Syria calls on its citizens to return home after it claims order has been restored

[News_Editor]

Syria calls on its citizens to return home after it claims order has been restored

2011-06-15 09:26:14 GMT+7 (ICT)

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BNO NEWS) -- The Syrian Cabinet on Tuesday called on the citizens of Jisr al-Shughour and the surrounding villages to return home after it claimed the order had been restored in the area, the state-run SANA news agency reported.

Minister of Information Adnan Mahmoud applauded the efforts of the army and security forces to "restore calm and security" to the area, which is close to the Turkish border. Adnan added that the Syrian Arab Red Crescent will contact its Turkish counterpart to facilitate the safe return of citizens.

The Information minster added that the Cabinet ordered reconstruction efforts in the affected areas by the fighting that the Syrian government said was initiated by armed terrorist groups.

Despite the claims of the Syrian government, hundreds of villagers continue fleeing towards Turkey as so far 8,538 people have reached Turkish soil in the past days. Most of them are being sheltered at a refugee camp in the border town of Yayladagi in Hatay province.

"There are increasing numbers of refugees coming to turkey from neighboring settlements," said Cemil Cicek, spokesman for the Turkish government. "So far, 8,538 Syrians including 1,740 men, 2,247 women and 4,551 children, have come to Turkey. 64 of them had to be hospitalized."

The town of Jisr al-Shughour has been the scene of violent fighting between security forces and anti-government protesters, some of them whom were armed. Amnesty International said that at least 120 people were killed since last week in what was labeled as "one of the bloodiest weekends in months of pro-reform demonstrations."

Syria has repeatedly claimed that the violent acts have been instigated by terrorists. Furthermore, the Syrian Army claimed on Tuesday that it seized advanced RPJ weapons, machine guns, pistols and military uniforms in Jisr al-Shughour.

The Army claimed that the military uniforms and weaponry were used by members of the anti-government groups to pose as soldiers while attacking citizens. In addition, the alleged terrorists looted all properties in town, including banks.

In contrast, Syrian asylum seekers claimed that the security forces have perpetrated violent attacks on civilians and protesters. Video footage, recorded by a Syrian refugee and delivered to Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News, showed a group of villagers marching towards the Turkish border while being under open fire by unknown gunmen.

In mid-March, pro-democracy demonstrations began in Syria and have continued across the country, which has been ruled by the Baath Party since 1963. Protesters are demanding the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, who took over from his father in 2000.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-15

[Steely Dan]

Hopefully too late for Assad to backpedal now - Look out to sea.

http://www.debka.com/article/21026/

debkafile's military and intelligence sources report that Monday, June 13, the US deployed the USS Bataan amphibian air carrier strike vessel opposite Syria's Mediterranean coast with 2,000 marines, 6 war planes, 15 attack helicopters, including new V-22 Ospreys, and 27 choppers for landing forces aboard.Also this week, US naval units went operational in the Aegean, Adriatic and Black Seas as part of the joint US-Ukrainian Sea Breeze 2011 exercise.

Edited June 15, 2011 by Steely Dan