Al-Watan's distribution blocked

The authorities blocked distribution of the leading pro-government daily Al-Watan without giving any explanation although it is owned by Rami Makhlouf, a cousin of the president. Media sources blamed the move on an article headlined “The Syrian media are lying to us.” The ban was issued at 6 a.m., almost immediately after the latest issue had been printed. The information ministry lifted the ban later in the day, again without any explanation. Al-Watan had also criticized the international media’s coverage of the events in Deraa, insisting that everything was calm in Syria and accusing them of lying.