Syria on brink of chaos as soldiers open fire on 4,000 demonstrators

Sympathy: Syrians protest in Beirut
12 April 2012

Syrian security forces today opened fire on thousands of anti-government protesters.

Witnesses said police fired live rounds and tear gas at up to 4,000 people demonstrating in the southern city of Daraa. Pro-democracy activists claim more than 100 people have been killed as President Bashar Assad has tried to suppress protests which have spread to at least six cities across the country.

Demonstrators today converged on a main square in Daraa chanting "We want dignity and freedom" and "No to emergency laws". It was unclear whether the police fire killed anyone. Syrian troops have also been deployed in force in the northern city of Latakia where at least 12 people have been killed after demanding an end to emergency rule that has been in place for almost 50 years.

Residents have set up their own checkpoints to guard against armed youths roaming the streets who they fear work for the government. Syrian vice-president Farouq al-Shara said today that President Assad, who has been in power for 11 years, would announce important decisions which will "please the Syrian people", suggesting an end to the state of emergency and lifting of other restrictions on civil liberties.

The uprising started in Deraa on March 18 and has spread across the country. Hundreds of men have been holding a sit-in at the al-Omari Mosque in Deraa, which has become the key focal point of the protest movement.

Ammar Qurabi, an exile in Egypt who heads Syria's National Organisation for Human Rights, said there appeared to be divergent views within the Syrian leadership, with one branch wanting a crackdown and another believing in dialogue.

He said Assad must address the people and show some transparency as quickly as possible.
"People are asking themselves, where is he? Why doesn't he make an appearance?" said Mr Qurabi. "Assad must choose whether he wants to go the way of the Moroccan king, who has pledged to sponsor broad constitutional reforms, or the Gaddafi way. Which is it going to be?" In Latakia, home to 450,000 people, police cars were smashed in the main Sheikh Daher square and a mobile phone company owned by a cousin of President Assad was set alight.

At one of the city's two hospitals, officials said they treated 90 wounded people on Friday. Many had gunshot wounds to the hands or feet, while others were in a critical condition.

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