Exclusive: secret Assad emails lift lid on life of leader's inner circle

[Che -Guevara]

Bashar al-Assad took advice from Iran on how to handle the uprising against his rule, according to a cache of what appear to be several thousand emails received and sent by the Syrian leader and his wife.

 

The Syrian leader was also briefed in detail about the presence of western journalists in the Baba Amr district of Homs and urged to "tighten the security grip" on the opposition-held city in November.

 

The revelations are contained in more than 3,000 documents that activists say are emails downloaded from private accounts belonging to Assad and his wife, Asma.

 

The messages, which have been obtained by the Guardian, are said to have been intercepted by members of the opposition Supreme Council of the Revolution group between June and early February.

 

The documents, which emerge on the first anniversary of the rebellion that has seen more than 8,000 Syrians killed, paint a portrait of a first family remarkably insulated from the mounting crisis and continuing to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle.

 

They appear to show the president's wife spending thousands of dollars over the internet for designer goods while he swaps entertaining internet links on his iPad and downloads music from iTunes.

 

As the world watched in horror at the brutal suppression of protests across the country and many Syrians faced food shortages and other hardships, Mrs Assad spent more than £10,000 on candlesticks, tables and chandeliers from Paris and instructed an aide to order a fondue set from Amazon.

 

The Guardian has made extensive efforts to authenticate the emails by checking their contents against established facts and contacting 10 individuals whose correspondence appears in the cache. These checks suggest the messages are genuine, but it has not been possible to verify every one.

 

 

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[Che -Guevara]

From: Al Mayassa Al Thani

Subject: hey!

Date: 30 January 2012 18:43:39 GMT

To: ak@alshahba.com

 

how are you? its been some time. just been following the latest developments in syria -- i think its great that the opposition are willing to speak to the syrian gov in russia. i know their condition seems outrageous, but in all honesty -- looking at the tide of history and the escalation of recent events -- we've seen two results - leaders stepping down and getting political asylum or leaders being brutually attacked. i honestly think that this is a good opportunity to leave and re-start a normal life - it cant be easy on the children, it can't be easy on you!

 

i know at times i am too blunt - but its because i care and consider you and the family as part of our own. every day i think about the thoughts running through your head and the safety of your chidlren -- i only pray that you will convince the president to take this as an opportunity to exit without having to face charges. the region needs to stabilize, but not more than you need peace of mind.

 

i am sure you have many places to turn to, including doha.

[Che -Guevara]

From: Hadeel [XXXXXXXXXXXX]

Subject: Fwd: Who is behind the explosion - it is not Al-Qaida as the Syrians claim

Date: 24 December 2011 08:26:42 GMT

To: sam@alshahba.com

 

 

PLease read the email that represents al ot of people's opinions. Saying that Al-Qaeda is behind the explosion after ONLY 5 minutes of the explosion and without any investigations is not for our interest.

 

Begin forwarded message:

 

From: hosein mortada

 

Subject: Who is behind the explosion - it is not Al-Qaida as the Syrians claim

 

Date: December 24, 2011 9:52:27 AM GMT+02:00

 

To: "hadeel [XXXXXXXXXXXX]"

 

Reply-To: hosein mortada

 

It is not in our interest to say that Al-Qaida is behind the operation because such statements clear the US administration and the Syrian opposition of any responsibility; America is fighting Al-Qaida and it will condemn the operation.

 

Based on what we saw from events on the ground yesterday, we have to acknowledge how well orchestrated it was, and we have to say that the US administration, the opposition and the states which infiltrated weapons are behind the operation so that we can start the attack.

 

But blaming Al-Qaida alone won't be in anyone's interest but Al-Qaida's, because the organisation has been in existence for decades and this is nothing new. I have even received contacts from Iran and Hezbollah - me being the head of many Iranian and Lebanese media channels - and they directed me not to mention that Al-Qaida was behind the operation cause it would be a blatant media and tactical mistake and futile.

 

The matter should be amended with extreme speed and I won't broadcast on my channels any news related to Al-Qaida.

 

This point is in your interest and to help you; please make use of it, Syria.

 

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