Syria protests: US and UN condemn armed crackdown

[Gerald]

There has been international condemnation of the Syrian government following reports that troops fired on peaceful demonstrators on Friday.

The US said Syria was trying to "repress and intimidate demonstrators", while UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged Damascus to exercise restraint.

Witnesses said dozens of people had been killed during the protests - this cannot be independently confirmed.

The rallies came a day after Syria said it would consider political changes.

Protests were staged in towns and cities across Syria, including the capital Damascus.

'Brutal response'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12869552

Note: 26 March 2011 Last updated at 08:56 GMT

[Tribesman]

Where are the calls for intervention?
Oh yeah the Alawis have WMDs don't they

[Gerald]

Where are the calls for intervention?
Oh yeah the Alawis have WMDs don't they From the Assad family?

[Gerald]

Two people have been killed in the Syrian city of Latakia during anti-government protests, officials say.

Officials said the two were killed by snipers but activists said security forces opened fire on protesters.

In the last week, dozens of people have been killed in a number of Syrian cities in protests against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

The authorities have blamed the violence on armed gangs trying to destabilise the country.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12873053


Note: Update Record, 27 March 2011 Last updated at 01:44 GMT

[Gerald]

Syrian troops have deployed in force in the northern city of Latakia, where at least 12 people have died in a wave of unrest that has shaken the regime.

Officials blamed foreign forces for the violence, but residents said pro-government gangs started the clashes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12879097

Note: Update Record,28 March 2011 Last updated at 10:56 GMT

[Armistead]

Let's see how Obama's rationale for Libya works in Syria..If a humanity crisis arises, I guess he'll go to war there. By the time we get rid of Dictators, we'll have terrorist running these nations. Let em have civil war, arm both sides and let em have at it.

[Rockstar]

Send in the Global Force for Good! :woot:

[Freiwillige]

"Team America world police" world tour
With special guests "NATO"

Tour dates

2011
Libya
2011
Syria
2011
Damascus
2012
Saudi Arabia-Canceled
2012
N. Korea-Canceled
2013
China-Canceled
2014
Russia-Canceled

2015 the band breaks up farewell tour
possible tour location south America

:rotfl2:

[Gerald]

I hope the tour is canceled, then countries need to take matters into their own hands

[Gerald]

Syria's government will resign on Tuesday, said a senior official as AFP. A new government must then be cleared within 24 hours.

[Gerald]

The Syrian cabinet has resigned, state-run television has said.

President Bashar al-Assad accepted the cabinet's resignation following a meeting on Tuesday.

The resignation is the latest concession by the government aimed at curbing more than a week of mass protests.

President Assad is expected to address the nation in the next 24 hours to announce he is lifting the emergency law and restrictions on civil liberty.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12897223


Note: Update Record, 29 March 2011 Last updated at 13:51 GMT

[Gerald]

CAIRO — In his first address to the nation after bloody protests and calls for reform, President Basher al-Assad blamed a broad conspiracy from beyond his borders on Wednesday for Syria’s turmoil and offered no concessions to ease his authoritarian regime’s grip on public life.

To apparently choreographed cries of support and applause, Mr. Assad appeared only briefly before the country’s Parliament for what had been billed as a major speech that would define his response to the biggest challenge facing the government’s authority in decades.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/world/middleeast/31syria.html?hp


Note: Update Record, March 30, 2011