Damascus: Syrian state television officially relaunched on Monday with a trial broadcast almost five months after the ouster of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad and following delays blamed on sanctions and dilapidated equipment. After Syria’s new authorities took power in December, state media and other television channels, radio stations and outlets affiliated with Assad’s government suspended broadcasting and publishing. At 5:00 pm (1400 GMT) on Monday, a presenter appeared on television screens, welcoming viewers and announcing the start of a test broadcast of Syria’s Alekhbariah television channel from Damascus via two satellite providers. The channel showcased its new branding and broadcast images of Damascus and Ummayad Square, where the Public Authority for Radio and Television headquarters are located, as well as images of correspondents across the country. “Today, the first official television channel has launched,” said new authority chief Alaa Bersilo, vowing it would be “a mediator between the state and society”. He said broadcasting was delayed several times “due to television infrastructure” and “sanctions on the former regime which impacted satellite broadcast efforts”. The channel’s …