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July 2009 - News
July 2009

Local News

Customs police foil gold and diamonds smuggling attempt

The Directorate General of Customs seized SYP 70m (USD 1.47m) worth of gold, diamonds and watches at the Damascus International Airport on June 8.

The Directorate said the goods, disguised as worthless accessories, had been imported to Damascus from Hong Kong via the United Arab Emirates.
During a subsequent raid on an office located in Jiser al-Abiyad, police found the original documents for the goods.

Al-Karameh retains Syrian Football League championship

Homs-based football club Al-Karameh retained the 68th Syrian Football League Championship for the fourth consecutive year after beating Aleppo’s Al-Etihad 2-1 in a unique play-off match in front of 40,000 fans at Al-Assad Stadium in Lattakia on June 12.

The two clubs were tied on divisional points at the end of the season, prompting the Syrian Football Federation to hold a play-off for the first time in the league’s history.
The lively match was only settled in the 95th minute when Al-Karameh mid-fielder Iyad Mando scored the winning goal from a follow-up in the penalty area.

Gunfire exchange in Damascus’s Old City

Security forces clashed with two gunmen in a restaurant in the Old City of Damascus on June 2, injuring three people.

The exchange of fire between security forces and the pair, one of whom was on a security blacklist, occurred in a restaurant in the Old City’s Bab Touma area around 6.30pm, the Syria News website reported.

The gun battle broke out after police approached the men and tried to place them under arrest. Three people were injured during the clash; a policeman, one of the gunmen and a customer.
“One of the two men opened fire on the police, who in turn fired back,” restaurant manager Manar Marawi said.