Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) Live Coverage: A Dark Day for Journalism

Video reportedly showing Free Syrian Army fighters engaged in combat in the Arqoub district of Aleppo (map)

See also Syria 1st-Hand: Clashes and Foreign Fighters in Aleppo
Monday's Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) Live Coverage: End of a Red Ramadan

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0225 GMT: Lebanon. Seven people have been killed in a second night of fighting in the northern city of Tripoli.

Around 100 people have been wounded in the clashes, as gunmen in the Sunni district of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Alawite rivals in Jebel Mohsen continued to exchange gun and grenade fire, despite deployment by Lebanese troops.

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Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) Live Coverage: End of a Red Ramadan

2340 GMT: Syria. Since this morning, a rumor, pushed initially by Russian media RT, spread that a high ranking Syrian general had died in a Russian hospital. Syrian State Media denied the story, and there have been debates and rumors all day as to the identity of the dead general.

Now, an activist who has a great rack record lately posts this report:

BREAKING | The high ranking military person who died in a Moscow hospital is of Jamil Hassan, Head of Air Force Intelligence Directorate.

— ♕The 47th♕ (@THE_47th) August 20, 2012

A German news agency is also carrying the report that Jamil Hassan has died.

We have to stress that this rumor is completely unconfirmed.

2320 GMT: Syria. A note on our last update - Bashar Fahmi, one of the missing journalists, apparently works for Alhurra, described as "a United States-based Arabic-language satellite TV channel funded by the U.S. Congress that broadcasts news and current affairs."

More information on what happened today (noted, this is still unconfirmed):

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Bahrain Document: A List of 56 People Killed Since 14 February 2011

Ali Alsheikh (killed Sept 2011) & Sayed Hashim (killed Dec 2011)Activist Mohammed Ashoor gives the names and claimed cause of death of 56 people slain since the start of the uprising in Bahrain on 14 February 2011. The list does not appear to include five policemen who have died in the violence:

1- Martyr Ali Mushaima - 14 February 2011 - Killed by birdshot in Al Daih
2- Martyr Fadhil Salman Al Matrook - 15 February 2011 - Killed by birdshot during the funeral of martyr Ali Mushaima
3- Martyr Ali Mansoor Khudair - 17 February 2011 - Killed by birdshot during the first Lulu attack [the assault by security forces on Pearl Roundabout, the symbolic centre of the protests]
4- Martyr Mahmood Abu Taki - 17 February 2011 - Killed by birdshot during the first Lulu attack
5- Martyr Ali Mo'men - 17 February 2011 - Killed near Lulu and left to die on the street
 near Al Gufool traffic lights
6- Martyr Isa Abdul Hussain - 17 February 2011 - Killed by splitting his head open near SMC [Salmaniya Medical Centre]

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Bahrain Video Diary, Part 1: The Freedom Torch Marches Across the Country

The father of the martyr Ali Alshaikh holds the “Freedom Torch” and leads the march in Markuban, 27 October

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An EA correspondent has been following the opposition's Freedom Torch as it moves across Bahrain, culminating in a ceremony on 22 November in Sanabis, near Pearl Roundabout, the symbolic centre of the protests that began 14 February:

26 October: Mehaza, Sitra

The lighting of the Freedom Torch in Mehaza village on Sitra Island --- for more than one reason, this is a great victory for the 14 February Coalition. Most importantly, it shows the ability of the group to organise and encourage people to take part of their festivals.

After the festival ended, a rider on horseback took the flame and vanished into the dark.

27 October: Markuban, Sitra

During a Shia ritual, commemorating the death of Imam Al Hassan in the village of Markuban a youth showed up holding the “Freedom Torch” and chanting “Down with [King] Hamad”. People responded with a march through the village until police answered with tear gas.

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