Protest actions near detention centers in Minsk

1 Belarus

The protests in Minsk ended on Monday evening with a march to the buildings of 2 pre-trial detention centers, where the people, arrested for the participation in the demonstrations against the results of the presidential elections, are still detained. The TASS news agency reported that the rallies took place at the gates of the detention center No. 1 on the ‘Volodarsky Street’, where, as the opposition representatives believe, blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky is being held. The rally took place near the pre-trial detention center on the ‘Akrestsin Street’ as well — all the people, arrested after the first clashes between the protesters and the police at the beginning of the last week, were taken there. Most of them were released. Those who received a formal administrative case are serving their sentences. The representative of the detention center told to the protesters that there are no political prisoners in the detention center. This information was confirmed by a confidant of Tikhanovskaya — Olga Kovalkova. It was noted that the protesters began to disperse after Olga Kovalkova recommended to gather at that exact place in the morning. The police did not interfere with the demonstrators.

2 Afghanistan

The ‘Tolo News’ TV reported that several mortar shells exploded in central Kabul. The explosions reportedly injured at least 10 people. The Afghan Interior Ministry reports that unknown people in two cars fired mortars at the residential areas of Kabul. So far none of the extremist groups that operate in Afghanistan took the responsibility for the shelling.

3 Lebanon

The ‘Al Arabiya’ TV reported while citing their Lebanese sources that a study of the soil samples, taken at the port of Beirut, showed that there was no missile attack on the port. «The analysis of the soil samples from the port did not reveal any traces of a missile fire» — the report concluded. A powerful explosion in a warehouse in the port of Beirut took place on 4th of August. According to the latest data — the explosion killed 178 people, and injured about 6,000. Dozens of people are still missing. On 15th of August the Lebanese President, Michel Aoun, announced that Lebanon «needs to get satellite imagery to determine if the explosion could have been caused by a missile.»

4 Israel — The Gaza Strip

The IDF press service reported on Twitter that the Israeli military launched a series of attacks on the facilities of the radical movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip in a response to the launch of balloons with explosives. «Recently the jet fighters and other aircraft of the IDF attacked the underground infrastructure of the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The attack was a response to the launch of balloons with explosives and combustible materials from the Gaza Strip at the Israeli territory during the day» — the statement explained. The launch of balloons with explosives from the Gaza Strip at Israel resumed in early August.

5 Libya

The ‘Al Arabiya’ TV reported that Turkey, Qatar and the Libyan Government of National Accord signed an agreement to establish a Turkish naval base in the Libyan city of Misurata. According to the agreement — a trilateral military coordination center is being created in Misurata. «The parties agreed to send Qatari military advisers to Libya to train the Libyan military. And also to provide Libya with places in the Turkish and Qatari military schools» — the ‘Al Arabiya’ TV specified. It was underlined that the purpose of the agreement is to »increase the combat capability of the troops of the government of the national accord». Earlier on Monday, the Turkish Minister of National Defense, Hulusi Akar, and the Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister of Defense of Qatar, Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah, met in Tripoli with the head of the GNA, Faiz Sarraj. The GNA noted that the authorities in Tripoli are in favor of a «political dialogue, which is the only solution of the Libyan crisis. It is necessary to support such course that contributes to the enhancement of the stability in the country.»

6 Syria

The Syrian news agency SANA reported while citing the local sources that an explosion took place in a village west of the Syrian city of Ras al-Ain, near the border with Turkey. According to the SANA — a car bomb exploded at one of the strongholds of the pro-Turkish armed Syrian opposition groups, stationed in the city. The explosion killed 3 soldiers. Several more were injured. Constantine Reztsov, specially for ANNA NEWS.