Syria: Assad troops 'fire on Friday prayers protesters'

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Syrian troops are reported to have opened fire on protesters as thousands marched after Friday prayers against President Bashar al-Assad's government.

At least three people were injured near Damascus, witnesses said, and reports said security forces opened fire near protesters in Homs and in Hama.

In concessions to protesters on Thursday, President Assad formally ended five decades of emergency rule.

Human rights groups say more than 200 people have died in weeks of protests.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13167433

[al bupp]

1. AJE: Deaths reported in Friday protests in Syria

Aljazeera English reports on this topic:

At least 20 people have reportedly been killed in Syria, as mass protests are being held across the country.

Deaths were reported in the central city of Homs, Douma and the southern city of Azraa.

Security forces fired tear gas to disperse protesters in Damascus calling for the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, according to reports received by Al Jazeera.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets for rallies on what activists have dubbed "Great Friday", in what they say could become the biggest protests against the government to date.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/201142212452973755.html">Video at link

[Turborama]

3. That's been updated to 22, now.

And according to their live blog that number is steadily rising.

[Turborama]

2. Protests are taking place all over Syria. Al Jazeera English's live blog is very informative

And can be found here: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/middle-east/syria-live-blog-april-22

[Turborama]

4. 27 killed in Syrian protests: witnesses

Syrian security forces fired live bullets and tear gas Friday on pro-democracy demonstrations across the country, killing at least 27 people — including a young boy — as the uprising against President Bashar Assad's authoritarian regime defied a deadly security crackdown, witnesses said.

Protesters flooded into the streets after Muslim prayers in at least five major areas across the country, a sign that Assad's attempts to quell the monthlong protests with a deadly crackdown and promises of reform have all but failed.

"Bullets started flying over our heads like heavy rain," said one witness in Izraa, a southern village in Daraa province, the same region where the uprising kicked off in mid-March.

The protest movement has been the gravest challenge against the autocratic regime led by Assad, who inherited power from his father 11 years ago in one of the most rigidly controlled countries in the Middle East.

Full article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/04/22/syria-friday-protests.html

[David__77]

5. BBC headlines are annoying.

In my opinion... They put an uncorroborated assertion in the headline, then slap some quotes around it, as if they is strong enough signal that the assertion is not corroborated. There are too few details in this article. "Protesters reported?" Who, specifically? The Guardian article is even worse.

What's troublesome, is that if the accusation was directed at some Western country, it would not be editorially treated the same way.

[Turborama]

6. The BBC headline has been updated to: "Syria unrest: 'Bloodiest day' as troops fire on rallies"

They have also updated the death toll to 60, at the time of replying, and added a video report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13167433

Al Jazeera English are reporting 68...

7:40pm
Activists have compiled a list of 68 people killed in protests today, including from Moadamia (8), Homs (15), Douma (8), Izraa (15), Zamalka (5), Harasta (3), Barzeh (2).
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/middle-east/syria-live-blog-april-22

[Turborama]

7. The Guardian: Syria troops kill protesters in country's bloodiest day of turmoil

Dozens reportedly killed as live bullets and teargas used against rallies after Friday prayers

Katherine Marsh in Damascus and Simon Tisdall | Friday April 22 2011 16.06 BST

Syria endured its bloodiest day yet of the Arab Spring as mass protests against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad brought turmoil to dozens of towns and cities across the country and security forces reportedly gunned down dozens of people.

Despite a string of government concessions earlier in the week, including the lifting of the hated 48-year-old emergency law, tens of thousands of demonstrators demanding greater political freedom and an end to Ba'ath party rule took to the streets after Friday prayers.

Security forces that deployed overnight close to Damascus and other key cities ignored appeals to eschew violence, opening fire with live rounds and using teargas against several pro-democracy protests, activists and witnesses reported. Although firm information was difficult to obtain, at least 49 people were reported killed, including two in Douma, at least one in Homs, at least six in the southern town of Izraa, and others in Moudamiya, outside Damascus, the activists said.

With more casualties being reported by the hour, there were fears the final toll may be significantly higher.

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/22/syria-protests-forces-shoot

[Viva_La_Revolution]

8. At least 70 dead in Syria's bloodiest day of unrest

Source: Reuters

Syrian security forces killed at least 70 protesters on Friday, rights activists said, the bloodiest day in a month of escalating pro-democracy demonstrations against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian rights organization Sawasiah said 70 civilians had been killed across the country, in the biggest demonstrations to sweep Syria so far. Wissam Tarif, director of human rights group Insan, gave a similar death toll.

"At least 72 people have been killed so far. The number of injured exceeds 80 people in Homs and its villages and the villages (near the southern city) of Deraa," he told Reuters.

It was not possible to independently confirm the figures.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/22/us-syria-protests-idUSTRE73L1SJ20110422?WT.tsrc=Social%20Media&WT.z_smid=twtr-reuters_%20com&WT.z_smid_dest=Twitter

[tekisui]

9. Damn.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. At least 80 people were reportedly killed and dozens were injured..Al Arabiya

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/04/22/146329.html

[Uncle Joe]

11. Kicked and recommended for democracy in Syria.

Thanks for the thread, Viva_La_Revolution.

[JCMach1]

12. Bloody Friday in Syria: 70 protesters killed as security forces open fire

Source: Gulf News

Syrian security forces fired on protesters throughout the country, killing more than 60 people, according to witnesses.

For the first time, protests swept through every Syrian city and province including Damascus, Daraa, Douma, Hama, Jabla, Kamishli and 20 other Syrian towns for what was dubbed Good Friday protests.

Ten thousand people took to the streets in the city of Salamiya near Hama for the first time since the uprising movement began.

"The churches in Daraa were opened for the people who were injured in the protests and Syrians proved once again that they are united regardless of their religious differences and sectarian backgrounds," Shaikh Ahmad Al Sayasneh, the Imam of Al Omari Mosque in Daraa, said...

Read more: http://gulfnews.com/news/region/syria/bloody-friday-in-syria-70-protesters-killed-as-security-forces-open-fire-1.798002

---

Syria is getting really ugly, really quickly...

[Viva_La_Revolution]

13. Reuters: Death toll in Syria protests rises to 88 civilians, activists claim

BreakingNews
Reuters: Death toll in Syria protests rises to 88 civilians, activists claim
15 minutes ago

CBSNews
#Syria: eyewitness tweets and youtube videos of massacre shock the world http://bit.ly/hpGpZ8 via @whatstrending
15 minutes ago

[AngryAmish]

14. Hey Sammy, is this enough innocent people dying?

Or do we stand by and watch all these folks die? If we do, then why are we in Libya?

[wellst0nev0ter]

15. So Are We Going To Send Predator Drones

to, you know, "prevent a bloodbath"?

[Baclava]

17. No, sorry. The body count isn't high enough for Nightly News

Afraid you're on your own, old chaps. Export a little more oil next time and we'll send you a Platinum Club Card membership.


It's the Best.

[rabs]

16. Obama puts his foot down

Yep, just like when he said "Gadaffi must go," -- now.


Blurb from the AP

Obama: Syria's 'outrageous' violence must end now

– 1 hr 6 mins ago
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is condemning the latest use of force by Syria against anti-government demonstrators and says the regime's "outrageous" use of violence against the protesters must "end now."

At least 75 people were killed Friday when Syrian security forces fired bullets and tear gas at thousands of protesters across the country. It was the bloodiest day of the monthlong uprising against President Bashar Assad.

In a statement, Obama says Syria's moves a day earlier to repeal a decades-old emergency law and allow peaceful demonstrations were not serious in light of Friday's events.

He called on Assad to change course and obey the will of his people by giving them what they seek — freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and the ability to choose their leaders.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_syria_obama