domenica, marzo 20, 2011

Wave of unrest shakes Syria, crowds torch party HQ

Wave of unrest shakes Syria, crowds torch party HQ

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By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

DAMASCUS | Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:44pm EDT

DAMASCUS

(Reuters) - Crowds set fire to the headquarters of the ruling Baath Party in the Syrian city of Deraa Sunday, residents said, as the wave of unrest in the Arab world shook even one of its most authoritarian states.

The demonstrators also set ablaze the main courts complex and two phone company branches. One of the firms, Syriatel, is owned by President Bashar al-Assad's cousin Rami Makhlouf.

"They burned the symbols of oppression and corruption," an activist said. "The banks nearby were not touched."

Thousands rallied to demand an end to 48 years of emergency law in the southern city, on the third consecutive day of protests emerging as the biggest ever challenge to Syria's ruling party since it seized power nearly half a century ago.

"No, no to emergency law. We are a people infatuated with freedom," marchers chanted, despite the arrival in Deraa of a government delegation to pay condolences to relatives of victims killed by security forces in demonstrations there this week.

Security forces fired tear gas at the protesters. Around 40 people were taken to be treated for gas inhalation at the main Omari mosque in the old city, residents said.

"The mosque is now a field hospital. The security forces know they cannot enter the old city without spilling more blood," one resident said.

Syria has been under emergency law since the Baath Party, which is headed by president Bashar al-Assad, took power in a 1963 coup and banned all opposition.

Makhlouf is under specific U.S. sanctions for what Washington regards as public corruption and has been a target of protesters chanting "thief." He owns several large businesses.

CHILDREN DETAINED

Security forces opened fire Friday on civilians taking part in a peaceful protest in Deraa demanding the release of 15 schoolchildren detained for writing protest graffiti, political freedoms and an end to corruption. Four people were killed.

An official statement said "infiltrators" claiming to be high ranking officers had been visiting security stations and asking security forces to fire at any suspicious gathering.

Citizens should report anyone suspected of trying to fool the security apparatus "into using violence and live ammunition against any suspicious gathering," the statement said.

The government sought to calm discontent by promising to release immediately the 15 children, who had written slogans on walls inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

The statement was a rare instance of Syria's ruling hierarchy responding to popular pressure.

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Comments (5)
ahmedinho wrote:

Syrian regime is as brutal as the Libyan, if not worse. An uprising against in 1982 resulted in the killing of 40,000 people in the city of Hama alone.

Mar 20, 2011 9:25am EDT  --  Report as abuse
Curly wrote:

Obama should get an early start for primission to intervene in Syria. Oh, I forgot Syria dose not have any oil!

Mar 20, 2011 9:25am EDT  --  Report as abuse
marisa70394 wrote:

Wow! I knew those Syrians had it in them to finally demand their rights and overthrow that awful regime. Syria has a truly awful government just like Iran, Libya, and Yemen, perhaps even worse. Syria is much too close to Iran and North Korea for comfort, and they had been providing fighter jets to Kaddafi to bomb the Lybian citizens. Now, it is payback to the government of Syria, and nearly anyone who knows anything about Syria’s government knows this – the people of Syria deserve better! We pray for a speedy outcome that delivers democracy to this country.

Mar 20, 2011 12:26pm EDT  --  Report as abuse

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