Assad: Syria 'in a state of war'

Say it with a sting..... 27 JUN 2012 08:54 - SAPA-AFP President Bashar al-Assad says Syria is in a state of war, ordering his Cabinet to crush the revolt even as fierce fighting continues near Damascus. With the uprising now in its 16th month, Assad told his Cabinet on Tuesday that Syria was in a "real situation of war". "When one is in a state of war, all our policies and capabilities must be used to secure victory," he said according to the official SANA news agency. Turkey said it had issued fresh rules of engagement to its army in response to the shooting down by Syria of one of its fighter jet last Friday. A senior official travelling with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said a Geneva conference on the crisis planned for this weekend was threatened by Russia's refusal to consider Assad's departure. Across the country, the violence continued with at least 116 people killed on Tuesday according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights which said 68 civilians, 41 soldiers and seven rebels had lost their lives. The fighting drew closer to the capital with clashes breaking out on Tuesday in the suburbs of Damascus between rebel forces and Syrian army units, around elite Republican Guard posts, the London-based Observatory said. Heaviest fighting "Violent clashes are taking place around positions of the Republican Guard in Qudsaya and Al-Hama," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said in Beirut. It was the first time that artillery had been used "so close to the capital", he added. "This development is important because it's the heaviest fighting in the area and close to the heart of the capital." Abu Omar, a spokesperson for activists in the Damascus region, said all communication had been cut off in and around Al-Hama and Qudsaya. Regime forces had "stormed the areas with tanks", he said via Skype. He also spoke of a "massacre" but gave no further details. The official SANA news agency reported that government forces had clashed with "armed terrorist groups" in Al-Hama, killing dozens and arresting others. Cautious statements Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan moved to denounce Syria's downing of its Phantom F4 fighter jet in far more aggressive terms than his initial, cautious statements over the weekend. "This is a hostile act ... MORE COVERAGE Nato fury grows over Syria's attack on Turkish jet Turkey blames Syria for shooting down military jet Syrian rebels kill 25 pro-Assad militiamen Russia prepares ships for Syria mission a heinous attack," he said, adding that the military's standing orders had been adjusted accordingly. "The rules of engagement of the Turkish Armed Forces have changed given this new development," he said. Erdogan warned that any security or military risk posed by Syria on the Turkish border would be "considered a threat and treated as a military target". "This latest development shows the Assad regime has become a clear and imminent threat to the security of Turkey, as well as for its own people," he added. Damascus has defended the downing of the jet, saying it was a response to "a gross violation" of its sovereignty as the jet had entered Syrian airspace. Appealing for calm But Nato condemned the action after a meeting on the incident that had been called by Turkey, a member of the alliance. "It is another example of the Syrian authorities' disregard for international norms, peace and security, and human life," Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said. The jet's two pilots are still missing. Russia appealed for calm. "We believe it is important that the incident is not viewed as a provocation or an intentional action, and that it does not lead to destabilising the situation," said a Russian foreign ministry statement. Washington rejected a Russian proposal for Iran to take part in a planned international conference on Syria in Geneva on Saturday. "It is better to involve Iran in the settlement [of the Syrian crisis]," Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters in Jordan. "In any case it would complicate the process [if Iran is ignored]." Useful contribution State department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters in Washington the US did not think Iran could make a useful contribution given its support for the Damascus regime. State department officials have also said that Clinton will not attend the meeting unless all parties first agree on the need for political change in Syria. A senior official travelling with Clinton said the Geneva conference was threatened by Russia's refusal to consider Assad's departure but that a deal might yet be done. "The sticking point is a clear agreement that there needs to be a political transition," the official said on Tuesday. Amnesty International has denounced the Syrian regime for the torture and killing of three medics. "The discovery of the charred and mutilated bodies of three young medical workers a week after their arrest in Aleppo city is yet further evidence of the Syrian government forces' appalling disregard for the sanctity of the role of medical workers," it said. – Sapa-AFP MAIL & GUARDIAN Comments by Sonny There is strong evidence to have president al-ASSAD charged for Murder & Crimes Against Humanity. Let,s not harp on what Russian

s Putin wants.

Cops pull plug on 'blue light' task team

Say it with a sting..... GRAEME HOSKEN | 19 June, 2012 00:0526 Comments Police lights File photo. Image by: Gallo Images/Thinkstock A police task team set up to investigate "blue light" hijacking syndicates with deep roots in the SAPS has been shut down - only days before it was due to make several big raids. RELATED NEWS Cops pull plug on 'blue-light' task team Members of the team of 40 highly experienced, hand-picked officers were told by their commanders between Tuesday and Thursday last week to stop all investigations into the syndicates immediately. The officers were told to hand in all the information that they had gathered during their three-week investigation - after hearing on Monday last week that their operation had been extended for two months. It is not known who gave the original order to end the team's investigations. Gauteng commissioner-General Mzwandile Petros said yesterday that there was nothing sinister about the development and such task teams were ''never permanent''. But a Johannesburg Flying Squad member said: "There is a lot of rot in our ranks. Some of our own members are involved [in the blue light syndicates]. We know them but we cannot do anything because we need to catch them in the act.'' He said the raids scheduled for later this week were designed to do just that. "We have been given no reasons why we were shut down. All we were told was to stop everything, including gathering information on planned attacks, and locations of safe houses and weapons." Gauteng police's General Pumza Gela, who ordered the establishment of the team, last month advised motorists not to stop for unmarked vehicles fitted with blue lights, saying the gangs, which included police officers, were dangerous and well armed. The blue-light investigations team was established after the attacks spiked last month. Motorists have been targeted for the past six months by blue-light robbers, mainly on the N17, N14, N1 and M1 highways, and through Johannesburg, Benoni and Germiston, on the East Rand, and Pretoria. Blue-light robbers hijacked a Pretoria West sheriff of the court and a business owner from Kyalami, northern Johannesburg, in separate incidents last month . Both men were released by their captors. Ryan Pickford, of Bryanston, northern Johannesburg, was hijacked in Main Road, Bryanston, last month. He was held for two hours at gunpoint after being "arrested" by men claiming to be police officers. There were reportedly four similar incidents in and around Johannesburg on the same day. The team has scored a string of successes in the past three weeks. Its members have killed two hijackers, arrested 38 and recovering 34 hijacked vehicles. The team raided a house in Pretoria on Thursday, arresting three men and recovering blue lights and sirens, police radios, uniforms, pistols, ammunition and vehicles believed to have been stolen. The raid occurred after police received information that three men who were appearing in the Bronkhorstspruit Regional Court on the same day were part of a blue-light gang terrorising Pretoria's eastern suburbs. The men, who were appearing on charges of armed robbery, led police to the house. The suspects are wanted in connection with a murder, eight attempted murders, and hijackings in Bronkhorstspruit, Cullinan and Welbekend. Members of the team have unmasked several police officers involved in aiding the syndicates by providing tip-offs on imminent raids, and supplying weapons, uniforms, bulletproof vests, radios and blue lights. Members of specialised units, such as the flying squad, are also allegedly helping the gangs . The modus operandi involves either stopping motorists after driving behind them or setting up bogus roadblocks. The Times has learned that the team was allegedly ordered to shoot to kill syndicate members - even if they were known to be police officers. A Pretoria policeman yesterday said they were told to "take out" police officers working with the gangs. "We were given these orders and then 48 hours later we were shut down. We were told to take two days off and then report back to our units." He said there was something "sinister" about the new orders. "It is clear we were doing our job just a little too well. We were about to carry out several raids, which were going to net the kingpins, including police officers. "We had good successes. In three weeks, we arrested 38 suspects, recovered 34 hijacked cars, five firearms, R200000 in cash, R200000 worth of drugs and killed two suspects," he said. "It is clear someone is looking out for the wrong people's interests." Petros said ''Nothing has been disbanded . [Task teams] depend on crime trends and we deploy our members accordingly and where our strategies dictate. ''I am comfortable with the progress made in this investigation and any movement of members is part of a new strategy and change of tactics.'' Police spokesman Colonel Noxolo Kweza said he would respond to questions today. But the team members believe they were "too successful". "We were hurting these thugs. The only way they could stop us was to shut us down. Our success has been our downfall, " said the Pretoria officer. TIMES LIVE Comments by Sonny According to Lt Genl PETROS (Province GAUTENG) these facts are wrong. If this is another SAPS cover-up, then a person can assume, that there is a third force of ""organised crime syndicate,s operating within the SAPS."" The Secrecy Bill will be used here to prevent Media and Public access to Government CORRUPTION! WE HAVE BEEN AWARE OF CERTAIN ELEMENTS OPERATING WITHIN GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES FOR A LONG TIME NOW! IS THE STATE OR ANC IN CHARGE OF CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA?

Israel 'UFO' may have been Russian test missile

Say it with a sting..... Sapa-dpa | 08 June, 2012 10:21 A screen shot from a YouTube video of the "UFO". Image by: AxisofAnonymous / YouTube Hundreds of alarmed Israelis flooded police hotlines with reports of an unidentified flying object (UFO), after seeing a glowing light in the sky. SAVE & SHARE Residents of Armenia and Lebanon, and other countries in the region, also called their local police stations after seeing the light streaking across the heavens, Israeli media reported. But the mystery appeared to have been solved within hours, when Russia announced it had test-fired a missile from the Astrakhan region. Israeli Astronomical Association Chairman Dr. Yigal Pat-El told the Ynet news site that it was likely the UFO was a ballistic missile test. "It most likely spun out of control and its remnants and the fuel was what people saw. It reached a height of 200-300 kilometers and that's why it was seen from so many locations," he said. "We saw a large trail of light travelling from a distant spot in the sky," Ynet quoted one resident of northern Israel as saying. "We could not see the source of the light. The trail was massive. It was an unusual sight. Moments later we saw swirling movement where the light was coming from." In December 2009, a bluish spiralling light seen over Norway, and also thought to be a UFO, was later revealed to have been a failed Russia missile launch.Author: Jeff Abramowitz Times Live Comments by Sonny Good thing the UFO was not fired from Iran. could the Russians have been testing the US and Israil nerves....?

Piet Byleveld - The illusive man from the Waterberg (Strawberry Farmer of the Year)

Say it with a sting..... SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2012 Piet Byleveld - As clean as white Linen....... Newspaper to appeal to Byleveld ruling Sun, 10 Jun 2012 13:38:47 +0200 The Sunday Times will appeal against a ruling by deputy press ombudsman Johan Retief in favour of retired former police detective Piet Byleveld. ||| The Sunday Times will appeal against a ruling by deputy press ombudsman Johan Retief in favour of retired former police detective Piet Byleveld, it said in a report on Sunday. Editor Ray Hartley said: “We welcome the ombudsman's finding that all our facts were accurate and that we carried Byleveld's comment. “We will seek clarity on the one finding against us by lodging an appeal. We are not sure what we are being asked to correct.” On Thursday, Retief ruled that the Sunday Times must apologise to Byleveld for insinuating that he might have accepted a gift from someone who was under investigation, the deputy press ombudsman Johan Retief ruled on Thursday. “The Sunday Times is directed to apologise to Byleveld for unfairly insinuating in the headline and the intro that he may have been aware of the fact that he had accepted a gift from someone who was under investigation for being part of the notorious Rolex Gang,” said Retief. “Thereby needlessly harming his reputation and integrity.... The intro may have been accurate, but it was not fair because it created the impression that Byleveld knew or ought to have known that Vardas was under investigation - and that he nevertheless accepted the gift.” Retief said that even though his denial was published later in the story, the insinuation 'needlessly damaged his character and reputation'. Byleveld and retired jeweller Tony Vardas complained about a front page story in the Sunday Times on February 12, stating Byleveld accepted a wedding band from a man linked to the Rolex Gang. Among the list of complaints from Byleveld were that the contents of the story and the headline were slanted, and the story falsely suggested the wedding band was obtained through criminal activities. Vardas complained that the story falsely linked him to the Rolex Gang. The reporter did not ask for his comment or had not tried to verify the information in an affidavit, and the story falsely says that he gave Byleveld a wedding ring. Retief remarked that if the journalist had reported up front that Byleveld did not know about Vardas' possible link to the Rolex Gang, there probably would not have been a story. “The intro was therefore carefully construed to allow for the story to follow. This is fundamentally unfair - to create a false impression, only to 'rectify' it later,” he said. “In the meantime, though, somebody's reputation and integrity were needlessly harmed.” Byleveld said he was unaware of an affidavit made by a person linked to the Rolex Gang, but the newspaper denied this report and said Byleveld was aware of Vardas' links to the gang, said Retief. “I do not think, however, that there is any insinuation that Byleveld could be 'linked' to the gang just because he accepted a gift from a possible suspect,” he said. Retief found that the Sunday Times article was a fair and reasonable reflection of the information it had in its possession regarding Vardas' complaint about being linked to the Rolex Gang. “I also take into account that nowhere does the story state his 'link' to the gang as fact,” said Retief. “The intro says that he was 'under investigation' (which is apparently true, based on the information obtained from four policemen) and consistently mentions his 'alleged' involvement with the gang.” In February, the Sunday Times reported that Byleveld thanked Vardas for the wedding band in a magazine article. “He said that is what he wanted to give us, for a wedding present,” Byleveld reportedly said. At the time, Hawks spokesman McIntosh Polela said Vardas and two others were subjects of an “ongoing investigation”. Vardas was “a person of interest” in the Rolex Gang case, other police members told the newspaper. The gang followed and robbed wealthy people - including Discovery chief executive Adrian Gore, and Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale's wife Judy Sexwale - of their jewellery. They were most active in Johannesburg's northern suburbs. Byleveld retired in 2010 after an illustrious police career, during which he arrested some of the country's most notorious criminals. He said he knew Vardas from a case he investigated “many moons ago”, in which Vardas was a witness. Byleveld denied that Vardas was a friend and said Vardas had organised the ring through a jeweller, who measured his then fiancee's finger. Vardas did not supply her engagement ring. Retief dismissed Vardas' complaint entirely. The Sunday Times was directed to publish one of two texts on its front page. - Sapa National Jun 9 2012 6:14AM Sunday Times must apologise to Byleveld The Sunday Times must apologise to former police detective Piet Byleveld for insinuating that he might have accepted a gift from someone who was under investigation, the deputy press ombudsman Johan Retief ruled on Thursday. "The Sunday Times is directed to apologise to Byleveld for unfairly insinuating in the headline and the intro that he may have been aware of the fact that he had accepted a gift from someone who was under investigation for being part of the notorious Rolex Gang," said Retief. "Thereby needlessly harming his reputation and integrity.... The intro may have been accurate, but it was not fair because it created the impression that Byleveld knew or ought to have known that Vardas was under investigation -- and that he nevertheless accepted the gift." Retief said that even though his denial was published later in the story, the insinuation 'needlessly damaged his character and reputation'. Byleveld and retired jeweller Tony Vardas complained about a front page story in the Sunday Times on February 12, stating Byleveld accepted a wedding band from a man linked to the Rolex Gang. Among the list of complaints from Byleveld were that the contents of the story and the headline were slanted, and the story falsely suggested the wedding band was obtained through criminal activities. Vardas complained that the story falsely linked him to the Rolex Gang. The reporter did not ask for his comment or had not tried to verify the information in an affidavit, and the story falsely says that he gave Byleveld a wedding ring. Retief remarked that if the journalist had reported up front that Byleveld did not know about Vardas' possible link to the Rolex Gang, there probably would not have been a story. "The intro was therefore carefully construed to allow for the story to follow. This is fundamentally unfair -- to create a false impression, only to 'rectify' it later," he said. "In the meantime, though, somebody's reputation and integrity were needlessly harmed." Byleveld said he was unaware of an affidavit made by a person linked to the Rolex Gang, but the newspaper denied this report and said Byleveld was aware of Vardas' links to the gang, said Retief. "I do not think, however, that there is any insinuation that Byleveld could be 'linked' to the gang just because he accepted a gift from a possible suspect," he said. Retief found that the Sunday Times article was a fair and reasonable reflection of the information it had in its possession regarding Vardas' complaint about being linked to the Rolex Gang. "I also take into account that nowhere does the story state his 'link' to the gang as fact," said Retief. "The intro says that he was 'under investigation' (which is apparently true, based on the information obtained from four policemen) and consistently mentions his 'alleged' involvement with the gang." In February, the Sunday Times reported that Byleveld thanked Vardas for the wedding band in a magazine article. "He said that is what he wanted to give us, for a wedding present," Byleveld reportedly said. At the time, Hawks spokesman McIntosh Polela said Vardas and two others were subjects of an "ongoing investigation". Vardas was "a person of interest" in the Rolex gang case, other police members told the newspaper. The gang followed and robbed wealthy people -- including Discovery chief executive Adrian Gore, and Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale's wife Judy Sexwale -- of their jewellery. They were most active in Johannesburg's northern suburbs. Byleveld retired in 2010 after an illustrious police career, during which he arrested some of the country's most notorious criminals. He said he knew Vardas from a case he investigated "many moons ago", in which Vardas was a witness. Byleveld denied that Vardas was a friend and said Vardas had organised the ring through a jeweller, who measured his then fiancee's finger. Vardas did not supply her engagement ring. Retief dismissed Vardas' complaint entirely. The Sunday Times was directed to publish one of two texts on its front page. -Sapa Cop’s wedding gift linked to Rolex gang February 12 2012 at 09:57am By SAPA INLSA Piet Byleveld. Photo: Tracey Adams A retired detective accepted a wedding band from a businessman thought to be linked to an organised crime syndicate known as the Rolex gang, according to a newspaper report on Sunday. Piet Byleveld thanked Tony Vardas for the wedding band in a magazine article, the Sunday Times reported. “He said that is what he wanted to give us for a wedding present,” Byleveld reportedly said. Hawks spokesman McIntosh Polela said Vardas and two others were subjects of an “ongoing investigation”. Vardas was “a person of interest” in the Rolex gang case, other police members told the newspaper. The gang followed and robbed wealthy people Ä including Discovery chief executive Adrian Gore, and Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale's wife Judy Sexwale Ä of their jewellery. They were most active in Johannesburg's northern suburbs. Byleveld retired in 2010 after an illustrious police career, during which he arrested some of the country's most notorious criminals. He said he knew Vardas from a case he investigated “many moons ago”, in which Vardas was a witness. “I can assure you if 1/8Vardas was linked to any criminal activity 3/8 and if I knew, I would have acted on it,” Byleveld said. He denied that Vardas was a friend and said Vardas had organised the ring through a jeweller, who measured his then fiancee's finger. Vardas did not supply her engagement ring. “I bought the (engagement) ring and I have the documents to prove it,” Byleveld said. Sapa IOL News Comments by Sonny Let the Sunday Times Appeal reveal the facts of the matter. Piet Byleveld should be forced to produce the "Facts!" Is that an empty glass in front of Piet Byleveld? The glass is "WANTING!" “I can assure you if 1/8Vardas was linked to any criminal activity 3/8 and if I knew, I would have acted on it." If he told a 'small lie' about having 38 years service, instead of 34 years, then, what is he saying now!