News Introduction for Friday 06-01-2012

The Friday of “We demand international intervention” in Syria proved to be a bloody one. Casualties were taken on both sides: many were killed in the Midan blast while others were shot dead by Syrian Forces.

An explosion ripped through a police bus in the center of Syria's capital Friday, killing at least 10 people and possibly 25 in an attack that raised many observations: The attack was described as a terrorist act by the Syrian regime but did not accuse al-Qaeda of its responsibility unlike both previous explosions.

The Muslim Brotherhood accused the Syrian regime of the blasts and called for an international investigation to reveal the identity of the perpetrators.

On the other hand, many are criticizing the efforts of the Arab monitors; French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Friday that the Arab League mission sent to monitor unrest in Syria was unable to do its job properly as some European countries were acting to expel Syria from two UNESCO human rights committees within a campaign to remove the Assad regime from the international scene.

Meanwhile, the head of the Arab League said on Friday he had asked the Damascus-based leader of the Palestinian movement Hamas to ask the Syrian government to work to halt violence in the country.

Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby was speaking alongside Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal after a meeting in Cairo.

Locally, the Armenian Christmas did not prevent the study of several political issues including administrative appointments and a new wage adjustment plan presented by Minister Charbel Nahas.