Friday, 24 June 2011

Syria braced for fresh protests against Bashar al-Assad


Mobile phone picture of anti-regime protest in Damascus, taken on 14 June 2011 Protests against the Syrian regime have been spreading since March
Activists have appealed to Syrians to stage a new round of protests after Friday prayers to increase pressure on President Bashar al-Assad.
In the north, Turkey said more than 1,500 people had crossed the border after Syrian troops and tanks moved into the village of Khirbet al-Jouz.
The EU has expanded sanctions on Syria.
It has added three members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and four Syrians to a list of people whose assets are frozen and who are banned from travel.
The EU's official journal said the three Revolutionary Guard members now subject to sanctions had been "providing equipment and support to help the Syrian regime suppress protests in Syria".
The EU also drafted a declaration condemning the "unacceptable and shocking violence the Syrian regime continues to apply on its own citizens".
EU leaders are expected to endorse the declaration later.
More than 1,300 people have been killed and thousands more detained since a crackdown on anti-government protests began in March, activists say.
'No longer my president'

Start Quote

They gave us orders to fire heavily at unarmed civilians”
End Quote Syrian soldier who defected
As in previous weeks, activists appealed to Syrians to join demonstrations after Friday prayers.
An appeal on Facebook listed this week's slogan as: "Bashar is no longer my president and his government no longer represents me."
The appeal comes after President Assad promised dialogue and reform in his third address to the nation since the start of demonstrations.
Activists dismissed the offer of reform as cosmetic or insufficient.
The Syrian government's recent military offensive in the north of the country has led to many residents deserting towns and villages in the area.
A total of 11,700 Syrian have sought refuge in Turkey, the Turkish government says.

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