13 Dead, 40 Hurt in Syria: Half a Million Flood Hama amid Demos in Central Damascus
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
At least 13 Syrian protesters were killed and 40 others wounded on Friday across the country as nearly half a million people demonstrated in the protest hub of Hama, activists said.
Rami Abdul Rahman, chief of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that at least 450,000 Syrians rallied after Friday prayers in Hama under the banner "No to dialogue" with President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The Hama demonstrators reiterated their "refusal to dialogue with the regime and called for its fall," he said.
Opposition activists speaking to Agence France Presse separately by telephone reported five deaths in the city of Homs, two in the capital's commercial neighborhood Midan and six in the area of al-Damir, east of Damascus.
Both the American and French ambassadors to Syria visited Hama on Thursday, and the regime on Friday accused U.S. envoy Robert Ford of meeting "saboteurs" in Hama and inciting anti-Assad protests.
"The US ambassador met with saboteurs in Hama ... who erected checkpoints, cut traffic and prevented citizens from going to work," the interior ministry said in a statement.
"The ambassador incited these saboteurs to violence, to demonstrate and to refuse dialogue," with the government, it added.
In Paris, foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said France's envoy went to Hama "to show France's engagement with the victims, the civilian population."
The Syrian Observatory said at least 24 people were injured on Friday in the central city of Homs when security forces fired on demonstrators to disperse them, saying that "some people were gravely wounded."
Elsewhere, security forces used live rounds against protesters in the coastal city of Banias.
"Protesters left the mosques in the southern districts of the city and dozens were arrested," Abdul Rahman said.
Further north on the coast, in Latakia, more than 1,000 protesters were dispersed as they left Al-Rahman mosque, an activist there told AFP.
"Armed security services came in more than 20 cars, dispersed the protesters and arrested some of them," the activist said.
In Aleppo, a regime stronghold, "thousands of people rallied at Seif al-Dawla and Salaheddine. They were attacked by security forces and a pro-regime militia," a witness told AFP.
Protests also took place in Saqba and Jdeidet Artuz, while 7,000 protesters filed through Qatana north of Damascus, activists said.
In the northern town of Raqqa, "security forces fired live rounds and tear gas to disperse protesters, at least one of whom was hurt," said an activist who requested anonymity.
Thousands also marched in Syria's Kurdish regions.
Between 4,000-5,000 took to the streets of Qamlishi, as did thousands more in Amuda, expressing solidarity with Hama and calling for the fall of the regime, rights activist Radif Mustafa said.
Before Friday's protests, the Facebook group Syrian Revolution 2011 had urged "No to dialogue: What dialogue (is possible) when blood has been spilled, while the towns are besieged? The people want the fall of the regime."
It added: "No to dialogue with the assassins, the still-warm blood of the martyrs is calling us. We are legitimacy ... dialogue with the regime is useless."
Residents of Hama and Homs staged a general strike ahead of Friday's protests, according to Abdul Rahman, while Syrian Revolution 2011 called for the boycotting of businesses that trade with Assad's regime.
"Don't pay for the bullets that are being used to kill us", the group urged its online followers, also calling on activists to march on the Turkish border on July 16 in support of "the refugees, exiles and victims" of the unrest.
Rights groups say that more than 1,300 civilians have been killed and 10,000 people arrested by security forces since mid-March when the anti-government protests erupted.
08 July 2011, 17:16
16
Nasrallah was asking where the Syrians that are opposed to the regime are...well here you go, in one city alone half a million came out. That's significantly more than the sheep that come out to your TV appearances...and these guys are under the threat of a gun!
08 July 2011, 17:22
62
The Syrian government should stop using a democratic repreesion with these terrorists as they have been doing since 4 months , they should use the real hard way , like any Western country would do , in case they are attacked by terrorists like that , from inside and the same way .
This is no longer a matter of freedom or democracy , they want openly a regime change , like they did in Lebanon with the Maronites .
The Alaouites must be regretting what they did to US Maronites in lebanon , helping the Sunnis that time , with the money of KSA and the help of Rafik Hariri and Abdel-Halim Khaddam , that were the drivers of Taef accords and the Syrian army in Lebanon .
Hafez Assad was misled by those 2 people and their surrounding , and today , the same people are doing to the Syrian Alaouite regime , what they did to US Maronites in Lebanon to reach Taef .
Smash them President Assad , dont count when they fall , dont look behind you , they are like rats .
08 July 2011, 18:02
22
Members of the Sunni, Alawi, Christian, Shiaa, Druze, Jews and all other sects and religions want to live in dignity just like everyone else in the world. The brave people of Syria will overcome the injustice thrust upon them by a brutal dictator, whose regime caused irreparable damage in Lebanon.
When Assad is finished, Syria will ultimately emerge as a modern secular nation and Lebanon will benefit from it. Dictatorships are going to the ash heap of history.
08 July 2011, 18:46
21
and than you woke up with you pants pissed and assad still in power.
and resistance even stronger and more popular among all sects...
before you got fully aware what's happening, march 14 loses next election.
tell me, is it hard to live in denial? you project the picture of the world you want and than i happens totally different. must be awful for you how do you deal with it?
p.s. to the editor, spare a few lines on bahrain...if it's not too inconvinient.
08 July 2011, 19:36
13
Rejoice !! the end is near. Lebanon will be much better off when it's all done.
08 July 2011, 20:48
01
Le Phénicien ! Vous êtes le génie et le grand général que Assad attend impatiemment ! Allez-y , joignez vous aux forces de la répression , montrez le chemin et laissez-y votre misérable carcasse contrairement à votre maître l'autre général qui a fui en pantoufles et en pyjama.
08 July 2011, 21:20
03
funny to see people from M8 defending a gvt that is supported by the USA....
08 July 2011, 21:27
21
Propaganda works for ignorant people who know nothing about Syria. Hama's population along with all the villages is 650,000. It has a population of Sunnis, Christians (Rum Orthodox) , Alawites, and Ismailis. Only a fraction of the Sunni population is demonstrating for Alewite in the tabout and Christians to Beirut. The total Sunni population in Hama is 400,00. How could a half a million people be demonstrating in Hama?
08 July 2011, 21:32
30
This is newsflash Syria: The Syrian opposition stated that 20 million Syrians demonstrated against the government. The Assad government said that 22 millions demonstrated for the regime.
08 July 2011, 21:42
01
I am so proud so many Lebanese go out of their way to repeat the Syrian regime's reports, goes to show the majority of Lebanese always loved the Syrian regime and were heart broken to see it's army leave.
Unless that's my Qamarade Qawmy John posting all those pro Assad comments haha brother Qawmi John you almost got us, you kidder.
08 July 2011, 21:43
20
I agree with you BigDig. Blood thirsty western Imperialists are always working hard to divide the natives. But, Assad is also partly to blame just like Saddam was partly to blame in Iraq.
08 July 2011, 21:51
01
My Shiite brother Le Finicien but Kaddam lost the Lebanon portfolio to Bashar in 1998 and Kanaan was replaced in 2002 by Ghazaleh and nothing changed in Syrian attitude, in fact those were the worst years since 1990 to the opposition.
I remember when you beat that Christian Aounist hippie like he was a mop my Shiite brother Le Finicien with Jamil Sayyed looking on, he was impressed to say the least.
08 July 2011, 22:37
20
"Qawmi" now " Assem". Yes, Qawmis and all M8 are pro-Syrian just like M14 are pro-Saudis and you pro Israeli. If I was a Qawmi or M8 supporter I would not say that Assad is partly to blame. It seems that the Qawmis have done a job on your brain because you have no logic and you are paranoid. You know we have a good Psychiatrist in Amioun who will help you. I hope you do not mind the Zouba tatoos all over his body.
08 July 2011, 23:24
00
a simple question = what good did syria did to lebanon?
i wonder when i see so many supporters of the assad regime what good did syria do to lebanon?
could you explain please?
08 July 2011, 23:33
10
do you want to know how good this government is going to be? just watch the number of tourists this year and also watch the price of Solidere . It is an indication how well the economy is going to be
08 July 2011, 23:35
01
SO REE! Qamarade Qawmi John did I hurt your feelings aren't we tot-chee these days with nothing seems to be going the way we expected, Yet we started the year with such zest and verve the Amberialists were being defeated by ze Arab beeboul and the new Islamic middle east was being born according to many Iranians! Up with the La Revolución, it was and I say it without spiting! I miss those days when president Bashar Assad said bil fam el mal2an that Syria was immune from what's we see in other Arab countries because he was closely liked to the belief of his people. I didn't know he had it in him that was classic vaudevillian schtick.
There was a job done on my brain and yours and theirs and all of us it's called ideology or dogma, but hey, we have the rhetoric to keep us going and we'll be fine, no logic needed.
09 July 2011, 00:42
11
Peace... Syria did no good to Lebanon, it was backed by the US until recently and killed many people in Lebanon. I certainly didn't invite the Syrian to come to Lebanon, I wonder who did?? Other facts include, was Hezbollah was not there when Syria took Lebanon, Khaddam was and M14 do support the jerk, Kan3an and Khadam were by the way on the payroll of Hariri (his own son says so in the Hakika leaks)... I am just trying to say that it is possible to be against the STL, against the Syrian regime, the USrael, the Gemayel family, the Jumblats, etc. things are not boolean and Bush way of u r with me and against me is bad and u should learn to be more nuanced. Syria is a dictatorship and violent regime so is Bahrain; IRAN is not secukar at all so is KSA (though Iran is closer to democracy but yet its a theocracy). We can be for Justice and against the STL and not live in Dahye... we can write on Naharnet threads and have an IQ inferior to illetrate people... nuanced are opinions & life
09 July 2011, 00:55
00
Assaad got kicked out from Lebanon and he's on his way to be kicked out from Syria...
09 July 2011, 01:05
00
@Le Phenicien: You are truly an idiot, the same people you are calling to massacre and kill hundreds of thousands of unarmed civilians are the ones that killed thousands of Lebanese 'bugs' when Syria came into Lebanon (including Aouni bugs).
You live in a fantasy world where Hafez Al Asad was duped by others when he was the head of the Syrian regime at all times, no one could challeneg his authority, evert crime, presecution and killing of Maronites in Lebanon by Syria and its allies took place under the leadership and direct support of Hafez and his imbecile son.
The reason why there isn't a bigger crackdown as there was in Hama in the 80s is because the Syrian regime is weaker, more divided and the opposition is much wider and has more support (everything from Sunnis to Kurds to the poor and the oppressed are involved). The revolution will not be crushed as it should be obvious by now to the Syrian regime, the noose tightens every week around the necks of the rulers.
09 July 2011, 01:34
00
mabboud, so obviously groundhog Hassin on March 8 2005 was thanking the US, Kaddam, Kanaan, Sleiman Frangieh, Camille Chamoun and Pierre Gemayel. I didn't know he was such a fan but if you say so who am I to disagree what with the IQ I got.. have... Sorry I got distracted there, were you were saying something about logic and nuance.
09 July 2011, 01:41
01
yes, but when we have a new gvt that thanked syria for all the good they did in lebanon , it shows what kind of gvt is awaiting us....
09 July 2011, 02:08
11
peace...I haven't listened to government declaration, got few minutes of Mikati speech but didn't hear that Syria was thanked... however, if that was the case, it wouldn't chock me, it's called politics (Hariri as a prime minister went at Assad's place for a mezze) and yes, we have to learn how to turn the page no matter how hard it is (look at Germany, it was ruined, burned, 17Million were deported by US/France/USSR/UK forces, Japan had Tokyo crushed + 2 A Bombs.... US continues to bomb with France and UK so it's not because they are better persons today. Just trying to put some perspective, I wouldn't thank Syria but I am not a politician and not in charge of managing the country
09 July 2011, 07:18
00
Mabboud, enough with your BS, please. You are not fooling anyone. Obviously you will never admit it, but you have a hidden agenda. It is just not credible that you are neutral and unaffiliated. You come to this M14 oriented website, and post hundreds of comments against M14 and against the STL, and yet you try to claim you are just in favor of justice and that it's just a nuance. Cut the BS, nuance-schmooance.
Iran and Hezbollah have been known to hire propagandists to post drivel on the internet to try to persuade people into their warped line of thinking. It doesn't work. Quit your BS propaganda. Or better yet, post your drivel on al manure, it would be more appropriate there.
09 July 2011, 09:50
00
people-power, u r a sad person. democracie means power to the people and the common understanding of democracie is respecting others'mopinion or at least, not insulting. Further more, if u beleive that a m14 website is only for m14 people and that other opinions where people try to explain at lenght their reasoning and why they think like that shouldn't be, it means that your understanding of m14 is that people aren't for democracies. u r having the same attitude as hezbollah & as u said Al manar by saying that it is well known that Hezb & Iran hire propagandist and that I am one of them.... u r even worse because u claim that u r 4 democracie and yet, u refuse to listen to other and like Hezb says to people u r Israeli agents, u r telling me (simply for refusing to read me well and question your dogmas) that I am BS when u r not only blind and limited but a disgrace to m14 who r truly 4 democracies and debate. u should change ur name on power2me&me-friends
09 July 2011, 09:51
00
Mabboud, you need to study history. Germany was 'ruined' because it engaged in an aggressive war of expansion and occupation that, ultimately, it lost. Nor were its cities alone in suffering destruction. Many other cities in Europe and indeed, the USSR were ruined as well. As for your preposterous claim that 17 million were deported, it simply isn't supported by historical fact.
09 July 2011, 10:03
00
also to people like people-power who think that if u don't think exactly like them u r an agent with a hidden agenda, I will say what could be my hidden agenda if not trying to argue and expose mi views to elevate the debat.... u would like to be on your own on a website because insulting & reading each others as if u were reading yourself to comfort u in ur ideas and binary way of looking at things... my not-hidden agenda is trying to help blind and paranoid people accept a edbate, I thought that it would be easier on a m14 website than on manar where the dark force of paranoid chi3as and the fakih reign. I guess that idiots and clever people are everywhere like blind and facist ones, like racist and dishonest people; in m14 and in m8. Which probably means that there r no true values in m14 or m8 and that debate should be amongst people else we will stay in an m14-power vs, m8-power never in people-power... Mazbout?
09 July 2011, 11:47
01
All 450.000 are terrorists. It’s obvious.
When Assad falls, Syria will emerge as a modern secular democratic nation and Lebanon will still be caught in the dark ages thanks to the filthy non-Islamic militia and their mullahs in Iran.
09 July 2011, 17:33
00
To Ed. I am sorry, I probably didn't give the best example but a shocking one, I never said that Germans were angels (Lebanese neither) and never said that they didn't invade poland. I know WWII much better than u, France and England attacked Germany & Staline was readying himself to attack when a surprise attack by Germans mad him lose a lot fast. will give u few links to read: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/15/russia-gulag-historian-arrested: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/15/russia-gulag-historian-arrested and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgenthau_plan and http://www.exulanten.com/trails3.html The case was that German turned the page (not fuly since they took a revenge on Yugo in the 90s) not the why and details of WWII. Goig into the hidden details of history was not the subject but rather revenge and pardon to move ahead. Sorry if u missed that, my fault, I should have been more precise. Study & learn from history.
