Sri Lanka president intervenes on behalf of accused military men

The President of Sri Lanka revealed that he has intervened on behalf of military intelligence officials held in custody under suspicion of committing serious crimes against two prominent journalists.

BY ATHULA VITHANAGE-14 OCTOBER 2016

Addressing a military event in Colombo to hand over land and houses to serving and retired soldiers of the security forces, a visibly outraged President said that he is 'displeased and disgusted' over probes against suspected military men.

Several officers from the military intelligence suspected for the killing of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and the abduction of Senior Journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda are in remand custody pending investigations.

Wickremetunge was killed in broad daylight in the outskirts of Colombo on 8 January 2009 and Ekneligoda was abducted on 24 January 2010.

"I have called the officers investigating a case where military intelligence officers are in remand for 16 months. If there is a fault they should be charged. If not, they should be released or granted bail, these are human rights," the president said in a clear reference to ongoing Ekneligoda investigations.

Sinhala nationalist pressure

Ironically, the request by scores of Tamil political prisoners, in custody for several years under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), to set them free or to file charges against them has gone unheard.

Sinhala nationalist forces led by Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been condemning the probe against military personnel as a move to weaken the security forces and 'betray war heroes'.

Mahinda Rajapaksa represents the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) led by President Sirisena.

In an apparent capitulation to pressure from the Sinhala lobby, an irate president vowed "I will never allow to weaken the military."

He went on to confirm his claim by further revealing that he objected to investigating military commanders and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

"Last year army commanders were called for investigations. I expressed my objection to calling commanders who won the war for investigations. A week ago, the former defence secretary and three navy commanders were taken to courts. I express my displeasure for herding war veteran navy commanders to courts," said the president.

Gotabhaya and the Navy

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and three former naval commanders are being probed for causing a loss of SLR 11.4 billion to the government through a private arms deal involving Avant Garde security company.

Investigating bodies came under heavy fire from the president who accused that decisions are plotted in 'hidey-holes' by those pursuing a 'political agenda'.

"The Financial Investigations Division (FCID), Criminal Investigations Division (CID) and the Independent Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) is run by a political agenda."

President Sirisena who heads a coalition government seemed to accuse its partner United National Party (UNP) led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Political agenda

The Law and Order ministry that oversees the FCID and CID come under a strong Wckremesinghe ally Sagala Ratnayake.

The state defence minister Ruwan Wijewardena who is a relative of PM Wickremesinghe is also from the UNP.

"My displeasure and disgust as the president is expressed to the defense minister for calling naval commanders to courts," said the president who also handles the defense portfolio, informing the military gathering that the PM and the cabinet of ministers were made aware of his views in an emergency meeting.

"If political agendas are perused, I will have to take stern action," warned the president.

Gota praises Sirisena

President Sirisena’s attack on investigations have been welcomed by the former defence secretary.

“I am happy that it has dawned on the president that investigations against me is politically motivated,” the former president’s sibling Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has told the BBC.

“we have been telling throughout these two years that these investigation are a political witch hunt. Now the president himself has made that clear.”

'Army not helping' - AG

A day after the president's assurance to the military of his backing, the country's attorney general's (AG) department informed courts that the Sri Lanka Army is not helping with the Ekneligoda abduction probe.

Additional solicitor general Sarath Jayamanne told the Supreme court that the Brigadier in charge of the military intelligence has failed to provide details including telephone logs as requested by the CID.

He was appearing on behalf of the AG to respond in a fundamental rights case filed by two military intelligence officers Sergeant Major Dilandjan Upasena and Corporal Ravindra Rupasena challenging their detention.

The supreme court has fixed the hearing for the 29th of November.

© JDS

Judiciary Under Pressure From Maithri; Releases Army Intelligence Officer Who Assaulted Former Rivira Editor

October 14, 2016

With undue pressure from President Maithripala Sirisena, an Army Intelligence Officer who was identified as the culprit behind the assault of former editor of Rivira Newspaper, Upali Tennakoon and his wife was released on bail today.

Gampaha Magistrate Kaweendra Nanayakkara

Gampaha Magistrate Kaweendra Nanayakkara ordered Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagama to be released on a cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and three sureties of Rs. 500,000.

The decision comes just days after President Sirisena launched a verbal attack against the arresting and remanding of Army Intelligence Officers who have been involved in various criminal activities including being linked to murder.

In August, Upali Tennakoon has identified Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagame as his attacker.

Just days after the assassination of Founder Editor of Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge, Tennakoon and his wife came under attack in Gampaha in January 2009. The culprits came on motorbikes and followed a similar attack style which was carried out to attack Wickrematunge, although the attack on Tennakoon was not meant to be fatal.

Despite Nanayakkara releasing Udalagama on bail, Mount Lavinia Magistrate yesterday further remanded Udalagama till October 28 over his alleged involvement in the murder of Wickrematunge.

Read More

Civil activists express shock and disappointment over President's statement

2016-10-14

The Movement for a Just Society and the Purawasi Balaya Movement that toiled for the victory of President Maithripala Sirisena today condemned and expressed their displeasure over the recent statement of the President regarding the CID, FCID and the Bribery Commission.

Calling a media conference at 11.00 am in Colombo, the civil society movements had boycotted a meeting scheduled to be held with the President at 12 noon today at Presidential Secretariat regarding the much contentious statement which created a storm in Sri Lanka politics.

Purawasi Balaya Movement Co-Convener Saman Rathnapriya said there was no need to inform the President or the Prime Minister on the developments of ongoing investigations and prosecution in advance. If so, it would obviously tantamount to an unnecessary political inference, he said.

While questioning the difference between questioning the general public and those involved in the Defence Sector, Mr. Rathnapriya said the law should be applied equally to everyone with no double standards.

“The three former commanders of the Navy and Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa were summoned to the Court since they were suspects in the Avant Garde case filed by the Bribery Commission. What is the big deal about it? It is regrettable how the President is eyeing to meddle in affairs of the Independent Commissions such as Bribery Commission. Can they be called independent anymore? ,” Rathnapriya asked. (Piyumi Fonseka)

Video by Danushka

“Saman, I’ll come. But tell the prime minister not to put ‘ads’”

Oct 14, 2016

A storm is brewing in the Sri Lankan politics due to the strong criticism of the CID, FCID and the Bribery Commission by president Maithripala Sirisena made the day before yesterday (14) at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Political Hanumans are now busy at work, carrying tales and provoking both sides. The task of these political Hanumans is to sabotage the national government and to bring the racist tribals back to the throne.

An adviser to the prime minister, instead of resorting to provocation, but in order to settle the matter, took steps to resolve the matter in a long-lasting manner. He used a person who is loyal both to the president and the prime minister in that task.

The PM’s adviser who got involved is none other than senior journalist, acting chairman of ITN, Saman Athaudahetti. Using his wisdom, Athaudahetti thought and got popular actor, social services deputy minister Ranjan Ramanayake to mediate.

“Ranjan, as a person who knows both the president and the prime minister well, intervene in this matter immediately. First, meet the president and then come to meet the prime minister,” he proposed to Ramanayake. “Saman, I will come. I will also intervene in the matter. But, on one condition. That is, when I explain matters, tell the prime minister not to put ‘ads’”. Perplexed by Ramanayake’s answer, Athaudahetti asked him, “Ranjan Emathithuma, what is this thing about ‘ads?’ It is the news channels that put ads.”

“Exactly, Saman. Most news channels put ads in between the news. That is a disruption of the news. The prime minister too, is like that. When we come and explain something to him for two minutes, he stops us and lectures us for 20 minutes. In the end, we forget what we wanted to say. Therefore, I will accept, only if the prime minister does not put ads in between.”

Later, when Athaudahetti explained to the PM about this ad talk, he laughed aloud and said, “Ok. Ok. I will not put ads. Tell Ranjan to come.”

President not informed about legal action against Fowzie

Explaining to Ramanayake as to why he attacked the Bribery Commission during his speech at the SLFI, the president said, “the Bribery Commission filed action against minister Fowzie for having used a special vehicle owned by his ministry during the period he was the disaster management minister. That vehicle was gifted to our country following the tsunami. It has a special signal system that can identify a tsunami. Minister Fowzie used that vehicle until his official vehicle was repaired. But, instead of declaring that, an assistant secretary of the ministry was summoned and a statement was forced from him that the minister took it by force. Like that, the Bribery Commission has taken legal action against 13 SLFPers under me. That will make them to go after Mahinda once again. When big fish are out in the open, the Bribery commission catches only the sprats and the other small ones.”

Ramanayake gave a patient hearing to the explanation made by the president, who went onto say, “The commission investigating corruption has so far not given just one of its reports to me. I don’t know what is happening there. It has Bribery Commission’s Dilrukshi, Attorney General’s Department’s Yasantha Kodagoda, senior lawyer Krishantha Weliamuna. They meet once a month under the chairmanship of minister Sagala Ratnayake. They have an obligation to inform me, who is the country’s top executive, about what is happening. At the Security Council meeting, I just keep looking at the mouths of others. When they say, so and so was caught, so and so was sent behind bars, I look on like a puppet. They treat me as a joke.”

“The reports I get from military intelligence are not good at all. Recently, several soldiers were arrested, saying they had felled trees. Also, military intelligence men were last week remanded over a murder in 1997. Several military intelligence men are in remand custody for 16 months. If this is not rectified immediately, they warned me that a military coup could be possible. I have to think about everything.”

As Ramanayake explained what he was told by the president, the PM listened without putting ads in between.

President, PM watched Perahera together

Ramanayake was still with the PM when the president called him before departing from Polonnaruwa to Colombo by air. He told the president, “Sir, I explained everything to the prime minister. He admitted that something has gone wrong. He promised to correct that immediately.” The president replied, “Tell the prime minister not to worry over it. Let’s continue our work together. Tell him to come and watch the Perahera at Valukaramaya tonight. I too, am coming. Thereafter, we can have a talk.”

Accordingly, the president and the prime minister watched the Perahera at Valukaramaya in Kollupitiya last night (13) and thereafter, they had a lengthy discussion until midnight, reports say.

THE PRESIDENT’S SPEECH: SHOCKING TRUTH, WITH TOO MUCH SENSITIVE BAD EXAMPLES – RAJITH KEERTHI TENNAKOON

President speech was aimed at PM for not investigating mega corruption by Rajapaksa clan

Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon; Pointing finger at Ranil Wickremasinghe

14/10/2016

The speech President Maithripala Sirisena made during a speech he delivered at the Foundation Institute, leveling certain allegations against the commissions created by the 19th amendment, yesterday (12) has shaken the political landscape of Sri Lanka. The speech which was given wide publicity has triggered various reactions.

THE PRESIDENT.docx by Thavam Ratna on Scribd

"Aiyo, Dahaman – Nightclubs Beware! 

October 14, 2016, 9:32 pm

When I met Vaartaratne he was really puzzled. I asked him what the problem was,

"It’s just one word that no one is ready to talk about." "What’s this word of puzzling silence?" "I just want to know the meaning of ‘Daham’. The silence all around is so shocking. I don’t understand it.’

"Well, I can put you at ease – Daham usually means merit, coming from ‘Dahama’ It can also mean doctrine or law. I think the problem may be that most people don’t like to discuss doctrine or law these days, due to the political ramifications. We are in the midst of a debate on a new constitution. Daham or Dharma mostly refers to Buddhist doctrine – the real teachings of the Buddha."

"I had a vague idea about that. What I am puzzled is why Daham, or shall I say Dahama or Buddhist doctrine or teaching could be associated with any nightclub, even one that is known as Click or Clique," said Vaartaratne.

"You must remember that "Dahama" has a very special place in our country. It is not too far from what we used to know as ‘Dharmishta’ – remember the Dharmishta Samajaya.’ That was green alone, now it’s blue and green, more colourful dahama." "That is my problem, how can Dahama or Dharmishta, as you say it, be associated with any nightclub?"

"Don’t forget we are in the extraordinary ‘Madu Valigey’ era of our history and culture."

"You are making it more puzzling. Come on – What’s the connection between Dahama and the ‘Madu Valigey’. Surely, Buddhist teaching does not talk about any use of the ‘Madu Valigey’."

"That may be. But there could be a Dahaman, so full of Buddhist teaching, who wants to put an end to nightclubs, with all drink and smoke – the biggest targets of today’s Dharma Samaja politics and governance, and also all the other fun, frolic and sexy stuff that takes place where clicks gather for nightly entertainment. It is a very "dehemi’ purpose."

"That sounds interesting. How do you think this unknown Dahaman guy would have got an interest in playing such active role in the spread of the Dharma?"

"Well, it could be from paternal inheritance. It could be the spirit bestowed by a father known for Metta or Loving Kindness? Why not extend that loving kindness to those at a night club, by helping them escape the temptations of smoke, alcohol and sex? After all, that is part of how today’s idea of ‘Madu Valigey’ justice had its beginning; about throwing bras at a singer, not at a nightclub but an open-air concert. Who knows, there could be other family connections, too."

"You are making this sound all so simple. What about that whole team or click of very special security guards? What have they got to do with the spread of the Dharma?"

"Remember that the Dahama or Dharma, of Buddhist origin, has a very special place in our society. It is enshrined in our constitution…and everyone wants it retained without any change."

"So what about that?’ "It is very simple, one who is a Dahaman, even by name and name alone, needs the best protection by the State. That is what you journalists report as VVIP Security. It is for the assured protection of the Dahama. What more can you ask?"

"But what about the Click or nightclub security guards who have been injured in this Dharma or Dahama confrontation, treated in hospital? Can the spread of Dahama also include bloodshed?"

"Well, why not? Of course, bloodshed is not found in Buddhist teaching or real Dahama or Dharma. But what we see and hear today is very different to the original teaching. We are in the state of Constitutional Dharma. Those nightclub security guards are known as bouncers. They must be ready for the fight - even with the strikers or bouncers of the Dharma."

"Are you trying to tell me that this new Dahama trend has nothing to do with power; that it has no connection with the power of good governance?"

"I will never say that governance, whether good or bad, has no link to power. Power is the stuff of governance, as we can see so well today. It was so in the not too distant past, and will possibly be in the future, too."

"You mean what we see here is a blend of Power and Dahama or Dharma – the perfect Dahaman"

"I think you’ve got it right."

"In that case, with the "aiyo" addition to the Oxford Dictionary, I think we can conclude with an "Aiyo, Dahaman – Nightclubs Beware!"

Alleged suicide note: Rtd. Army officer claims he killed Lasantha

Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge.

2016-10-14

A 52-year-old retired sergeant major attached to the Intelligence Unit of the Army had allegedly committed suicide after writing a letter claiming that he had assassinated Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge.

Sgt. Major Ilandarage Jayamanne, was a resident of Dehipitiya Road at Karandupana in Kegalle.

The letter had been titled ‘To whom it may concern’, according to the Kegalle Police.

The letter claimed he was responsible for the murder and his friend Malinda Udalagama was innocent and therefore had requested the authorities to release him.

The father of three had requested that his letter be handed over to the Intelligence Unit. (Saman Wijaya Bandara)

SRI LANKA ARMY NOT HELPING PRAGEETH EKNELIGODA PROBE – ASG

( Family of Abducted journalist has been waiting for justice for 6 years)

14/10/2016

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sarath Jayamanna yesterday told the Supreme Court that the Army… …is not giving any support for the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda.

He added that a high ranking officer of Army was summoned to Attorney General’s Department and requested to support the investigations, but the Army did not respond to the request.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice K. Sripvan and Justices Sisira de Abrew and Upali Abeyratne when two Fundamental Rights Petitions were taken up for hearing.

L/Cpl. Rupasena and Warrant Officer W.M.M.G. Upasena filed these FR Petitions stating that they are in detention over the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda, but they have nothing to with that incident. They requested the Court to direct the CID to release them.

President’s Counsel Manohara de Silva appeared for them and submitted to Court that there was no proper detention order to detain them and all the dentition orders issued were illegal. Counsel J.C. Weliamuna, appearing for the wife of Prageeth, submitted to the Court that all the documents given by the Army were in favour of the suspect because they are members of the Army Intelligence Service.

Counsel requested the Court to give an opportunity for the wife of Prageeth Ekneligoda, Sandya Ekneligoda, to participate in the hearing of the two FR Petitions because she is the virtual complainant in this incident.

Court, while giving leave to proceed with two petitions, allowed the Sandya Ekneligoda to participate in the proceeding as the 9th respondent.

Court fixed hearing for 29 November.

J.C. Weliamuna appeared with Pulasthi Hewamanna and Sulakshana Senanayaka for Sandya Ekneligoda.
Additional Solicitor General Sarath Jayamanne appeared with Senior State Counsel Dileepa Peries for the Attorney General and other respondents in the FR petition.

President’s Counsel Manohara de Silva appeared for petitioners.

BY STANLEY SAMARASINGHE / Ceylon Today

Basil Loses His 240 Million Worth Luxury Villa In Malwana

October 14, 2016

Pugoda Magistrate D. A. Ruwanpathirana today ordered authorities to auction the luxury villa and the 16 acre land in Malwana, which is allegedly owned by former Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Basil

Delivering the verdict, the Magistrate ordered the house estimated to have been built at a cost of Rs. 240 million on a 16 acre land in Malwana in Gangabada Road, Malwana be auctioned. The Magistrate delivered the verdict following a case filed by the FCID.

Rajapaksa was also arrested in June in connection to the land, which is valued at Rs. 60 million.

Last week, Rajapaksa denied any ownership of the villa. Rajapaksa’s lawyer, President’s Counsel Jayantha Weerasinghe informed the Pugoda Magistrate last Friday that his client had absolutely no ownership over the house.

In September, the Colombo Telegraph reported how a very close associate of Rajapaksa betrayed him by dragging him in to yet another money laundering scandal. In a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Muditha Jayakody claimed that a large sum of money amounting to millions which was in his bank accounts was not his money and it belonged to someone else.

“That money is not earned by me, nor did it belong to me or my company. It belonged to another person, and based on his instructions, I purchased a land to build a house at 111/3, Mahawatta, Gangabada Road, Mapitigama, Malwana,” he said in the letter.

Jayakody went onto say in his letter that the money was given to him by another person who requested him to handle all the payments in relation to the construction of the house in Malwana.

In June, the Colombo Telegraph reported that the Government had decided to confiscate several houses and an office belonging to former minister Basil Rajapaksa.

Read More

The destruction at Salawa assessed,compensation to 1783 made

Oct 14, 2016

The Colombo Divisional Secretary Sunil Kannangara has quipped that from the bomb explosion at the Salawa army camp 1783 persons who's properties were destroyed and damaged had been paid compensation..

It is reported that 2066 houses and business establishments had been destroyed or damaged.Out of them 659 persons had submitted appeals against the assessments made.These figures were also disclosed by Sunil Kannagara. In terms of the assessment schedules it had been grouped into two.In this regard those who's claims were below Rs 10 lakhs 1641 persons had been paid compensation.To 142 persons who had incurred over Rs 10 lakhs damages also compensation had been paid..
The divisional secretary had said there are three others to be paid over Rs 10 lakhs as compensation and there are a further 230 to be paid below Rs 10 lakhs as assessed.Those who were not happy with the assessments made and submitted appeals have not been paid.
 
To those owners of commercial businesses and owners of houses who's buildings were completely destroyed are been paid as an interim payment of Rs 50,000/ monthly..In the first phase 744 such persons had been paid but during the second phase most houses and buildings have been restored..Hence this figure has been reduced to 171.In this manner in the third phase only 118 persons had remained to receive the interim payment.
 
It has been added by Sunil Kannagara that the government has also paid compensation to those who had been self employment projects.In this manner 235 persons had received compensation.It is reported that in the houses and commercial building  assessments are been made for the destroyed articles.In respect of 568 persons this exercise has been completed .Out of this 145 have submitted appeals against their estimates.There are 188 more assessments to be made it is reported. මේ  හ
 
In respect of those who had stayed on rent the compensation would be paid to the landlords.Owing to the bomb explosion at Salawa army camp the government has spent a sum of rupees million 392 it is reported.
 
An extent of five acres from the Salawa army camp premises has been  released and allocated for widening of the road and space for construction of new commercial buildings

SL abstains from voting on UNESCO resolution on Israel

2016-10-14

Sri Lanka was among the 26 counties which abstained from voting on a resolution by the UNESCO which denounced Israeli violations in and around the al-Haram al-Sharif (also known as the Temple Mount) compound in the occupied Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds.

Twenty-four countries, including Algeria, Brazil, China, Iran, Russia and South Africa, voted in favor of the UNESCO resolution on Thursday, while the six countries of the United States, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania and Estonia opposed it.

A total of 26 countries, including Albania, Argentina, France, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Spain and Sweden abstained from the vote. Serbia and Turkmenistan were absent.

The resolution strongly condemned "the escalating Israeli aggression and illegal measures and called on "Israel, the occupying power, to respect the historic status quo and to immediately stop these measures.”

It also criticized the “continuous storming of Haram al-Sharif by the Israeli right-wing extremists and uniformed forces.”

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina.

The UNESCO resolution, which was submitted by the Palestinians supported by Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and Sudan, raised Israeli officials' ire.

“The theater of the absurd continues with UNESCO and today the organization has made its most bizarre decision by saying the people of Israel have no connection to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented.

The occupied territories have already been the scene of increased tensions ever since Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem al-Quds in August 2015.

Nearly 250 Palestinians have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces since the beginning of last October. (Press TV)

Aleppo hospital bombed again as Assad vows to 'clean' city

‘Bunker buster’ hits facility in rebel-held eastern half of city, which Syrian president tells Russian TV is ‘springboard’ to winning war

 

Assad: taking Aleppo is key to pushing terrorists back to Turkey

A man receives treatment after an airstrike in Aleppo this week. On Friday the M10 hospital was hit for second time in two weeks. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Kareem Shaheen in Beirut-Friday 14 October 2016

Russian or Syrian warplanes have once again bombed a hospital in Aleppo, as President Bashar al-Assad vowed to “clean” the rebel-held east of Syria’s largest city, raising fears of further atrocities.

Doctors and activists in Aleppo said the M10 hospital, which was bombed two weeks ago, was hit again with a “bunker buster” bomb, wounding two doctors and a pharmacist.

Attacks on medical facilities have become a pattern in the conflict, despite growing international condemnation. Only 35 doctors are left to serve 250,000 people under siege in east Aleppo. The are only 11 ambulances as well.

The charity Médecins sans Frontières said at least 114 children have been killed and 321 injured in the last three weeks of violence as the Assad forces – primarily Iranian-supported Shia militias backed by Russian warplanes – seek to destroy what little resistance remains in east Aleppo.

People are pulled from the rubble in east Aleppo after airstrikes this week. Photograph: Zouhir al-Shimale/Barcroft Images

“The international community has become immune to images of dead children being recovered from the rubble of buildings ravaged by bombs,” said Carlos Francisco, MSF’s head of mission in Syria, who described east Aleppo as a “kill box”.

Local hospitals said 18 people were killed and a further 181 wounded, including 30 women and 37 children, on Thursday, with the bombing continuing into the early hours of Friday. The total casualties are likely higher as many families bury their loved ones after removing them from the rubble without taking them to local hospitals.

Assad, meanwhile, has spoken of “cleaning” Aleppo and using it as a “springboard” to winning the country’s war during an interview with Russian TV.

With Britain leading international outcry over the regime’s campaign against rebels in Aleppo and Russia’s backing for it, Assad declared that victory in the city would allow the Syrian army to liberate other areas of Syria from “terrorists”.

Speaking to Russia’s Komsomolskaya Pravda, he said Aleppo was effectively no longer Syria’s industrial capital but that taking back the city would provide important political and strategic gains for his regime.

“It’s going to be the springboard, as a big city, to move to other areas, to liberate other areas from the terrorists. This is the importance of Aleppo now.

“You have to keep cleaning this area and to push the terrorists to Turkey to go back to where they come from, or to kill them. There’s no other option. But Aleppo is going to be a very important springboard to do this move,” he said.

Rescue workers said Syria’s military, backed by Russian warplanes, killed more than 150 people in east Aleppo this week.

 An aerial view of the buildings in Tariq al-Bab area of Aleppo destroyed by Syrian forces and Russian warplanes. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Rising casualties in the city, where many buildings have been reduced to rubble or are lacking roofs or walls, have prompted a renewed diplomatic push, with talks between the US and Russia planned for Saturday. 

The US secretary of state, John Kerry, and the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, are to meet in Lausanne, Switzerland. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are also expected to attend the talks, but Iran’s participation is in doubt, possibly as a result of the dire state of |Iranian-Saudi relations. The meeting comes 12 days after Kerry called an end to bilateral talks with Russia on the Syrian conflict.

The US secretary of state, John Kerry, left, and Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, are to meet on Saturday. Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

Syrian government forces have encircled east Aleppo, besieging more than 250,000 people it says are being used as human shields by “terrorists”. A number of countries and groups have accused Syria and Russia of war crimes in connection with attacks on medical facilities and aid convoys.

Assad said in the Russian interview that Saudi Arabia had offered to help his government if Damascus agreed to cut ties with Iran, one of his regime’s main allies.

He said the Saudis told him: “If you move away from Iran and you announce that you disconnect all kinds of relations with Iran, we’re going to help you. Very simple and very straight to the point.”

Syria’s civil war, now in its sixth year, has left 300,000 people dead andmillions of others homeless while dragging in regional and global powers as well as inspiring jihadi attacks abroad.

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report

IS 'crushes Mosul coup attempt' as Iraqi forces close in

Group executes 58 people who attempted to switch sides and help deliver city to Iraqi forces, residents and officials tell news agency

IS drowned the defectors and buried them in a mass grave, according to multiple accounts (Reuters)

Friday 14 October 2016

Islamic State leaders have crushed a rebellion plot in Mosul, led by one of the group's commanders who aimed to switch sides and help deliver the group's Iraqi capital to government forces, residents and Iraqi security officials said.

IS executed 58 people suspected of taking part in the plot after it was uncovered last week. Residents, who spoke to the Reuters news agency from some of the few locations in the city that have phone service, said the plotters were killed by drowning and their bodies were buried in a mass grave in a wasteland on the outskirts of the city.

Among them was a local aide of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who led the plotters, according to matching accounts given by five residents, and confirmed by Hisham al-Hashimi, an expert on IS affairs who advises the government in Baghdad, and by colonel Ahmed al-Taie, from Mosul's Nineveh province command's military intelligence.

Reuters has not published the name of the plot leader to avoid increasing the safety risk for his family, nor the identities of those inside the city who spoke about the plot.

The aim of the plotters was to undermine Islamic State's defence of Mosul in the upcoming fight, expected to be the biggest battle in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion.

Caught in the act

According to Hashimi, the dissidents were arrested after one of them was caught with a message on his phone mentioning a transfer of weapons. He confessed during interrogation that weapons were being hidden in three locations, to be used in a rebellion to support the Iraqi army when it closes in on Mosul.

IS raided the three houses used to hide the weapons on 4 October, Hashimi said.

"Those were Daesh members who turned against the group in Mosul," said Iraqi counter-terrorism service spokesman Sabah al-Numani in Baghdad, using an Arabic term for Islamic State. "This is a clear sign that the terrorist organisation has started to lose support not only from the population, but even from its own members."

A spokesman for the US-led military coalition which conducts air strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq was unable to confirm or deny the accounts of the thwarted plot.

Signs of cracks inside the "caliphate" appeared this year as the ultra-hardline Sunni group was forced out of half the territory it overran two years ago in northern and western Iraq.

Some people in Mosul have been expressing their refusal of IS's harsh rules by spray-painting the letter M, for the Arabic word that means resistance, on city walls, or "wanted" on houses of its militants. Such activity is punished by death.

Numani said his service has succeeded in the past two months in opening contact channels with "operatives" who began communicating intelligence that helped conduct air strikes on the insurgents' command centres and locations in Mosul.

A list with the names of the 58 executed plotters was given to a hospital to inform their families but their bodies were not returned, the residents said.

"Some of the executed relatives sent old women to ask about the bodies. Daesh rebuked them and told them no bodies, no graves, those traitors are apostates and it is forbidden to bury them in Muslim cemeteries," said one resident whose relative was among those executed.

"After the failed coup, Daesh withdrew the special identity cards it issued for its local commanders, to prevent them from fleeing Mosul with their families," Taie said.

Leadership bolstered

A Mosul resident said Islamic State had appointed a new official, Muhsin Abdul Kareem Oghlu, a leader of a sniper unit, to assist its governor, Ahmed Khalaf Agab al-Jabouri, in keeping control in the city.

Islamic State militants have placed booby traps across the city, dug tunnels and recruited children as spies in anticipation of the offensive.

Mosul is the last major stronghold of IS in Iraq. With a pre-war population of around two million, it is at least five times the size of any other city the group has controlled. Iraqi officials say a huge ground assault could begin this month, backed by US air power, Kurdish security forces and Shia and Sunni irregular units.

A successful offensive would effectively destroy the Iraqi half of the group's territory, which it swept through in 2014. But the United Nations says it could also create the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world, in a worst-case scenario uprooting one million people.

Islamic State fighters are dug in to defend the city, and have a history of using civilians as human shields when defending territory.

This article is available in French on Middle East Eye French edition.