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tabatha

(18,795 posts)
Sun Feb 19, 2012, 01:17 PM Feb 2012

NOT A PNAC MOMENT - Syria 'disintegrating under crippling sanctions'

Speaking to the BBC's Weekend World Today programme, Mr Qudsi said the economy had been crippled by sanctions and that although Iran was sending money, it was not enough.

He said the uprising had destroyed tourism and the sanctions on exports of oil and other products had dramatically reduced the gross domestic product.

"So, effectively the foreign exchange reserves of the central bank have come down from $22bn (£14bn) to about $10bn and it is dwindling very rapidly," Mr Qudsi said.

He said the military phase against protesters could only last another six months "because the army is getting tired and will go nowhere".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17088270

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