Turkey closes its Syria embassy, boosts aid to opposition

The embassy closure by such a key regional player is likely to increase pressure on the Syrian government. Turkey also pledged, along with the US, to increase 'non-lethal aid' to Syrian rebels.

By Tom A. Peter,?Correspondent / March 26, 2012

Turkey closed its embassy in Syria today, and announced it was suspending all activities in the capital, Damascus, due to deteriorating security conditions there.

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Turkey is not the first to shutter its embassy; the United States and several European and Arab nations have shut down operations as well. But the closure by Turkey ? a key regional player and, until last year, a close ally of Syria ? is likely to put increased pressure on the Syrian government. It could also boost opposition groups.

While the capital has remained relatively calm during much of Syria?s uprising over the past year, in the last week it has seen several car bombings and major gun battles.

?Activities at the Turkish embassy have been suspended from this morning,? said one Turkish official speaking anonymously to Al Jazeera.

Turkey remains closely involved with events in Syria, however. Aside from sharing a border, the nation is now home to at least 16,000 Syrian refugees who fled the fighting. Additionally, many of the Syrian opposition groups are based in Turkey. One major meeting of opposition groups will take place in Istanbul today, reports Al Jazeera.

The Turkish government has strongly condemned the Syrian regime?s crackdown on protesters, which has left more then 8,500 people dead, according to United Nations estimates. Aside form hosting opposition groups, the Turkish government has also called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down and targeted the regime with a number of sanctions, reports Al Arabiya.

?The closure of our embassy is obviously a strong political message [to the Damascus regime],? a source close to the Turkish government told Britain?s Telegraph.

News of the closure comes as the US and Turkey announced that they will increase the amount of ?non-lethal? aid they give to opposition groups inside Syria. The aid will include items such as communications equipment and medical supplies, reports The New York Times. American officials have already confirmed that they have begun supplying members of the rebel Free Syria Army with communications equipment and other aid. The new agreement will formalize assistance and lay the groundwork for increased support. Officials have said that no weapons will be sent at this time.

So far, the Syrian opposition has struggled to unify and form cohesive goals. The meeting taking place in Istanbul today will serve preparations for a larger gathering scheduled to take place on April 1. The goal of today's meeting is ?for all forces and parties of the opposition not to be a union, but at least to have a united purpose,? Amar Qurabi, leader of the National Change Current opposition group told CNN.

The main opposition group, the Syrian National Council, has said it wants to gather all the anti-Assad groups together in Istanbul to form a unified plan for how to remove Assad from power. In-fighting among the opposition has weakened those groups who oppose the regime, reports the BBC. Several opposition groups have recently split from the SNC over disagreements. Though the US and the EU support the SNC, the group?s failure to maintain a cohesive front is one of the main reasons foreign countries are hesitant to start providing arms to the opposition.

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Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/xFfhLANbyXE/Turkey-closes-its-Syria-embassy-boosts-aid-to-opposition

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Angry Malians protest against military junta

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mali-politicians-slam-junta-military-coup-040512092.html

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The Fantastic Diverse Architecture of the University of Leeds

Currently the fourth biggest university in the UK, University of Leeds has a campus as diverse and fascinating architecturally as the students who occupy them, ranging from gothic revivalist to post-modern. Let's have a little tour, shall we?

Photos by samwise_camus

Though not itself an officially chartered university until 1904, some of its older buildings were in fact part of Victoria University, an 1887 conglomeration of colleges from Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds serving as Northern England?s sole university. After the Manchester and Liverpool campuses separated into individual institutions, Leeds was granted the charter in 1904 and became a university in its own right. Nowadays Leeds can boast a population of over 33,000 students and one of the most diverse campuses architecturally in the country, with buildings ranging from gothic revival to art deco, brutalist to post-modern.

The Union is the center of student activity on campus with a constant flow of people. During the summer months bunting is often hung across the main avenue, giving university life the feel of a festival. There are now also weekly farmer?s markets selling local produce, which have proved immensely popular.

Photos by samwise_camus

The timing of my campus Lomowalk coincided with the student council elections, where students vote for the candidates they feel will best represent their views in the running of the Union. As a result, walls were plastered with vibrant photos perfect for slide film?s vivid colors. Prospective candidates could be seen wandering campus, some in interesting outfits, drumming up support for themselves.

Photos by samwise_camus

As said above, the style of buildings on the campus is incredibly varied, with certain regions being of a particular style based on the time of their construction. The Law buildings, being the newest, have a very sleek modern design to them, some more reminiscent of old sci-fi series.

Of the post-modern buildings, they range from the shiny snaking glass of the Arnold & Marjorie Ziff Building (believe it or not the photo below is NOT of a rollercoaster on its side)?

?to these controversial concrete constructions, representative of the brutalist architectural movement ? the Roger Stevens building, and the surrounding science departments.

Photos by samwise_camus

But the real charm of the campus comes in the form of its original buildings, which bring a much-needed dash of grandeur to proceedings. The Business School is housed inside this incredible gothic hall on the edge of campus. Deeper into campus can be found the Great Hall, one of the original buildings from the 1880s. Statistically, every student that has ever walked into the Great Hall has around an 80 to 90% chance of making a Hogwarts joke.* And just a short way away is the strong spire of the Emmanuel Centre, appropriately built inside a church.

Photos by samwise_camus

The crowning glory of the university is the Parkinson Building, with its white gleaming tower visible from all around campus and much of the surrounding city. Built as a facade for the red brick of the Brotherton Library and named after one of the university?s most prominent old benefactors, it truly is a beautiful building to behold. Rumors that the Chancellor lives in a room at the top of the tower have yet to be verified.

Photos by samwise_camus

So there you have the University of Leeds in all its glory. Many of the old buildings are open to the public, so why not come visit for yourself? And be sure to bring a camera!

*Not forgetting, of course, that statistically 50% of statistics are made up on the spot for the sake of humor.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/lomographic-society-international-atom/~3/620X8oQ3K-E/post-grad-the-fantastic-diverse-architecture-of-the-university-of-leeds-its-educational

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[News] Hunters 2 : la chasse est ouverte sur iPhone et iPad (0) - Pockett

[Pockett.net] - A la crois?e de Space Hulk et de Jagged Alliance, Hunters: Episode One a s?duit nombre de joueurs amateurs de jeux de strat?gie au tour par tour sur iPhone et iPad en 2011. Ces derniers peuvent se r?jouir car une suite est d?j? disponible !...

Nouvelle en entier ...

Source: http://www.yaronet.com/last.php?s=147474

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Mali state TV goes off air; fear of countercoup

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) ? Television screens throughout this landlocked country momentarily went black Friday, as residents near the building housing the state broadcaster saw troops erecting barricades fearing a possible countercoup a day after a military takeover.

On Thursday, mutinous troops seized control of the state television and radio station, and announced a coup. The country's democratically elected president has not been heard from since.

The television signal went dead for around an hour, then flickered back on. Facing the camera were a group of a dozen soldiers, who read a prepared statement denying that the leader of their coup had been killed, or that the station had been taken back by troops loyal to the country's legitimate government.

The scene outside the station suggested that all was not in order. Sporadic shots rang out and large numbers of soldiers were seen amassing outside.

President Amadou Toumani Toure, who was overthrown in this week's military takeover, is himself a seasoned soldier, who headed the country's parachute commando unit. There has been speculation that loyalist troops, especially those at the 33rd Parachute Infantry Regiment which Toure once belonged to will attempt to take back power.

Contacted by telephone, resident Mohamed Traore said that after the signal went dead late Friday afternoon, he went outside and saw the troops rushing to put up large defenses. He lives 300 yards from the broadcaster and says that when he went to speak to them, the soldiers told him that the red beret-wearing loyalists were planning an attack. Freelance reporter Katarina Hoije, who is staying in the Laico Hotel which faces the broadcaster, said that she heard sporadic shots and saw troops arriving in large numbers.

Mali is considered one of the only functioning democracies in the region. This week's coup represents a major setback for the nation of 15.4 million at the feet of the Sahara desert. Although Toure initially took power in a 1991 coup, he became known as the "Soldier of Democracy" because he handed power to civilians, and retreated from public life. Years later he re-emerged to win the 2002 election and was re-elected in 2007.

He was due to step down next month at the end of his term. A dozen candidates were running in the April 29 vote, which is now in jeopardy.

The fears of a possible countercoup come as rebels from the Tuareg ethnic group pushed toward three strategic northern Malian towns, including the famed ancient city of Timbuktu, taking advantage of the power vacuum caused by the coup

The second-in-command of the Tuareg rebels said his forces are advancing on the city of Kidal as dozens of government soldiers desert and others abandon their positions in the wake of the military takeover in the faraway capital, located nearly 1,300 kilometers (some 800 miles) away.

Col. Dilal ag Alsherif told The Associated Press in an exclusive satellite telephone interview that command of the West African nation's army is in disarray and his movement is taking advantage to fight for an independent nation for the lighter-skinned Tuaregs, who have long felt marginalized by the capital.

Ag Alsherif said he was speaking Friday from "very near to Kidal, you could say I am almost in Kidal," the northern government stronghold that is his next target. He said his men took the garrison of Anefis, a town south of Kidal, without a fight on Thursday. Meanwhile, in the equally important northern town of Gao, the head of a resident's committee said that the population had issued a "code red" because of rumors that the rebels were about to attack. And in Timbuktu, once a tourist hotspot, a member of a citizens' militia said the rebels had contacted them to say that they wanted to take over the town.

Ironically the putschists said in their first public communique on Thursday that they had seized power because of President Toure's incompetent handling of the Tuareg insurgency. The rank-and-file soldiers are overwhelmingly from the south, and from ethnic groups that do not share the same culture as the Tuaregs. They have died in large numbers trying to keep towns in the north out of the hands of the Tuareg rebels ever since the rebellion started in January.

Instead of stopping the insurgency in the north, the coup is making it easier for the rebels to gain ground.

On Thursday, the whereabouts of Mali's democratically elected leader was unknown. African Union Chairman Jean Ping said he understood the president is being protected by loyalist soldiers.

"The president is in Mali for sure ? not so far from Bamako," Ping said. "He is safe. We have been assured of that by those who protect him." He added that the putschists were likely to face resistance because not all units in the army had backed them.

"I think that the insurgents have not succeeded to have the officers with them," he said. "All the officers have not joined them. So they still have problems."

___

Michelle Faul contributed from Niamey, Niger. Associated Press writers Rukmini Callimachi in Dakar, Senegal, Martin Vogl in Bamako, Mali, and Luc van Kemenade in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia also contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mali-state-tv-goes-off-air-fear-countercoup-185051176.html

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Back garden Landscaping design : A significant Area To Landscape ...

March 23, 2012 ? 4:34 pm

With regard to homeowners around the globe, a big part involving owning a home is landscaping the actual yard. Yard landscaping or perhaps backyard landscaping design, the work must be done. While the front yard is vital because it?s more visible to be able to neighbors while others who push by, the actual backyard isn?t less critical. The backyard is where households and pals gather for barbeques along with birthday parties along with where a number of families get their swimming pools. Most backyards are generally landscaped along with careful imagined and planning. Special concern is put in the positioning of each and every blade involving grass, every single decorative natural stone and all of the actual species of blossoms that enhance a backyard.

Flowers, stones along with grass some of the ways to be able to landscape a yard. Large hue trees, rapids and plant based gardens are a few other ways. Your theme of the landscape depends on your pastimes, interests along with goals for the backyard. Garden landscaping can be quite a lot of enjoyable, especially when you?re making it individual. Landscape your yard to reflect your character and your homes personality. If you and your family like to entertain, give a bar for your back deck. Clean up the actual barbeque grill along with don?t forget the citronella wax lights to keep the actual bugs absent. Maybe you?ll wish to build a croquet course, mini the game, or convey a sand great deal for some yellow sand volleyball. No matter what your preference, make backyard landscaping design fun for your family.

Maintain family at heart too, when it?s time to maintain the actual backyard landscaping design. Large metres will require additional maintenance along with grooming. Taking good care of the lawn can be a good family task. You can mow the lawn, pull the actual weeds and get the kids associated with watering the actual plants. In case you have a berries tree with your backyard, you?ll apt to be spending some time picking up the decreased apples or perhaps cherries. And of course, you?ll also need to reserve time for you to tend to your herbal garden. It can be remarkably rewarding to develop your own herbal treatments and use all of them in specific recipes that you simply cook whenever you?re entertaining others who live nearby.

If you are the type who would rather keep your backyard to on your own, then maybe you actually don?t need to worry about the huge, natural lawn. Possibly you?d rather have the quaint lawn with fundamental backyard landscaping design. You can devote some your lawn, strategically location some hue trees along with plant a few of your favorite blossoms. You may want to incorporate some even bigger bushes, when space enables as they will prove to add some lovely green for your colorful backyard. This type of backyard may require the same maintenance being a large backyard, but not virtually the time commitment. No matter what your personality claims about your backyard landscaping, one thing?s for sure-homeowners just about everywhere will tell you to make your backyard just the method you want to.
Grass Seed, Bermuda Grass Seed, Grass Seed Types

Source: http://chroniclersweb.net/?p=9037

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Oakland Police Search: City To Pay Legal Fees For Strip-Search ...

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland officers' decision to pull two men's pants down on a public street after they were stopped by police has cost the city about a million dollars.

The lawyers represented Spencer Troy Lucas and Kirby Bradshaw, who were awarded $245,000 in damages in their federal civil rights lawsuit against the city last year.

A judge found that Officer Ingo Mayer pulled the men's Cadillac over in December 2005 for no apparent reason and then handcuffed and detained Lucas.

Mayer then undid Lucas's belt buckle, causing his pants to fall down to his ankles and shook his boxers against his genitals after pulling them down half way, as he asked Lucas whether he had drugs, according to U.S. District Court Judge Marilyn Hall Patel's findings. Bradshaw experienced similar treatment.

Lucas testified that a small crowd gathered while his pants were down.

Bradshaw was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Lucas was taken into custody later on suspicion of violating parole.

The plaintiffs testified that they felt humiliated by the searches, according to Patel.

The judge ordered the city to pay $105,000 in compensatory damages to Lucas and $100,000 to Bradshaw.

She also ordered Mayer to pay $25,000 to Lucas and $15,000 to Bradshaw. Mayer, who has since retired on disability, has asked the city to pay him for the $40,000 award, according to court records.

Stephen Bundy, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said courts have upheld attorneys' fees that are greater than the award the plaintiffs received, as in Lucas and Bradshaw's case.

"Sometimes courts have been prepared to justify those fee awards on the grounds that the prosecution of the case advanced an important public interest," he said.

___

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/oakland-police-search_n_1371118.html

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