Introduction to the evening news 18-07-2012

Assef Shawkat, Daoud Rajha, Hassan Turkmani… names that precede their ranks in Syria, hence why the startling story of Assef Shawkat’s death in today’s explosion, spread like wildfire. Shawkat topped the list, with Defense Minister Daoud Rajha, and Vice President Hassan Turkmani not far behind. The record of the wounded was not devoid of leading names with Minister of Interior Al-Chaar, and Intelligence Chief Hisham Bekhtyar topping that one.                          

The explosion shook the regime, downing its third man; Assef – who supersedes Assad and brother Maher .The crisis unit which had been confronting the uprising since May 2011also collapsed to much of the oppositions delight. All that remains from the crisis unit is Commander of the Fourth Division Maher Assad, and the Head of the Military Intelligence Abdul Fatah Kodsiah.  The reaction of the regime now becomes the question of the hour.                           
                          
The regime rushed to appoint Fahd Jassim Fraij as Rajha’s successor, maybe in a move to minimize shock waves. Regional and International reactions soon followed with Washington saying that the sooner a political transition occurs in Syria, the better the chances to avoid a full scale civil war are.                                  
For its part, Russia dubbed the explosion as a “terrorist attack”, and called for the punishment of those behind it. Annan called for the deferment of the Syrian vote.                               

But first, from the scene of the crime, which until now remains unbroadcasted.


For the full introduction, watch the video above