Assad sacks Deraa governor to seek calm
Thursday, 24 March 2011
DUBAI (Al Arabiya)
The death toll from anti-government protests in Syria's southern city of Deraa rose to 15 late on Wedensday fueling popular anger and causing the unrest to spread to nearby towns.
Hundreds took to the streets on Wednesday in the towns o Jasim, Enkhil, al-Hara, and al-Harrag "in support for their brothers in Deraa," a witness told Al Arabiya, adding the they demanded the end of a security siege on the city.
The death toll from anti-government protests in Syria's southern city of Deraa rose to 15 late on Wedensday fueling popular anger and causing the unrest to spread to nearby towns.
Hundreds took to the streets on Wednesday in the towns o Jasim, Enkhil, al-Hara, and al-Harrag "in support for their brothers in Deraa," a witness told Al Arabiya, adding the they demanded the end of a security siege on the city.
Syria has been the least expected to be hit by the popular unrest sweeping the Middle East because of its perceived iron-fisted security policies.
Taken by surprise and amid an attempted failure to quell the protests by force, President Bashar al-Assad sacked provincial governor of Deraa aisal Kalthoum on Wednesday in the second apparent concession to protesters since the uprising.
There were also reports that a number of local security officials reviled by people had been reassigned or suspended.
In some Arab countries hit by popular unrest, government concessions have often emboldened demonstrators and prompted popular demands to rise and in others, such as Libya, the refusal to acknowledge such demands have led demonstrations to take a bloody turn
In first vocal western response to the events France urged Syria to carry out political reforms without delay and respect its commitments to human rights.
"France calls on Syria to follow its international commitments to human rights, to which it has signed up especially with regard to freedom of expression and opinion," foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said in a daily briefing to reporters.
"Political reforms must be put in place without delay to meet the aspirations of the Syrian people," he said.
Again troubled by another unexpected Arab uprising, the Obama administration called on the Syrian Government to “exercise restraint” against its peaceful protesters.
"The United States is deeply troubled by violence and civilian deaths in Deraa at the hands of security forces," the State Department spokesman, Mark Toner, said.
"We are concerned by the Syrian Government's use of violence, intimidation and arbitrary arrests in Deraa to hinder the ability of its people to freely exercise their universal rights," he said.
The United States was largely criticized for its delayed response to a brutal crackdown of peaceful protests in Libya and President Barack Obama was accused in Washington of dithering on Egypt.
*(Compiled by Mustapha Ajbaili)
Taken by surprise and amid an attempted failure to quell the protests by force, President Bashar al-Assad sacked provincial governor of Deraa aisal Kalthoum on Wednesday in the second apparent concession to protesters since the uprising.
There were also reports that a number of local security officials reviled by people had been reassigned or suspended.
In some Arab countries hit by popular unrest, government concessions have often emboldened demonstrators and prompted popular demands to rise and in others, such as Libya, the refusal to acknowledge such demands have led demonstrations to take a bloody turn
In first vocal western response to the events France urged Syria to carry out political reforms without delay and respect its commitments to human rights.
"France calls on Syria to follow its international commitments to human rights, to which it has signed up especially with regard to freedom of expression and opinion," foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said in a daily briefing to reporters.
"Political reforms must be put in place without delay to meet the aspirations of the Syrian people," he said.
Again troubled by another unexpected Arab uprising, the Obama administration called on the Syrian Government to “exercise restraint” against its peaceful protesters.
"The United States is deeply troubled by violence and civilian deaths in Deraa at the hands of security forces," the State Department spokesman, Mark Toner, said.
"We are concerned by the Syrian Government's use of violence, intimidation and arbitrary arrests in Deraa to hinder the ability of its people to freely exercise their universal rights," he said.
The United States was largely criticized for its delayed response to a brutal crackdown of peaceful protests in Libya and President Barack Obama was accused in Washington of dithering on Egypt.
*(Compiled by Mustapha Ajbaili)
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