DAMASCUS -- The Syrian army entered the Daraa al-Balad area in the capital city of Daraa province Thursday, capturing the entire city of Daraa, according to state news agency SANA.
The Syrian forces entered the Daraa al-Balad area in the southern part of the capital city of Daraa province, raising the Syrian flag in the main square, said the report. (Syria-Daraa-Rebel)
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CAIRO -- A fuel tank exploded near Egypt's Cairo International Airport on Thursday night, but there were no immediate reports on casualties, Egyptian State TV reported.
Fire caused by the explosion was under control, the report said. (Egypt-Explosion-Fuel Tank)
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BAGHDAD -- Violent protests broke out Thursday at the oilfields in the southern Iraqi oil hub of Basra over lack of jobs and basic services, a local police source said.
In the morning, protesters blocked the roads leading to the oilfields of West Qurna-1 and West Qurna-2 in north of Basra, before they broke into West Qurna-2, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. (Iraq-Basra-Protests)
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GAZA -- The Workers' Union of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on Thursday protested possible reduction of the agency's services due to fiscal problems.
Hundreds of UNRWA staff workers demonstrated in front of the agency's headquarters in Gaza City, holding banners calling for halting any possible reduction in the agency's services. (Palestine-UN Refugee Agency-Protest) Enditem
