Syria death toll rises as government crackdown continues

[News_Editor]

Syria death toll rises as government crackdown continues

2011-05-07 07:03:34 GMT+7 (ICT)

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BNO NEWS) -- At least 21 people were killed on Friday after Syrian security forces fired on civilians, CNN reported.

Ammar Qurabi, chairman of the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria, said at least 15 people were killed in the city of Homs and six were killed in Hama after weekly Muslim prayers. Army presence was heavy in many parts of the country as demonstrations took place, while there were reports that security forces opened fire on protesters to disperse them.

The state-run Sana news agency reported ten Syrian soldiers and policemen were killed in Homs by "armed terrorist groups." In addition, state TV reported that about 50 people took part in "acts of hooliganism" in Damascus.

Meanwhile, prominent Syrian opposition figure, Riad Seif, was arrested in a suburb of Damascus during demonstrations. He was released from prison only last August after being arrested in January 2008 for convening a meeting of a pro-democracy group.

Seif's wife, Pelican Mourad, told CNN: "His nephew witnessed Riad being arrested among tens of other protesters and taken in a bus."

In a statement on Friday, the White House press secretary condemned the crackdown on protesters and mass arrests.

"We again salute the courage of Syrian protestors for insisting on their right to express themselves and we regret the loss of life on all sides," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

The statement also said the United States and its international partners will take "additional steps" against the Syrian government unless it stops killing protesters.

The UN Human Rights Council is sending a mission to the Middle East country to investigate the reported violations of international law after hundreds of people have been killed during weeks of unrest. According to Amnesty International, more than 500 people have been killed during the clashes and thousands more were rounded up for questioning.

Protesters are demanding the ouster of President al-Assad, who took over the post from his father Hafez al-Assad in 2000, and calling for greater freedoms. The country has been ruled by the Baath Party since 1963.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-07

[pomeloseed]

Very bad. The head honcho in Syria had/has a golden opportunity to make things better for his country. Instead, because he's a weak minded man and devoid of decency or creative thinking, he's taking the iron fist route. He may prevail, but he will have Syrian peoples' blood and guts all over his furniture for the rest of his life. His father was strong minded, but focused on what Arab leaders always focus on: being tougher than all his rivals in order to maintain power. The son could take Syria in to a 21st century of fairness and decency, but he's too limp wristed, so he devolves to trying to play the tough guy - which he's not.

Incidentally, there are reports that some in the Syrian army are shooting at Syrian police, in order to slow down the police shooting at demonstrators. What an unnecessary mess!

The state-run Sana news agency reported ten Syrian soldiers and policemen were killed in Homs by "armed terrorist groups."

I just found the above quote via a re-reading of the OP. It's not 'armed terrorist groups' shooting at Syrian police and soldiers. It's the army and police themselves - shooting at each other. Plus, even if civilians are shooting at security forces, who can blame them?!

They're seeing their families and neighbors being shot at daily. What would you do, if you couldn't leave the country? I sure as heck would be up on buildings looking for snipers to kill.

Edited May 7, 2011 by pomeloseed

[Steely Dan]

Assad senior killed 25,000 in Hama in 1982. Syria is a mess and what will emerge when the dust settles is anyone's guess. One thing you can be sure of though is 10 deaths in Syria will not receive the same attention as 1 death in Gaza.