Deutsche Welle, 29 November 2012
Internet
traffic in Syria has slowed to an effective standstill, according to a pair of
US technology companies monitoring web traffic. Rebel fighters, meanwhile, have
reported clashes for control of Damascus airport.
US
companies Akamai and Renesys said on Thursday that Syrian Internet activity had
ground almost to a halt as of 12:26 local time (1026 GMT), with coverage
staying down throughout the afternoon.
"In
the global routing table, all 84 of Syria's IP address blocks have become
unreachable, effectively removing the country from the Internet," Renesys
wrote on its blog.
Several
news agencies reported that residents had noticed only sporadic coverage for
their cell phones and some disturbances for landlines as well.
Localized
blackouts have taken place in the past during Syria's lengthy conflict, but
Thursday's was thought to be the first nationwide loss of coverage.
"As
the atrocities in Syria continue, now the Internet and telephone connection are
shut down. Really scary #SyriaBlackout," EU Home Affairs Commissioner
Cecilia Malmström wrote on her Twitter account, using the signature
"CM" to denote that she had written the entry herself.
The
blackout also interrupted the news feed of Syria's state-run SANA news agency.
Fighting
reported around Damascus airport
Activist
groups, including the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights,
reported heavy fighting on Thursday around Damascus' airport, as rebel forces
apparently sought to gain control of the site. The airport is situated roughly
15 kilometers (9.3 miles) to the east of the city center.
"The
road to Damascus International airport was closed because of ongoing fighting
and military operations in the surrounding areas," the Observatory said.
As with
most reports coming out of Syria, the information could not be independently
verified owing to restrictions on access for international press - though state
television later acknowledged the clashes, saying that the road had been
reopened.
"The
road from the airport was secured after attacks by armed terrorist groups
against cars and after a deployment of the competent forces," the
broadcaster said, citing the Intormation Ministry.
The Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights estimates that more than 40,000 people have died
in Syria since the civil war broke out in March last year between forces loyal
to President Bashar Assad and those seeking a change in government.
International
envoy Lakhdar Bramini was also due to brief the Security Council on the
situation in Syria on Thursday, an address that looked set to be overshadowed
by the General Assembly vote in New York on recognizing the Palestinian
Territories as an observer member of the UN.
msh/hc (AFP, dpa, Reuters)
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