Posts Tagged ‘Syrian uprising’

Syrian crowds rally in Damascus in support of reform process

Damascus

Newscast Media DAMASCUS, Syria —Huge crowds of Syrians gathered at Saba Bahrat Square in Damascus and Al-Raees (the president) Square in Hasaka to voice their support to the ongoing reforms in Syria.

The masses rejected all attempts of foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs, expressing determination to foil the conspiracy, according to SANA news agency.The participants in Damascus expressed deep appreciation for the sacrifices of the Syrian army in confronting armed terrorist groups.

Political and media figures from Tunisia and Lebanon joined the crowds where Secretary General of the Tunisian Unionist Democratic Union Party, Ahmed Al-Inoubli, said that what is taking place in Syria is a hopeless attempt by the West to undermine an important defender of the Arab rights.

In al-Hasaka, a youth group organized a national event at the Al-Raees Square in the province to express appreciation to the role of the Syrian army in defending the homeland.
Source: SANA News Agency

http://www.newscastmedia.com/syria4.html

Syria’s Assad Takes To The Streets in Damascus and Joins Protesters With Family

Syria's Assad - photo: Tehran Times

Newscast Media DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vowed on Wednesday to vanquish “foreign conspirators” plotting against his government, saying the crisis in the country is nearing its end.

Addressing tens of thousands of Syrians in the capital Damascus, Assad said that the support of Syrians for his government gives him power to fight hard against the external conspiracy trying to destabilize the country.

“I wanted to be with you so I can draw strength from you in the face of everything that Syria is subjected to. It was important that we maintain our faith in the future. I have that faith in the future and we will undoubtedly triumph over this conspiracy,” the Syrian president told his supporters, Reuters reported.

“You are standing against a desecration of our identity, and you are confirming your steadfastness and support for the armed forces, whose martyrs are falling every single day so you can live in safety,” he added.

Assad’s wife Asma and their two children joined him for his surprise appearance in the capital’s central Umayyad Square.

“I belong to this street,” Assad, 46, said, adding Syria faced foreign conspirators. We will make this phase the end for them and their plans. We are going to win without any doubt.”

His remarks followed a 100-minute speech on Tuesday in which he censured the Arab League, vowed to hit “terrorists” with an iron fist and promised reforms, but with no hint that he would relinquish the power he inherited from his father in 2000.

The Arab League, which suspended Syria in November for failing to halt its crackdown on protests, sent an observer mission in December that has not stopped the violence. It urged Syria this week to protect its observers.

In his speech on Tuesday, Assad had scorned the Arab League for trying to discipline Syria, saying it had “failed for six decades to take a position in the Arab interest” and that “the Arab League without Syria suspends its own Arab identity.”

The Syrian president, however, said that Damascus will not close the door on any Arab solution which respects its sovereignty.

“Our priority now is to regain the security in which we basked in for decades, and this can only be achieved by hitting the terrorists with an iron fist,” Assad said.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March. According to the UN, over 5,000 people have been killed in ten-month long unrest. While the West and the Syrian opposition accuse the government of killing
protesters, Damascus blames ”outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups” for the unrest, insisting that it is being orchestrated from abroad.

Source: Tehran Times

http://www.newscastmedia.com/assad3.html

Syrians rally in solidarity around president Bashar al-Assad

President Bashar al-Assad of Syria

by Bi Mingxin (Xinhua)

Newscast Media, DAMASCUS — Thousands of Syrians thronged public squares in several Syrian provinces on Wednesday to demonstrate solidarity with embattled President Bashar al-Assad.
The rallies were held to mark the 41st anniversary of the “correctionist movement” led by former President Hafez al-Assad, father of the current president.

They were also meant to denounce a decision by the Arab League (AL) to suspend Syria’s membership in the organization ahead of a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in the Moroccan capital of Rabat that aims to discuss measures for the Syrian crisis.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem initially announced that Syria would take part in the ministerial meeting, but member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council warned that they would not attend the meeting if Syria did.

A source at the Syrian Foreign Ministry said late Tuesday that Syria had decided to boycott the AL meeting in Morocco in protest of some statements by Moroccan officials.

The source, whose remarks were carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), said that “Syria’s initial decision to participate in the Rabat meeting was taken in compliance with the desire of some sisterly countries, but in light of the statements, of which we have been informed from officials in Morocco, Syria has decided not to attend.”

The source did not disclose the contents of these statements.

Syria has been in unrest for about eight months. Foreign reports said 3,500 Syrians had been killed since the anti- government protests erupted in March, while Syrian government said hundreds of security and army personnel were killed by armed groups backed by a foreign conspiracy with the aim of toppling the Assad government.

The Free Syrian Army, an alleged group of army defectors, reportedly said they had attacked several military sites, including an intelligence facility and some military checkpoints near the capital of Damascus on Tuesday and early Wednesday.

In a related development, SANA said the Syrian authorities seized a large number of advanced communication devices from some armed groups in several areas in the country.
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