Syrians protest as unrest spreads

• 24 killed in Deraa after thousands take to streets • UN approves inquiry into government violence Thousands of Syrians defied their government’s bloody attempts to suppress protests, braving gunfire from security forces to demonstrate in Damascus and across the country. Initial reports said at least 24 people had been shot dead, most of them in the opposition stronghold of Deraa, where villagers tried to break through the security cordon to relieve its besieged population. Further deaths were reported in Latakia and Homs after the security forces opened fire on demonstrators. There was news of protests in 50 towns and villages including Hama, Aleppo, the coastal cities of Latakia and Banias, Deir Ezzor in the east, and Qamishli in the north-east. Unrest was also reported from the Syria-Jordan border, which is straddled by the Haurani tribes. Despite the government crackdown, the demonstrations – many starting as Friday worshippers left mosques – appeared to be at least as big as last week. Even more significantly, activists said, the protests spread closer into the centre of Damascus. Demonstrators in the neighbourhoods of Barzeh, Midan, Bab Srejeh and Hajr al-Aswad faced security forces backed up by soldiers for the first time. Two witnesses in Midan told the Guardian that a crowd of 4,000 protesters who came out of Zain al-Abideen and Hassan mosques were dispersed by tear gas and security forces with batons. “I counted 17 buses of security,” said one who asked not to be named. Another said tear gas and sound bombs were used and the street to the main hospital was closed. He said shabiha [gangs connected to the ruling family] were terrorising the neighbourhood well after the demonstration was dispersed. Meanwhile, the international community stepped up its pressure on Damascus. The UN human rights council in Geneva approved an investigation of the Syrian use of violence against protesters and called for the immediate release of political prisoners and the lifting of restrictions on the press and the internet. The US-drafted resolution passed despite the resistance of Russia, China and some Arab and African countries. However, it was watered down to omit mention of Syria’s currently unopposed candidacy to join the council itself. The UK envoy to the council, Peter Gooderham, said there could be “no impunity” for those who have committed human rights violations. “Those in power can see violations being committed in their name,” he said. “They are accountable too for the violence and the deaths, even more so if they do nothing to stop these actions.” The US was expected to announce sanctions targeted at Syria’s intelligence agency and member’s of Bashar al-Assad’s family. Reuters news agency quoted one official as saying that Maher al-Assad, Bashar’s brother, and Atif Najib, a cousin, were among the five targets The source said Mahir Assad is a brigade commander in the 4th Armoured Division that has played a key role in Deraa. EU officials also debated similar sanctions in Brussels but these will not come into force until a ministerial meeting which may not take place for weeks. Next month, western diplomats said Damascus could come under pressure from another direction. They say Yukiya Amano, the director general of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will state Syria had been developing a nuclear reactor at a desert site bombed by Israel in 2007. Syria has denied that the western allegations that the site at Dair Alzour was intended to produce plutonium for a weapons programme. Until now, the IAEA has sought more information before making a judgment but has been blocked by the government. If Amano declares Dair Alzour was in fact such a reactor, it could lead to Syria being referred to the UN Security Council for scrutiny of its nuclear ambitions. “We do expect Amano to come up with tougher language in the next report,” a western diplomat told the Guardian. “That could either lead the way to a resolution by the IAEA board or a referral to the security council.” At the demonstrations, many of the protesters chanted “We are not afraid” and voiced solidarity with Deraa where more than 50 people were killed in the last week alone. A devastating picture has been emerging from the city. Residents say bread and water are lacking and sewing needles are being used to stitch up wounds as medical supplies run low. The crackdown has extended to other cities and towns including Douma and Tartous which have been raided and the army setting up checkpoints. Activists said residents of Douma had not been allowed out to pray, whilst residents of Zabadani, where water and electricity have been cut off, broke their siege to march on the neighbouring town of Madaya, both in rural Damascus. Human rights monitors in Damascus said the protests were significant, coming in the wake of the most brutal week yet. The government had warned against holding any demonstrations on Friday. Syrian media said the interior ministry had not approved any “march, demonstration or sit-ins”. “It is significant that people came out today,” said Razan Zeitouneh, a lawyer and activist in Damascus. “After all the violence, after bringing the military inside and around the cities, cutting water, electricity and communications, still people came out.” Syria Arab and Middle East unrest Bashar Al-Assad United Nations Middle East Human rights Julian Borger guardian.co.uk

Posted by on April 29, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.