Uprising in Syria: Dozens killed in protests in Syria - Arab World - Politics -AFP

Syrian security forces have suppressed the biggest protests against the Baathist regime with blood. After the Friday prayer went around the country tens of thousands to the streets.


You read right? Syrian President Bashar al Assad in December 2010 in Paris
22. April 2011
In Syria, the power struggle between President Bashar al Assad and the opposition is in full swing. According to consistent reports of eyewitnesses, TV stations and human rights activists the security forces used live ammunition in several cities and tear gas against the demonstrators. From the suburbs of Damascus, from the southern cities and Asraa Daraa and from the northern city of Homs deaths were reported in the evening said the London-based Syrian Human Rights Committee of 72 dead and hundreds injured. In Daraa 50 people were injured by gunfire.

The protesters had walked to the demands for a change of system and the resignation of the heads of state on the road - one day after the lifting of emergency in force since 1963. However, it maintains other laws that grant broad powers of state security, in force. The opposition has therefore intensified their demands.


© REUTERS
The struggle continues: protesters on Thursday in Southern Syrians Daraa
The opposition called for a joint declaration of an end to the monopoly power of the Baath party and a democratic system. It also demands the release of political prisoners. The existing security apparatus must be dissolved and replaced by an institution which is bound by the law. The statement was sent to the Reuters news agency.

Determined to overthrow the regime

"This was a first test in the seriousness (of the reform will) of the guide, and it has failed," commented the opposition Amar Kurabi the brutality of the regime. It is one of the highest body count since the protests began a month ago - since then, nearly 250 people have been killed.

 The Syria expert Joshua Landis of the University of the U.S. state of Oklahoma, spoke of a landmark day. Assad had "drawn a boundary line in the sand" with the proposed reforms and made it clear that there is now no reason to give his opinion to more demonstrations. The opposition in return try to mobilize as many people as possible. "They are determined to overthrow the regime, and have recognized their opportunity," said Landis. "Today is a day of reckoning." Protests covered virtually the whole country with about 20 million people. In Banias on the Mediterranean has also been demonstrated in Deir al-sor and Kamischli in eastern Syria.


"Go away, Doctor!"

Before beginning the Friday prayers were soldiers in Damascus and Homs position relative and checkpoints set up. In Deraa several thousand demonstrators demanded the resignation of the trained physician Assad, who had started in 2001 succeeded his father. "Go away, Doctor," cried the crowd. "We are on you and your butcher regime trampled." The human rights organization Human Rights Watch said that reforms in Syria, demanded an end to the power of the security apparatus. This must stop shooting and stop with the arrest and torture of political opponents.

Also in Yemen and Oman last to power struggles. In the Yemeni capital Sanaa, and possibly hundreds of thousands gathered at Tai's supporters and opponents of the authoritarian ruling President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The opposition demanded the immediate resignation of the reigning head of state in 32 years, which rejects this before. In Oman, the opposition mobilized about 3,000 people to one of the largest demonstrations for reform.

Text: AFP / dpad
Pictures: DAPD, REUTERS