

Commander of the Free Syrian Army, Col. Riad al-Assaad commented on the statements from Damascus saying, “laying down our arms is out of the question so long as Assad is in power; Annan’s plan will fail because the Syrian government will refuse to implement it.”           

On the domestic front, all eyes were on Bkerke; either on those attending the church for Easter mass or on President Sleiman delivering his speech to the nation.

March 14 leaders did not attend the mass held at Bkerke except for the Kataeb party chief Amin Gemayel. On the other hand, President Sleiman made it clear that most political figures refuse for the upcoming election to be based on electoral law from the 1960s.