New Tactics

29 January 2012: The Arab League has suspended its monitoring mission in Syria because of an increase in violence, a senior Arab League source in Cairo said earlier today.
The move comes days after President Bashar al-Assad's government agreed to a one-month extension of the mission, which began December 26.
The mission is part of a peace initiative in Syria. The 22-member Arab League has called on al-Assad's regime to stop violence against civilians, free political detainees, remove tanks and weapons from cities and allow outsiders -- including the international news media -- to travel freely in Syria.
The mission has been monitoring government activities in various hotspots. In the last two days, opposition activists reported scores of deaths, with one group, the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, reporting 135 deaths Thursday and Friday.
Violence continued to rage Saturday as an "armed terrorist group" killed seven soldiers in an attack Saturday, state-run media reported.

Comment:
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This move is seen more as a ploy to put pressure on Syria and to respond to criticism of the its ineffectiveness, rather than any significant change in the security situation. While deplorable and spreading, the violence has remained at the same, high level for the past several weeks. End Comment.

Syrian Opposition Conference(s) in Brussels

“Syria: the way forward” was the title of a conference held by the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the EU on the 8^th of December 2011. In the rooms of the European Parliament, representatives of different Syrian opposition groups met together to find common ground in facing the worsening of the Syrian scenario. After an opening speech by UK Member of the European Parliament Sajjad Karim and a brief update of the situation in the field made by Mathieu Hermans (IKV Pax Christi), the representatives made their remarks, answering also questions from the public. The speakers were: Anwar Yussef (Kurdish Democratic Party), Dr Halla Diab (Organization for Democracy and Freedom in Syria), Farouk Masara (National Democratic Council), Ribal Al Assad (Organization for Democracy and Freedom in Syria), Lokman Deli (Independent), Hassan Masri Haddad (National Democratic Council), Sherko Zein Aloosh (Independent), Kawa Yousef (Kurdish Youth Movement). During the meeting, several appeals for unity among the opposition factions were made by the speakers. Despite the fact that the conference aimed at bridging the gaps among the groups of the Syrian opposition front, no member of the Syrian National Council was present. The SNC preferred to participate in another conference about Syria affairs held on the day before by the Socialist and Democrats Group of the European Parliament(“Syria at the crossroads” on December 7^th).

FOR A VIDEO LINK CLICK HERE

Formation of Syrian National Democratic Council

A conference regarding the Syrian uprising was held in Paris this weekend consequently forming a new unified voice for the Syrian opposition.

The central committee for the National Democratic Council of Syria was appointed on Sunday the 13th of November following a vote among the Syrian attendee's at the conference.

The process, strictly following the single transferrable vote method of proportional representation, appointed the following members to the committe;

Abdel Nasser Arab - UNDA

Abdulbaki Kulo - Kurdish Independent

Anwar Yussef - KDP

Farouk Masara - Opposition Ba'ath Party

Hassan Masri Haddad - Independent

Line Al Khayer - Syrian Women's Party

Mohamed Al Ajlani - UNDA

Mohamed Al Dik - Independent

Rifaat Al Assad - UNDA

Syrian Kurds Unite

On the 26th of October, the north eastern city of Qamishli in Syria saw it's first meeting of the Kurdish National Council.

252 Kurd's, belonging to youth groups, poitical movements and parties as well as individual activists, gathered and successfully created a united front with the intention of partaking in the national opposition's efforts toward achieving a democratic Syria.

The community have collectively agreed a number of recommendations they will present to the National opposition as a unified voice. Recommendations include constitutional rights relating to; the essential recognition of the Kurd population in Syria, freedom of religious practices, security of minorty groups ie. the Caldo-Assyrians and the fundamental right of equality for all.

With the Kurdish population being one of Syria's indigenious groups, such constitutional amendments are essential and long over-due, a point the al-Assad regime entirely disregards having only granted a vague form of citizenship to the Hasaka Kurds in April of this year.

The council recognisesd the achievements and importance of the Kurd youth groups who will join theKurdish union in their aspiration to achieve Syrian democracy through the combined voice of the Syrian opposition.

"Secular" opposition to rival SNC is formed in Paris

On September 17th, a new Syrian opposition group emerged. The Coalition of Secular and Democratic Syrians (CFLD), formed in Paris, was created with the explicit aim of countering the Syrian National Council’s Islamist composition. This is particularly problematic given the West’s recent show of support for the SNC despite it being unrepresentative of the Syrian opposition in general. In contrast to the very strong Islamist/Brotherhood bias of the SNC, the new secular coalition, also referred to as the Syrian Coalition of Secular and Democratic Forces (CSDF), is made up of Christian, Muslim, Kurd and Arab activists all united behind the idea of a secular and democratic Syria.

This is by no means an anti-religious coalition, but instead one that is concerned about the Syrian uprising being hijacked by Islamists, and particularly by the Muslim Brotherhood. As one of its members Sheikh Ma’shooq al-Khaznawi told France 24: “If we want Syria to enjoy a prosperous future, there must be a separation between religion and state. We do not have a problem with God and the Prophet and the Koran, but with people who are the self-appointed spokesmen of God.”

More details on their general philosophy can be found on the website of one of the organisers of the conference in Paris in which the Coalition was formed, and on the Coalition's facebook page.

EU Hails The Formation of the SNC

The Syrian National Council, formed in Istanbul on 2^nd October, has moved forward in its bid to seek international recognition. The EU’s foreign ministers have agreed a statement which welcomes the formation of the SNC. The statement on 10^th October called the creation of the body, “a positive step forward," and condemned the "brutal repression led by the Syrian regime against its population". This comes a day after Syria threatened to take “tough measures” against any country that recognised the Council.

However, the words of French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, reflect the EU’s cautious approach to the newly formed Syrian body. France was the first EU country to recognise the Libyan interim council, but Juppe said that the Syrian body did not “have the same structure.” He continued, “we are not at the stage of recognition. I believe we have to get to know them better and get a better idea of their intentions.” Although the statement stopped short of formally recognising the Council as the official opposition this still provides the SNC with a level of international support and legitimacy.

 

The new diaspora

Lise Douchette was interviewing the US Ambassador to Syria Giles Ford on the world service last night Sept 4th. She said that the diaspora seemed to be marked out even in this country. The secret police were even aware of the meetings we had had. Their families were visited by the police in Damascus. Last weekend someone was very concerned that even meeting in this house, his family got the knock on the door in Syria.

Addounia TV: Unrest happening in ‘fake cities’

A number of media outlets have reported that a documentary has been recently broadcast on Syrian news channel Addounia TV which claims that the unrest in the country is not actually happening. The documentary alleges that al-Jazeera news had filmed the footage in replica cities built in Qatar using filmmakers and actors, with the aim of creating a false impression of what is happening in Syria. The documentary asserts that movie-set versions of Syrian cities and public squares have been constructed with the help of American and French directors, and that a similar illusion was created for the Libyan conflict. The documentary reported that “The world and the Libyans were deceived by those replicas that Tripoli fell. With those replicas, Al Jazeera will continue media fabrication and cinematic tricks by shooting scenes of big defections from the Arab Syrian Army and shooting scenes of clashes between some elements who claim being defectors and elements from the regime.” Addounia TV is owned by Mohamed Hamsho, the brother-in-law to Maher al-Assad, who is the commander of Syria’s Republican Guard and brother to the Syrian president.

If the documentary’s accusations are true, then surely the Syrian government would allow foreign journalists into Syria in order to prove that the real cities are peaceful, and that the unrest is confined to ‘fake’ Qatari film sets. Seeing as the government has not taken such a step, the logical conclusion is that Addounia TV, rather than al-Jazeera, is the one who is guilty of ‘media fabrication’.

Further Crackdown in Syria

It has been reported today that the Syrian military has maintained its military crackdown against the opponents of President Assad. Five deaths have been reported in Homs, whilst there has been one death in both Hama and Rastan. One activist group, the Local Coordination Committee, has announced that students have been facing the brunt of the heavy security presence in Damascus; a girl’s school in Damascus was raided by security forces whilst dozens of students in the southern town of Jassem were rounded up following a demonstration. Also on Tuesday, Syrian state media has announced that “armed terrorist groups” have killed five security personnel and wounded 17 others in an ambush on a military convoy in Daraa province.
Exact casualty figures are difficult to determine due to the expulsion of foreign journalists from Syria by the government.

Syrian National Council unveiled in Turkey

Members of Syrian opposition groups have announced at a meeting in Turkey that they have selected 140 people to form a “national council” to give a public face to the protests against President Assad. Furthermore the council will attempt to co-ordinate the factionalised opposition in order to intensify the pressure on the government. Only 70 names out of the list of 140 were announced publically at the meeting, possibly because the unnamed individuals currently reside in Syria and therefore the publicity could be a threat to their security. The list is composed of revolutionary youths, political activists and technocrats, whilst ethnic and religious minorities have reportedly also been represented. Yaser Tabbara, a Syrian-American attorney and a member of the council, has noted that “the council will be seeking to fill the vacuum identified by the international community, as an alternative to Assad's regime and represent the position of the Syrian revolution in an efficient and credible way.” The opposition has had unofficial contact with foreign governments, and one of the aims of the formation of the council is that meetings with Arab and Western governments will follow, as well as consultations with the UN and the Arab League.

The Syrian opposition has clearly attempted to mimic the activities of the Libyan opposition, who declared the formation of the National Transitional Council in the eastern Libyan city of Al Bayda in late February. The question is how far does the Syrian National Council wish to follow in the footsteps of the Libyan rebels: will they engage in an armed rebellion, backed by Western military support? That possibility may exist, but it is still much too early to tell.

False Hope

Following a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday, President Medvedev of Russia has announced that his government will oppose any UN sanctions against the Syrian government. The Russian ambassador to the UN has already used his veto to block several resolutions earlier in the crisis, including a report on Iranian arm sales to Syria as well as two drafts of a Franco-British attempt to condemn the use of force by the Assad administration. Western powers have already proposed sanctions such as an arms embargo and a ban on the import of Syrian petroleum in order to pressurize the Syrian government to ease its military crackdown. Given that Russian firms are Syria’s main source of weaponry, and the close relations between Russia and the Syrian oil industry, it is clear that such sanctions would be detrimental to Russian interests. However, according to reports published late last week, it appeared as if the tone of Russian rhetoric had changed; following diplomatic pressure from Western powers, as well as a visit from a delegation of the Syrian opposition to Moscow, President Medvedev condemned the Syrian government’s use of violence and hinted at the possibility of supporting a new Security Council resolution on Syria. Such hopes were dashed following Monday’s meeting with Cameron when President Medvedev clarified his opposition to existing EU sanctions as well as the possibility of introducing further UN sanctions; whilst Western powers have been preparing a resolution calling for sanctions against the Syrian regime, it was revealed yesterday that Russia was preparing its own rival draft resolution which simply calls on the government and opposition to open direct talks. If Russia were to reduce its support for the Assad regime, it would prove hazardous for the Syrian government given its reliance on Russia for military, diplomatic and economic support. Speculation of such a shift in Russian foreign policy appears to be, at least for the time being, false hope.

EU oil ban

Two weeks after Secretary Clinton called on countries to step up restrictions on oil imports from Syria, the EU has adopted a ban on crude oil imports. The ban covers the purchase, import and transport of all Syrian oil products and is predicted to cost the regime millions of pounds each day.

Oil accounts for roughly 25% of Syria's income and the EU is the recipient of 95% of its oil exports. Unified international pressure is still unlikely however as Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council continues to say it will veto any action by the UNSC.

The UK reportedly had concerns about the sanctions negative effect on the local population. The Syrian economy is in dire straits, a situation which will only be heightened by the sanctions.

a longer term perspective

This is a really interesting piece that looks at the prospect for long term conflict in Syria through the lens of the regional Sunni Shi'a conflict, led by Saudi Arabia and Iran.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/opinion/sunday/the-dangers-lurking-in-the-arab-spring.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Amnesty International Report

The most recent Amnesty International Report on Syria has focused on the issue of detention. It concludes that:

‘The prevailing situation in Syria has been one in which widespread torture and other ill-treatment are reported in Syria’s interrogation and detention centres and members of security forces effectively benefit from immunity from prosecution... Furthermore, what Amnesty International has documented is sufficient to conclude that there is a pattern of deaths in custody of suspected opponents of the regime occurring in circumstances that suggest that torture and other ill-treatment, including possibly denial of medical care, have been factors in the deaths.’

The report recounts individual stories of detention and torture adding to the growing force of the human rights criticism against the Syrian Government. Amnesty International supports calls for the International Criminal Court to investigate possible crimes against humanity.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE24/035/2011/en/e4ed18bf-25c6-4eba-af40-2995299c4eb1/mde240352011en.pdf

Iran acknowledges protesters 'legitimate demands'

The Foreign Minister of Syria’s closest ally Iran has said that the "government should answer to the demands of its people". It was an unexpected move by Iran causing some commentators to suggest that the Syrian Government is now in dire straits, having lost the support of its closest ally. The comments did not, however, call for President Assad to step down. The remarks, whilst being a major change in public discourse, are not life threatening given the Syrian Government’s own public commitment to introduce reforms.

Where is Gaddafi?

Rebels yesterday stormed Gaddafi’s Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli. Whilst it seems their victory is near complete the question remains: where is Gaddafi and what are his plans? Is he in a position to continue to fight or is he simply on the run? World leaders, NATO and the rebels have all stated that they have no idea where Gaddafi currently is. South Africa has denied helping him flee the country and the US department of defence has confirmed that they believe he is still in Libya.

In a recent audio message Gaddafi pledged ‘martyrdom or victory’ and his son Saif Gaddafi said that the situation is Tripoli was ‘a trap’, presumably to lure rebels into a false sense of victory. Another possibility is that he may have gone to his birthplace of Sirte, which has been a stronghold of loyalists, or to his ancestral home of Sabha in the south of Libya.

The persistence of fighting in towns outside Tripoli, as well as the presence of pro-Gaddafi snipers on the streets of Tripoli, suggest that the fighting is not yet over. A spokesman for Gaddafi said loyalists were capable of carrying on fighting ‘not just for days or weeks, but for years’ and in his broadcast message Gaddafi called for ‘youth, seniors, women, men and armed committees’ to ‘attack Tripoli and comb the areas and eradicate the traitors and rats’. In response to the concerns of prolonged violence world leaders have called on Gaddafi to stop fighting and admit defeat.

The fall of Gaddafi could have consequences around the region, particularly for countries like Syria where the regime is teetering on the edge.

Assad warns against intervention

In an interview on Syrian national television on Sunday night President Assad laid out his position on the current situation in Syria. In his view the regime is in no danger of falling to the protests and the security institutions continue to have a legitimate role to play in maintaining security. He expressed defiance towards calls for him to step aside accusing the ‘colonial powers’ of seeking to weaken Syria rather than give it space to reform and warned that ‘any action against Syria will have huge consequences that they [foreign countries] can never tolerate’.

Finally, he again raised the question of political reform. He suggested that a law on forming political parties would be issued next week and that elections for the parliament could be held in February 2012. The question remains as to whether such reforms will have any impact on the protests in Syria. Spurred on by international condemnation of the Syrian regime, moves towards reform are unlikely to appease protesters who have heard talk of reform before but not seen it materialise.

UN humanitarian mission to visit Syria

In a spate of international activity over Syria, the US, Canada, France, Germany, Britain and the EU have all called for the President Assad to step down. Simultaneously, Syria has agreed to allow a team from the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) access to Syria to verify claims that all army operations against protesters have ended and to report on the human rights situation in the country. This comes at the same time as the UN released a report on the human rights situation in Syria recommending to the UN Security Council (UNSC) that members of the Syrian regime be referred to the International Criminal Court.

On Thursday, the coordinated call by a number of western governments for Assad to stand down came with increased sanctions and a commitment to draft a UNSC sanctions resolution on Syria. President Obama said ‘the future of Syria must be determined by its people, but President Bashar al-Assad is standing in their way.’ With a US official noting ‘we lost patience with him… Assad has a perfect record of empty promises.’ Russia meanwhile has rejected the calls for Assad to stand down, instead suggesting that countries should be helping the regime implement its programme of reforms. Russia has threatened to veto any UNSC resolution that opens the door to international intervention in Syria.

The UN humanitarian mission is due to arrive in Syria on Saturday and will spend four days touring areas where there has been reported violence. This important development will hopefully contribute to a clearer picture of what is happening on the ground in Syria. International media are prohibited from entering Syria and reporting on the situation has been plagued by an inability to confirm rumours and reports. The UN humanitarian chief said Damascus had pledged that the mission "will have full access to where we want to go". The mission comes after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke to President Assad by telephone on Wednesday. During the call President Assad claimed that all army operations against protesters had ended.

All these events have encouraged protesters on the ground. One veteran dissident in Damascus said ‘I am jubilant. This came at the right time for the street’. In contrast, Syria's ambassador to the UN says the US is waging a "diplomatic and humanitarian war" against his country. As international pressure mounts, it is still difficult to see how and when this stand off will end.

The future of Iranian support for Syria

Reports of recent months suggest that Tehran is playing a large role in shaping and supporting the current crack down on protesters by the Syrian regime. This leads to numerous important questions such as: just how much support is Iran providing - particularly if support will limit the impact of sanctions; and how strong is the Iranian commitment to Assad - will they jump ship when it looks certain that Assad will go or will they be prepared to fight side by side with the Syrian regime if the situation escalates?

In recent months there have been reports of security forces in Syria being heard speaking Farsi, rumours that Iran has agreed to fund a military base in Latakia through which Iranian military hardware could be transferred to Syria (which Iran has denied), and reports from a former Syrian security officer that he knew of Iranian troops and snipers on the ground in Syria. Such reports are leading many to suggest that Syria is basing its response to the protesters on Iranian advice – most noting that the Iranian regime has experience in quelling protests. The Asia Times Online has reported speaking with an Iranian intelligence source who admitted Iran has provided support in the fields of psychological warfare and information management but denied Iran was exporting riot control techniques. He also indicated, however, that some Iranian officials felt a ‘deep unease’ about the methods being employed in Syria.

Syria is a key ally for Iran in the region, forming an integral part of what is often called the ‘axis of resistance’ aimed challenging the role of the US and Israel in the region. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman this week reiterated support for the regime saying that Iran sees no justification for any Western intervention in the internal affairs of Syria. There is no doubt that Iran is supporting the Assad regime, but one must ask, how far this support will extend if the situation escalates. Some Iranian foreign policy experts have already started questioning whether Iran is setting itself up for a fall being so closely aligned to the Assad regime. Unconditional support risks Iran being left out in the cold if the Assad regime falls.

Naval attack on Latakia

In what represents a significant escalation in firepower, the Syrian government has deployed the navy to attack the port town of Latakia. Residents and human rights groups are reporting that 27 people have been killed as forces attacked by land and sea. The land assault began on Saturday and on Sunday Syrian naval forces fired shells on the city. Journalists have not been able to independently verify the reports because of restrictions on international journalists reporting in Syria.

Local sources say that the attack on Latakia continues today while at the same time Syrian troops and tanks are entering several towns in Homs province. Latakia has been home to large anti-government protests with one resident suggesting that around 20,000 people have been rallying daily.

Clinton calls for wider sanctions of Syria

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton yesterday called on European countries as well as India and China to step up their pressure on the Syrian regime. She said ‘what we really need to do to put the pressure on Assad is to sanction the oil and gas industry.’ Not being a major economic partner of Syria, the US has been working to drum up international support for sanctions against Syria’s oil and gas sector. The sectors provide as much as a third of the regime’s revenues. It is reported that Washington is also encouraging energy companies trading with Syria to cease. Clinton said Washington had been "very clear" in its statements about Assad's loss of legitimacy but the "real trick" was to convince Syria’s trading partners to do more.

Defence Minister 'More Than Alive'

ian_black (twitter) ali habib, sacked syrian defence minister is "more than alive" according to damascus source who saw him this morning

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/syrian-defense-minister-killed/2011/03/29/gIQAbyzx4I_blog.html


http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=233057


http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4106489,00.html


The rumours that circulated yesterday, from the mouths of websites such as the Washington Post, have been proven to be false. The Defence Minister General Ali Habib's reported sacking the day before marks one of the biggest shake ups of the al-Assad government since the uprising began earlier this year. The next day, rumours regarding his assassination at the hands of President Assad emerged from various sources.





Habib emerged on television through the Syrian Arab News Agency to deny reports that he was dead. He also confirmed the reports that he stepped down as a result of ill health.


Ali Habib has been replaced by General Daoud Rajha as Defence Minister. These events remind us/me of the importance to check the credibility of sources before reporting yet another dramatic story regarding Syria.


http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/08/09/363176.htm

The Elite Situation

It is undeniable that the Syrian elite play some role in the production of keeping the al-Assad family in government. Their position is even more integral in keeping the government in power during a time of crisis, where dozens of key figures and countries have emerged to criticise the bloodshed in Bashar's campaign against Syria.


As described by Anthony Shadid for the New York Times (7th August 2011), there are now indications that the business elite is bracing and preparing itself for the downfall of the Assad government. Shadid describes the elite as 'one of the most important pillars of the Syrian leadership, notably during th Islamist revolt in 1982.


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/08/world/middleeast/08syria.html?pagewanted=2&ref=middleeast


Shadid further goes on to talk about the military in Syria. Unlike in Egypt, where the military refused to fire on civilians, and in Libya, where there were top level defections in the military, in Syria, the body remains intact, cohesive and loyal. With some 70% of the composition being Alawite, the military has provided to be particularly difficult to split from the Assad government.

An Associated Press article for Fox News (4th August 2011) goes on to say why this is so. It describes that Syria is greatly contrasting to the events that occured in Libya and Egypt. In Libya, for example, there were 'tribal divisions and longstanding resentment towards Gaddafi', whilst in Egypt, the military was largely made of conscripts who were disinclined to fight their own people.


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/04/us-struggles-to-drive-wedge-in-syrias-military-elite/


In contrast, the army in Syria is elite and Alawite, the sect to which al-Assad belongs, providing less divide and more stability or loyalty in comparison to their parallels in Libya or Egypt. In general, they are less prone to defection, which may be a reason for the survival of the al-Assad government thus far.


Sami Moubayed's article for Gulf News (2nd August 2011) further analysed why the business elites have not yet turned against the al-Assad government. It describes that the cities of Damascus and Aleppo are in fact 'operating' normally. Aleppo has been immune from the economic crisis and has not suffered problems like the rest of Syria largely due to its large trading relationship with Turkey. Aleppo has also learnt from its mistake of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in 1982, which has apparently led to their dormant business elite. Furthermore, Moubayed states that the business elite in Damascus are in fact no longer in Damascus, but in the suburbs surrounding the city.


http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/why-damascus-aleppo-are-silent-for-now-1.845867


Overall, Moubayed thinks that the business elite remain allied to the Syrian government because of their political, social and economic interests. 'Both cities can make or break any political movement - but rarely have they been part of anything that threatens stability or their commercial interests.' Interestingly, Moubayed lists three reasons why this will soon be no more, and the two cities will kick up a fuss. These are the increasing levels of unemployment, lack of community leaders and demographics, where Damascus is described as the 'melting point of all Syrians.


The importance of the elites is certain, however their actions in the coming weeks or months are not. I believe that change, perhaps in overthrowing the al-Assad government, will orginate from this body.

Defence Minister Switched Then Killed

This is the question circulating in Syria at the moment. President Bashar al-Assad's Defence Minister, who was replaced yesterday (Monday), has been found dead in his home today. Reports from authorities say that he was suffering a deterioration in his health, and that his illness was the cause of his dismissal. His death, reported by the opposition and activists, is yet to be confirmed, but otherwise presents and interesting coincidence.





It has been suggested by London daily al-Sharq al-Awsat that General Ali Habib was axed from the Syrian government as a result of his objection to military intervention in Hama, which has resulted in the death of hundreds of civilians. This is because he believed it would lead to soldier defections. Opposition websites further claim that he was assassinated by Al-Assad's men, in particular, Bashar's brother, Maher Assad.


Habib has been replaced by General Daoud Rajha, Al-Assad's former chief of staff. President al-Assad spoke out on Sunday to say that Syria is on the path to reform. The events of this weekend, in Syria and in the Syrian government, demonstrate that this is unlikely.

This article is incorrect! See more recent post on the Syrian Defence Minister.

Syria Surrounded

The government action in Syria marks perhaps the bloodiest week since the uprising began this year. The entrance of tanks into Hama and Deir al-Zour has caused the deaths of hundreds of people this weekend. As the brutality appears to continue, the neighbours around Syria are placing pressure on President al-Assad's regime and condemning his actions.


They follow on from a domino effect of countries openly criticising the Syrian government, calling for an end to the violence and an appreciation of human rights. The streets have been emptied by government forces that feel threatened by the possibility of increased protest accompanying the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Residents that have managed to flee the city say that 400 people have been killed over the past 4 days.

Today, Turkey's foreign minister will travel to Syria to demand an end to government violence. This follows King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia who further criticises the government action on its own people. Kuwait and Bahrain have joined these neighbouring countires in recalling their envoys to Damascus.


The head of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi, stated that he wishes the crisis can be overcome by 'peaceful means' and 'serious dialogue towards the reconciliation that the people have been demanding.' Al-Azhar, the top Sunni Muslim authority, have also stated that the actions have 'gone too far.'

Pope Benedict XVI also called for Mr Assad to respond to the 'legitimate aspirations' of the people.


The 'strong statements' presented by influential figures within the region are praised by the US State Department, who say they are 'very much encouraged.'