Yahoo: Assad predicts disaster if West meddles in Syria

[visionary]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...yeT_story.html

Clinton says US planning for failure of UN monitoring mission, Annan plan in Syria

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the U.S. is preparing for the potential failure of former U.N. chief Kofi Annan’s plan to end the violence in Syria and will take additional steps against the Syrian government if it does.

Clinton on Tuesday condemned reports that U.N. ceasefire monitors have been unable to do their job properly and that violence is continuing. She said the U.S. and its allies are committed to Annan’s plan and want it to succeed. But she said there is no faith that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government will comply with it.

Anticipating failure, Clinton said work was under way to come up with additional U.S. sanctions to further punish and isolate the Assad regime.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...38272879557706


http://turtlebay.foreignpolicy.com/p...t_better_than_

Annan, a former U.N. Secretary General who is serving as the joint U.N.-Arab League envoy for Syria, delivered a carefully worded briefing to the council that both raised concern about the government's conduct in recent weeks but urged the council to maintain support for his fragile diplomatic bid.

"Our patience has been tested severely-close to its limits," he said. "But we have also seen signs that there is the possibility for the parties to implement a cessation of violence, which can lead to a political process and peaceful way out of the crisis."

Annan concluded that Syria's compliance with its commitments under his peace plan - known as the six-point plan-has been "partial" at best, noting that the "gestures" the government has taken so far "do not yet amount to the full and clear signal" of its commitment to embrace political reform. But he also hinted that any political settlement he is likely to deliver will involve moral compromises.

"Under the circumstances, the peace we are trying to build could never be perfect - and we have all been shocked by events in Syria," he said. "But if we succeed, the prospects are far better than any promised through war."

https://twitter.com/#!/columlynch

Syria refused 1 un observer bec of nationaly, and will not allow any nations from Friends of Syria group, UN pking chief told council, Rice
7:15 PM

Is that possible? There's like 70 countries in that group and I thought some already have people from them in Syria.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...83N1IA20120424

Rice also confirmed that Ladsous had told the council it would be another month before 100 of the maximum of 300 unarmed military observers who will comprise the U.N. monitoring mission reach Syria to help supervise the country's fragile 12-day-old ceasefire.

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

hamaecho who write this account his friend and my brother got injured in hama country side at april 16 but they are good now out of the city
7:32 AM 20 Apr

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Finally back, but my connection is very bad so online for around 5 mins. What a **** past few days and then a massacre in Hama (((
5:31 PM

I'm fine, only a small wound, but Syria's wound is massive and bleeding every day. No doctor can stop the blood.
5:33 PM

First Syria dripped blood, then a trickle, then a stream, a river and now a massive wave of blood washing over our country.
5:34 PM

Revenge is sweet. FSA blow up a tank that was shelling Douma today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1EV2n2XBLk
6:45 PM

Protest in Douma today, despite the shelling, shootings, and heavy government presence


Shops destroyed from shelling in Douma
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwUKJWEpw4M

And this:



Shelling in Douma today




https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus: Rahibh: A massive widespread presence of regime forces and security in the city are firing indiscriminately inside houses and commercial shops.

A loud explosion was heard near Brigade 81. Security reinforcements, including Zail cars loaded with regime soldiers have been spotted on the highway heading towards the military housing. Also, armored tanks stationed at the Eastern checkpoint near Koua'a Dumair are also headed towards Barricade 81. Witnesses have also reported that security forces are inspecting all areas in between the civilian houses.
6 minutes ago

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

The Local Coordination Committees in Syria:

The number of martyrs has risen to 38 thus far, including a child and women and 3 martyrs who died under torture. 16 martyrs were reported in Homs, among them 3 who were executed in Deir Baalba; 11 in the Damascus Suburbs, the majority in Douma as a result of the heavy shelling there; 3 martys in Damascus; 3 in Idlib; 2 in Halfaya in Hama; 1 in Daraa; 1 in Aleppo; and 1 in Bokamal
2 hours ago

Updated Daily:
Starting April 12th 2012
(Day 1)22 (Day 2)13 (Day 3)30 (Day 4)19 (Day 5)55 (Day 6)70 (Day 7)46
(Day 8)29 (Day 9)50 (Day 10)40 (Day 11)19 (Day 12)80 (Day 13)38 (Day 14)100
(Day 15)35 (Day 16)12 (Day 17)52 (Day 18)29 (Day 19)20 (Day 20)45 (Day 21)30
(Day 22)32 (Day 23)46 (Day 24)27 (Day 25)20 (Day 26)35 (Day 27)23 (Day 28)23
(Day 29)37 (Day 30)18

(First 30 days: 1,095 killed)

(Day 31)25 (Day 32)30 (Day 33)22 (Day 34)63 (Day 35)40 (Day 36)34 (Day 37)33
(Day 38)26 (Day 39)60 (Day 40)33 (Day 41)25 (Day 42)23 (Day 43)40 (Day 44)131
(Day 45)60 (Day 46)51 (Day 47)26 (Day 48)72 (Day 49)46 (Day 50)50 (Day 51)43
(Day 52)33 (Day 53)37 (Day 54)42 (Day 55)51 (Day 56)140 (Day 57)23 (Day 58)65
(Day 59)96 (Day 60)53

(Second 30 days: 1,473 killed)

(Day 61)109 (Day 62)60 (Day 63)77 (Day 64)60 (Day 65)48 (Day 66)77 (Day 67)60
(Day 68)90 (Day 69)52 (Day 70)66 (Day 71)128 (Day 72)87 (Day 73)131 (Day 74)82
(Day 75)80 (Day 76)113 (Day 77)104 (Day 78)139 (Day 79)70 (Day 80)174 (Day 81)69
(Day 82)114 (Day 83)71 (Day 84)70 (Day 85)70 (Day 86)89 (Day 87)71 (Day 88)60
(Day 89)51 (Day 90)68

(Third 30 days: 2,540 killed)


5,108 people killed since the ceasefire went into effect.

18,552 people killed so far in Syria

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...38272879557706

[Predicto]

This thread is so depressing but informative. Thanks for your tireless efforts, visionary.

[visionary]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...jfT_story.html

Syria’s remaining cash reserves are quickly dwindling as the country’s anti-government uprising marks its 13th month, according to intelligence officials and financial analysts who describe a steady hollowing-out of the country’s economy in the face of sanctions.

The financial hemorrhaging has forced Syrian officials to stop providing education, health care and other essential services in some parts of the country, and has prompted the government to seek more help from Iran to prop up the country’s sagging currency, the analysts said. Revenue from Syrian oil, meanwhile, has almost dried up, with even China and India declining to accept the nation’s crude, they said.

At the same time, President Bashar al-Assad appears to have shielded himself and his inner circle from much of the pain of the sanctions and trade embargoes, which are driving up food and fuel prices for many of the country’s 20 million residents, U.S. and Middle Eastern analysts and financial experts say. Assad’s reserves and sizable black-market income are probably sufficient to keep the regime’s elite in power for several months and perhaps longer, intelligence officials and outside experts said.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/25/world/...html?hpt=wo_c2

Renewed terror and violence permeated the Syrian cities of Hama and Douma on Wednesday, just days after United Nations monitors left the areas, opposition activists said.

"The security forces have continued their siege on Douma for the second day today," said one activist the city, identified only as Mohammed for safety reasons. "We desperately call on the international monitors to return to Douma to see the other face of the regime!"

At least 15 people were killed nationwide Wednesday, including three children, said the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria.

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/Syria

5 hours 50 min ago

Activists say Syrian troops are attacking a Damascus suburb with mortar shells and machine guns, one day after after special envoy Kofi Annan described the situation in Syria as ``bleak'' but held out hope UN monitors can make a cease-fire stick.

The activists say Wednesday's bombardment targeted the suburb of Douma that came under heavy army fire a day earlier.

2 hours 55 min ago
Syrian opposition activists have accused the United Nations of "playing with Syrian lives" by dragging out the deployment of ceasefire monitors in the country.

Responding to the announcement that it will take another month to deploy 100 unarmed military observers to oversee a shaky April 12 truce agreement, most activists reacted with a mixture of anger and apathy.

"It takes them a month to arrive? Are they coming on horses?" said a resident from the city of Homs, which has endured sustained shelling by the army. He asked to be referred to only by the nickname 'Sami' for fear of arrest.

There are currently 15 monitors in Syria, visiting areastorn by a 13-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, whose government has responded to protests with gunfire and shelled central districts of opposition strongholds, saying it is fighting an "armed terrorist" revolt.

1 hour 49 min ago

Syrian security forces have shot dead up to four civilians travelling in a bus at a government road block in the northern province of Idlib, rights groups have told the Reuters news agency.

1 hour 35 min ago

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that at least two people were killed by government forces in the Damascus suburb of Harasta.

The SOHR says another person was killed by sniper fire in Douma, another Damascus suburb.

One child was killed by gunfire in a village in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, the UK-based rights group said.

One more person was shot dead in the town of Rastan, in Homs province, the group said.

https://twitter.com/#!/WashingtonPoint

just skyped with acticist in Duma, Damascus, asked: Did Syrian forces come back when UN observers left, as reported? Answer: no
10:45 AM

while UN observers were here and tanks in d next streets, didn't even withdraw. When told them, "the observers ran away like rabbits"
10:48 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Local Coordination Committees:

Eighteen martyrs in Syria thus far, including three children, two women and a martyr under torture. Six Martyrs in Idlib, four martyrs in Harasta and Douma in Damascus Suburbs, two martyrs in Aleppo, two martyrs in Hama, two martyrs in Daraa, one martyr in Deir Ezzor and one martyr in Rastan in Homs
about an hour ago

Now up to 21 people killed today.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310


Supposedly a list of all the documented deaths since the revolution started.
It tallies them at 13,368, as of 4/12. I'm not sure if that's exactly how many names are in there. I don't really have the time to count them, but feel free to. Noting the cut off date, it's probably missing the 530 or so who have been killed since the ceasefire started.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/58298718/Syr...-4-13_16-6.txt

---------- Post added April-25th-2012 at 11:02 AM ----------

Pictures of damage from shelling and regime attacks on Douma
https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17829440

Syria crisis: Can UN mission succeed?

https://www.facebook.com/note.php?no...41595909200884

Association of Journalists is concerned at the deteriorating health of journalist mazen Darwesh and his collegues

https://twitter.com/#!/Brian_Whit

Reuters: French foreign minister Juppé says he wants at least 300 UN observers in Syria within 15 days
11:09 AM

Reuters: French foreign minister Juppé threatens Chapter VII resolution in UN if mediation fails
11:11 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/BBCBreaking

France's foreign minister says UN Security Council should consider allowing military action if Syria peace plan fails http://bbc.in/JAqjY3
11:31 AM

More details:

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/Syria

1 hour 32 min ago

France wants to see at least 300 UN observers on the ground in Syria within two weeks and would push for a Chapter 7 resolution at the United Nations if Damascus does not comply by early May, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Wednesday.

"This cannot continue indefinitely. We want to see observers in sufficient numbers, at least 300 ... deployed as quickly as possible," Juppe said.

The minister said that May 5, when international envoy Kofi Annan is due to present a report to the Security Council on Syria, would be the "moment of truth".

"If that does not work, we cannot allow the regime (in Syria) to defy us. We would have to move to a new stage with a Chapter 7 resolution at the United Nations to take a new step to stop this tragedy," Juppe said.

https://twitter.com/#!/LeShaque

So US is fine w/ deployment rate of 100 monitors / 30 days but Russia and China think that's too slow. Wow!
11:24 AM

I'm not certain how accurate this is.
The US has expressed skepticism and concern over the mission.
Not sure about Russia and China.
I haven't heard them criticize the mission, just the west and the opposition lately.


https://twitter.com/#!/icrc_english

Syria RedCrescent volunteer dead and 3 others wounded last night in Douma near Damascus ICRC condemns lack of respect of medical service
12:56 PM

Update:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/25/world/meast/syria-unrest/

Violence erupted again nationwide Wednesday. At least 32 people were killed, including three children, said the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria.

UN Observers in Homs today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q5sq...z15n6Yn9tEk%3D





EDIT: 1:38 PM EST



https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

A few moments after Mashaa Al Tayar, Hama was shelled https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OjLqZHzS5g Martyr girl pulled from the rubble there
1:22 PM

Hama: Houses completely collapsed after shelling in Mashaa Al Tayar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrG3...ature=youtu.be The death toll is rising fast.
1:35 PM

There is no ****ing ceasefire. This is all acceptable to the UN as a "fragile ceasefire" and not "crimes against humanity".
1:38 PM

Maybe Annan should experience being executed in Arabain neighbourhood of Hama and then call the ceasefire fragile, or shelled in Douma.
1:40 PM

More bodies r being pulled out of rubble in Hama. Very chaotic because entire buildings have collapsed full of families after being shelled.
1:42 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/ahmed

Video shows a huge cloud of smoke, reportedly in Masha'a, Hama. LCC says area was hit with a rocket, 15 killed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W06ZTNRR6Tg
1:27 PM

UN Observers drive by tank in Douma




Damage from the shelling in Hama just now


Check https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho for more pictures, footage, and updates.
Be warned some are extremely graphic.



https://twitter.com/#!/Bambuser_Alert

LIVE NOW: Snipers shooting at protesters in in the streets of Aleppo http://bambuser.com/v/2585857
2:23 PM

[visionary]

https://twitter.com/#!/Khaledkhoja

LCC:40 people have been killed across Syria today by the security forces gunfire , 8 of them are kids
2:33 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Annan plan has failed. Every single point violated continuously and openly. Stop pretending the ceasefire is in place. It's not.
2:26 PM

Tanks right in front of the observers, shelling and shooting continues, protests not allowed, Red Crescent ppl shot when rescuing wounded.
2:29 PM

Hama: Trying to rescue people from under the rubble in Mashaa al-Tayar after a huge shell landed on homes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUYg...ature=youtu.be
2:34 PM

The SAME tank the UN observers roaming around here in Douma today:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUtoVA1DWJM Firing randomly at ppl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk7h...=youtube_gdata
2:36 PM

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...83P02W20120426

Senator Marco Rubio said on Wednesday the United States should create a "safe haven" for the Syrian opposition but stopped short of urging Washington to arm the rebels, suggesting they were not yet organized enough.

"The most powerful and influential nation in the world cannot ask smaller, more vulnerable nations to take risks while we stand on the sidelines," he said.

"Leading a coalition with Turkey and the Arab League nations to assist the opposition, by creating a safe haven and equipping the opposition with food, medicine, communications tools and potentially weapons, will not only weaken Iran, it will ultimately increase our ability to influence the political environment of a post-Assad Syria," Rubio added.

Another severely critical editorial by the Post on our Syria policy.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...khT_story.html

The Post’s View

Where U.N. monitors go in Syria, killings follow

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Protests in Hama city tonight despite the massacre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDZ7...ature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa3E...ature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRix...ature=youtu.be
4:42 PM

Only in Syria are the parents of child martyrs arrested and forced to praise the president on State TV and Addounia.
5:08 PM

Hamza al-Khatib was arrested and tortured, his body burnt and penis cut off. His dad was forced to praise Assad on TV. http://pic.twitter.com/MokSrNUw
5:11 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Things getting more intense now in Hama, but we've become so used to gunfire. 2 years ago I would be so excited to hear shooting.
5:34 PM

FSA is sending Assad's forces to hell all over Hama in response to the two recent massacres.
5:36 PM

Now in Hama: Clashes, clashes, clashes. A real war has broken out all over the city.
5:37 PM

Most intense gunfire I've ever heard in my life.
5:41 PM

Anti-aircraft guns being used to attack homes in Hama. They haven't done this for a few days.
5:45 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/NMSyria

Idlib: Maaret Al-Nouman: Intense shooting in the town, explosions heard. Two shells fell on the town of Maaret Shamsha as well.
9:52 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

The number of martyrs in Syria reached 100 martyrs, including dozens of women and children; 70 martyrs died in a new massacre committed by the regime's army in Hama, 7 martyrs in Idlib, 7 martyrs in Daraa, 5 martyrs in Damascus Suburbs (Douma, Harasta), 4 martyrs in Aleppo, 4 martyrs in Homs and 3 martyrs in Deir Ezzor
4 hours ago

This puts the ceasefire death toll at 611.
And it brings the total number of dead in Syria to about 13,979
It probably does not include the results of whatever may be happening overnight in Hama.

[Koala]

This puts the ceasefire death toll at 611.
And it brings the total number of dead in Syria to about 13,979
It probably does not include the results of whatever may be happening overnight in Hama.

Looks like the cease-fire was just time for the Syrian army to reload, the world community isnt seriously committed to saving the Syrians in any meaningful way. God be with them...

[visionary]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/26/world/...html?hpt=wo_c2

Hama deaths prompt call for U.N. action

In one of the deadliest incidents in the Syrian conflict, a military rocket attack killed more than 70 people in the flashpoint city of Hama, an activist told CNN on Thursday.

The incident prompted the Syrian opposition on Thursday to call on the U.N. Security Council to hold an emergency session to take up the issue of protecting civilians.

The Wednesday strike, in the Masha'a Altayar neighborhood, caused many poorly constructed buildings to collapse. Video showed people milling around the rubble. One activist said more than a dozen children were pulled from the wreckage.

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's government blamed terrorist groups for the Hama deaths. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said a terrorist group was building a bomb that exploded and killed 16 people, including children.

The demand by the Syrian National Council comes the same day the Arab League called an emergency meeting in Cairo where ministers will take up the issue of Syria's fragile truce, which showed little sign of taking hold amid reports of violence in flashpoint cities.

By Monday, 30 observers are expected to be in the country, with that number swelling to 100 by month's end. But as of Wednesday, only 13 were in Syria.

At least 13 people were killed across the country on Thursday, the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria said.

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/Syria

4 hours 50 min ago

The Syrian state news agency reports that an "armed terrorist group" has detonated an explosive device in Aleppo this morning, killing a school teacher.

Quoting a source, SANA said Mohammad al-Freij was killed by the device as he was getting into his car in the Hanano area.

1 hour 58 min ago

The son of a former Syrian prime minister says he wants to form a government in exile aimed at bolstering Syrian rebels and encouraging international military intervention.

Nofal al-Dawalibi's attempt at forming a government of those who oppose President Bashar al-Assad only highlights divisions among those trying to oust his government from outside the country.

Al-Dawalibi says that the opposition Syrian National Council, which has enjoyed support from several countries, has failed to accomplish anything and is an "artificial" body.
[AFP]

1 hour 31 min ago - Moscow

Russia has accused Syrian rebels of waging a wide-scale violent campaign designed to kill as many civilians as possible despite a formal ceasefire, AFP reports.

"Opposition groups have essentially reverted to waging wide-scale terror in the region," said foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich, adding that attacks aimed at "killing as many peaceful civilians as possible" had the hallmarks of al-Qaeda involvement.

Oh, go **** yourself, Russia.



https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Latamneh, the city in Hama countryside that was destroyed by shelling is protesting today for Hama city.
4:42 AM

Live: Clashes between the FSA and Assad's thugs in Deir Ezzor after they fired on a protest: http://bambuser.com/v/2587119
5:03 AM

A lot of refugees from Homs lived in Mashaa al-Tayar, people are very welcoming to them, they fled from shelling only to get shelled again.
7:38 AM

BMP tanks shooting randomly in Douma today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZZuNyZzPRA Won't mention this "ceasefire" again, it's pointless.
8:32 AM

Group defection in Rastan, Homs : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20HV...ature=youtu.be Contains special forces, Maher's "elite" 4th division and police
8:40 AM

Tanks in Douma today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZZuNyZzPRA

Defection in Rastan, Homs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20HV...ature=youtu.be

Shelling of Old Douma Cemetary...wtf?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWf0weZMXg0

[visionary]

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Hama: Still searching for bodies today in the rubble of the Mashaa al-Tayyar massacre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMw-...ature=youtu.be
10:04 AM

While people are digging through the rubble of the Mashaa al-Tayar massacre, Addounia comes to film their bull****. What the ****?
11:11 AM

Very useful resource, FSA help videos. Learn how to block knife attacks, use weapons etc http://www.youtube.com/user/fsahelp/videos Might be useful soon [Arabic]
11:30 AM

We have to be prepared for a war if things keep getting worse. Like Libyans, we have to say "enough" and fight back at some point.
11:42 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Big defection today in Jesr Al-Shughour, Idlib https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkKY...ature=youtu.be
11:45 AM

Hama: UN observers turn back 500m away from the scene of the Mashaa al-Tayar massacre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-McYQMRWDE
11:48 AM

It's impossible to meet the UN observers in Hama, they need to go near 47 Brigade and ask residents about the sounds of shelling.
11:51 AM

Why did the UN observers turn back from the Mashaa al-Tayar massacre? If Addounia can go and film why can't the UN enter?
11:54 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/tweets4peace

Several explosions in Homs now, unclear what's going on yet
12:37 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

The number of martyrs in Syria has risen to 22 thus far. 12 martyrs in Deir Ezzor, 6 martyrs in Aleppo 2 of them were killed yesterday and their corpses were thrown on one of the public roads and people found them today, 3 martyrs in Homs and 1 martyr in Zamalka in Damascus Suburbs
2 hours ago

This unfortunately puts the number of people killed in Syria just over 14,000.


Protest in Inshaat neighborhood of Homs
(half destroyed and next to Bab Amr)


Funeral for one of the child martyrs of the massacre in Mashaa al-Tayyar, Hama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqP_...ature=youtu.be

Big defection in Jisr Al Shougur, Idlib

[visionary]

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/po...n_plan_failing

Obama officials: Annan plan ‘failing’

Two top Obama administration officials said today that the diplomatic initiative to end the violence in Syria, led by U.N. Special Envoy Kofi Annan, "is failing."

Under intense questioning during Thursday's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, both Kathleen Hicks, the current deputy under secretary of defense for policy, and Derek Chollet, National Security Council senior director for strategy, said that the Annan plan was headed toward collapse and that new options for confronting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were being prepared.

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Still can't get this video out of my head. Man cries after his entire family was killed in the Mashaa alTayar massacre https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY3F...&feature=g-u-u
1:33 PM

Important: Protest in Mohajrin neighbourhood in Damascus very close to the Presidential office https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH0y...ature=youtu.be
2:32 PM

Video I just tweeted is the most daring protest in Damascus. Never has a protest got this close to the Presidential palace or office.
2:35 PM

WTF!!! Arrested Baba Amr activist Ali Othman will be on a show on Addounia TV forced to make confessions. "Trailer" https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=425812124114018
2:46 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/thebaghdaddy

I can't believe this........ Addounia will be airing "confessions" by the spokesman from Baba Amr Ali Othman that was arrested months ago...
2:53 PM

They tried everything with him...including using him to "call" other activists to meet him as a ploy to arrest them... #FreeAliOthman
2:55 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Douma FSA say they have carried out an operation with other FSA battalions destroying 2 tanks,shilka and 120-150 troop https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...5822177&type=1
4:12 PM

Last night the FSA and Khaldiyah activists had a party in defiance of the regime. Months of shelling and we are at our highest spirits.
6:14 PM

Bring it on Assad. You have used everything on us, police, thugs, army, navy, air force and we still protest every single day.
6:17 PM

Now: Gunfire from heavy weapons has started again in Hama.
6:23 PM

After big strike on Thursday and the massacres this week inshallah we will hold great protests in Hama this Friday.
6:44 PM

Follow for updates from Lattakia
https://twitter.com/#!/Peace4Syria

Tonight an explosion was shook Izzi in Jableh and another at Sharia School with gunfire as well.
6:46 PM

Last night a big explosion was heard in Owieneh.
6:46 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...0jT_story.html

While Syria burns

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-e...dence-1.426776

Haaretz exclusive: A visit to the war-torn heart of Syria's struggle for independence

"Nothing has changed for us here," said Aisha al-Hariri, a 40-year-old woman sitting in a public area of the city's hospital as she waits fro a doctor to treat the feverish young daughter asleep in her lap. "The world couldn't care less. Quite the opposite is true. This plan gives Bashar more time, and most of all maneuvering room, to kill us all."

As for her daughter, al-Hariri said she has little hope that she will find help.

"I am here for nothing," she said. "People like us, who dare to demonstrate against the regime, are not getting treatment any more. Not even our kids. I am so worried about them. No school. No medicine. Not enough food. We raise the kids mainly on a diet of despair and fear."

Al-Hariri did not emerge from the demonstrations unscathed.

"Do you feel the injury?" she asked, placing this reporter's hand on her hip. "I was shot during a demonstration. A doctor in a safe house of the Free Syrian Army treated me, but with so little equipment. The wound will never heal."

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

The number of martyrs in Syria has risen to 35 thus far including 4 children
and 2 women. 13 martyrs in Deir Ezzor, 9 martyrs in Aleppo 2 of them were killed yesterday and their corpses were thrown on one of the public roads and people found them today, 7 martyrs in Homs,2 martyrs in Daraa and 1 martyr in each of Hama,Lattakia, Idlib and Zamalka in Damascus Suburbs
2 hours ago

Protest in Binnish, Idlib


Protest in Homs


Regime vehicles running over protesters and shooting at them in Midan, Damascus Suburbs

[visionary]

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/...bout-syria/?ap

Israeli leaders speak up about Syria

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/po...s_can_t_decide

Should U.S. call for Assad to go? Republicans can’t decide

The Republican Party appears to be deeply split on whether the United States should call on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, a Senate committee vote revealed today.

The divisions were on display during a one-hour debate Thursday at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), after which the Republican members of the panel remained irreconcilably divided over how aggressively the United States should work for Assad's removal.

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/Syria

Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations, has condemned the Syrian government's continued use of heavy weapons on its people.

"The United States' patience is exhausted, and we are going to be watching very carefully to determine if this observer mission is having the impact that we all hoped it would, even if our expectations were low. And if it isn't, we will be very ready within the 90 day period to come back to this Council and discuss what pressures ought to be applied."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/midd...ive?CMP=twt_gu

Protesters were forced to take cover behind UN vehicles when Syrian soldiers opened fire during an inspection visit to the southern city of Dera'a, according to video footage from activists.

The protesters are seen showing the inspectors a sand-bagged army lookout post when shots are heard. Several protesters are seen hiding behind the UN vehicle, as blue-helmeted monitors sat inside the vehicle filming the scene themselves.

https://twitter.com/#!/BreakingNews

Full advance team of 30 ceasefire monitors expected to be deployed in Syria by April 30, Annan spokesman says - @Reuters
3:57 AM

It's taken them over two weeks since the ceasefire started to get up to 15 observers in Syria. Now they say they're going to double that number in 3 days?
We'll see. If they do, they might have enough to observe one city.


Apparently Sky News has some reporters with the UN observers in Damascus.
https://twitter.com/#!/SkyNewsCamera

With the UN mission, headed north out of Damascus
3:59 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/NMSyria

HR Monitors have documented cases of sexual violence perpetrated by Assad security forces against men, young boys as young as 11 years-old
4:09 AM

Salma was a young girl in Baba Amr whose house was raided last February by the shabbiha
4:09 AM

She told them, ‘Please, – don’t you have sisters? Don’t you have mothers?’”, Farha said. “Just leave me, please not in front of my dad.’"
4:10 AM

They didn’t listen. Instead, the shabbiha strapped Salma’s father to a chair in his own house.
4:10 AM

They forced him to watch as three or four men raped his daughter. “They made him keep his eyes open and watch.”
4:10 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/NMSyria

BREAKING: Damascus: Vehicle exploded in Sinaa neighborhood. Several martyrs reported as ambulances rush to the scene.
4:20 AM

[visionary]

https://twitter.com/#!/RulaAmin

Reports of a car bomb in Damascus, second explosion in a week
4:56 AM

Pro govt Dunya TV says 3 people killed 10 injured in an apparent suicide bombing in Midan neighborhood in Damascus
7:15 AM

Syrian tv now says 7 people killed in the Midan explosion in Damascus Syria
7:35 AM

UN observers visited rebellious Idlib this afternoon, escorted by heavy security Syria
8:57 AM

A 3rd explosion in Damascus today according to pro govt media and activists near Damascus uni agriculture department in Adawi
9:05 AM

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/27/world/...html?hpt=hp_t3

A suicide bombing in a Damascus neighborhood killed nine and injured tens of people, Syrian state media said Friday. It was the second bomb blast to rock the Syrian capital Friday.

The deadly attack came as a two-week-old peace deal continued to unravel.

The suicide attack happened in the district of Midan in Damascus, state television reported. The state-run news agency called it a "terrorist bombing" that resulted in "a number of victims and injuries."

Earlier, a separate blast hit the industrial region in the capital, the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. It was unclear whether there were any casualties in that blast.

Elsewhere in Syria, an explosion injured three security personnel in the coastal city of Banias.

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Brave people of Salah Eddin neighbourhood in Aleppo chase away shabiha sent to stop their protest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jP_...ature=youtu.be Aleppo
7:36 AM

Despite the recent executions, shelling, massacre and heavy security presence, Arabain neighbourhood of Hama held a protest.
7:38 AM

The remaining residents of Old Homs and Jouret al-Shayyah also held protests today, along with occupied Inshaat and Shammas neighbourhoods.
7:41 AM

There is some sort of bomb in Midan area of Damascus near Zine el-Abedine mosque, which holds massive protests every Friday.
7:44 AM

5 minutes after the bomb in a main protest area in Damascus, ambulances and sec forces arrived, in 10 min Addounia cameras arrived.
8:10 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...8242310&type=1

Local Coordination Committees in Syria:

Seven martyrs have fallen in Syria so far including 3 children. In Deir Ezzor, there were 2 martyrs, 2 in Homs, 1 in each of Aleppo, Hama and Douma in Damascus suburbs
about an hour ago

Protest in Jouret Al-Shayya neighborhood, Homs


Protest in Malab neighborhood, Homs


Protest in Mleiha Sharqieh, Daraa


Protest in Jisor Al-Shigour, Idlib
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5rt0...ature=youtu.be

Protest in Jableh, Lattakia


Protest in Heffa, Lattakia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mYpSj0huYU

There shouldn't be protests in Lattakia...

[visionary]

http://jonasrenz.wordpress.com/2012/...ria-part-ii-9/

Comment on Marc Lynch’s testimony “Confronting Damascus: U.S. Policy toward the Evolving Situation in Syria, Part II.”

The original article:

http://lynch.foreignpolicy.com/posts..._plan_a_chance

http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticl...aspx?ID=389959

Russia’s strategic clarity in Syria

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/Syria

4 hours 56 sec ago - UK

Syria's exiled Muslim Brotherhood has urged UN chief Ban Ki-moon to acknowledge that Damascus had failed to honour a peace plan and to suspend its membership of the world body.

"We ask Ban Ki-moon to announce that Assad's government has failed to honour the peace plan and to declare the plan finished ... at a time when dozens of innocent people are dying," the group said in a statement issued in the UK on Friday.

It also called for "the freezing of Syria's membership in the international organisation, until a transitional government that represents the Syrian people's will is established."

The Brotherhood, which is banned in Syria but represented in the opposition Syrian National Council, said the UN should sever all ties with Assad's government, which it said was made up of "hooligans that have taken over the state and Syrian society." [AFP]

2 hours 51 min ago

The US is disappointed that Damascus has failed to live up to promises made to adhere to a UN-backed peace plan and will increase pressure on President Assad, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Friday.

"We intend to continue to ramp up the international pressure against the Assad regime and encourage them in the strongest possible terms to live up to the obligations and commitments that they made in the context of the Kofi Annan plan," Earnest told reporters. [Reuters]

2 hours 3 min ago

The United Nations has appointed the Norwegian Major General Robert Mood, a veteran of troublesome truces, to head the force monitoring the faltering ceasefire in Syria.

Mood was understood to be already heading for Damascus when the deadline passed for UN Security Council objections to his nomination by UN leader Ban Ki-moon passed on Friday.

Fifteen monitors are already on the ground, and the UN says 15 more will arrive by Monday. [AFP]

1 hour 49 min ago - Aleppo

‎Activists say dozens of anti-Assad demonstrations have taken place in Aleppo city and elsewhere in the province today.

https://twitter.com/#!/DSyrer

KurdsInSyria so far: Serêkanî, Hesîçe, Qamişlo, Amûdê http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oQ9A-ls1CM&feature=plcp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1_LYXbziGE&feature=plcp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH8lSGIZBag&feature=plcp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMsrJ1qWgqg&feature=plcp
9:23 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Local Coordination Committees in Syria:

12 martyrs in Syria so far, including a woman and three children. 3 martyrs in Homs, 3 martyrs in Deir Ezzor, 2 martyrs in Damascus Suburbs "Douma and Daraya", a martyr in Damascus, a martyr in Aleppo, a martyr in Idlib, and a martyr in Hama
59 minutes ago

Protest in Qusair, Homs


Protest in Shaar, Aleppo


Protest in Halfaya, Hama

[visionary]

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

I'm not afraid to die, but I'm afraid if I get very destroyed my family won't recognise me and will become an unknown dead.
11:27 AM

Thats why I dont want to be shot in the head, shoot in the heart or chest pls.
11:29 AM

Anyone who thinks the ceasefire is working is invited to my house to hear the nightly heavy weapons gunfire and shilka shelling.
11:54 AM

Anyone who thinks we can have talks with the regime can ask about the internal SNC members living in hiding for fear of being hunted down.
11:58 AM

Anyone who thinks that violence has reduced after ceasefire, please come to Hama and I will show you this week's mass graves.
12:17 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/NMSyria

BREAKING: Damascus Suburb: Artooz: Security forces opened live gunfire on protests moments ago.
2:49 PM

BREAKING: Gunfire in the Barzeh neighborhood in Central Damascus
2:52 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/ahmed

Can the UN observers in their cars hear the sounds of gunshots in Daraa today? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuQ91PxUFCg
3:22 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/Mou2amara

Dear Citizen of the phrase "I'm not with any side": The blood spilt is real, it's not ketchup. Signed Syria'n Athiests http://on.fb.me/Kiiwcg
3:28 PM

Protest in Binnish, Idlib


Protest in Kafranbel, Idlib


Protest in the Khaldiya neighborhood, Homs

[visionary]

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/Syria

1 hour 38 min ago
Iran on Saturday condemned a deadly suicide bombing in Damascus, charging that such "terrorist actions" were the work of foreign governments that wanted to arm the Syrian opposition.

1 hour 36 min ago

A veteran Norwegian peacekeeper headed to Damascus on Saturday to take charge of a UN mission overseeing a troubled truce, a day after a deadly suicide bombing fuelled scepticism over its prospects.

Major General Robert Mood was already en route for the Syrian capital when UN chief Ban Ki-moon publicly announced his appointment late on Friday, diplomats said.

2 hours 1 min ago

The Lebanese navy intercepted three containers of weapons destined for Syrian rebel forces on board a ship originating from Libya, a security official told AFP news agency on Saturday.

The cargo contained heavy machineguns, artillery shells, rockets, rocket launchers and other explosives, the official said.

A second security official said the Sierra Leone-flagged Lutfallah II had previously obtained a permit to enter the port of Tripoli in northern Lebanon before being stopped by the navy on Thursday night.

The security source said that the captain and crew were handed over to military intelligence officers in Tripoli for further questioning.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/28/world/...est/index.html

Opposition activists: Syrian forces, rebels clash in coastal city

Syrian forces clashed with opposition fighters early Saturday in the coastal city of Latakia, anti-government activists said, further crumbling a shaky cease-fire meant to end 13 months of unrest.

The clashes occurred in Burj Islam village, where a presidential palace is located, according to the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The new attacks came a day after a bomber struck near a mosque in the capital of Damascus, killing nine people -- most of them government forces, Syrian state-run media reported. It described the attack in Midan district as a "terrorist bombing."

The observatory put the death toll from the suicide bombing at 10, and reported that most of the victims were regime forces.

In addition to that tally, 18 more people were killed across Syria on Friday, according to the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria

CNN sometimes mentions numbers that I haven't seen anywhere.
For instance, 18 isn't listed on any of the places I look for LCC updates.
So I don't know what to make of that.
The most I've seen is 12, so I'm confused as to where they got it from.
Maybe they have direct contacts with people in LCC and those numbers were never updated.
I don't know. It's weird.

During Friday's bombing, riot police and troops had huddled beneath an overpass to confront those emerging from a nearby mosque to protest against the government, ITN reporter Bill Neely said. Such demonstrations are common after prayers.

A man walked up to the security forces. When he was asked for his identification, he reached into his jacket and detonated a suicide vest, said Neely, one of the few Western journalists allowed by the government to report from Syria.

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

People are reporting a huge explosion in Damascus, heard all over the city along with heavy gunfire.
7:05 PM

In Hama now there is heavy gunfire as usual. Impossible to sleep in Syria. Every single night there is gunfire.
7:08 PM

Explosions in Homs also, like an orchestra of death all over Syria.
7:10 PM

Anyone know what happened in Damascus last night? Or Lattakia where soldiers defected next to the presidential palace?
3:33 AM

Damn you Lebanon, 3 containers of weapons from the only real friend of Syria, Libya, were intercepted by the navy.
4:41 AM

The containers were full of good stuff unable to purchase from weapon smugglers in Lebanon; rockets, artillery, heavy machineguns.
4:42 AM