Mass Protests begin in Syria after President Assad promises to end Emergency Rule
6 replies, posted
Source: [url]http://news.ca.msn.com/world/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=28410043[/url]
[QUOTE] Thousands of people waving Syrian flags and shouting "We Want Freedom!" took to the streets Sunday in Syria, a day after President Bashar Assad promised to end nearly 50 years of emergency rule, with reports that at least two people have been shot to death.
Eyewitness reports and human rights groups say it was not immediately clear who shot at the protesters in Homs, north of Damascus
An eyewitness said gunmen wearing black clothes opened fire at hundreds of people gathered Sunday in the Talbiseh district, killing at least two and wounding several others. A human rights activist confirmed the two deaths, but both spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
More than 200 people have been killed as security forces tried to crush the protests using live ammunition, tear gas and batons over the past four weeks.
The demonstrations come despite promises by Assad to end the widely despised state of emergency rule by next week at the latest, and implement other reforms following more than a month of unprecedented demonstrations.
But he coupled his concession with a stern warning that further unrest will be considered sabotage. Assad says armed gangs and a "foreign conspiracy" are behind the unrest, not true reform-seekers.
Syria's leading pro-democracy group, the Damascus Declaration, urged Syrians to stage peaceful protests in all Syrian cities and abroad Sunday to "bolster Syria's popular uprising and ensure its continuity."
"The regime alone stands fully responsible for the blood of martyrs and all that will happen next in the country," the group said in a statement posted on its website.
Other activists also called for protests through social network sites. [/QUOTE]
Before you get confused: The people of Syria aren't protesting against freedom or anything of the sort. They just think he's lying, so they're angry.
Alternatively:
:foxnews: Middle Easterners Protest after their President promised them Freedom! They clearly don't hold American values such as Democracy, Freedom of Speech or even Human Rights in high esteem. :foxnews:
I hope they succeed as well.
[I][B]ROW ROW FIGHT DA POWAH![/B][/I]
On a serious note, I wonder how many dominoes there are left to fall. We've had Egypt and Tunisia fall, and Syria and a couple of others are tottering back and forth.
herewegoagain.gif
Dictator kills protesters, protesters triple in size, dictator kills more protesters, protesters go out of control
if you're a dictator, just fucking give them what they want and go live in a villa somewhere for the rest of your life if you have to, just fuck off
Fucking Ba'athists.
I worry about the outcome. There may be a hardline anti-Israel group elected, given Syria's history. I dislike Israel as much as the next guy, but it's bad news for the country if another Islamist group gets elected. They love stuff like this.
nope.avi I think though it all depends on what the leadership and how the protesters react to this.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.