Syria given three days to stop

Sunnyisland

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15762260


The Arab League has given Syria three days to "stop the bloody repression" of protesters and allow in teams of observers.
Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim al-Thani said Syria faced sanctions if it did not co-operate.
At a meeting of the Arab League in Morocco, he said diplomatic efforts were "close to the end of the road".
As the meeting took place, angry crowds in Damascus attacked the embassies of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
Morocco responded by recalling its ambassador to Syria, AFP news agency reported.
Hours earlier - in another sign of Syria's increasing international isolation - France also said it was withdrawing its ambassador.
Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told parliament: "There has been renewed violence in Syria, which has led me to close our consular offices in Aleppo and in Latakia as well as our cultural institutes and to recall our ambassador to
Unconfirmed reports said six government soldiers were killed.
Correspondents says such an attack would be the highest profile operation so far by renegade troops.
The Commander of the Free Syrian Army, Riyad al-Assad, who is based in Turkey, told the BBC Arabic Service the international community had let them down in their fight against the regime.
"At the moment no country in the world has helped," he said.
"All of them, every country has refused. Even Turkey has never offered us even one bullet and has even completely banned operations on the border, or on the road to the border. On the other hand, we are from inside Syria, we work inside Syria and the weapons are from Syria."
He said defections were increasing within the Syrian army.

"Thank God, there is a big number [of defectors] the number increases daily. Now, over the past 10 days, defections have been increasing in a very very big way, even officers, a great number are defecting."
Meanwhile, anti-government activists reported further bloodshed across Syria on Wednesday.
The Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC) said 11 people had been killed in Homs, seven in Idlib and one each in Daraa and the suburbs of Damascus.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on its Facebook page that three defectors and a civilian were shot dead in Keferzita, Hama province.
Some 376 people had been killed since the announcement of the Arab League initiative on 2 November, the LCC said.
The UN says more than 3,500 people have died since protests started in March. Syrian authorities blame the violence on armed gangs and militants.
The Syrian government has severely restricted access for foreign journalists, and reports are difficult to verify.


It looks like its coming to a head there in syria with the outcome being the possible overthrow of the regime,How will that effect the rest of the region and how will Iran & Israel react ?

wes

Well, if the Arab League abandons Assad, then it seems to be only a matter of time, but it also seems like the chance for a peaceful solution may have sadly passed as well. Still one can hope that Assad has the common sense to not want to suffer the same fate as Gaddafi, and will leave the country and go somewhere to live a quite life some place that will take him in.

Manach

It might not be as simple as the President exiting the country. My understanding is that Assad belongs to a minority community group within Syria, which his family has favoured and incorporated into the ruling elite. Hence as the figurehead for this group he could be pressured into remaining in power, least they be subject to reprisals by other elements in the country. Outside groups such as Iran and Lebonese Militias who are backed by Syria just add to the mix.

brimal

wes wrote: »

Still one can hope that Assad has the common sense to not want to suffer the same fate as Gaddafi, and will leave the country and go somewhere to live a quite life some place that will take him in.

I don't think he should be allowed live a quiet life if he is responsible for the deaths of over 3000 people.



It will be interesting to see how Turkey & the Arab League deal with this situation. Hopefully with as little bloodshed as possible.

wes

brimal wrote: »

I don't think he should be allowed live a quiet life if he is responsible for the deaths of over 3000 people.

If he leaves quietly, so as to prevent more deaths, or a prolonged civil war like Libya, then I say let him go. Don't get me wrong, it will certainly leave a bad taste, but it would be worth it to prevent further killings.

Also, i think him sticking it out long term, will just result in the reprisals against the Alawi to be a hell of a lot worse, then if he made a deal, that could include protection for the Alawi imho. I can see them suffering in a similar manner to the Sunni's in Iraq, as they were largely associated with Saddam regime, and if Assad want to fight, I see a similar fate for the Alawi in Syria

nacho libre

The Alawites, a shia sect, Christians and the Druze all support Assad because they fear the consequences for them if he leaves. There the ones you see protesting in their tens of thousands in Damascus.

If Assad does leave power, i hope we won't see the emergence of the muslim brotherhood as a major political force. They claim to have abandoned their old methodology and become moderates, but I remain skeptical.

Jonny7

Unfortunately, on the surface, Assad looks like a harmless politician, akin to a tax collector rather than a dictator. But he and his brother (who controls the military) are killing their own people in the thousands rather than let go of the power. Still can't believe its taken this long for the Arab League to get their finger out.

If Assad goes, I hope there'll be serious change in Bahrain, Yemen, etc.

OS119

Jonny7 wrote: »

...If Assad goes, I hope there'll be serious change in Bahrain, Yemen, etc.

i think the Arab League (with Turkey playing a big role, and probably looking to expand its influence) is begining to attempt to manage change - that doesn't mean that these countries are keen on change, rather that they see the writing on the wall and are looking to make the process and aftermath as painless for them as possible, ie: not like Libya or Egypt.

of course, vested interest - and emnity - play a role in this: Syria is allied to Iran, none of the other ME states like Iran, and Syria itself isn't that popular - so no one is going to lose sleep over Assad meeting a grisly end, and knowing that the loss of its only state ally will hurt Irans' standing is just a juicy bonus. for most ME states, Syria is Libya but even better.

its quite possible that some of these states think that the more obviously unpleasent regimes can be bumped off and the rest of them will be able to continue as before, but i think that most of them genuinely understand that, in the long run, their regimes won't survive.

Sunnyisland

Germany, France and the UK have tabled a UN resolution calling for an end to human rights violations in Syria and urging Damascus to implement the Arab League plan. The draft was also backed by four Arab countries.

Russia and China, which hold a veto at the UN, have refused to condemn Syria.

But France, another veto holder, says sanctions against Syria must be strengthened.

Speaking after talks in Turkey, the French foreign minister said: "We have called on [President] Assad to change but the regime did not want to know, which is not acceptable."

His Turkish counterpart, Ahmed Davutoglu, said it was time to escalate the pressure to stop the "massacre".

BlaasForRafa

The Soviets....sorry the Russians... are continuing their implicit support of despotic regimes by, according to this report, sending warships into Syrian waters to help protect the regime.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/report-russia-warships-to-enter-syria-waters-in-bid-to-stem-foreign-intervention-1.396359

karma_

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

The Soviets....sorry the Russians... are continuing their implicit support of despotic regimes by, according to this report, sending warships into Syrian waters to help protect the regime.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/report-russia-warships-to-enter-syria-waters-in-bid-to-stem-foreign-intervention-1.396359

Isn't that what the US do on a regular basis, support despotic regimes to protect their interests, yet I don't recall you having any issues with them.

Sunnyisland

At least two rocket-propelled grenades have hit a building of Syria's governing Baath Party in the capital Damascus, residents and activists say.

One witness said security forces had blocked off the square where the office is located, while smoke was seen rising from the building.

If confirmed, it would be the first such attack reported inside the capital since the uprising began in March.

It comes amid growing fears of civil war in Syria, after months of unrest.

Foreign journalists are unable to move around Syria freely, making it difficult to verify reports.

The opposition Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC) said "several" RPG rockets were shot at the Baath Party building in the Mazraa neighbourhood and that two fire brigades have been dispatched to the area.

An unnamed witness told the Reuters news agency the attack happened before dawn and said the building was mostly empty.

"Security police blocked off the square where the Baath's Damascus branch is located. But I saw smoke rising from the building and fire trucks around it," he told Reuters

"It seems to have been intended as a message to the regime," he added

Sunnyisland

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15901360

SYRIA CRISIS
The Arab League has approved sanctions against Syria, including an asset freeze and an embargo on investments.
It comes after months of unrest. The United Nations estimates about 3,500 people have died as Syria has sought to put down anti-government protests.
The Arab League suspended Syria earlier this month, in a move denounced by Damascus as meddling in its affairs.
League foreign ministers adopted the unprecedented sanctions at a meeting in Cairo by a vote of 19 to three.
It is the latest move to try to dissuade Syria from its continuing crackdown on protesters.
But Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem accused the league of seeking to "internationalise" the conflict.
Refusal to implement

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani gave details of the sanctions to a news conference in Cairo. They include:

• Cutting off transactions with the Syrian central bank
• Halting funding by Arab governments for projects in Syria
• A ban on senior Syrian officials travelling to other Arab countries
• A freeze on assets related to President Bashar al-Assad's government

The declaration also calls on Arab central banks to monitor transfers to Syria, with the exception of remittances from Syrians abroad.
Two of Syria's immediate neighbours, Iraq and Lebanon, voted against the sanctions. Ahead of the vote, Iraq suggested an economic blockade would not work in practice.

Sheikh Hamad said Iraq had abstained and would refuse to implement the sanctions, while Lebanon had "disassociated itself."
Iraq is Syria's second-biggest trading partner, accounting for 13.3% of Syria's trade, to a value of 6.78bn euros (£5.81bn; $8.97bn).
The EU, whose 27 members together represent Syria's largest source of trade, has already imposed sanctions on Damascus.
The US also has sanctions on Syria, while Turkey - which until recently had close ties to President Assad's government - has shelved plans for a joint oil exploration project with the Syrian state oil company.
The Arab League move is being portrayed in Damascus as part of a Western-inspired conspiracy to undermine the country because of its traditional resistance to Israel, says the BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon.
Syrian state television described the sanctions as "unprecedented measures aimed at the Syrian people".
Meanwhile, violence continued on Sunday with Syrian activists saying at least 11 people were killed across the country.
The flashpoint region of Homs saw at least six people killed in three separate incidents, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
On Saturday, Syria buried 22 members of the armed forces, including six elite pilots ambushed on a highway near Homs, following a recent upsurge of armed attacks on security forces.
'Humanitarian corridor'
The League threatened Syria with sanctions earlier this month after President Bashar al-Assad repeatedly failed to implement steps to end the violence, including allowing international observers to enter Syria.
Damascus depends on its Arab neighbours for half of its exports and a quarter of its imports, so the sanctions - supplemented by Syria's northern neighbour Turkey - will step up the pressure and increase Syria's sense of isolation.
On Saturday, Mr Muallem hit out at the group after it asked the UN to contribute to the proposed observer mission, calling it an invitation "for foreign intervention instead of a call to avoid one".
But Sheikh Hamad said the sanctions were necessary if the international community were to see that the Arab countries were "serious", the Reuters news agency reports.
"All the work that we are doing is to avoid this interference," he said, according to Reuters.

JustinDee

karma_ wrote: »

Isn't that what the US do on a regular basis, support despotic regimes to protect their interests, yet I don't recall you having any issues with them.

The original post is actually a far more apt reciprication to the sanctimonious anti-US and anti-West bilge that gets spewed out in such blinkered volume. This type of monocular carefully-selected tirade heavily outweighs any similar armchair 'outrage' over the antics of the likes of Russia and/or China.

BlaasForRafa

karma_ wrote: »

Isn't that what the US do on a regular basis, support despotic regimes to protect their interests, yet I don't recall you having any issues with them.

So in your world view 2 wrongs DO make a right, hmm?

SeanW

karma_ wrote: »

Isn't that what the US do on a regular basis, support despotic regimes to protect their interests, yet I don't recall you having any issues with them.

I think it is safe to say that the Russians, and in particular the Chinese (North Korea, "Myanmar" etc) are FAR worse on this score. By a country mile.

zero_hope

SeanW wrote: »

I think it is safe to say that the Russians, and in particular the Chinese (North Korea, "Myanmar" etc) are FAR worse on this score. By a country mile.

2 wrongs makes a right now does it?

SeanW

It just strikes me that the Chinese, Russians etc seem to get something of a "free pass" on this issue. I notice a lot of America bashing, for much less reason, e.g. North Korea and "Myanmar" from what I understand, are two of the most impoverished, corrupt, anti-democratic ****holes, cesspits of abject poverty, hopelessness and despair that it is possible to have in human civilisation. From my admittedly limited understanding, even the Shah of Iran pales in comparison to the the governments of the two aforementioned Chinese client states.

Yet for some reason people only seem to come out with the vitriol when it comes to the United States. In fact on another thread, (the one about Russia moving its Navy into Syrian waters) one poster considered it necessary to compare the United States to Nazi Germany!

Why is this? And why are similar comparisons not made/obscene rhetoric not written about China?

Sunnyisland

Syria seems to be slowly slipping towards civil war with a group calling itself the Free Army being set up,There have been numerous attacks on government building and Goverment soldiers throughout the last week or so and with the UN meeting today to access the situation it can only get worst for President Assad.