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Show WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012 THE SIGNPOST 10 Syria troops push back rebels as UN showdown looms "It is time for the inter- stressed full respect of the national community to put security, sovereignty and aside our own differences territorial integrity of the and send a clear message Syrian people." BEIRUT (AP) - Syrian of support to the people of Russia has stood by troops crushed pockets Syria," Clinton said. Assad as he tries to crush of rebel soldiers Tuesday Russia, one of Assad's an uprising that began on the outskirts of Da- strongest backers, has nearly 11 months ago. In mascus and the U.N. Se- signaled it would veto any October, Moscow vetoed curity Council took up a U.N. action against Da- the first Security Council draft resolution demand- mascus, fearing it could attempt to condemn Syring that President Bashar open the door to eventual ia's crackdown and has Assad halt the violence international military in- shown little sign of budgand yield power. volvement, the way an ing in its opposition. U.S. Secretary of State Arab-backed U.N. resoMoscow's stance is motiHillary Rodham Clinton lution led to NATO air- vated in part by its strategic told the Security Council strikes in Libya. and defense ties, including that action to end the vioHowever, the Arab weapons sales, with Syria. lence in Syria would be dif- League emphasized that Russia also rejects what ferent from U.N. efforts to international military ac- it sees as a a world order pacify Libya. tion was not being sought. dominated by the U.S. "I know that some memThe diplomatic show"We are attempting to bers here may be con- avoid any foreign interven- down came as Syrian cerned that the Security tion, particularly military government forces took PHOTO BY: MARRY ALTAFFER / ASSOCIATED PRESS Council is headed toward intervention" in Syria, Sec- back control of the eastanother Libya," she said. retary-General Nabil Elar- ern suburbs of the capi- Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar Ja'afari addresses a Security meeting on the situation in Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 at United Na"That is a false analogy." aby said. "We have always tal, Damascus, after rebel Council tions headquarters. Syrian troops crushed pockets of rebel soldiers Tuesday on the soldiers briefly captured of Damascus, fueling some of the bloodiest fighting of the 10-month-old the area in a startling ad- outskirts uprising, as Western diplomats tried to overcome Russia's rejection of a draft U.N. vance last week. The fact that rebels resolution demanding President Bashar Assad halt the violence and yield power. made it to the doorstep been able to update the Earlier Tuesday, a porters were taken north of Damascus, the seat figure. The death toll French official said the of Damascus to see the of Assad's power, was a from Monday's offensive draft U.N. resolution had Sednaya Convent, bedangerous development was around 100 people, a "comfortable major- lieved to have been build for the regime. The mili- making it among the ity" of support from 10 of in A.D. 547. The site was 2 tary launched a swift of- bloodiest days since the the Security Council's 15 damaged by artillery fire fensive Monday and on uprising began in March, members, meaning RusSunday, in an attack the 7:00 Tuesday crushed the re- according to the British- sia or China would have government blamed on maining resistance in Za- based Syrian Observatory to use their veto power to "armed terrorists." No camalka and Arbeen. for Human Rights and the stop it. sualties were reported. But the suburbs were Coordination ComRussia has agreed to "Providence has salnot entirely quiet. On a Local mittees, an opposition negotiate on the draft, vaged this holy site," said government-sponsored group. said the official, who Sister Verona, the head of media trip, Syrian journalActivists said Tuesday's spoke on condition of the Sednaya Convent. ists heard at least seven ex- death toll was at least anonymity in accordance Also Tuesday, army deplosions Tuesday from the seven, although the LCC with department rules. fectors gained full control eastern suburb of Rankous. put the figure at up to 28. The Syrian uprising, of the central town of RasIt was not clear what caused Syria prevents indepen- which began with mostly tan after days of intense the blasts. dent reporting, making it peaceful protests, has be- clashes, according to a Violence also was re- difficult to confirm events come increasingly violent town activist who identiported in the Baba Amr on the ground. in recent months as army fied himself as Hassan. neighborhood of Horns The bloodshed in Syria clash with gov- He refused to give his full in central Syria, a hot- has increased in recent defectors TATI ernment forces and some name, fearing reprisal. bed of opposition to the Free Pre-game Food as Western and Arab protesters take up arms to The town was taken regime. Activist Moham- days countries stepped up presprotect themselves. by defectors twice in the and Ice Cream for med Saleh said he heard sure on Russia over Security The violence has inpast only to be retaken by the first 250 Students, hours of shelling and ma- Council action. flamed the sectarian di- Syrian troops. Rastan is courtesy of The Oaks. chine-gun fire, and thick The draft resolution devide in the country, where the hometown of former black smoke was rising in mands that Assad halt the members of Assad's Ala- Defense Minister Mustathe distance. Upc II I Home Games: crackdown and implement wite sect dominate the pha Tlass, who held the The smoke was believed an Arab League peace plan regime despite for more than three to be from a pipeline that that calls for him to hand Muslim majority. a Sunni post Feb. 11 vs. Eastern Wash. decades, mostly under was struck, but details were over power to his vice presi7:30 p.m. Assad's regime has Assad's father and prenot clear. Activists said re- dent and allow creation of a warned that the turmoil decessor, the late Hafez E Feb. 18 vs. Texas-Arlingto gime forces' fire hit the unity government to clear will throw Syria into cha- Assad. (Sears BracketBusler Camel pipeline, but that could not the way for elections. os, religious extremism SEM E be confirmed. 6:00 p.m. Assad fails to com- and sectarian divisions, The U.N. estimated plyIfwithin 15 days, the a message that resonates AP writers Anita Snow at several weeks ago that council would WEBER5TATE5P, 5.0 OM consider among Alawites and mithe United Nations, Natalimore than 5,400 peo- "further measures," a ref- nority Christians who ya Vasilyeva in Moscow and Also, follow us On ple have been killed in erence to a possible move fear reprisals from the Dale Gavlak in Amman, Facebook and Twitte the Syrian government to impose economic or Sunni majority. Jordan, contributed to this crackdown, but has not other sanctions. On Tuesday, Syrian re- report. 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