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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Ba'athists Shutdown Anti-Assad Demonstration |
| 2005-03-10 |
| Reform rally disrupted in Syria Thursday, 10 March, 2005, 18:40 GMT The pro-government demonstrators overwhelmed the reformist A protest against the Syrian government in the capital, Damascus, has been disrupted by supporters of President Bashar al-Assad. About 100 activists calling for reforms were chased away from a square by marchers wielding placards and sticks. They didn't have a chance...Goons in all directions... The protest, intended to mark 42 years since the imposition of emergency laws, came a day after a large pro-government rally in the centre of Damascus. Syria is under intense pressure to ease its grip on political life in Lebanon. Opposition protesters have been rallying in Beirut to demand the withdrawal of Syrian troops that have been stationed in the country since 1976. On Tuesday, supporters of the Syrian presence in Lebanon responded with a massive demonstration in Beirut. Thursday's protest in Damascus was outnumbered and overwhelmed by "a flood of security agents wielding sticks and clubs", according to a rights group quoted by the Associated Press agency. Typical of Totalitarian thugs... Keep an eye on the protestors for "mysterious disappearances" The protesters had been calling for democratic reforms, the release of political prisoners and for greater rights for the country's Kurdish minority. Kurds, the bogeyman of that part of the world... Reports say they were charged by a group of about 500 government supporters, who arrived waving Syrian flags and placards bearing pictures of President Assad. charged by a group of about 500 WELL PAID government supporters A pro-government demonstrator told Reuters news agency: "We came to tell them that the whole of Syria is behind the president." Whole Syria stands with Assad, until he hides in a hole when the Marines are coming.... "This is democracy. We came and they came and we are the majority." Majority? So they act like bullies. Truly "democratic". |
| Posted by:BigEd |
| #3 All sympathy to them, but dont count on a govt collapse anytime soon. It's gotta start with somebody. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-03-10 8:08:16 PM |
| #2 The group protesting was the Committee for National Coordination for the Defense of Basic Freedoms and Human Rights - they were formed in Jan 05 by 4 smaller parties, 3 of them having mostly Kurdish membership. The biggest is the Kurdish Progressive Democratic party. |
| Posted by: mhw 2005-03-10 7:49:34 PM |
| #1 before you get your hopes up, all the anti-govt demonstrators were Kurds. who make up about 15% of the population. All sympathy to them, but dont count on a govt collapse anytime soon. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2005-03-10 5:17:03 PM |