On the day Syria signed (click title to entry - thank you) on to the Arab League peace deal that seeks to end the country’s deadly revolt, security forces reportedly shot dead at least 11 villagers at a roadblock near Homs.
The day after Syrian tanks fired on Homs itself, killing at least four people.
If this is the way the accord will start, a dialogue between the government and the protesters, one of the agreement’s key conditions, will be rejected outright by the demonstrators. The protesters doubt President Bashar Assad’s intentions and want to wait and see how he will implement the peace accord on the ground. By the looks of things, this bloody beginning of what was supposed to be a new chapter, and may be the end of the conflict, is not the end, and demonstrators will not have to wait long to make what is surely a similar assessment.
This is extremely unfortunate because the Arab League appeared to have finally persuaded Assad that his violent seven-month crackdown on the opposition will not bring stability to the country. According to the agreement, Syria agreed to withdraw all tanks and armored vehicles from the streets, stop violence against protesters, release all political prisoners and begin a dialogue with the opposition within two weeks. Damascus also agreed to allow journalists, rights groups and Arab League representatives to monitor the situation in the country. In a nation in which at least 3,000 people have been killed since April, this is a comprehensive plan which comes none too soon and which apparently suits all concerned....
The "Voice of America" is reporting tank shelling.
November 04, 2011
The Reuters news agency quotes activists who say government shelling killed at least three people in Homs on Friday. On Thursday, they blamed Syrian forces for at least 12 deaths in the city.
The opposition Local Coordination Committees urged opponents of President Bashar al-Assad to take to the streets after Friday prayers with new calls for his departure.
On Wednesday, the Arab League brokered a plan to halt violence and convene talks between the government and the opposition. However, Thursday's deaths and military action cast doubt on a quick implementation of the plan.
In Cairo Thursday, members of the opposition Syrian National Council met with the Arab League chief to discuss the way forward....
If this is the way the accord will start, a dialogue between the government and the protesters, one of the agreement’s key conditions, will be rejected outright by the demonstrators. The protesters doubt President Bashar Assad’s intentions and want to wait and see how he will implement the peace accord on the ground. By the looks of things, this bloody beginning of what was supposed to be a new chapter, and may be the end of the conflict, is not the end, and demonstrators will not have to wait long to make what is surely a similar assessment.
This is extremely unfortunate because the Arab League appeared to have finally persuaded Assad that his violent seven-month crackdown on the opposition will not bring stability to the country. According to the agreement, Syria agreed to withdraw all tanks and armored vehicles from the streets, stop violence against protesters, release all political prisoners and begin a dialogue with the opposition within two weeks. Damascus also agreed to allow journalists, rights groups and Arab League representatives to monitor the situation in the country. In a nation in which at least 3,000 people have been killed since April, this is a comprehensive plan which comes none too soon and which apparently suits all concerned....
The "Voice of America" is reporting tank shelling.
November 04, 2011
Syrian Forces Renew Shelling in Homs (click here)
Activists say Syrian forces renewed tank fire in the central city Homs on Friday, as opposition leaders called for mass demonstrations to test the government's commitment to a new peace plan.The Reuters news agency quotes activists who say government shelling killed at least three people in Homs on Friday. On Thursday, they blamed Syrian forces for at least 12 deaths in the city.
The opposition Local Coordination Committees urged opponents of President Bashar al-Assad to take to the streets after Friday prayers with new calls for his departure.
On Wednesday, the Arab League brokered a plan to halt violence and convene talks between the government and the opposition. However, Thursday's deaths and military action cast doubt on a quick implementation of the plan.
In Cairo Thursday, members of the opposition Syrian National Council met with the Arab League chief to discuss the way forward....
