France Suspects Manipulation in Journalists’Death

French President Nicolas Sarkozy requested that Syrian authorities  ”shed light” on the attack against the convoy transporting journalists, among them Gilles Jacquier who was killed. A source close to the President declared that they believed  a manipulation occurred, but emphasized that there is no proof yet. According to Thierry Thuillier, Director of the France Télévisions editorial office,  Jacquier declared (French) that he did not want to be part of the convoy that was attacked. The authorities told him that if he did not want to join the other journalists, who accepted, he would have been expelled. Moreover, this convoy was authorized by the authorities  and managed by the regime. Earlier in the day Jacquier complained of witnessing a “propaganda operation” while he was trying to film in Damascus. A source from the French government added that “one can believe in a sad accident. However, it is convenient for a regime which tries to discourage foreign journalists and to demobilize the rebellion.” Homs governor Ghassan Abdel Al ordered the creation of a commission to investigate the incident that he called “a terrorist attack.”

Meanwhile, Arab League head Nabil el-Araby expressed his fear of a possible civil war in Syria that could have consequences for neighboring countries. He also described reports from the mission head as “worrying,” but said there was “no doubt that the pace of killing has fallen with the presence of the observers.” His comments came as League’s monitoring mission was hit by two resignations,  apparently because the operation had failed to halt the government’s violent crackdown on protests, a former monitor said.