{"id":11248,"date":"2011-08-08T00:51:43","date_gmt":"2011-08-08T04:51:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/?p=11248"},"modified":"2011-08-08T00:51:43","modified_gmt":"2011-08-08T04:51:43","slug":"mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Mid East Governments Pressure Assad to Stop Killing and Hand over Power"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Deir ez-Zor<\/p><\/div>\n

Activists say 50 people killed in Deir ez-Zor<\/a>
\n07 Aug 2011<\/p>\n

Syrian forces have launched an assault on two towns, reportedly killing dozens of people in an increasingly violent crackdown on anti-government protests.<\/p>\n

According the Local Co-ordination Committees of Syria, an opposition human rights group, government forces killed more than 70 people across several cities.<\/p>\n

Activists also told Al Jazeera on Sunday that troops had killed at least 50 people in the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor alone. The city was under siege and electricity and phone lines were cut, according to another source. “Shelling has been heard in several areas,” Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human rights, told the AFP news agency.<\/p>\n

He also said that a sweeping campaign of arrests followed with “dozens” of people being taken into custody. Seven people, including two children, were also reported killed in the town of Al Holeh in the central Homs province. Abdel Rahman said about 25 tanks and troop carriers had entered Hula and carried out military operations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Syrian Forces Open Fierce Assault on Eastern City<\/a>, By ANTHONY SHADID, August 7, 2011<\/p>\n

Analysis: Syria army keeps cohesion but risks overstretch<\/a><\/p>\n

WINEP Outline of Key Syrian Opposition Members<\/a> by Tabler – provides useful map<\/p>\n

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s August 2 meeting in Washington with Syrian democracy activists, as well as U.S. ambassador to Syria Robert Ford’s comments at his Senate confirmation hearing later the same day, highlight the administration’s outreach to the Syrian opposition — a historically divided group that now must come together and prepare for a post-Asad transition. This featured graphic, including the attached descriptive essay, outlines the Syrian opposition and its key players.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Syrian protesters win support of Iraqi kinsmen<\/a> Reuters<\/p>\n

Despite the military siege on their town, some Albu Kamal residents are trying to smuggle their women and children into Iraq for safety while they pursue protests against Assad’s rule.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“My uncle is trying to send his family to Iraq,” said Ahmed Jassim, a Qaim supermarket owner told Reuters by telephone. “But he wants stay there (in Albu Kamal) until there is victory.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Syrian opposition admits armed insurgents are operating on fringe of uprising against Assad regime<\/a>
\nBy Adrian Blomfield, Telegraph<\/p>\n

Syria’s opposition has admitted that armed insurgents are operating on the fringes of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, raising fears that extremists could take the country into civil war….<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Saudi king recalls ambassador and demands end to Syria bloodshed<\/a>, Guardian<\/p>\n

Statement is sharpest criticism yet directed by Saudi Arabia against Arab state since Middle East unrest began<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Erdoghan sends Turkish Foreign Minister to up the Pressure on Syria<\/a>
\nSibel Utku Bila, Sunday, August 7, 2011<\/p>\n

ANKARA \u2013 H\u00fcrriyet Daily News\u00a0 PM Erdo?an\u2019s statement that Ankara\u2019s patience with Syria is running out draws a harsh response from Damascus ahead of a visit by the Turkish foreign minister. ‘The process from now on will take shape according to the response [al-Assad] will give and the practices on the ground,’ Erdo?an said Saturday.<\/p>\n

Turkey is set to deliver a final warning to Syria that it must end the bloodshed sweeping the country and introduce reforms or Ankara will join international measures against the regime, officials said Sunday.<\/p>\n

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu will go to Damascus on Tuesday to deliver this warning following the harshest reaction yet from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an to the deadly unrest sweeping Syria. Erdo?an said Saturday that Ankara\u2019s patience with the situation was running out and that Davuto?lu would convey \u201ca resolute message\u201d to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that he risks losing Turkey\u2019s support.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Turkey sends a message to Syria that Britain cannot – <\/a>
\nSimon Tisdall: Syrian visit by the Turkish foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, has the appearance of a showdown \u2013 but President Bashar al-Assad might listen<\/p>\n

The foreign secretary, William Hague, admitted last week there was not much more Britain could do to halt the Syrian crackdown, while his US counterpart, Hillary Clinton, has been reduced to counting the dead.<\/p>\n

But Turkey, Syria’s more powerful neighbour, is less supine. It is sending its foreign minister to Damascus on Tuesday to read the riot act to Syria’s gore-soaked president, Bashar al-Assad….<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

US envoy vows to monitor Syria violence firsthand<\/a>
\n7 August 2011
\nAgence France Presse<\/p>\n

The US envoy to Syria has returned to monitor the “grotesque” crackdown there, placing himself on a collision course with Damascus, which has imposed strict constraints on diplomats…..<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

State Department urges Americans to leave Syria<\/a>
\nBy MATTHEW LEE Associated Press
\nPosted: 08\/05\/2011<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON\u2014The State Department on Friday urged Americans in Syria to leave the country immediately and advised those who remain in the country to restrict their movements, as the Syrian government intensified a violent crackdown on opposition protesters. The warning came as congressional calls grew for the Obama administration to impose severe new sanctions on President Bashar Assad\u2019s regime.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Israel mum on Syria, US Jewish groups speak out<\/a>
\nBy GIL SHEFLER, JPOST CORRESPONDENT
\n08\/05\/2011<\/p>\n

American Jewish Committee says resolution not enough, more measures targeting Syrian government, country\u2019s energy sector should be passed.<\/p>\n

NEW YORK \u2013 Condemnation of Syria in the wake of the crackdown on anti-government movement in Hama that started last weekend has been vocal and near universal.<\/p>\n

Israel has been one of the few exceptions. Jerusalem has remained mute on the subject, perhaps because it has been preoccupied by protests at home over the cost of housing. More likely, however, because it does not want to be seen as supporting the movement that Syrian President Bashar Assad has accused of being orchestrated by Israel, in a bid to delegitimize it.<\/p>\n

Jewish-American organizations, however, have no such qualms and have been more outspoken in their condemnation of Israel\u2019s northeastern neighbor.<\/p>\n

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League on Wednesday all issued statements criticizing Damascus.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people in Syria have been looking to the West and saying \u2018your silence is killing us,\u2019\u201d said Malcolm Hoenlein, the executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents….<\/p>\n

\u201cThey attack Israel, but when it came to Syria, where the violations are so blatant, they did not and it highlighted the double standard or quadruple standard found in the United Nations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The message that human rights violations were unacceptable should be extended to Iran, which \u201cprovides weapons and manpower to suppress the popular expressions [in Syria],\u201d Hoenlein said……..<\/p>\n

The Anti-Defamation League also said the resolution approved by the Security Council was insufficient and urged the council pass sanctions against the government in Damascus.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile it is appropriate for the Security Council to be dealing with the ongoing crisis in Syria, the council\u2019s presidential statement condemning the Assad regime\u2019s human rights violations and ruthless use of force against Syrian civilians is a wholly inadequate response,\u201d ADL National Director Abraham Foxman said. \u201cIn light of the regime\u2019s brutality in recent months, particularly its current actions in the town of Hama, we urge the council to adopt a resolution that will make it unambiguously clear to President Assad that unless he reverses course, the international community will impose immediate consequences on his repressive regime.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Syria expresses dismay over Gulf council’s statement, <\/a>2011-08-07<\/p>\n

DAMASCUS, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) — A source in Syrian Foreign Ministry expressed Sunday dismay over the statement issued a day earlier by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council calling for an immediate end of the violence and for a prompt implementation of reforms in Syria.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In a statement faxed to Xinhua, the foreign ministry source said the GCC statement has “entirely disregarded facts presented by Syria, both in terms of slaughter and sabotage acts perpetrated by armed groups that target Syria’s security and sovereignty, or in terms of the package of significant reforms announced by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad” in a speech he made on June 20.<\/p>\n

The statement said the Syrian president has underscored, in his speech, the importance of national dialogue as the best solution to the current crisis. But, it added, the “negative” stand showed by the Syrian opposition, in addition to the continued acts of killing and sabotaging, “haven’t prevented the Syrian leadership from working” to put the announced reforms into force.<\/p>\n

It said breaking the current cycle of violence requires a call from “our Arab brothers in the GCC to stop all acts of vandalism, denounce armed violence carried out by groups that don’t want welfare for Syria, and give the necessary time for the presented reforms to yield fruits.”<\/p>\n

The statement urged the Gulf leaders to reconsider their stands “taking into consideration what the Syrian leadership is doing to bypass the current crisis.”<\/p>\n

The Gulf Cooperation Council expressed on Saturday its utmost concern over “the excessive use of force” in Syria, the six-member bloc said in a statement.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The bloc, grouping Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain, called for an end to “bloodshed” in Syria, which has been sweeping by pro-democracy protests since March.<\/p>\n

The statement came one day after the U.S., French and German leaders vowed to mull over fresh punitive steps on Syria.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Syrian president’s adviser for political and media affairs, Bouthayna Shaaban, said Sunday that if the Turkish foreign minister is visiting Syria to deliver a “firm message” to Syria, “he would hear stronger words.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Weapons Smugglers Charged in Beirut as Solidere Says it Doesn\u2019t Have Inspection Duty at Marina<\/a>
\nby Naharnet Newsdesk<\/p>\n

The military prosecutor general has charged two Lebanese men with allegedly smuggling weapons from the Beirut Marina to Syria, a security source told As Safir daily published Saturday.<\/p>\n

Wasim Tamim and Samir Tamim, who hail from the northern port city of Tripoli, are members of the most prominent movements in the former parliamentary majority, sources said in reference to ex-PM Saad Hariri\u2019s al-Mustaqbal movement.<\/p>\n

The men were arrested in Beirut last Friday, they said, adding that they have carried out more than 30 smuggling operations from Beirut to the Syrian city of Banias.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Revolution Statistics According to Monajed:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Syrians killed: 2,293
\nCivilian casualties: 1,906
\nArmy casualties: 387
\nMissing: 3,000
\nBanned from travel: 650
\nProtesters killed by torture: 53
\nProtesters currently incarcerated: around 15,000
\nSyrian refugees since the revolution: around 12,577
\nRefugees in Turkey: 10,227
\nRefugees in Lebanon: 2,300<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dr. Waleed Al Bunni & his 2 sons (18 & 14) were arrested<\/strong><\/p>\n

WikiLeaks Cables Show US Strategy for Regime Change in Syria as Protesters are Massacred<\/a>
\nBy: Kevin Gosztola Friday August 5, 2011<\/p>\n

In the aftermath of a massacre in Hama, Syria state media broadcasted images of \u201cburnt, buildings, makeshift barricades and deserted streets strewn with rubble,\u201d according to the New York Times and claimed the revolt in Syria has ended. Meanwhile, The Guardian reports tens of thousands have taken to the streets all over the country and are continuing a five-months old uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad\u2019s regime.<\/p>\n

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke at a press conference and said the Syrian government has killed more than 2,000 people in its brutal crackdown on protests in the past months. She told the press the US was extending sanctions against a \u201cprominent businessman and MP,\u201d who allegedly has close ties to Assad. This marked the \u201cfourth round of US sanctions against Syria aimed at pressuring Assad\u2019s government to ease its bloody crackdown against unarmed protesters,\u201d according to The Guardian. However, numerous Syrian protesters and some US senators are dissatisfied, as the sanctions do not target Syria\u2019s oil and gas sector.<\/p>\n

As protests continue and the brutal crackdown on protests wears on, US State Embassy cables released by the media organization WikiLeaks provide a greater understanding of the Washington power politics that have led to this moment.<\/p>\n

For the past five to six years, the US policy toward Syria has used what could be called a two-pronged strategy to push for regime change. The US has supported \u201ccivil society\u201d activists or external opposition organizations. It has also worked to delegitimize, destabilize and isolate the country through the application of sanctions and various other measures, which could be applied to exploit vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n

A cable from December 13, 2006, opens with the conclusion that the Syrian government has ended 2006 \u201cin a position much stronger domestically and internationally than it did [in] 2005.\u201d It features a collection of possible actions that could be taken to undermine the Assad regime.<\/p>\n

The vulnerabilities listed include: the Rafiq Hariri investigation and tribunal (Hariri was a Lebanese Prime Minister who was assassinated in a major car bombing); the alliance with Tehran; the regime\u2019s \u201cinner circle\u201d; divisions in the military-security services; the corrupt Baathist elites; previous failures of reform; the economy; the Kurds; extremists and the \u201cKhaddam factor\u201d (Abdul Halim Khaddam is an exiled former Syrian Vice President, whose name appears in a number of the cables released thus far.)<\/p>\n

Some of the proposed actions for exploiting these vulnerabilities are outlined in the cable:<\/p>\n

ENCOURAGE RUMORS AND SIGNALS OF EXTERNAL PLOTTING:<\/p>\n

The regime is intensely sensitive to rumors about coup-plotting and restlessness in the security services and military. Regional allies like Egypt and Saudi Arabia should be encouraged to meet with figures like Khaddam and Rifat Asad as a way of sending such signals, with appropriate leaking of the meetings afterwards. This again touches on this insular regime,s paranoia and increases the possibility of a self-defeating over-reaction.<\/p>\n

THE KHADDAM FACTOR<\/p>\n

\u2026We should continue to encourage the Saudis and others to allow Khaddam access to their media outlets, providing him with venues for airing the SARG,s dirty laundry. We should anticipate an overreaction by the regime that will add to its isolation and alienation from its Arab neighbors\u2026<\/p>\n

HIGHLIGHT KURDISH COMPLAINTS: Highlighting Kurdish complaints in public statements, including publicizing human rights abuses will exacerbate regime,s concerns about the Kurdish population. Focus on economic hardship in Kurdish areas and the SARG,s long-standing refusal to offer citizenship to some 200,000 stateless Kurds. This issue would need to be handled carefully, since giving the wrong kind of prominence to Kurdish issues in Syria could be a liability for our efforts at uniting the opposition, given Syrian (mostly Arab) civil society\u2019s skepticism of Kurdish objectives.<\/p>\n

PLAY ON SUNNI FEARS OF IRANIAN INFLUENCE: There are fears in Syria that the Iranians are active in both Shia proselytizing and conversion of, mostly poor, Sunnis. Though often exaggerated, such fears reflect an element of the Sunni community in Syria that is increasingly upset by and focused on the spread of Iranian influence in their country through activities ranging from mosque construction to business. Both the local Egyptian and Saudi missions here, (as well as prominent Syrian Sunni religious leaders), are giving increasing attention to the matter and we should coordinate more closely with their governments on ways to better publicize and focus regional attention on the issue.<\/p>\n

This is clearly manipulative and underhanded. It shouldn\u2019t be surprising that the Assad regime would want to crack down violently on any protests. The shadiness of US relations with Syria is only amplified if you look at the other aspect of the US push for regime change: the public funding of opposition groups.<\/p>\n

The US Doesn\u2019t Undermine Countries, It Transforms Them….<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Adonis, famous Alawi Poet, Asks Assad to Step Down <\/a><\/p>\n

Samar Yazbek addresses her ALawite community<\/a>: Bashar is a killer and his family is criminal – al-Arabiya<\/p>\n

Clinton: Syria Death Toll Exceeds 2,000<\/a>
\nFriday, 5 August 2011<\/p>\n

Secretary of State Hillary said the United States is committed to doing all it can, including additional sanctions, to curb the abuses. But she said the U.S. effort needs help from countries with broader business dealings with Syria.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut not just U.S. sanctions because, frankly, we do not have lot of business with Syria,\u201d said Secretary Clinton. \u201cWe need to get Europeans and others [involved]. We need to get the Arab states. We need to get a much louder, more effective chorus of voices that are putting pressure on the Assad regime, and we\u2019re working to obtain that.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Syria\u2019s general elections to take place by end of 2011: FM<\/a>
\n2011-08-06<\/p>\n

DAMASCUS, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) \u2014 Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al- Moallem said Saturday that the country\u2019s general elections will take place by the end of this year, adding that it would be \u201cfree and fair.\u201d<\/p>\n

Al-Moallem made the statement during his meeting with foreign ambassadors in capital Damascus, in which he said the new parliament will represent the aspirations of the Syrian people.<\/p>\n

The current parliament\u2019s four-year term has expired earlier this year, and President Bashar al-Assad will set a date for new legislative elections before the end of 2011.<\/p>\n

The Syrian leadership is going on with the process of reform, al-Moallem said, adding that all the reform steps announced by the president will be implemented soon.<\/p>\n

He voiced the Syrian leadership\u2019s keenness to maintain the security and stability of the country and to put an end to the sabotaging acts.<\/p>\n

The Syrian leadership is still affirming that the only way out of the current ordeal is through a national dialogue, Al-Moallem told the ambassadors, adding that in the absence of the national dialogue \u201cbecause of the negativity of the opposition,\u201d the leadership has to move on with the reform.<\/p>\n

The foreign minister\u2019s remarks came as his country is facing an international outcry over the alleged crackdown on anti-government protestors. According to activists, more than 1,700 civilians have been killed since the crisis began in mid-March.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Washington Post:\u201dBashar al-Assad must step down\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

By Robert P. Casey Jr, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian affairs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Angry Arab,\u00a0 “The Armed terrorist groups in Syria<\/a>”<\/p>\n

Syrian regime TV is quite repulsive. It is a combination of fake religiosity, Syrian chauvinism (a la Lebanese Phoenicianism) and tons of lies. Look at the constant references to “armed terrorist groups”: what are their ideological orientations? I ask because <b>the regime jails people on the left, center, and right and in between<\/b>. Unless the regime maintains that this bizarre “armed terrorist group” comprises people of different ideological stripes.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Deir ez-Zor tribal meeting that I posted about last, is provided in greater length here. <\/a>Thanks to Revlon who also provides as short summary<\/p>\n

It shows proceedings of the tribal meeting that came on the heel of the abduction of Sheikh Shuyookh Syrian tribes Sheikh nawaf AlBasheer.???? ??????? ?? ??? ????? , Aug 3, 2011<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Young tribal member (5 minutes)<\/p>\n

– Wheather there is dialogue or no diologue – although I am against dialogue with the regime because no regime will negotiate its own suicide. they are merely playing for time.<\/p>\n

– I am calling you – al-mujahidiin – and I emphasis the word, “mujahidiin” because this is a jihad and we are a jihadist society. We need to create a generation of Jihadists.<\/p>\n

– No regime will sign to its surrender.
\n– The soldiers, shabbeha and foreign mercenaries besieging our city are terrified of us. They think of us as cannibals. This plays into our hands!
\n– The city of deirAlZor did not have and now does not have arms, as they claim.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

– The regime has succeded in subjugating us because we have lost faith in God and Jihad. We have to regain them back. There is no going back
\n– Our elements are urged to head to our strategic points in the city. We have selected them so as our spies can provide advance warning for any impending threat from the regime forces.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sheikh<\/p>\n

– A couiple of days ago a group of us, including lawyers and Doctors met with a delegation from the Army
\n– Our demands were as follows:
\no The release of all political prisnors, prior to the arrest of Sheikh Nawaf
\no The withdrawal of Army and security forces from the city.
\n– The army negotiator replied that they agreed with some tribal benefactors on granting the tribes 20 license plates for automobiles and 5000 job opportunities.
\n– We rejected their offer as silly.
\n– The negotiating officer telephoned Officer Riadh Shaleesh and informed him of the tribal meeting demands.
\n– Shaleesh\u2019s response: The army is in a mission and shall not withdraw.
\n– The Sheikh concluded by saying: By tomorrow, if our demands are not met we will bring our arms and go down to the city.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A religious tribal member:<\/p>\n

– A religious prelude
\n– Jihad is part of the heritage of the Islamic Umma
\n– Our Sunni brothers make up the majority of the army; We want them out of the army.
\n– The regime are forcing our Sunni brothers to kill each other by sending Homsi\u2019s to Kill Deiri\u2019s and Hasakawi\u2019s to kill in dar3awi\u2019s. This should stop.
\n– We want peace. But if Jihad is forced on us so be it!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sheikh conclusion remarks<\/p>\n

– We welcome and respect the statements of the members
\n– This regime does not appreciate our peaceful stance and is not serious about dialogue.
\n– We have been pleading for dialogue for the last 5 months! Alas this regime is bent on staying in power.
\n– Frankly, as for 3alawis, the mind set of their professors and shepards in this conflict are one and the same.
\n– Notwithstanding, we have a committee to keep the channel of dialogue, while we stay alert with our guns to defend ourselves.
\n– We either live proud or die martyrs defending our honour and territories.
\n– We are proud tribes; when dar3a pleaded for help they addressed the tribes of our city first!
\n– I ask the able to donate for our cause.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Revlon’s impressions:<\/p>\n

The speakers were representative of the young revolutionists, religious members, and the the tribal chief.
\nOne of the members had a machine gun strapped to his shoulder. This is nothing recent and has nothing to do with the revolution . They have always been armed. It is part of their way of life.
\nThe speech of all members was defiant, with tribal and religious undertones.
\nThe decision is a declaration of rebellion until the approval of the demands of the tribes.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Establishing Transition Council is important <\/a>
\nby Haytham Khoury<\/p>\n

The importance of establishment of a transition council in Syria cannot be underemphasised. Here is an excerpt of a paper<\/a> sent to the Antalya Conference on may 29th, 2011 with title \u201cThe Urgency for a Transition Council in Syria\u201d. Unfortunately, the Conference was not able to adopt it because of the lack of preparations and the lack of high-caliber attendees.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dubious portrayal of Syrian events<\/strong>
\nFriday, August 5, 2011
\nBahad?r Din\u00e7er<\/p>\n

The biased media coverage of the events in Syria seems to intentionally downplay the real issues at stake by focusing on the claims of conflict between the Shiite and Sunni population.<\/p>\n

The military and regime are depicted as the saviors of the people. On the other hand, the Syrian people who have deployed peaceful means of protest with no reference to sectarian ideology are shown as armed gangs. However, the current situation is actually an issue of \u201cvictimization.\u201d In reality, the scenario of \u201csectarian conflict\u201d reflects the attempts to legitimize certain interests rooted in the status quo. The winners and rewards of such a scenario must be analyzed. First and foremost, if a sectarian conflict erupts, the center of the struggle will shift. This will allow time for the Syrian regime to relax.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the possibility of a sectarian conflict doesn\u2019t only serve the regional powers, but also certain global ones. When their inaction is questioned, they can justify it by saying \u201cthey are struggling with primordial religious problems, they have no legitimate demands.\u201d Furthermore, the rhetoric of \u201csectarian conflict\u201d that fragments the Middle East can also please those that don\u2019t want the Muslim world to unite. In this sense, the expansionary policies of the Iranian regime can indirectly aid those that have certain interests in the region.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Samir Qantari, the general director of the National Socialist Syrian party,\u00a0 assassinated: paper, <\/a>2011-08-04 16:35:38<\/p>\n

DAMASCUS, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) \u2014 \u201cTerrorist and armed\u201d groups have assassinated a chemist in Syria\u2019s northern province of Idlib, the private al-Watan newspaper reported Thursday.<\/p>\n

Chemist Samir Qantari, the general director of the National Socialist Syrian party, was shot in his pharmacy at the northern town of Maart al-Numan on the outskirts of Idlib, the paper said, adding that the killing reflected the remarkable development in the \u201cterrorist groups\u2019 tactics and it seems like an immediate implementation of what was posted on the Facebook of the \u2018list of assassinations\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

The chemist\u2019s name was posted on the Facebook two days ahead of his killing, al-Watan said, noting that the list included more than 100 names, most of them civilians or people working at local municipalities.<\/p>\n

In a related development, the Syrian TV said Wednesday that \u201d armed terrorist\u201d groups in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour had attacked public and private properties and stole their contents before smashing them completely.<\/p>\n

The groups killed one law-enforcement agent and burned his body, the TV said, adding that security agents had seized a suspicious car loaded with weapons and Molotov bombs.<\/p>\n

It added that gunmen broke into a station for the border guards near al-Furat Oil Company, kidnapped three guards and captured their weapons.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Russia welcomes UN stand against foreign involvement in Syria<\/a>
\nEnglish.news.cn 2011-08-04 20:49:06<\/p>\n

MOSCOW, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) \u2014 Russia welcomed a UN Security Council call to refrain from external interference in Syria\u2019s internal strife, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoscow is convinced that the settlement of the situation in Syria must be conducted by the Syrians themselves without any interference from the outside and be based on the all-Syrian dialogue, which is the only way to resolve the crisis,\u201d a statement on the ministry\u2019s official website said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Weapons Smugglers Charged in Beirut as Solidere Says it Doesn\u2019t Have Inspection Duty at Marina<\/a>, by Naharnet Newsdesk<\/p>\n

The military prosecutor general has charged two Lebanese men with allegedly smuggling weapons from the Beirut Marina to Syria, a security source told As Safir daily published Saturday.<\/p>\n

Wasim Tamim and Samir Tamim, who hail from the northern port city of Tripoli, are members of the most prominent movements in the former parliamentary majority, sources said in reference to ex-PM Saad Hariri\u2019s al-Mustaqbal movement.<\/p>\n

The men were arrested in Beirut last Friday, they said, adding that they have carried out more than 30 smuggling operations from Beirut to the Syrian city of Banias.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

LA Times [Reg]: City of Aleppo seems in own world amid revolt elsewhere in Syria, <\/a>2011-08-07<\/p>\n

Two days before black smoke left a pall over Hama, a bloodied symbol of the uprising against the government of Syria, the country’s second-largest city, Aleppo, held a cultural festival featuring a 3,600-foot-long Syrian flag wrapped around its …<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood holds first public vote<\/strong>
\n2011-08-07<\/p>\n

CAIRO, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) — The general Shoura Council of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) held a public internal vote over three vacant seats, Egypt’s official news agency MENA reported on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The votes ended with the victory of Hossam Abu-Bakr, Abdel-Azim el-Sharqawi and Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim who won the membership of the MB’s Guidance Office.<\/p>\n

This historic vote was set to replace senior figures who resigned from the Guidance Office to join the Freedom and Justice Party, which was founded by the Muslim Brotherhood for the upcoming parliamentary elections and approved by the Egyptian Committee of Party Affairs in June.<\/p>\n

Three replaced figures were party leader Mohamed Mursi, deputy leader Essam Elarian and secretary-general Mohamed Saed Elkatatny.<\/p>\n

The MB, which was officially banned in 1954 and currently the country’s most organized group, has said they would not run for the coming presidential election.<\/p>\n

The Freedom and Justice Party aims to contest up to half of the parliamentary seats in the elections due in November.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The \u201cmine field\u201d of Syria unrest<\/a>
\nAug 4, 2011 14:10 Moscow Time<\/p>\n

……The UN Security Council statement, which experts see as balanced, may facilitate a peaceful solution to the crisis. A different reaction would be disastrous under the circumstances, says Sergei Demidenko, an Oriental expert from the Strategic Evaluation and Analysis Institute:<\/p>\n

\u201cShould the UN choose to impose severe sanctions on Syria, they will rock it. Syria\u2019s multi-ethnic and multi-confessional balance is too fragile to withstand sanctions. If the current government leaves now, the country will plunge into chaos. The opposition has no clear-cut program for getting the country out of the mess. As a result, the entire region may fall into turmoil.\u201d<\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s lawmakers must have masters degree
\nhttp:\/\/newsleaks.in\/iran%E2%80%99s-lawmakers-must-have-masters-degree\/
\nAll candidates running for Iran\u2019s parliament must have postgraduate degrees in future, the Guardian Council\u2019s spokesman, Abbasali Kadkhodai, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The new law has already been approved by the Iranian parliament and is aimed at improving the quality of the country\u2019s lawmakers, he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Syrian forces arrest opposition leader Bunni -group<\/a><\/p>\n

AMMAN (Reuters) \u2013 Syrian forces arrested on Saturday a veteran opposition leader who had called for a national conference to seek a peaceful transition of power after a five-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad\u2019s rule, a rights group said.<\/p>\n

Walid al-Bunni, who has been in hiding, was seized with his sons, 19-year Moayad and 18-year Iyad, by secret police in his hometown of Tel, north of the capital Damascus, the Syrian Human Rights Organisation Sawasiah said in a statement.<\/p>\n

A day before his arrest, Bunni told Reuters the uprising must remain peaceful, even as the death toll from a government crackdown rises.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere will be more martyrs, but the protest movement must remain nonviolent,\u201d he added. He urged rank-and-file soldiers, who he said had begun to defect from the military, not to take up arms against Assad\u2019s forces.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThe best thing these conscripts can do is to go home. Using arms will give an excuse for Iran and Hezbollah and other outside parties to intervene,\u201d Bunni said.
\nmore\u2026.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hezbollah: UNHCR report on Syria false<\/strong>
\nAugust 08, 2011,The Daily Star<\/p>\n

BEIRUT: Hezbollah has denied reports that its members were involved in the killing of Syrian soldiers who had deserted the regime, the party said in a statement Sunday.<\/p>\n

Radio France, citing an as-yet unpublished report from a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees committee, reported over the weekend that Hezbollah members, as well as members of Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guards, had killed Syrian Army defectors.<\/p>\n

Hezbollah slammed the U.N. study as a fabrication and part of a wider plot against the resistance.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Activists say 50 people killed in Deir ez-Zor 07 Aug 2011 Syrian forces have launched an assault on two towns, reportedly killing dozens of people in an increasingly violent crackdown on anti-government protests. According the Local Co-ordination Committees of Syria, an opposition human rights group, government forces killed more than 70 people across several cities. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[96],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-syria-revolution-2011"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nMid East Governments Pressure Assad to Stop Killing and Hand over Power - Syria Comment<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mid East Governments Pressure Assad to Stop Killing and Hand over Power - Syria Comment\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Activists say 50 people killed in Deir ez-Zor 07 Aug 2011 Syrian forces have launched an assault on two towns, reportedly killing dozens of people in an increasingly violent crackdown on anti-government protests. According the Local Co-ordination Committees of Syria, an opposition human rights group, government forces killed more than 70 people across several cities. […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Syria Comment\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-08-08T04:51:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/gulfnews.com\/polopoly_fs\/in-mourning-1.848632!image\/1652567841.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/box_475\/1652567841.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Joshua\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@joshua_landis\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@joshua_landis\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Joshua\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"25 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/\",\"name\":\"Mid East Governments Pressure Assad to Stop Killing and Hand over Power - Syria Comment\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\/\/gulfnews.com\/polopoly_fs\/in-mourning-1.848632!image\/1652567841.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/box_475\/1652567841.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2011-08-08T04:51:43+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/3b31d23576e1b8c0928811e638957c80\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/gulfnews.com\/polopoly_fs\/in-mourning-1.848632!image\/1652567841.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/box_475\/1652567841.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\/\/gulfnews.com\/polopoly_fs\/in-mourning-1.848632!image\/1652567841.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/box_475\/1652567841.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Mid East Governments Pressure Assad to Stop Killing and Hand over Power\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Syria Comment\",\"description\":\"Syrian politics, history, and religion\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/3b31d23576e1b8c0928811e638957c80\",\"name\":\"Joshua\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/www.joshualandis.com\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/joshua_landis\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/author\/syriacomment\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Mid East Governments Pressure Assad to Stop Killing and Hand over Power - Syria Comment","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Mid East Governments Pressure Assad to Stop Killing and Hand over Power - Syria Comment","og_description":"Activists say 50 people killed in Deir ez-Zor 07 Aug 2011 Syrian forces have launched an assault on two towns, reportedly killing dozens of people in an increasingly violent crackdown on anti-government protests. According the Local Co-ordination Committees of Syria, an opposition human rights group, government forces killed more than 70 people across several cities. […]","og_url":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/","og_site_name":"Syria Comment","article_published_time":"2011-08-08T04:51:43+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/gulfnews.com\/polopoly_fs\/in-mourning-1.848632!image\/1652567841.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/box_475\/1652567841.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Joshua","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@joshua_landis","twitter_site":"@joshua_landis","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Joshua","Est. reading time":"25 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/","url":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/","name":"Mid East Governments Pressure Assad to Stop Killing and Hand over Power - Syria Comment","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/gulfnews.com\/polopoly_fs\/in-mourning-1.848632!image\/1652567841.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/box_475\/1652567841.jpg","datePublished":"2011-08-08T04:51:43+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/3b31d23576e1b8c0928811e638957c80"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/#primaryimage","url":"http:\/\/gulfnews.com\/polopoly_fs\/in-mourning-1.848632!image\/1652567841.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/box_475\/1652567841.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/gulfnews.com\/polopoly_fs\/in-mourning-1.848632!image\/1652567841.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/box_475\/1652567841.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/mid-east-governments-pressure-assad-to-stop-killing-and-hand-over-power\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Mid East Governments Pressure Assad to Stop Killing and Hand over Power"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/","name":"Syria Comment","description":"Syrian politics, history, and religion","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/3b31d23576e1b8c0928811e638957c80","name":"Joshua","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.joshualandis.com","https:\/\/x.com\/joshua_landis"],"url":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/author\/syriacomment\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p38J3A-2Vq","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11248","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11248"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11248\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joshualandis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}