The Syrian TV broadcasted confessions of ex-offender Rami Mwaffaq Radwan, who admitted rioting, terrorising citizens and opening fire on them and sabotaging public and private properties along with a group of rioters. Radwan later surrendered to the security forces to benefit from the amnesty announced by the Interior Ministry to those who participated in unlawful acts if they give themselves up to police.1

Meanwhile, according to a military source, armed criminal elements assaulted civilians, attacked border guard posts, vandalized public properties, erected blockades in al-Arida area in Telkalakh, and terrorised inhabitants and locals, which necessitated the intervention of the army. As a result of the confrontation, two members of the army and security forces lost their lives and 11 were injured, while a number of armed criminals were either killed or injured.2 The confrontation also resulted in large number of guns, sniper rifles and ammunition being seized.

In another development, hundreds of Syrians gathered in front of the European Commission to condemn the European intervention in Syria's internal affairs. They handed over a statement to commission in which they expressed condemnation of the stances of EU governments over the events in Syria. They also denounced the EU bias through ignoring the existence of armed terrorist groups and their acts of terrorising citizens, undermining the national economy and their attempts to undermine the national unity among the Syrian people.3

In other developments, Syrian Prime Minister Adel Safar held meeting with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Syria, Abdulla Tahir Bin Yehia and discussed the prospects of joint cooperation to support the agricultural and social development. They also discussed possibilities of benefiting from the scientific and agricultural experiments in developing and increasing production capabilities as well as introducing new agricultural crops in Syria.4

• 1. “Ex-Offender Confesses Rioting, Sabotaging and Shooting in Damascus Countryside”, Syrian Arab News Agency, May 15, 2011, at http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/05/15/346780.htm
• 2. “2 Army and Security Forces Members Martyred, 11 Wounded during Confrontation with Armed Criminal Elements in Telkalakh”, Syrian Arab News Agency, May 16, 2011 http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/05/16/346993.htm
• 3. “Hundreds of Syrians gather outside European Commission, Express Rejection of Foreign Intervention in Syria's Affairs”, Syrian Arab News Agency, May 15, 2011 http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2011/05/15/346979.htm
• 4. “Safar, FAO Discuss Cooperation”, Syrian Arab News Agency, May 16, 2011 at http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2011/05/16/347080.htm