Tartous, SANA _ The 12th festival of the freedom fighter Sheikh Saleh al-Ali (1883-1950), hosted by Tartous for the holiday season in April, was launched yesterday in square of his mausoleum in Sheikh Badr, Tartous.

Secretary of Sheikh Badr Branch of al-Baath Arab Socialist Party, Mohammad Nofal, delivered a speech on behalf of the residents of Sheikh Badr in which he praised Sheikh Saleh al-Ali, who had a strong will, indicating that the foundation of the Baath Party was the security wall for freedom whose price was paid by free men of the Syrian Revolution, such as Saleh al-Ali, Ibrahim Hanano, Sultan Pasha al-Atrache and Hassan al-Kharrat.

Secretary General of the Syrian Civil Campaign, Adel Helwan, delivered the speech of the festivity of Jerusalem (al-Quds), Capital of Arab Culture for 2009 in which he stated that the participation of the Campaign at this festival confirmed that al-Quds was and is always present in our literature and culture, and its declaration as the capital of Arab culture means that culture is a key factor and important to highlight the historical and cultural heritage of the city.

Then a poetry festival was organized where poets spoke about laudable deeds of Sheikh Saleh. At the end prizes of Sheikh Saleh al-Ali poetic competition were distributed to winners.

Art and heritage exhibitions were also opened. The exhibition included masterpieces of plastic paintings and bamboo manufactures that show the heritage of the region and the tools that were used at the time of Sheikh Saleh in addition to traditional and heritage works and handicrafts. Ghossoun /