Protesters Shot as Violence Erupts in Syria
- Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:39pm by
Emily Esfahani Smith
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DAMASCUS, Syria (AP / THE BLAZE) — Violence erupted around Syria on Friday as troops opened fire on protesters in several cities and pro- and anti-government crowds clashed on the tense streets of the capital in the most widespread unrest in years, witnesses said.
On the streets of Damascus, pro- and anti-government protesters clash:
Soldiers shot at demonstrators in the restive southern city of Daraa after crowds set fire to a bronze statue of the country’s late president, Hafez Assad, a resident told The Associated Press. Heavy gunfire could be heard in the city center and witnesses reported several casualties, the resident said on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
An activist told the AP that witnesses had reported one demonstrator shot dead by security forces in the coastal city of Latakia, and another slain in the central city of Homs. He said several people had been hospitalized in Latakia.
In the capital, Damascus, people shouting in support of the Daraa protesters clashed with regime supporters outside the historic Umayyad mosque, hitting each other with leather belts.
The violence erupted after tens of thousands of Syrians took to the streets across the country, shouting calls for greater freedoms in support of a more than week-long uprising in Daraa, according to witnesses, activists and footage posted online.
The demonstrations and ensuing crackdown were a major escalation of the showdown between President Bashar Assad’s regime and the crowds in Daraa who – inspired by pro-democracy unrest elsewhere in the Arab world – began protesting conditions in the drought-stricken south last week in demonstrations that have now spread around the country.
An activist in Damascus in touch with eyewitnesses in the southern village of Sanamein said troops there opened fire on demonstrators trying to march to Daraa, a short distance away. He said there had been witness reports of fatalities, some claiming as many as 20 slain, but those could not be independently confirmed.
Much of Damascus was tense, with convoys of young people roaming the streets in their cars, honking incessantly and waving out pictures of Bashar Assad and Syrian flags. The convoys briefly blocked streets in some areas.
About 200 people demonstrated after the Friday prayers at the Thawra Bridge, near the central Marjeh Square, chanting “our souls, our blood we sacrifice for you Daraa!“ and ”freedom! freedom!” They were chased by security forces who beat them some of them with batons and detained others, an activist said on condition of anonymity for fear of government reprisals.
Thousands flooded Daraa’s central Assad Square before the shooting broke out, many from nearby villages, chanting “Freedom! Freedom!” and waving Syrian flags and olive branches, a resident told The Associated Press by telephone.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, he claimed that more than 50,000 people were shouting slogans decrying presidential adviser Buthaina Shaaban, who promised Thursday that the government would consider a series of reforms in response to a week of unrest in Daraa.
A human rights activist, quoting witnesses, said thousands of people gathered in the town of Douma outside the capital, Damascus, pledging support for the people of Daraa. The activists asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution.
Security forces dispersed the crowd by chasing them away, beating some with batons and detaining others, an activist said, asking that his name not be published for fear of reprisals by the government.
In the city of Aleppo, hundreds of worshippers came out of mosques shouting “with our lives, our souls, we sacrifice for you Bashar“ and ”Only God, Syria and Bashar!”
Residents in Homs said hundreds of people demonstrated in support of Daraa and demanded reforms.
The activist said that in Latakia, more than 1,000 people marched in the streets after Friday prayers. In the northern city of Raqqa, scores marched and several people were detained, he said.
And in the western city of Zabadani, near the border with Lebanon, several people were detained after protesting, he said.
Journalists who tried to enter Daraa’s Old City – where most of the violence took place – were escorted out of town Friday by two security vehicles.
“As you can see, everything is back to normal and it is over,” an army major, standing in front of the ruling Baath party head office in Daraa, told journalists before they were led out of the city.
Security forces appeared to be trying to reduce tension in Daraa by dismantling checkpoints and ensuring there was no visible army presence on the streets for the first time since last Friday, when the protests began.
Rattled by the unrest, the Syrian government Thursday pledged to consider lifting some of the Mideast’s most repressive laws in an attempt to stop the weeklong uprising from spreading and threatening its nearly 50-year rule.
But the promises were immediately rejected by many activists who called for demonstrations around the country on Friday in response to a crackdown that protesters say killed dozens of anti-government marchers in Daraa.
“We will not forget the martyrs of Daraa,” a resident told The Associated Press by telephone. “If they think this will silence us they are wrong.”
Assad, a close ally of Iran and its regional proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, has promised increased freedoms for discontented citizens and increased pay and benefits for state workers – a familiar package of incentives offered by other nervous Arab regimes in recent weeks.
Shaaban, the presidential adviser, also said the Baath party would study ending a state of emergency that it put in place after taking power in 1963.
The emergency laws, which have been a feature of many Arab countries, allow people to be arrested without warrants and imprisoned without trial. Human rights groups say violations of other basic liberties are rife in Syria, with torture and abuse common in police stations, detention centers and prisons, and dissenters regularly imprisoned for years without due process.
The death toll from the weeklong crackdown was unclear and could not be independently confirmed, although activists say it was in the dozens before Friday and could have been as high as 100. Shaaban said 34 people had been killed in the conflict.
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Comments (75)
Charles
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 3:49pmI hope they hang assad publicly. His father should have been taken out by the US long long ago
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 3:49pmThey always call America the Great Satan. Yet, our God is merciful, forgiving, asks us for charity and gives peace. Their god is angry, asks them to kill infidels, etc. We should start calling it as it is – the Middle East is the Devil’s Hopyard. It is his playground and he is having great fun stirring all this protesting up with his designs for the end result. So, lets start throwing the Devil’s Hopyard in their face and not stay silent for us being called the Great Satan.
Report Post »welovetheUSA
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 2:50pmIts the old history of mobs…kill or be killed.
Report Post »chuck_wagon
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 2:46pmWho cares? Just like Libya, this has ZERO interest for the United States. The more they kill of each other the fewer we’ll have to kill when they push their silly religion on us.
Report Post »604karen
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 4:13pmGood thinking, Chuck wagon, save some tomahawks.
Report Post »thegodfather
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 2:32pmI think Bashar Assad…needs a chin.
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:59pmhope and change goes a long way, so do reality bites
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:50pmFarces, farces.
Report Post »silcat
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:45pmSo this is what happens when you get rid of socialism… They must of ran out of other peoples money. NO MORE REDISTRIBUTE THE WEALTH FOR YOU….
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:41pmMay God protect our troops until soemone grows a brain and brings them home. this part of the world is about to implode. My heart goes out to Israel they will be the target and our government will not stand with her. We the peopel WILL stand with Israel because we know what is right..
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:52amLet’s hope the POTUS is half as smart as you Lady.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:38pmAhh..the Mideast version of the Burger King wrecker.
Report Post »2ndOpinion
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:35pmIT’S GOING AS PLANNED….Sec of Def Robert Gates admits it???
In an artice off Drudge Report (Israel ready to react with ‘great force’: Netanyahu
By Dan de Luce (AFP)) to give proper credit..
The 11th paragraph states the following:
“But he (Gates) suggested Israel should tread carefully or risk derailing the course of popular unrest sweeping Arab and Muslim countries in the Middle East.”
Something sponteneous has no ‘planned’ course – it just goes, generally without direction. Gates suggesting Israel action could derail the course implies there’s a course to be followed. The only way there’s a course to follow is if somebody defined or planned the course. If nothing else, it clearly shows the Obama administration is happy with the events in the Middle East because they‘re afraid Israel action could ’derail it’. Somebody planned this whole mess and I’m thinking it got out of control. I‘d like to know who the ’somebody’ is.
Report Post »ORSO
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:47pmI wonder how much the Muslim brotherhood will contribute to Obama’s 2012 campaign.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:51pmNot sure, but it is a “popular” unrest.
Report Post »capecodsully
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:32pmLook out, Obama might commit the Boy Scouts to fight in Syria. Oh yeah that’s right Syria is already lined up to attack Israel, I guess they can kill as many protesters as they want.
Report Post »Dan
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:29pmDo I sense another Humanitarian Effort and Kinetic military action happening in the near future?
This administration is genuinely pathetic.
Dan
Report Post »ORSO
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:39pmDan, not to worry I don’t think the big-O- has any vacations lined up to skip out of town too while he sends our lads into harms way. And the French have exhausted there budget of one missile, after all they really need to keep there lazy unions in check so no money for defence.
Report Post »Dumbsht
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 10:58pmHey he doesn’t need reservations…I see a golf tournament in Hawaii in his very near future.
Report Post »paulusmaximus
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:23pmMove on people there’s nothing to see here, just the work of some conspiracy nut. But it make great cover for the progressive agenda here, watch the other hand !!!
Report Post »ORSO
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:20pmGee’s almost the perfect storm coming together, all we need is for Iran, Saudi Arabia and Jordan to flare up. If there was ever a time to start being self sufficient with our natural recourses (oil) it would be now. I certainly hope that some republicans besides Palin start a call to action on this because it’s a perfect time to start a movement to get this started.
I feel bad for the Israelis, there in the middle of these animals and have to deal with rockets being lobed at them everyday lately from Hamas. The Middle East is a toilet that needs flushing and the sooner the better.
Report Post »ORSO
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:20pmAdd your comments
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:13pmWhy does anyone buy a car in these countries? They always end up in flames. Be traditional. At least a camel will run from the fire.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:53pmlol
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 3:06pmAlso, it’s hard to tip over a camel.
Report Post »chuck_wagon
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 3:36pmAnd the camels have better breath than the arabs and the camels are prettier than the arab women.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:02pmmaybe a fourth front is the making?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:11pmIf Obama sticks to the same reasoning he used for Libya, there could be a multitude of fronts.
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:53pmThink Syria is the country we need to watch during this. They have ties to all the “bad” players over there. Find it interesting that “hundreds of worshippers came out of mosques shouting “with our lives, our souls, we sacrifice for you Bashar“ and ”Only God, Syria and Bashar!”
Report Post »Wonder if they have decided he is the 12th Imam…….or they are being told he is.
BlazingBlonde
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:59pmImanutjob will be really mad to hear he has been usurped by that moron Bashy… oh dear… oopsy
Report Post »BlazingBlonde
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:53pmWhat is it makes me want to thank Soros and the Muslim Brotherhood for these deaths?? what could it be.. hmmm
The “good guys” whom the left sides with and supports and fawns over are the ones spraying the crowds with bullets..
All the while its been promoted to us thru the LEFT leaning/tilted/fallen over Media, that basically, these YOUTS just want freedom and democracy… Kinda like the Tea Party hmmm? Oh yes, these young protesters have been compared to freedom fighters and tea partiers wanting freedom..
And for that, They get sprayed with bullets by the Soros supported MB armies..
Can I get a HELL YEA?
People, only prayers are left.. thats it, its all we got.
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:52pmYes, this will probably be coming/happening here soon.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:08pmI was thinking the same thing. Look how hostile this administration is towards the Tea party. Yeah right, this administration stands up for freedom…really? Depends on their perspective of freedom? Freedom to rule over and oppress… that is their view of freedom!
Report Post »Dumbsht
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 10:54pmObama is a Musl. can’t you see it….and democracy has to fall in line with Sharia….so, no democracy.
He has an agenda ! and overwhelming our resources and finances are a tool.
If I’m paranoid…good….but think about it what if I’m not ?
Report Post »FreedbyTruth
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:52pmIt is amazing the lengths the Glenn Beck guy is going to expand his conspiracy theory that chaos will spread across the middle east. I me jeez, the filming budget along to stage all of the fake protests. And how much did he have to pay CNN for this fake coverage
Report Post »obama_binpharteen
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:02pmUmmmmm, I think chaos is spreading across the middle east. I don’t need Glenn Beck to pint that out. Open your eyes.
Report Post »obama_binpharteen
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:03pmpint=point
Report Post »suzpenn
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:08pm@FreedByTruth – If your post isn’t satire . . . maybe, change your ID to ‘FreedByInsanity’.
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 2:16pmSarcasm.
Report Post »Czar Casm
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 2:28pmIndeed, and a good one.
Report Post »Rillobymorning
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 4:22pmGimme a break. You think Glenn Beck is paying the middle east to pretend to have revolutions? You people really need to switch from Kool aid to tea!
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:51pmLet’s see, Syria already hates Israel, so there is no need to support a new government there.
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:31pmThis is why we are in Libya:
Report Post »The responsibility to protect doctrine, where in a landmark declaration five years ago, the UN Security Council authorized international collective action “to protect [a state's] population from genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity” if that state is unable or unwilling to protect its own citizens, or worse, as in the case of Libya, if that state is the author of such criminality.
This is why the United States Military is under UN rules.
This is why this needs to be stopped–action can depend on whomever the UN decides iscommitting crimes against humanity. Does this sound like what the Arab League is saying about Israel???????????
nacilbuper
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:48pmWhen will we be dropping the bombs?
Report Post »nacilbuper
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:51pmOh, that’s right, no oil just Sadams WMD’s.
Report Post »nacilbuper
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:57pmJust as Glenn predicted. This is all about destroying Isreal. Get down on your hands and knees and pray.
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:51pmIsrael, Israel, Israel. My country is the United States of America
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 2:09pm@riseandshine
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:51pm
Israel, Israel, Israel. My country is the United States of America
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, wake up already!
The Muslim countries want to kill the Jews and Christians.
And, guess what?! The actions regarding Libya are about their oil and minerals. Obama has banned drilling on the east and west coasts, in the Gulf, and in Alaska. He has called for using our reserves. When our reserves are gone, we will be buying from foreign countries. He has just given Brazil $20 billion dollars to DRILL in the GIULF OF MEXICO. If our “POTUS” will allow drilling in our part of the Gulf, why can’t we? CONTROL, Baby, CONTROL!
Report Post »604karen
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 2:33pmOne more Beck predicted country catching fire. But no….don’t believe Beck. LOL
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 9:30pmI hope that the Syrian regime will go down , this will be the biggest blow to Iran & hezbollah .
Report Post »Syria harbors & sponsors the worst terrorists in the world & it’s working for a nuclear facility .
wildjoker5
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:47pmHow much oil they got?
Report Post »SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:57pm^__^__^
Yeaa really do they have oil b/c it seems like that is a motivator for action. Under this ‘new humanitarian policy’ Beck went over yesterday will BHO be supporting UN action in Syria? Its no different than the atrocities occurring in Libya, Ive seen the videos TheBlaze and other news sites WILL NEVER post b/c they are too much for one to stomach! Curious since the US is now the red headed step child who is going to take the lead in committing the UN/ NATO forces aka USA military to take action in other lands?
Someone explain the logic of government forces firing on their own… especially when protesters are unarmed? Ya know when I see big holes in parts of the human body where there should be skin, bone, muscle and internal organs I get a little confused as to how someone with no gun, knife etc maybe a rock in their hand is a threat to a tyrannical govt!
Some will argue the soldiers/ police are following orders b/c thats what soldiers & police do. Ok fine! Im curious when this stuff starts here where will our troops and police stand? Will they stand with the people and Constitution or with those ordering them to open fire?!
Report Post »dwh320
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:01pmSO we have ANOTHER DICTATOR killing his people…. So when will the bombing start Mr Obama to save the innocent people of SYRIA?
Report Post »dwh320
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:04pmIs Obama a liar? We will see if he starts bombing Sryia like he did Libya over innocent civelians being killed by another repressive dictator.
Or was it for Libya oil the bombs fell?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:06pmDWH320
Report Post »That‘s the Obama Doctrine isn’t it? Well thought out, just like Obamacare.
Ironmaan
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 1:08pmGovernment is evil. If it doesn’t kill you outright, it takes your ambition and destroys your soul. CONTROL SLAVERY SUBJUGATION REGULATION TAXATION NUDGE are words that come to mind.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
Showtime
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 2:00pmWhy is everybody protesting all around the world all of a sudden?
Geez! Can’t we just all get along?
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 2:00pmWell looks like our man Glenn had all this pegged awhile ago didn’t he? You know about a month and a half ago none of this had started. Obama will not go in on this one.Or if he does he will wait until it is too late just like in the Libya case. If he had gone to congress and did the no fly zone when it started it would be over in Libya,but he has to have all his committees and such just like a professor or organizer and not like a leader.I didn’t really believe all this would take place when Beck said it would it seemed so unlikely, but it is snowballing just as he said.You can only surpress people for so long before they strike back. I hope killing will be kept at a minimum I know it won’t be stopped but Lord be with the people that only want their freedom.
Report Post »Czar Casm
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 2:01pmGotta tomahawk somebody here.
Report Post »Uncle Crusty
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 2:08pmAmazing – supposidly the middle east is erupting for greater democratic freedoms and America is racing toward communism/socialism – this truly is a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad world – turned upside down!
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 2:16pmUnrest all over the world, really it’s everywhere. We wouldn’t want a good worldwide crisis to go to waste no would we? With Obama in Lybia you gotta wonder how he’s going to take advantage of the situation.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 3:29pmHere we go again folks…..but I doubt Obama has much to say about anything, til he sees an opportunity to team up with his murdering Muslim brothers and bomb Israel…..
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 3:30pmHaven’t we always said to these parts of the world that their problems lay at the feet of their own governments? Fight your own revolutions, leave us out of it. I can’t have a problem with this except for the loss of life, but they know this is the risk. This whole thing is engineered and I agree with Beck and his fantastic 10 in what they have uncovered. I think that this is an attempt at making muslims happy by over turning their old world order regimes (propped up by old world rivals USA/Russians) and giving them one giant nation state based on Islam. There should be peace after this is the hope.
Don’t bet your last dollar!
Report Post »Dumbsht
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 10:48pmOathkeepers.com
Report Post »UPSETVET
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 8:44amIs Obama set to follow his recent “ police action ” policy put into force in Libya. He sent American bombers to bomb the legitimate government of Libya in order to protect the rebels from their own government that was killing them.
Sure looks like Syria qualifies for a bombing following Obamas justifiation for bombing Libya. Oh, wait a minute, Libya has large petroleum deposits and exports oil to Europe and America. Syria only exports almonds and dates that are not needed in abundance until Christms.
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