Chaos in Syria as Protesters Set Baathist Government Offices Aflame
- Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:08pm by
Emily Esfahani Smith
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- Syria’s second day of unrest: protesters burn tires, attack businesses, set government offices aflame
- Rooftop snipers kill two in Latakia, a seaside resort. Military police blamed. WATCH BELOW
- “Oh God! Oh God!” Activists gather around bloody body of man with gaping hole near jawline
- Too little, too late? President Bashar Assad tries to appease protesters, releasing political prisoners
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP/THE BLAZE) — A scenic seaside city echoed with gunfire Saturday as protesters defied government forces in Syria’s second day of nationwide unrest, burning tires, attacking businesses and setting the offices of the ruling party aflame.
At least two people were killed by rooftop snipers in the religiously mixed Mediterranean city of Latakia, officials said, and President Bashar Assad’s government of minority Alawite Muslims blamed a major Sunni cleric in Qatar for inciting the unrest.
The government also said demonstrators had also attacked a police station and offices of the Baath party in the town of Tafas, six miles (10 kilometers) north of the southern border city of Daraa, epicenter of more than a week of anti-government protests.
Sectarian divisions are a deeply sensitive topic in Syria, where Assad has used increased economic freedom and prosperity to win the allegiance of the prosperous Sunni Muslim merchant classes, while punishing dissenters with arrest, imprisonment and physical abuse.
Assad has placed his fellow Alawites, adherents of a mystical offshoot of Shiite Islam, into most positions of power in Syria. He has built a close relationship with Iran, allowing the Shiite powerhouse to extend its influence into Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, where it provides money and weapons to Hamas and Hezbollah militants.
The surge of anti-government unrest in the Arab world has until now threatened almost excusively regimes seen as allies of the U.S. and Western powers. Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Bahrain have maintained warm relations with Washington, and even Libya had growing ties with Britain, Italy and the rest of Europe.
The unrest in Syria, which exploded nationwide Friday after roiling Deraa for a week, is a new and highly unpredictable element of the Arab Spring, one that could both weaken a foe of the West and cause dangerous instability in one of the more fragile and potentially chaotic countries of the Mideast, experts said. On Friday, Syrian troops and soldiers opened fire in at least six cities, towns and villages, killing some 15 protesters, according to witnesses, activists and footage posted on social networking sites.
“We are in for a long, grueling civil conflict,” said Aaron David Miller, a former State Department official who worked on Mideast peace negotiations in six U.S. administrations. “The black box in Syria, once you open it up, has some very nasty stuff inside.”
Dozens of people protested in Latakia before attacking the Baath party‘s offices in Syria’s main Mediterranean port – a tourist draw renowned for its sandy beaches and resorts, said Ammar Qurabi, an exile in Egypt who heads Syria’s National Organization for Human Rights.
Home to some half a million people, Latakia is a mix of Sunnis in its urban core, Alawites living in villages on the outskirts, and small minorities of Christians, ethnic Turks and other groups.
A Syrian activist in touch with protesters in Latakia said hundreds had been demonstrating there since Friday evening, burning tires and shouting “Freedom!” A few protesters were attacking cars and shops, the activist said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Syrian presidential advisor Bouthaina Shaaban said Qatar-based Sheik Youssef al-Qaradawi had incited Sunnis to revolt with his sermon in Doha on Friday. Al-Qaradawi, who has millions of followers around the world and is seen as one of most influential voices in Sunni Islam; told his audience that, “Today the train of revolutions arrived at a station that was inevitable it would reach: the station of Syria.”
“Syria is like the others – and it is more deserving than others of these revolutions,” he said. “When there are those who are killed, know that the revolution has been victorious!”
Shabaan said those words were responsible for the unrest in Latakia.
“There was nothing (in Lattakia) before Qaradawi’s sermon on Friday,” she told reporters in Damascus. “Qaradawi’s words were a clear and honest invitation for sectarian strife.”
Shaaban said that a group of Palestinians had come into Latakia from a refugee camp with weapons and opened fire, killing a policeman and two protesters.
“These are not peaceful protests demanding accelerated reforms … what is happening in Syria now is an attempt to sow civil strife,” she said.
A resident of Latakia who spoke to The Associated Press from home reported hearing gunfire Saturday evening.
A Syrian official told The Associated Press that two passersby were killed and two others wounded in Latakia by sniper fire from rooftops. He denied that the army had opened fire on protesters.
A hospital official in Latakia also said there were two dead and two wounded. He declined to give any other details.
Footage on a Facebook site run by Syrian activists showed what it said were the dead and wounded in Latakia. Young men carried one man by his limbs through a street, then another. They laid the second man limp in the street.
“It’s the military police!” one shouted.
Footage from an opposition Syrian news agency uploaded onto YouTube claimed to show another man killed in Latakia.
Men screamed, “Oh God! Oh God!” as they laid the body of the young man on the floor, his face smeared with blood and a gaping hole close to his jawline.
The authenticity of the footage could not be independently confirmed.
Assad appeared to be trying to appease demonstrators in mostly Sunni Daraa, pulling back police and soldiers. His government also released hundreds of political prisoners in an attempt to appease demonstrators furious about the violent government crackdown on dissent.
A resident told The Associated Press by telephone that security forces had withdrawn to the outskirts of Daraa, where protests demanding the release of youths arrested for spraying anti-government graffiti spiraled into daily confrontations with security forces, who then repeatedly opened fire.
The Daraa resident said more than 1,000 people were holding a silent sit-in the al-Omari mosque, the epicenter of the protests. Protesters used the mosque as a refuge and ad hoc medical center until they were driven out in a government assault on Wednesday. They retook the mosque during clashes with government forces on Friday, witnesses said.
The clashes erupted after protesters attacked a statue of late President Hafez Assad in Daraa’s main square, witnesses said. The Daraa resident said the statue had been knocked down and a giant picture of Bashar Assad, the late leader’s son, had been torn apart.
A video posted on the main Facebook page used by Syrian pro-democracy activists showed a crowd of young men in Deraa climbing onto the base and trying to shake its from its perch, then rushing toward a nearby building, some throwing what appear to be stones. Suddenly, automatic weapons fire breaks out and the video ends.
A resident told The Associated Press that he saw two bodies and many wounded people brought to Daraa’s main hospital after the shooting.
A human rights activist said authorities had released 260 political prisoners in another apparent attempt at appeasement. Abdul-Karim Rihawi, who heads the Syrian Human Rights League, said most of those released on Saturday were Islamists and 14 Kurdish detainees were also let free. Most had been imprisoned at Saidnaya, a prison in a Damascus suburb that houses political detainees. He said no further details were immediately available and there was no official confirmation.
Rihawi called the move a “positive step” and urged authorities to release all political detainees.
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Comments (57)
clockwatcher
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 8:03amMore proof for all you that, Islam is indeed the religion of peace. If you don’t belive me look at all the love that Islam has for thier men and women. HA HA HA that is what they want to bring to America. VOTE VOTE VOTE save our country from the black jimmy carter.
Report Post »JRAGWEED
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 7:44amIt’s smoke and mirrows. Watch the other hand folks. These rebels are pawns, whipped up into a frenzy by the partnership of Iran and the Muslin Brotherhood. Taking your eyes off the goal. Saudi Arabian oil. Get control of the oil and you can shape world economies. You can blackmail Europe and greatly weaken the USA. Obama is a community organizer, he has know idea what the hell is going on.
Report Post »prayinNpackin
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 6:56amRevelation 6:4
Report Post »Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.
SilentReader
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 6:43amIs there any wonder that all this is happening under Obama’s watch?
You have Code Pink and those Google execs and the Union Community agitators to thank for starting this mess in Egypt. Now it’s cascading throughout the whole Islamania world.
That’s the trouble with the Left. They’re great at starting revolutions but they have absolutely no idea where they lead to. Which is just more anarchy and misery than there was before!
Now the whole Middle East is on fire and their thug leaders will just be replaced with worse thug leaders.
And the Union community agitators and the Left here in America want more of the same. Chaos is the name of their end-game.
Report Post »vivrobbins
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 6:24amI fear “something wicked this way comes”. And it’s name is Islam. Pray children, pray real hard.
Report Post »Fina Biscotti
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 3:16amUsurper Obama/Soetoro has imprisoned his First “Official” POLITICAL PRISONER =
LT. COL. TERRY LAKIN -
for refusing to deploy – while requesting Usurper Obama/soetoro identify himself to prove his “eligibility” to serve as Commander-in-Chief………to ensure his orders were legal from a person qualified to serve as POTUS and Commander-in-Chief…………..and was court-martialed.
Lt. Col. Lakin was not allowed to submit evidence to support his claim = discovery as production of documents was obstructed – for trial –
and for his court-martial – in which Lakin was not provided due process or equal access to the courts – to defend himself against his court-martial.
Usurper Obama/Soetoro is manipulating courts, judges – and law enforcement authorities – as what is being reported that Venezuela’s Socialist DICTATOR Hugo Chavez is doing.
Report Post »tomacz
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 1:23amthe middle east is revolting
Report Post »RedPillPatriot
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:47pmThe only way America will be saved is if the next 9/12 march… Is Armed!!! Otherwise we will continue to be ignored…. when will you all realize that voting, talking, calling, and protesting is not changing anything. Just look at the clowns we voted in… they are unable to cut the budget even a measly $100 billion which is 1/35000 of the overall budget! It’s time we honored our founding fathers!!
WWOFFD
What would our founding fathers do!!
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:30pm“What would our founding fathers do!!”
Correct your math, probably.
Report Post »mrzmac
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 12:22pm@Redpillpatriot…not sure what you are seeing but I see plenty of change occurring since American citizens decided to get involved again with the direction this country is headed. It may not be overnight but we don’t want a band-aid, we want solutions. We will continue to call, yell, demand and vote out those that want to drive this country to socialism. Take your call for violence to England, Europe, the Middle East; we will defend ourselves if called upon to do that but we will not fall to your level; we will work hard to teach you how grown-up responsible adults solve problems and bring about change.
Report Post »mrzmac
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:25pmI read this today in Newsmax article about Pat and Gordon Robertson…seems appropriate for us to remember…In the world you will have tribulations, be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:39pmthanks
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 8:30pmI agree with with Showtime on the nation of laws! This nation of laws is innoculated with the concept of having respect for others rights and person since grade one. This however has broken down in many ways since Obama has become president, because the mere firstness of this occasion has produced the expected personal pride, but that pride has quickly turned to anger as I predicted it would shortly after his election. Him just “finally” beging there is a constant reminder of all the years prior to that that someone who looks like him WASN’T and this causes resentment at the core of many a minority. Ever gotten the long awaited hard worked for promotion and then feeling of pride, but pride quickly fades to resentment at it taking so long and why had you been overlooked until now? Pride is a dangerous thing but we promote it constantly as a virtue instead of the thing it really is. Self Serving! All Consuming! You can’t get enough and now you have to find a way to hold onto it.
Obama is not going anywhere.
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:32pmI’d argue the deterioration of rights began waaaay before Obama in the legislature passed in response to 9/11. Patriot act, for instance.
Report Post »powedj
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:51pmIsrael must be getting nervous what is happening in Syria. Whatever the outcome, it will not be good.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:24pmTHe PUPPET will want the Syrian President to stay. In 2011, President Bashar al-Assad described himself as “anti-Israel“ and ”anti-West” and told the Wall Street Journal that he was not in danger of being overthrown because of these policies
Report Post »Protests on 18-19 March were the largest to take place in Syria for decades and Syrian authorities responded with violence against its protesting citizens.
See…force against citizens is ok in Syria, but not in Lybia.
BurntHills
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:12pmall exactly what obama hoped would happen. all part of the soros agenda for the New 3rd World Ghetto.
Report Post »jim
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:01pmAnother day, another Middle East revolution.
Report Post »jim
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:00pmAnother day, another Middle East revolution. Pass the houka, please.
Report Post »DesertCactus
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 6:36pmThe world strains under the lack of Freedom and Liberty. George W. Bush freed 50 million people in Iraq. History will remember that and speak of the forces unleashed in the Arab world because of it. Obama? He will be known for the “Kinetic Action” of getting his butt kicked out of office and being put on the shelf with Jimmy Carter – the second worst president in my lifetime just following Obama.
Report Post »commentkazi
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:58pmMust be time for some cruise missiles or something.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:50pmDon’t you think that almost every Muslim Mid-east country is in turmoil and revolt is a little odd? True…the average IQ in most of these countries on a good day is 72, but still it is more than follow the leader….someone is orchestrating these actions to coincide with each other. These rebellions may take place under the guise of ‘democracy’ movements but once they accomplish dethroning their government officials, they all begin to turn slightly radical and uber-Islamist.
Report Post »I believe these little morons are trying to re-create their beloved Caliphate and organizations like the Muslim brotherhood, Hamas, Hizbollah, Al Qaeda etc….are behind this.
Too bad we have an affirmative action Intelligence bureau…or maybe we would have seen this coming.
sweetscience
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:43pm@ Showtime
Report Post »Ha Ha! That goes double for you. Get outta your mom’s basement and live in the physical world. Ha Ha!!!!
Dale
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 6:04pmSOURGRAPES;
What is your problem. Did someone mess up your barackets?
Report Post »Dale
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 6:06pmSOURMYTH;
What is your problem. Did someone mess up your barackets?
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:36pmIs it a kinetic conflict or more of an inertial situation.. . .
Report Post »Thevoice
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:22pmPrediction …After all this dust settles in the Middle east..you will see one leader move to united these countries and people ..at that point the true mistake of not sorting this out quickly after 9/11 will become clear.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 6:31pmThe Caliphate, or a form of one…good odds of it happening if one leader with enough clout and enough charisma can arise. I would figure about 2 in 3 chances of it happening.
Report Post »sweetscience
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:16pmHere’s a thought…how about Snow Leopard taking a break from the keyboard for once in your life…SHEESH! Get a life already.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:26pmAnd HERE’S a thought:
Report Post »How about sweetscience taking a break from the keyboard for once in your life…SHEESH! Get a life already AND LEAVE SNOWLEOPARD THE H— ALONE!
Showtime
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:28pmYou just want to pick on somebody! SnowLeopard hasn’t even clicked a key on his keyboard!
BULLY!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:34pmDitto what SHOW said!
Report Post »debbdi
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:51pmI rather enjoy SnowLeopard, Showtime, Grandma5 and all the other regular’s thoughtful comments.
Report Post »Dale
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:51pmSOURGRAPES;
What is your problem. Did someone mess up your barackets?
Report Post »mrzmac
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:34pm@sweetscience…here’s a thought…In America we have what is called freedom; freedom to write where and when we want to and freedom to read or not to read where and when we want to. I suggest you use the freedom that you have an visit other sites if you do not like the users of this site. No one forces you to read any comment posted here so grow up or go away!
Report Post »caprica
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:16pmuntil the lybian and syrian savages stop being savages and rape women …….I don’t care – they can all go to hell……….I don’t want one American Man to loose his life for the savages…..let them kill themself…………we don’t care ……..they should kill themsefs – it would be better for humanity ! those men in the middle east are gang of savages not men !
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:19pmAre you a Christian? If yes, you’re not a very good one.
If not, you might just be a sociopath.
No, let me correct that. You might just be a sociopath in both cases.
Report Post »Katayno
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:51pmI agree.
Report Post »marine249
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 6:16pmme too
Report Post »Now this is Art
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:09pmhe is right. these people are pure evil. they are NOT worthy of our help. they are incorrigible, they would slice your head off in a heart beat.
Report Post »Now this is Art
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:11pmturning the other cheek does NOT mean let evil conquer good for the simple reason that they will have their day of reckoning before God…dont be freekin ridiculous, that is NOT what Jesus meant by turn the other cheek.
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:36pmWhat about Matthew 5:43?
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (KJV)
Report Post »joe conservative
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:11pmThere is unrest throughout the world right now. At least the President has his golf game under control, that’s the main thing. And remember, we’re not at war in Libya, it’s a kinetic military action. This Al-Qaradawi guy is a really scary dude. He seems to pop up everywhere there is unrest. He was in this Youtube video. Shows who he really is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcRU63qCJkw
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:18pmTrue. And he got his NCAA brackets done.
Lerner is going to cause financial terror in the U.S.
Dr. Janet L. Yellen, Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, will be attending the meeting with Immelt, Obama, and other “money men” in April. Her bio says, “Dr. Yellen has written on a wide variety of macroeconomic issues, while specializing in the causes, mechanisms, and implications of unemployment.” With her admirable educational background and achievements, she should have a better handle on the causes of unemployment, as she specializes in it.
All is well.
Report Post »mattwakulik
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:19pmjust a matter of time before it hits here in america ! and it will probably be worse.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:34pmAll is well .. pay no attention …. Obama is going to make a statement Monday … and say nothing.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:35pmI pray it does not come here to America, and for it to come to a resolution in the world quickly as the Lord will have it be done.
All of us need to keep on our toes, not out of fear – Watchfullness is the key word here.
Change is at hand, and the way for our nation to make it intact will be to be active as changes do occur; for the enemies of our nation and our life, in and out, are already moving on the board. We need to move as well, showing the light unto the shadows and revealing what is hidden away in the darkness.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:53pmProbably the one thing that has spared America thus far is that we are a nation of laws. We have been nudged so much and made so conscious of the consequences of disturbing the peace that we are contacting our senators and representatives at the state and federal level instead of taking to the streets with violence.
Those who have no respect for the law or other people, those who have a sense of entitlement, those are the ones in others’ faces.
We are simply praying and praying and praying as we wait for the 2012 elections to hurry up!
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 6:35pmWell, all this and more is coming to America…..but at least here, our patriots are armed….while you are buying that gold and food Glenn talks about, I would suggest you stock up on ammo as well. While its always good to look for the peaceful options, only a fool chooses not to prepare if peace becomes unattainable.
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:37pmCatB
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:34pm
All is well .. pay no attention …. Obama is going to make a statement Monday … and say nothing.
—————————————————-
I’m expecting him come right out and say… “What are you gonna believe, me, or your own eyes? ME OF COURSE!“ or ”Regime change does NOT mean what everyone says it should mean”.
http://www.AmericasTeaPartyNews.com
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:46pmah yes…owe bama must be happy….the caliphate is growing as I type this….
Report Post »streetrodder
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 8:29pm@CATB Remember he allways says let me be clear when he says nothing, and thats very clear.
Report Post »Now this is Art
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:06pmjust let the muslims kill each other off…its great. mohammed was a murderer, rapist, pedophile and a hate monger…who the hell follows someone like that?? well, its the animals in these video’s, thats who. so we should let them all kill each other
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 7:00amah..the caliphate on the march…ahma dini jerkoff must be smiling…
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:10pmHow long til Obama says we must bomb the ruling regime?
Report Post »