Introduction to the evening news 28-06-2012

The second day of security month ended with peace. However, the country doesn’t seem “fine”.          

The state is trying to restore “its authority”, after every coterie became able to block Beirut’s main roads and burn tires. The Lebanese motives to protest are numerous, among which come the electricity issue and the sense of political or social injustice. However, all the means of protest become invaluable when the government’s deficit becomes exposed. This matter was approved during yesterday’s cabinet session, but will be under test in the days to come.                     

On the ground, the capital did not witness any road blocking, while the negotiations to convince Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir to end his sit-in in Sidon, have failed.                        
On the Syrian level, many developments occurred. First, the Turkish forces began moving towards Syrian borders in a precautionary measure, as it has been claimed. Second, an explosion was reported near the Justice Palace in Central Damascus.                   

In Damascus, an armed group assassinated the leader in Hamas movement Kamal Ghanaja, who was the deputy of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh assassinated by Israeli Mossad teams in Dubai two years ago.            

In this context, an international conference on Kofi Annan’s plan will be held in Geneva, next Saturday.