SHAFAQNA

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association)  In reality, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has long ago been exposed as an absurd propaganda front operated by Rami Abdul Rahman out of his house in England's countryside. According to a December 2011 Reuters article titled, "Coventry - an unlikely home to prominent Syria activist," Abdul Rahman admits he is a member of the so-called "Syrian opposition" and seeks the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad:  After three short spells in prison…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association)  Israeli regime’s spy agency, Mossad, has threatened to assassinate officials of the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas. Israel Radio quoted a Hamas spokesman as saying that Israel’s spy agency, Mossad, has sent warning messages to Gaza officers and security forces, threatening to assassinate those fighting against the regime.  The threats came after Hamas said last week that its security forces arrested a number of people on suspicion of espionage for certain Western and Arab spy agencies…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad quit on Saturday after months of tension with President Mahmoud Abbas, leaving the administration in disarray just as the United States tries to revive peace talks with Israel. Abbas, who has been unhappy with Fayyad's handling of the cash-strapped government, accepted the resignation and asked Fayyad to stay on as caretaker until a new government is formed, according to official Palestinian news agency WAFA. Palestinian law requires the president…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – A Shia scholar and an activist of the Awami National Party were among three people gunned down in the city, police said on Friday. Seventy-year-old Allama Ghazanfar Ali was shot dead in the afternoon in Turi Bangash Colony, Nazimabad. SSP Central Amir Farooqi said Ali, the prayer leader at the Noor-e-Aman Masjid located in Nazimabad No 1, was heading towards the mosque for Friday prayers when two men riding a motorcycle shot him four…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) The Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has resigned, after a long-running dispute with President Mahmoud Abbas. Official Palestinian news agency Wafa said the president accepted Mr Fayyad's resignation after they met in person. But he asked him to remain as caretaker until a new government is formed. A BBC correspondent says Mr Fayyad's resignation is a major blow for US efforts to restart the long-stalled peace process with Israel. His resignation is the climax of…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – With the Islamist president by his side, Egypt’s army chief warned against slandering the military, denying in remarks broadcast Friday that the military committed any abuses against protesters during the turbulent transition of the past two years. The joint appearance by President Mohammed Mursi and the top general seemed to have been prompted by media leaks from a report commissioned by the president himself that found the army unlawfully detained protesters and possibly killed…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – At least three people have been injured after Jordanian police attacked a pro-reform demonstration in the northern city of Irbid. Witnesses say police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators who were calling for political and economic reforms in the kingdom on Friday. Pro-reform rally in Irbid comes almost two weeks after Jordan’s smallest government in four decades, led by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, took office. Jordanians have been holding street protests demanding political…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak goes on trial on Saturday for the second time on charges of complicity in the murder of protesters during the uprising that unseated him. Egypt's highest appeals court ordered a retrial in January after accepting appeals from both the defence and the prosecution. Each cited different shortcomings with the trial, which ended with life prison terms for Mubarak and his interior minister but was criticised for the weak evidence…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) Six children are among at least 57 people killed in southern Syria after the army launched an all-out assault on two towns in Deraa province, according to a London-based activist group. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) identified the towns on Thursday as Sanamin and Ghabagheb. "At least six children, seven women, 16 rebel fighters, 16 other unidentified men and 12 army troops were killed on Wednesday, in fighting, shelling and summary executions waged after the army…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is facing Western pressure not to allow his prime minister, Salam Fayyad, to resign at a time when the United States is trying to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The Reuters news agency reported on Thursday that Fayyad submitted his resignation, after weeks of conflict over his handling of the government and an economic crisis in the occupied West Bank. His letter of resignation was reportedly drafted last…