Introduction to the evening news 30-03-2012

At the end of this week, internal issues remained suspended even if they seemed to be solved. The electricity issue for instance reached an ambiguous settlement; how will they ask the two companies that were chosen by the tender to decrease their prices? What is the exact decrease amount enough to avoid another tender?        

Regarding the fuel crisis, the reasons behind the cancellation of the three-day strike at the beginning of next week are still unknown, especially that the minister of energy did not go back on his decision. In Syria, it seems that the opposition is disappointed as today’s demonstration slogan was “Friday of Arabs and Muslims who let us down”.

Diplomatically, U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan is expected to address the U.N. Security Council on Monday from Geneva via closed-circuit television.       

Today, Washington imposed sanctions on the Syrian Defense Minister Dawoud Rajiha, Deputy Chief of Staff Munir Adanov and a third officer, Zuhair Shalish.       

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State discussed the Syrian issue with Saudi King Abdullah on the eve of her departure to Turkey to participate in the Friends of Syria conference.