Syria Loyalists Rally as Arabs Await Response on Deal
The Syrian regime organized a show of support on Monday as expectations rose that it was finally set to admit observers to monitor implementation of an Arab deal to end nine months of bloodshed.
Hundreds of supporters of President Bashar Assad gathered in Sabaa Bahrat Square in the city center chanting slogans in support of their beleaguered leader and against the sanctions ordered by the Arab League.
Huge flags of countries that have opposed punitive measures against the regime hung from surrounding office blocks, alongside the colors of Damascus's regional allies.
"Hail to Russia, hail to China," a rally organizer chanted over a loud-hailer, saluting the two veto-wielding U.N. Security Council permanent members' blocking of an October resolution that would have threatened regime figures with "targeted measures".
"Hail to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, hail to Hassan Nasrallah," the speaker added referring to Syria's closest regional allies, the leaders of Iran and Hizbullah that dominates the current government in neighboring Lebanon.
State television gave prominent coverage to the rally, hailing the young demonstrators' desire to "express their support for the reforms being undertaken by President Assad and their rejection of foreign interference."
"The Syrian government is going to sign the protocol this afternoon," one diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Under the terms of the deal that the observers are intended to oversee, Syrian security forces are required to pull back from the towns and villages that have been at the center of nine straight months of protests and open negotiations with the opposition under League auspices.
The Omani minister responsible for foreign affairs said on Sunday that he was "optimistic" that Syria was now ready to sign up to the observer mission.
"We are optimistic that Syria will join the Arab League and sign the protocol within the next 24 hours," Youssef bin Alawi told reporters in Riyadh.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, who chairs a League taskforce on Syria, said: "We have received information stating that he (Assad) will sign the protocol. We'll see if it's true."
Syria first said it would agree to the observers earlier this month but laid down a number of conditions, including the lifting by the League of last month's sanctions package.
Syria's eastern neighbor Iraq, which has said it cannot enforce the sanctions because of the close ties between the two countries, has been trying to broker a way out of the deadlock.
On Saturday, Iraqi National Security Adviser Falah al-Fayadh held what he said were "positive" talks with Assad.
Source: Agence France Presse
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