Huge Rallies across Syria in Pro-Assad Show of Force
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Huge crowds rallied in cities across Syria Thursday in a mass show of support for President Bashar al-Assad "to make the world hear our voice" on the first anniversary of a deadly anti-regime revolt.
State television showed tens of thousands of people waving Syrian flags and Assad's portrait in squares in Damascus, the northern city of Aleppo, Latakia on the Mediterranean coast, Suweida to the south and Hasaka in the northeast.
The cities have been relatively unscathed by the regime's crackdown on a revolt which erupted on March 15, 2011 and has cost more than 8,500 lives, according to opposition activists.
"After a whole year of pressure on Syria, we want to make the world hear our voice: Leave Syria in peace," a woman on the street told the state broadcaster.
According to the official news agency SANA, "millions of Syrians flocked (to the rallies) ... to tell the world that the Syrian people have chosen the path of national unity and stability, free from interference and foreign diktats."
The authorities, which have blamed the revolt on foreign-backed "terrorist gangs," announced a "global march for Syria" to counter anti-regime demonstrations being organised this week by the opposition across the world.
"For the lives lost in the battle for Syria," was the slogan beamed across the television screen.
Against a backdrop of a sea of flags, including the colors of Syria's Russian ally and the yellow of Lebanon's Hizbullah, a bugler played in Damascus before a military band struck up the national anthem.
"We are not scared of death. We are ready to sacrifice ourselves for you, oh Syria," the demonstrators chanted, many of them singing and dancing, and shouting: "Long live the army!"
Last week, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights gave a breakdown of around 8,500 deaths: apart from 6,200 civilians, it said the toll included more than 1,800 members of Assad's security forces and over 400 rebels.
"In democracy, it's the majority which decides ... these people represent a vast movement, in comparison (the anti-regime camp) are only a handful," a commentator said on the live television broadcast.
In Aleppo and on the outskirts of Damascus, security forces dispersed scattered anti-regime protests, according to the Local Coordination Committees, which organize demonstrations on the ground.
15 March 2012, 13:42
34
One sum gang the govt armed to their black teeth with weapons from Russia & iran, whilst the slaves are armed with rocks
Flame thrower I know one day you and your Syrian parents & your Devine mates will pay for their Electricity !
15 March 2012, 14:04
23
We will see how much the guenine supporters of the shabiha represent in post-Assad Syria.
15 March 2012, 14:41
14
As you can see in the behind scene ,despite that in the assadist dictatorship such show are compulsary for civil servants ,the schools public ,the military public ... there is a minority that is forced to swallow that his fate is related to that of a regime,the same kind of mindset that supports Assad in Lebanon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=h13aBA1fM_E
15 March 2012, 15:02
35
Why do you attack Naharnet ? First, this is an AFP story and title. the same story can be read on many other websites. Second, Naharnet is the most neutral news site in Lebanon ... if you want biased news, go read them elsewhere ...
15 March 2012, 15:21
27
The West is coming to the Syrian issue with too little too late. The crushing of the FSA in Homs was the breakpoint. The massacres in Idlib went without report in the West. Russia and Iran again are the strategic victors of the Syrian Uprising largely due to the default on the part of the US to act at the point of the time of maximum peril for the Syrian people.
Russia now has a firm hold on a Middle Eastern client, Syria. Iran has saved its lifeline to the Eastern Med and its nuclear deterrent force of Hezbollah arms remains in tact and can be resupplied, and this will divert a possible Israeli attack.
The West comes off as useless. Its claim to stand for the international order, rule of law etc is an empty claim. The west pursues its interests like the Russians do, only with the thin veil of justification based on the law, which it uses sometimes and other times not. The people of the world see this even as the Western governments delude themselves.
15 March 2012, 15:25
33
hehehehe...FT....:) I dismiss nothing... you dismiss everything....BIG difference...hehehe...
16 March 2012, 11:44
11
@mowaten! Oh please spare me your comments... read yourself after M14 demonstrations... you act as if there was no one on the streets. You have no decency what so ever so please refrain from lecturing me on the subject. If the majority of the syrian people are with Assad...fine! But you know that's not the case!
@FT
Syrian Lovers are TRAITORS! Loubnan wa bass!
15 March 2012, 15:39
34
Beiruti ,the FSA's tactic is to avoid direct confrontation with tanks the assadist who are sent are from Maher Assad forces and can hardly walk in the streets ,in this case they are more easily targeted,that's how the FSA are coming back to damascus and rif damascus and they succeed to regain back al rastan , Bab Amr that was leveled to the ground after coward bombings,most of the people who were living in it and the FSA have left before the entry of Maher forces .This revolution will succeed with the strong will of the syrian people that will never accept to be humiliated again ,we all know that the west and israel have been protecting the regime.New photos from Aleppo ,of today assadian masquarade it was a big failure ,most of those you see are shabiha and are not from Aleppo:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=325669430822519&set=a.325668784155917.78085.167323373323793&type=1&theater
15 March 2012, 16:11
24
Lebanese people lean to one side or another ... most lebanese media belong to political parties or are politically funded. I don't think Naharnet belongs to any political party or supports any in particular. This is far from the rubbish we can read on Tayyar or Nowlebanon...
15 March 2012, 17:38
10
There was also another huge anti-Assad rally in Afghanistan and Pakistan and Azerbaijan and on the moon, too, i.e. everywhere and by those that do not count. Even yesterday, the warriors of March 14 and Lebanon First from the End got together in a movie theater and protested against Assad. Mind you, these are the same warriors who profited the most in the heydays of the Syrian occupation and many of whom only became MPs then and never after that!!! Go figure, revolutionistas.
15 March 2012, 17:58
22
Majority does not determine events in the Middle East, it is arms and force that does it. We experienced it first hand in Lebanon too.
15 March 2012, 20:29
04
Very smart comment. USA is not the majority. They control the world because of their weapons, and they are not afraid to use it. The funny part is most of the world submissive to it.
15 March 2012, 18:02
43
Since when doves were symbols of those that support dictatorships based on violence and intimidation. You need a more appropriate image (something along the lines of a hand clinching a weapon)
15 March 2012, 19:32
12
@FlameThrower : You're right ! Your comments are hilariously entertaining :) At least there's a discussion happening here :)
15 March 2012, 22:35
23
Where are the "terrorists" when Pro Assad supporters are filling the streets?
How come they appear only when the opposition is there?
15 March 2012, 23:16
21
23,000,000 Syrians and in one day (today ONLY, including other but very few days in the past) thousands of organized people demonstrated for the butcher baath party... Time will tell ... the baath party has scared the living hell out of all its sheep but the majority is not allowed to demonstrate in peace (they are slaughtered) and the rest are told 'come down town and show your loving support for your great bashar' or Else... well you know... so come down town or else...
BUT you know what some people simply are so brain washed.... Period.
15 March 2012, 23:28
30
The Mukhabarat in syria are many and watch out for each other and every branch of public and government life. Most Muslims(sunnis) do not want Basher... In the Army for example the network is like this to the average army joe, if you desert your post we know were you live, your wife, kids parents... you get the picture... You want prof see on the internet (with clear certainty) army thugs butchering butchering butchering... And on another side note the shia sect was created buy the jews... it is not ISLAM... Shiaism is a deen on its own and its evil roots have created the middle east of today...
15 March 2012, 23:58
02
The problem:
1. 42 Year old family rule (enough dictatorship)
2. ONE criminal ruling (EVIDENCE in Syria and Lebanon)
3. ONE party (ONE dictator)
4. Police government (FREE criminals looting the country)
5. Oppressor (no one dares to speak up in Syria or else you disappear LIKE THOUSANDS DID)
6. Protestors were peaceful for months until they were joined by army defectors (here I suggest to go back to non violence and SET A DATE (AS SOON AS POSSIBLE) AND A JOINT (ASSAD AND ARAB LEAGUE FORCES) SECURITY TO PROTECT NON VIOLENT DEMONSTRATORS ALONG A DEFINED PATH TO AREAS OF DEMONSTRATIONS).
9. 42 years of political assassinations (in Lebanon and Syria)
10. 42 years of training terrorizing Syrians and Lebanese.
10. 42 years trying to claim Lebanon part of Syria.
12. 38 years of poverty in a country that has never been in a war since.
13. 42 years of Human Rights Violations.
16 March 2012, 00:03
42
Let bashar stop the intimidation and killing and torturing of the syrian opposition , let him organize a rally for them and you will see millions and millions of opposition, were not stupid , these supporters are not being shot at, they are giving food music dancing , read M-F, the day they do the same for the opposition will be the day they march to presidential palace, this goes to all M8 pro liars biast every negative quality a human has
16 March 2012, 03:36
12
So much bullcrap, where should one start:
"In democracy, it's the majority which decides ...", is that why there are no democratic elections in Syria for decades and only one party was allowed to exist?
"We are not scared of death." Of course you are not scared of death because you are on the sides of the people doing the killing. Where are the 'terrorists'? Shouldn't they be attacking these people if they are truly terrorists? The only side that attacks unarmed rallies are the Assad army and thugs.
16 March 2012, 05:07
12
What a joke, regime sponsored rallies... I wonder how many of them would show up if Assads military was shooting at them.
16 March 2012, 07:25
03
there were probly 10,000 hezbolla supporters there from lebanon lol
16 March 2012, 07:40
21
@the Patriot
Y do u think that supporting assad means u r a traitor?
As far as my personal opinion on the matter goes, i dont like assad i dnt like the muslim brotherhood (aka Syrian National Council) i dnt like Saudi Arabia i dnt like Iran i dnt like the USA because they are controlled by Israel & i dnt like Israel because they are controlled by devil worshiping jews (the same ones that killed Jesus Christ).
SO, i support Assad to stay in power because he is better then the alternative which is the muslim brotherhood?
Considering that Saudi Arabia has already bought half of Lebanon (via Hariri & other direct transactions) do u think it would be wise to let Saudi set up a new Syrian state under the auspice of (Syrian national council?) - would you want Saudi arabia to be Lebanons neighbor?
This is why i would rather assad stay - to keep the balance of power in the middle east (& not because he is a killer - but because it maintains equilibrium).
16 March 2012, 11:53
01
After all what the Assads made us go through...you, a Lebanese Citizen... you support HIM!!!??
They bombarded us, assasinated our people, terrorised us, tortured us, stole from us, humiliated us, and you support them!! TRAITOR!
I don't care about Saudi A, USA, Iran,the muslim Brothers, the Salafis or Syria... Loubnan AWALAN! Any regime cannot be as bad as the ASSAD terror and humiliation we endured! You either have no memory, or you are 20 years old!
16 March 2012, 11:53
00
After all what the Assads made us go through...you, a Lebanese Citizen... you support HIM!!!??
They bombarded us, assasinated our people, terrorised us, tortured us, stole from us, humiliated us, and you support them!! TRAITOR!
I don't care about Saudi A, USA, Iran,the muslim Brothers, the Salafis or Syria... Loubnan AWALAN! Any regime cannot be as bad as the ASSAD terror and humiliation we endured! You either have no memory, or you are 20 years old!
