Fifteen Killed in Fights in Northern Lebanon
Five days of fierce combats between supporters of and opponents to the Syrian government in the northern city of Tripoli have resulted in 15 people killed and 112 injured, according to official statistics published here on Sunday.
Although the patrols of the Lebanese Army have succeeded in stopping the clashes, tension continues in that coastal city, according to reports from that zone.
The clashes, in which rifles and self-propelled grenades were used, involved members of the Sunni Muslim communities, which oppose Syrian President Bashar al Assad, and the Alaouite community to which the statesman belongs.
Since Monday, residents in the districts of Qobbe and Jabal el Mohsen, which have an imaginary border on Syria St., opened fire on each other for unknown reasons until Saturday, when armored vehicles and infantry forces deployed urgently to the zone reestablished calm.
A wave of kidnappings of members of the two communities, in which insurgents fighting against the Syrian government are involved, seems to be the main fuel in the confrontations, which also have religious causes.
The Sunni, the largest Islamic sect, oppose the Alaouites, which split from the Shiites.
Russia to Assist Europe to Suffocate Forest Fires
Russia will assist several European countries, especially Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Greece, to suffocate forest fires by sending its specialized aviation, the Ministry of Emergency Situations announced on Sunday.
In order to fight the flames in Serbia, the Ministry has created a command station at the airport in Nis, according to the head of the International Action Department of the said institution, Yuri Brazhnikov.
In Serbia alone, some 200 hotbeds of forest fires have been identified, so the group will be reinforced with Ka-32 helicopters based in Nis, the official said.
The Russian planes have flown over the areas on fire at least 58 times to spread 300 tons of water, Brazhnikov added.
The Russian forces, in conjunction with Serbian firefighters, helped to suffocate fires in the Serbian towns of Pirot, Koniarkin and Chigota, he pointed out.
In the next few says, Russia will send a group of specialized planes and helicopters to Sarajevo to fight fires in the forests of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Russia might also send a MI-26 helicopter to Europe and it is weighing a request for assistance from Albania. In addition, its missions are coordinated with institutions from the European Union.
High temperatures and scarce rains in southern Europe have kept forests dry, so fires start easily, noted Brazhnikov.
Tropical Storm Isaac Leaves Cuba, no Casualties
Tropical storm Isaac Saturday left Cuban after hitting the island for 5 hours, causing no casualties but some damage to agriculture and the electric system, said a statement from the Cuban National Meteorology Institute (Insmet).
Isaac landed in the eastern province of Guantanamo at 11:00 a.m. (1600 GMT) in the Imias region, and returned to the sea at 4:00 p.m. (2100 GMT) through Guardalavaca Beach, a famous tourist attraction in the eastern province of Holguin.
The storm packed maximum sustained winds of nearly 95 km per hour (kph), and moved toward northwest at a speed of 33 kph.
During its crossing through Guantanamo, Isaac whipped up five-meter waves and caused heavy rains and floods in lowlands.
The National Headquarter of the Civil Defense evacuated 3,112 people, including some foreign tourists, urging local residents to stay alert of damaging rains and floods.
According to Insmet, at 6:00 p.m. (2300 GMT), the storm was located at 21.5 degrees north latitude and 76.3 degrees west longitude, 52.82 miles (85 km) northeast of Lucrecia Cape in Holguin.
Isaac was the ninth tropical storm of the 2012 season that hit Cuba, where cyclonic season extends from June to November.
Before battering Cuba, the storm crossed neighboring Haiti, which shares the same island, causing 2 casualties, evacuation of over 5,000 people and severe economic damage.
Forecasters predicted Isaac would strengthen and become a hurricane as it approaches the Florida Keys and parts of Florida, the United States.
Florida on Saturday has stepped into a state of emergency, and a Hurricane Warning is currently in effect for some regions.
Via PL