Syrian authorities block areas to prevent protestsMay 13, 2011 - 15:38 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian authorities closed off entire areas in several tense cities on Friday, May 13, setting up checkpoints and roadblocks ahead of planned anti-government protests after prayers at the country's mosques, AP reports. President Bashar Assad has gone to extreme measures to try to crush the protest movement that has engulfed several provinces across the country. Authorities have sent tanks and snipers to major flashpoint cities and arrested thousands of people in the past two weeks. More than 775 people have been killed and thousands detained since the uprising against Assad. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |