Syrian rebels fail to achieve Russia’s support against President Assad

Moscow seems unmoved from Syrian protesters’ call for endorsing their fight against President Bashar al-Assad.

Burhan Ghalion, the chief of Syrian National Council [SNC], and who is also leader the protesters demanding Assad’s resignation, stated that he failed to convince Russia to support their struggle. Ghalion was in Moscow for a talk with Russian diplomats.

Instead, Russian leaders asked SNC leader to negotiate with President Assad and stop violent demonstrations. Clashes between Syrian government forces and protesters have caused hundreds of deaths so far.

Last Monday, around 70 people lost their lives in another conflict. Human right activists are strongly opposing violence in Russia.

However, the claims of deaths of civilians can not be verified even as the Syrian government has restricted access to country for foreign media.

According to the United Nations, around 3500 people have died since demonstrations started in Syria calling  President Assad to resign. However, the Syrian government claims the deaths were caused by violence by militant groups.

The Russian government does not support UN Security Council’s criticism against Syria and also flayed the Arab League for suspending Syria’s membership. There was no agreement on any issue between the Syrian opposition leader and Kremlin, revealed Ghalion in Moscow. He further revealed that he felt President Assad’s oppressive government enjoyed full support from the Russian government.

Sudanese protest to support Syrian rebels

Supporters of Syrians’ fights against autocratic government protested in Khartoum on Friday.for the protesters called on Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad to resign.

The Syrian protests began following the surge of revolution in the Middle East and neighboring countries which led to ouster of many dictators—as in Egypt, Libya and others.

Sudan that has been a good supporter of Syrian president Assad’s main friend Iran, is openly calling on people to demonstrate, In fact, the Sudanese police deliberately allowed protesters to gather and chant slogans against Assad.

The protesters overwhelmingly shouted “Oh Bashar, oh you coward, the Muslims are right here,” and appealed the Syrian president to give in power to the rebels.

Sudanese have strongly favored fundamentalist Muslims and they support Sunni rebels in Syria against autocratic government. Thus their support to Syrian protesters has religious grounds.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir gave full support to Libyan rebels in their fight against military dictator Col Mummar Gaddafi, who ruled Libyans ruthlessly for 42 years. However, al-Bashir suppressed anti-government protests in Sudan very diplomatically. Experts predict there might be further protests in Sudan too due to deteriorating economic condition and increasing inflation in the country.

Northern Sudan lost almost all its oil resources following its separation from South Sudan when the later declared freedom in July. Since then, the Khartoum government is facing economic crisis.

Libyan military claims Gaddafi’s hometown Sirte under control

The transitional government’s security personals in Libya say they have captured Gaddafi’s hometown now as they have advanced near Sirte. The military forces could delayed marching directly in the town in order to avoid civilian casualties and fierce fighting.

With gaining control over Sirte, Libya’s new rulers will establish control over the entire country. It’s been two months since the rebellions waged their war against the autocratic ruler Muammar Gaddafi and seized capital Tripoli from his control.

According to new government’s commander of the Shohada Al-Manatair brigade, Mahmoud Bayu, there have been much advancement toward Sirte. He added that the military forces had already entered Ouagadougou conference centre despite fighting being continued.

National Transitional Council (NTC) forces have also taken hospitals under their control and also arrested many pro-Gaddafi fighters who were attacking from the hospital with rocket-propelled grenades. Another commander of new government, Salah Mustafa stated that they are evacuating sick and injured people while probing about those who have claimed themselves as doctors.

Around 15 pro-Gaddafi supporters were evacuated from the hospital premises.

The commander further revealed that the NTC forces had already reached the main center of the city and they were waiting for 75,000 civilians to leave the city.

Amber Miller

Syrian military attacks cartoonist Ali Ferzat

Ferzat, a political cartoonist of was beaten by the Syrian military for being critical of Assad’s regime.

He was found bleeding at Damascus roadside.

At present,Ali Ferzat is lying in a hospital bed in Damascus following an attack on him by few masked armed soldiers. They left him on the side of a road bleeding heavily.

Ali Ferzat, 60,  is renowned cartoonist of Arab world, popular for vivid drawings to show freedom of expression. He is considered a revolutionary cartoonist. The attack haveee occurred following a dialogue between Iranian diplomat, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Syrrriaaan President Assad for peaceful resolution to ongoing protests in the country.

Ferzat has been working for an art gallery in central Damascus. He has openly criticized the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats of Syria as well as other Arab nations. He was also threatened of death from ex-Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. Ferzat has recently started making drawings showing the uprisings of the Arab world.

In reaction to his criticism, the cartoonist was captured by the Assad-supporting military forces, and taken into a van. The soldiers broke his hands and said that it was just a warning to stop him from raising voice against the President Assad.

Turkey Had the Key for Regional Plan on Syria

As the protest the continued over the rule of president Assad is continuing the Syrian government has intensified its attacks against the protesters. This was evident on Sunday when the Syrian government sends their gun ships to shell the town of Latakia. Despite the increase in crackdown by the government the rebellion is only increasing.

The prosecution of the conflict so far and the international response to it had shown that the regional powers must intervene in the crisis if it is not to have a ripple effect. Turkey one of the neighbours of Syria is believed to hold the key for the intervention of the regional bodies or the neighbours of Syria in the crisis.

The people of Syria have demonstrated to the extent that the international community has to intervene. If the politics is completely local there would not be easy resolution of the crisis and if it escalates it will affect the neighbours.

Similar situation is playing out in Afghanistan where each of the neighbours is involved in one plan or the other to have control over the situation in the country. The neighbours know that the crisis would take a new dimension once international forces leave the scene. This situation applies to Turkey because it is in a better position to exploit the situation.

UN Scribe Calls for Action Against Syria

The scribe of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki Moon has called on the world powers to press action on Syria to end the attack on anti government protesters in the country and listen to the demands of the protesters. The secretary general said that resolution on the crises would help the people of Syria. Ban Ki Moon was talking to the press in New York on the same day he was re-elected for the UN top job for a second term of five years.

The secretary general advised President Assad to respect the will of people of Syria and listen to and address the grievances of the protesters. Since Syria started using heavy forces against its citizens that are protesting were against the government the United Nations Security Council has been unable to pass a resolution.

Russia and China are standing as opposition against a US draft resolution that was seeking to condemn the Syrian government. The draft was also opposed by India, Brazil and South Africa.

The protest against the government of President Assad started in mid March and it has continued. The Assad family had ruled Syria for more than forty years. The current president ascended into power about eleven years ago after the death of his father who has ruled the country for more than three decades. The protest is centered against the continued of rule of Assad and they are demanding for reforms in the country including regime change.

Syrians flee into Turkey to evade crackdown

It is reported that well of 1,500 Syrian citizens have fled their country to neighboring Turkey to run away from anticipated government crackdown. This is a sign that president Assad is using heavy force against the growing opposition that is working to overthrow his regime.

So far the efforts of the Syrian opposition to crush their autocratic regime as the other Arab states are doing is leading to crackdown and death of Syrians.

So far the western world and international community have not done more than ordinary condemnation of the crackdown. Recently the British government had asked the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution against the highhandedness of Assad.

Syrian resident near the border are crossing over to avert the attack by the military. It is reported that about 40 tanks and soldiers had moved near the town of Jisr al- Shughour. This is the area where it is reported that an armed group had killed about 120 security officers. There are about 50,000 Syrians living along that border.

There is a report of infighting among the Syrian security officers. It is reported that soldiers opened fire on those soldiers that refused to open fire on civilians.

Meanwhile demonstrations are still going on in the country. Women and children have joined the demonstration urging for a regime change in the country.



President Assad fails to check unrest in Syria

There seems to be no end to the crisis in Syria as protest has increased despite the heavy crackdown by the government. The protests in the country have entered the third month and the government could not quell the uprising in the country. The human casualties of the crisis have continued to increase. The number of casualties always increases on Fridays because protesters are normally joined by worshipers after the Friday prayers. Last Friday 12 people were reported to have died, this number is lower than the figures of casualties that are reported on Fridays. However the intensity of the protests is increasing.

It was reported that the Syrian army has carried out an attack on two tribal towns Telbiseh and Rastan. The two towns were close to the town of Homs. The soldiers used tank to shell Rastan. More than 40 people have already lost their lives as a result of the attack. There were several arrests made in that city by the soldiers. The road leading to Alepo the second largest city in Syria was closed also communication was cut off.

The unrest is now spreading to the entire country which means that all the strategies put forward by the government is not working. Instead of abetting the protest it is fuelling it.

Syrian military raid kills two children, 40 people in Homs

At least 42 people two of whom were children were killed Wednesday when the Syrian military raided city of Homs as part of the campaign by President Assad to quell the three months uprising in his country demanding he steps down from power.

The latest casualty list was released by human rights group in the country.
The government used tanks against the civilian population living in the city of Talbiseh, Al-Rastan and Teir maalar where there was heavy demonstration against the government last weekend. So far the casualties in those towns invaded by the military last weekend is not yet known but there is a report that the government has arrested large number of people around the neighborhood where the civil unrest took place.

Soldiers have invaded the town of Homs and there is heavy fighting going on in the city. In the town of Hajar al-Khateeb at least 10 people were killed when the army opened fire on school bus that was carrying school children from the town of Hajar al- Rastan to Homs. Also 4 people were killed when Syrian soldiers invaded a home in Al-Rastan.

The Syrian state owned television reported that about three soldiers have so far lost their lives in the operation. The figure could be much more than that.

Quattara takes over as Ivorian President

The new president of Ivory Coast Alassame Quattara has finally being inaugurated as the president as the country. The occasion was attended by some prominent personalities include the president of France Mr. Nicholas Sarkozy as well as other prominent leaders in many parts of the world.

Mr. Quattara was inaugurated after about six months or more of his election which foreign observers said was free and fair and credible but was prevented from forming government by the ousted president Gbagbo. Already the president was sworn in about few weeks ago but the present ceremony was only a mere ceremony. The inauguration was done in the capital of the country Yamoussoukro. It was more like a rally in support of the president.

The inauguration was possible because of the ousting of Gbagbo whom the supporters of the new president pushed out of office after a battle that lasted for about five months. The new president in his speech said that Ivory Coast is facing the world with their destiny in their own hands adding that it is the time for the people to celebrate adding that they should all embrace peace.

There is no doubt that there are enormous challenges that are facing the new president, he has already reopened the banks and started paying civil servants.