From other news sites (9)

• Syrian rebels swap officer for comrades' bodies

  thewall.com.au | 2:01 pm May 13, 2012

  AMMAN, May 13 (Reuters) - Syrian forces have released the bodies of seven young men killed in a military raid on a conservative Sunni district of Damascus in exchange for an army officer abducted by rebels, opposition sources in the capital said on Sunday.

  The army had refused until Friday to release the bodies of the seven, who were killed on May 5 in a sweep of the Barzeh neighbourhood, prompting the rebels to abduct the officer, Youssef Zaghbour, days later, they said.

  The area in the north of the capital has been the scene of regular street demonstrations against President Bashar al-Assad's rule.

  Free Syrian Army rebels have lately been finding support in Barzeh, with more of the population turning to armed struggle to counter the military crackdown on the 14-month protest movement.

  "Zaghbour was not hurt. The funerals of the seven martyrs took place in Barzeh yesterday and today, drawing large crowds," one of the sources said from Barzeh.

  Live video footage broadcast by activists on Sunday purportedly showed the coffins of three of the seven, covered in red and white roses, being carried by mourners.

  It showed thousands shouting slogans demanding freedom and waving green and white flags from the era before Assad's Baath Party took power in a 1963 coup.

  "Rejoice, mother of the martyr. Your son is beloved by God," the crowd sang.

  There was no comment from the authorities, who tightly restrict access by independent media.

  Keeping the bodies of those killed by Assad's forces has been a common practice in the crackdown on the revolt against 42 years of rule by Assad and his late father, Hafez al-Assad, activists and human rights organisations say.

  The say that by keeping the bodies, or releasing them after weeks or months, and only after agreeing with the families that funerals will be small and quiet, the authorities hope to prevent the funerals becoming anti-Assad rallying points. (Reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Amman newsroom; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

• Roxon backs Gillard amid leadership rumblings

  abc.net.au | 9:31 am Feb 18, 2012

  Attorney-General Nicola Roxon has declared Julia Gillard a better prime minister than Kevin Rudd and urged the now-Foreign Minister to end leadership rumblings. There is increasing speculation Mr Rudd is preparing for a tilt at his old job which reports…

• Religion for Everyone

  wsj.com | 6:38 am Feb 18, 2012

  One of the losses that modern society feels most keenly is the loss of a sense of community. We tend to imagine that there once existed a degree of neighborliness that has been replaced by ruthless anonymity, by the pursuit of contact with one another…

• £2m paid out over child asylum seekers illegally detained as adults

  guardian.co.uk | 10:43 am Feb 18, 2012

  The Home Office has paid compensation of more than £1m, plus £1m costs, in a case involving 40 child asylum seekers who were wrongly detained as adults, the Guardian can reveal. It is thought to be the first case of its kind and the largest immigration…

• Big Sydney forum defends WikiLeaks, Assange

  greenleft.org.au | 7:18 am Feb 18, 2012

  More than 400 people crowded into a lecture theatre at the University of Technology on February 17 to attend a public forum, “Don’t shoot the messenger: WikiLeaks, Assange and Democracy”.   Speakers at the forum included socialist historian Humphrey…

• Rudd row gets dirty

  theage.com.au | 9:01 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Personality over substance

  brisbanetimes.com.au | 6:04 am Feb 18, 2012
• Asylum - 101 East - Al Jazeera English

  aljazeera.com | 12:34 am Feb 18, 2012
• War looms as PM's loyalists turn on Rudd

  smh.com.au | 3:36 am Feb 18, 2012
• iiNet

  canberratimes.com.au | 12:54 am Feb 17, 2012

Most Popular Tweets (100)

• #ISupportGillard because she represents modern progressive Australia: First female PM, de facto, no kids, Atheist. This ain't TA's 1950's

  @geeksrulz - Intrepid Geek
  

  10:55 am Feb 18, 2012
• “@twawki: Marginal MPS called for Gillard to resign last night http://t.co/QN1F56Qe Australia repeatedly asks for d whole ALP to go! #auspol

  @cr0atz - Danny Jovica
  

  1:48 am Feb 19, 2012
• Delta Attendant: I know! We'll make room by bumping the tiny immigrant! \o/ Later That Day... "He's whose boyfriend? Fuck our actual lives."

  @MindIzMySpear - jadziadragonrider
  

  1:30 am Feb 19, 2012
• "Research indicates that a 1% increase in the number of immigrants w/college degrees leads to 9-18% rise in patents." Wired Mag

  @Bill_Gross - Bill Gross
  

  11:43 pm Feb 18, 2012
• @AndrewMBogut how r u mate. How's the nba treating u. Agree with ur tweet about K. Rudd. #kruddistheman

  @Tim_Cahill - Tim Cahill
  

  10:09 pm Feb 18, 2012
• 1/2 Regardless of his political stance/party, I have gained some respect for old boy Kevin Rudd.Most of us react the same way to frustrating

  @AndrewMBogut - Andrew Bogut
  

  10:05 pm Feb 18, 2012
• if you believe kaos kevin is changing his ways you'd believe that juliar tells the truth #australianagenda

  @1moreBTC - BTC
  

  9:37 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Centrebet have suspending ALP leadership betting: Sportsbet have $2.50 both Gillard & Rudd; Crean $4.00; Smith $8; Shorten $9; Combet $17

  @TheKouk - Stephen Koukoulas
  

  9:33 pm Feb 18, 2012
• @abcnews24 That video is totally unremarkable. If you could hear the swearing across the nation at the press, you'd seek asylum in Myanmar

  @geeksrulz - Intrepid Geek
  

  9:27 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Pope wants to see Fidel Castro on Cuba trip-source http://t.co/oWLTajlo

  @Reuters - Reuters Top News
  

  8:44 pm Feb 18, 2012
• “@piersmorgan: Kevin Costner now. #WhitneyCNN” I'm not inviting you to my funeral unless you promise not to tweet all the way through it.

  @rickygervais - Ricky Gervais
  

  8:21 pm Feb 18, 2012
• What does #Australia's immigration policy mean for asylum seekers? @AJ101East finds out I http://t.co/tTMm45N8

  @AJEnglish - Al Jazeera English
  

  8:20 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Can we get a reality check here? "The Bodyguard" was a truly dreadful movie.

  @BretEastonEllis - Bret Easton Ellis
  

  6:32 pm Feb 18, 2012
• "Whitney if you could hear me now I would tell you.. you weren't just good enough, you were great." ~ Kevin Costner

  @TeeJ94 - Tracey J
  

  6:31 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Locked up for years and isolated from the world - @AJ101East examines the plight of asylum seekers in #Australia I http://t.co/tTMm45N8

  @AJEnglish - Al Jazeera English
  

  4:20 pm Feb 18, 2012
• What genius thought video of an Aussie PM swearing would damage him? I love fucking Kevin Rudd even more now.

  @SamdeBrito - Sam de Brito
  

  2:49 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Millwall v Bolton ref is Kevin Friend. 'Football friend!!'

  @MirrorFootball - MirrorFootball
  

  2:39 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Australia about to hit its debt limit (again) but tomorrow we will be taking about Rudd swearing #sigh #auspol

  @Correllio - Correllio
  

  2:07 pm Feb 18, 2012
• What is your evidence it is damaging? “@theagebreaking: A damaging video of a furious Kevin Rudd swearing has been posted on YouTube.”

  @CatherineDeveny - Catherine Deveny
  

  1:47 pm Feb 18, 2012
• KRudd video is not damaging. You can't fake passion. And Australians love passion. And passion is exactly what Australian politics needs.

  @CatherineDeveny - Catherine Deveny
  

  1:46 pm Feb 18, 2012
• AP EXCLUSIVE: Absolutely nothing happening in Australia, at all, apart from unearthing of ex-PM Rudd swearing video

  @crushtor - Tom
  

  1:41 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Anybody who has ever recorded some complex tongue-twisters, let alone in Chinese, has felt that expletive-laden frustration.@KRuddMP

  @HumanHeadline - Derryn Hinch
  

  1:36 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Still adding people to my list 'Flying with Kevin' RT to be added!

  @_HoranArmy_ - Louis' Special K
  

  1:05 pm Feb 18, 2012
• #ISupportGillard because I haven't got the fucking patience for Rudd.

  @cyenne40 - Tom Cummings
  

  1:04 pm Feb 18, 2012
• #AUSPOL #RUDDRAGE "I don't have the patience to deal w/ the f*ing Chinese interpreter. Just f*ing hopeless." Aussie Foreign Minister #SHAME

  @LittleWombat666 - LittleWombats666
  

  1:02 pm Feb 18, 2012
• By the time Kevin Rudd puts the full amount of money in the swear jar the budget will be back in surplus. #auspol

  @JoinTheFarQ - John Farrah
  

  12:57 pm Feb 18, 2012
• VIDEO - 1st of many piss-takes on youtube using the footage from K-Rudd meltdown http://t.co/Bk7skbdK #ruddrage

  @BenFordham - Ben Fordham
  

  12:49 pm Feb 18, 2012
• On @AJ101East: Is #Australia's treatment of asylum seekers creating a generation with mental health problems? I http://t.co/tTMm45N8

  @AJEnglish - Al Jazeera English
  

  12:20 pm Feb 18, 2012
• I do not care what you say about the motivations behind the Rudd video. It is hilarious. Except the stare. #omgthestare

  @murphymiranda - Miranda Murphy
  

  12:19 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Just saw the video of Kevin Rudd swearing his balls off in frustration. Re-elect that man, pronto!! #Aussie

  @Jack_Quigley - Jack Quigley
  

  12:16 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Go on guys, release a video of Kevin sculling a beer. That'll take him out for sure.

  @jonkudelka - jon kudelka
  

  12:14 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Anyone trying to make a scandal out of a politician swearing really doesn't understand the Australian populace.

  @The100Bus - The 100 Bus
  

  12:11 pm Feb 18, 2012
• @latikambourke I couldn't give a 'flying fuck' Rudd, Gillard or Abbott swears in frustration. More abt the person who released the tape.

  @AdiosMFYOYO - Meggsie
  

  12:11 pm Feb 18, 2012
• The scariest thing about the Kevin Rudd video is someone wrote something that even he found too convoluted to say.

  @unsungsongs - Marcus Westbury
  

  12:10 pm Feb 18, 2012
• OK, imma say this once: Rudd swearing is not a fucking 'gate'. There is only one gate. Waterfuckinggate. Also, that was journalism.

  @Kimbo_Ramplin - Kimberley Ramplin
  

  12:09 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Across #twitter, much speculation on who released Rudd video. Seems like a timed, strategic act. Anyone else thinking @JuliaGillard? #Auspol

  @pacific_justice - Pacific Justice
  

  12:01 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Putting the Rudd tape to one side, I am reminded of other memorable dummy spits made in front of a camera. http://t.co/DtrJujgm

  @Peter_F_Ryan - Peter Ryan
  

  12:00 pm Feb 18, 2012
• Going thru @KRuddMP's twitter mentions. Majority of tweets are favorable or supportive to Rudd, or back his return. Far more than 2hrs ago.

  @Asher_Wolf - Asher Wolf
  

  11:53 am Feb 18, 2012
• Kevin Rudd's staff reportedly confirm video of him swearing on YouTube is real. Rudd apologises for any offence. Video filmed 'years ago'.

  @3AW693 - 3AW #Melbourne
  

  11:53 am Feb 18, 2012
• Now all Kevin Rudd needs is another strip club incident and his leadership will be inevitable.

  @unsungsongs - Marcus Westbury
  

  11:51 am Feb 18, 2012
• Rudd in expletive-riddled outburst: AN undated expletive-laden video featuring Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has s... http://t.co/BPjVPkiE

  @australian - The Australian
  

  11:47 am Feb 18, 2012
• I just hope we're all remembering that the leadership issue is nothing but 100% pure media speculation and a vast conspiracy o_O

  @Pollytics - Possum Comitatus
  

  11:43 am Feb 18, 2012
• They say Gillard 46 but list 52 names. They say Rudd 36 but list 43 names. They say 21 undecided and list 21...

  @mfarnsworth - Malcolm Farnsworth
  

  11:43 am Feb 18, 2012
• A spokeswoman for Mr Rudd said: "The Foreign Minister has never made any secret of the fact that he sometimes swears." 1/2 #auspol

  @srpeatling - Stephanie Peatling
  

  11:40 am Feb 18, 2012
• Rudd gets ambushed with #YouTube swearing vid - "This fucking language!" Gains 8 votes in caucus http://t.co/j9EN38QI #auspol

  @MylesPeterson - Myles Peterson
  

  11:38 am Feb 18, 2012
• This video of K-Rudd losing the plot will hit fast forward on leadership drama - http://t.co/8Vqyr2Vr - Gee, I wonder who released it ?

  @BenFordham - Ben Fordham
  

  11:34 am Feb 18, 2012
• Rudd all the rage on video: A damaging video of a furious Kevin Rudd swearing has been posted on YouTube. http://t.co/fxS49bRh

  @theagebreaking - TheAge Breaking News
  

  11:32 am Feb 18, 2012
• Rudd all the rage on video: A damaging video of a furious Kevin Rudd swearing has been posted on YouTube. http://t.co/jXKAYx4C

  @AussieHeadlines - Australian Headlines
  

  11:32 am Feb 18, 2012
• Video: Kevin Rudd - Unplugged. http://t.co/SYVi8mh4 Scandal or the 'real bloke' who went to the strippers? #auspol #pmlive @SkyNewsAust

  @PMOnAir - Paul Murray
  

  11:31 am Feb 18, 2012
• #ISupportGillard because she takes advice from Scientists, Economists, CSIRO, Treasury, Navy & other experts to inform her decisions

  @geeksrulz - Intrepid Geek
  

  11:24 am Feb 18, 2012
• Damaging video of Kevin Rudd mysteriously emerges amid continued leadership speculation http://t.co/N3VUTMp1

  @theage - The Age
  

  11:22 am Feb 18, 2012
• BREAKING NEWS: Kevin Rudd sometimes gets annoyed at things. Is this the level of our political discourse now?

  @BenSong - Ben Song
  

  11:21 am Feb 18, 2012
• I think @KRuddMP released that video. Coz it seems to be playing v well for him. Clever little Vegemite. #auspol

  @profsarahj - Sarah Joseph
  

  11:20 am Feb 18, 2012
• “@bradburden1: Whether it's a positive or a negative for Rudd remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain -Rudd v Gillard - it's on!!!”

  @latikambourke - Latika Bourke
  

  11:19 am Feb 18, 2012
• Rudd all the rage on video http://t.co/N3VUTMp1

  @theage - The Age
  

  11:17 am Feb 18, 2012
• The expletive-laden Rudd video? Amusing, but really, isn't it just a man stuffing up his lines and reacting accordingly. End of story.

  @melissahoyer - Melissa Hoyer
  

  11:17 am Feb 18, 2012
• BREAKING: Rudd camp releases viral video of Gillard in double denim & struggling to use an iPhone. #auspol

  @mikestuchbery - Mike Stuchbery
  

  11:15 am Feb 18, 2012
• So, Kevin Rudd swears. Who doesn't? And why do we care?

  @rachelhills - rachelhills
  

  11:12 am Feb 18, 2012
• "Rudd camp releases Gillard upskirt"

  @jonathonio - Jonathon I Oake
  

  11:10 am Feb 18, 2012
• The whole effing Rudd video is so inconsequential and a non event that it'll fit whatever effing narrative you want

  @smurray38 - Stephen Murray
  

  11:08 am Feb 18, 2012
• It's getting nasty out there: the Kevin Rudd swearing tape: http://t.co/GkvhtA1r

  @overingtonc - Caroline Overington
  

  11:01 am Feb 18, 2012
• AN video outtake featuring Kevin Rudd repeatedly swearing at the camera has become an instant internet sensation. http://t.co/HjQSTU7F

  @news_com_au - news.com.au
  

  11:00 am Feb 18, 2012
• If this doesn't go viral, YOU ARE ALL BAD PEOPLE #krudd #youwontlikehimwhenhesangry http://t.co/cSAYq3OR

  @thingboganslike - Things Bogans Like
  

  10:58 am Feb 18, 2012
• Assuming that's KRudd when he was PM, that's hugely damaging for him but more so as it must have come from someone in Labor...?

  @latikambourke - Latika Bourke
  

  10:58 am Feb 18, 2012
• OH MY LORD. Where did this video of a potty-mouthed 'f***ing embassy/interpreter' KRudd video come from?! http://t.co/U9yyHx8B

  @latikambourke - Latika Bourke
  

  10:55 am Feb 18, 2012
• The craziest thing about the Rudd video is the article that says it's all over twitter was written before it went all over twitter.

  @kestert - Kester Takayama
  

  10:55 am Feb 18, 2012
• rudd camp releases video of gillard awkwardly eating shellfish

  @chrisberg - Chris Berg
  

  10:51 am Feb 18, 2012
• Kevin Rudd in expletive-laden YouTube video http://t.co/090t6FCF

  @dailytelegraph - The Daily Telegraph
  

  10:48 am Feb 18, 2012
• MRT via the wise"@Asher_Wolf: #ISupportGillard being extradited to the U.S. instead of Julian #Assange. At least she has friends there."

  @AnonOpsSweden - Anonymous Sweden
  

  10:47 am Feb 18, 2012
• "Political agenda to shut down #Wikileaks internationally is a major issue" ~ Christine Assange interview: http://t.co/H6xhGzxs @wikileaks

  @enquerre - Robyn C. Jackson
  

  10:46 am Feb 18, 2012
• I would do #ISupportGillard if she would support Julian Assange. @JuliaGillard

  @liberalmyass - LiberalMyAss
  

  10:44 am Feb 18, 2012
• #Failure2Represent Senator Arthur Sinodinos (NSW) does not support Aussie Julian Assange. Why?

  @karwalski - Karwalski
  

  10:43 am Feb 18, 2012
• #ISupportGillard being extradited to the U.S. instead of Julian #Assange. At least she has friends there.

  @Asher_Wolf - Asher Wolf
  

  10:43 am Feb 18, 2012
• The KRudd video emerged as Sunday Tele reveals the Labor MP calling for Gillard to go - on the record.

  @samanthamaiden - samanthamaiden
  

  10:40 am Feb 18, 2012
• Kevin Rudd uncut - the mysterious expletive-laden video posted by a Happy Vegemite http://t.co/4X856hfK

  @samanthamaiden - samanthamaiden
  

  10:35 am Feb 18, 2012
• Oh dear. Now it's getting really nasty. #youtube video shows #krudd letting loose with expletives http://t.co/H5IcVUiJ via #sundaytelegraph

  @JenBrockie - Jenny Brockie
  

  10:31 am Feb 18, 2012
• "@theheraldsun: Kevin's no happy vegemite http://t.co/35pfQKRR" oh dear. Let the dirty tricks begin...

  @alexhart7 - Alex Hart
  

  10:28 am Feb 18, 2012
• £2m paid out over child asylum seekers illegally detained as adults http://t.co/UiMkvxNR

  @JonathanHaynes - Jonathan Haynes
  

  10:24 am Feb 18, 2012
• #ISupportGillard because she takes advice from experts. Abbott thinks economists, scientists, RBA & treasury experts should be sacked.

  @SpaceKidette - Space Kidette
  

  9:34 am Feb 18, 2012
• 'TOTALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL': 'We need an election and need it now': LEADERSHIP tension between Kevin Rudd and Julia ... http://t.co/TvizsezA

  @news_com_au - news.com.au
  

  9:05 am Feb 18, 2012
• @AustralianLabor My family has supported ALP for many years but if Julia Gillard stops being PM- MSM plot Our support stops #ISupportGillard

  @conceravota - Concera Vota
  

  8:44 am Feb 18, 2012
• RT @cosmikdust: #ISupportGillard cause she will not let MSM ran polls dictate policy direction for this country.

  @conceravota - Concera Vota
  

  8:42 am Feb 18, 2012
• #SupportGillard cause she will not let MSM ran polls dictate policy direction for this country.

  @cosmikdust - Dee
  

  8:36 am Feb 18, 2012
• Nicola Roxon asked if Prime Minister Julia Gillard still has the numbers/majority support of the caucus 'I absolutely do.'

  @latikambourke - Latika Bourke
  

  8:35 am Feb 18, 2012
• A-G Nicola Roxon asked if Julia Gillard is a better PM than Kevin Rudd 'Oh look absolutely, Julia has worked absolute miracles.'

  @latikambourke - Latika Bourke
  

  8:31 am Feb 18, 2012
• #ISupportGillard because she doesn’t kiss MSM butt but gets the job done instead

  @Gweneth01 - Gweneth
  

  8:05 am Feb 18, 2012
• @conceravota and for the record I would support Gillard over Rudd.

  @RobCoughlan1 - Rob Coughlan
  

  7:24 am Feb 18, 2012
• Roxon backs Gillard amid leadership rumblings http://t.co/BH0YH7HV

  @abcnews - ABC News
  

  7:00 am Feb 18, 2012
• Labor leader at next election betting: Rudd $2.15; Gillard $2.35; Smith $6.00; Crean $7.00, Shorten $7.50...

  @TheKouk - Stephen Koukoulas
  

  6:11 am Feb 18, 2012
• When the going got tough, Rudd went missing. Rudd has no balls. #iSupportGillard

  @geeksrulz - Intrepid Geek
  

  6:03 am Feb 18, 2012
• Religion for Atheists extract in today's Wall Street Journal: http://t.co/Bqa62aiM

  @alaindebotton - Alain de Botton
  

  5:58 am Feb 18, 2012
• This Peter Hartcher piece in The SMH was the best summary of the Rudd comeback to date: http://t.co/2hJlhRfT

  @MayneReport - Stephen Mayne
  

  4:50 am Feb 18, 2012
• Key Rudd media backers appear to be The OZ, Daily Tele, Laurie Oakes and SMH's Peter Hartcher. Can't detect too many overt Gillard backers.

  @MayneReport - Stephen Mayne
  

  3:54 am Feb 18, 2012
• @conceravota @KRuddMP Have lost all respect for Rudd. Party first, not the crazed longings of a megalomaniac.

  @HenryIXL - Henry
  

  2:12 am Feb 18, 2012
• Just strolling around the halls of Parliament quietly singing "anything you can do I can do better..." Good times. #auspol _KRudd

  @_KRuddMP - Kevin Rudd
  

  11:44 pm Feb 17, 2012
• Facts (remember them?) gathered by @mikey_eds on yesterday's Tele splash on asylum seeker "perks". http://t.co/EUEYUQWD

  @Colvinius - Mark Colvin
  

  11:24 pm Feb 17, 2012
• I think people forget how hated by voters Kevin Rudd was when he was ousted. What makes anybody think it would be different if he became PM?

  @mrumens - Marian Rumens
  

  11:17 pm Feb 17, 2012
• Rudd v Gillard: Personal Power, at any cost. #auspol

  @BarnabyisRight - BarnabyIsRight.com
  

  11:01 pm Feb 17, 2012
• 'They're both damaged goods.' Christopher Pyne on why there should be no leadership change, just an election. #ABCnews24

  @latikambourke - Latika Bourke
  

  10:28 pm Feb 17, 2012
• Gillard to challenge Rudd for job of "former prime minister"

  @TheDailyGrindAU - The Daily Grind
  

  9:55 pm Feb 17, 2012