Yahoo: Assad predicts disaster if West meddles in Syria

[visionary]

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middle...722304378.html

Satellite images show ruined deserted Homs

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opi...=MasterAccount

Sentiment about Syria in Lebanon is mixed, as refugees flood in and survive thanks to goodwill.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO120...ent-funded.htm

Plan to Help Syrian Refugees Only 20 Per Cent Funded

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

Russia & West headed fr nother battle in UNSC:West push draft reso thrtning poss sanctions gainst Syria if it dithers, Rus pushing own reso
1:18 PM

the western one was introduced by French, agreed by US, France Brit(probably Morocco) and I suspect it wd have broader support
5:25 PM

Council dip" UNSC now negotiating one text on UN mission, downplays differences between Russia and West, say they're "working towards" pact
6:12 PM

I sense irritation over my characteristic of dustup bet Russ & West. If that's not case it suggests west not tht serious bout snctions
6:16 PM

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

UN Sec. Council to meet at 11 am on Saturday to vote on resolution authorizing up to 300 unarmed military observers for Syria truce
7:45 PM

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middle...=MasterAccount

Under the proposed resolution, the full mission would have an initial three month mandate to monitor the cessation of hostilities which started on April 12.

European nations had wanted the threat of sanctions to be included in the resolution if Assad did not keep the commitments. But the final draft text talks only of backing the resolution with "further steps as appropriate."

It calls for Ban to report back to the council on Syria's compliance within 15 days.

There are seven monitors already in Syria from Morocco, Brazil, Belgium, Switzerland and Norway after the council authorized an advance team of up to 30 on Saturday.

A new resolution is needed for a further "initial deployment" of up to 300 as recommended by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

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

Hama: An artillery shell fell near the Huda Mosque. Five tanks have entered the city from the airport, along with military aircraft flight.
2:20 PM

Hama: Maardes: Regime army, backed by tanks and armored vehicles raided the village. Gunfire in area.
2:21 PM

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

The absolutely brilliant Hajaj: This was drawn during AL observers: http://j.mp/IaI89s and this was drawn this week: http://j.mp/IaIeOz
4:52 PM

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

pro-rev Syria celeb singer Asala pledges upcoming Cairo concert proceeds to Syria's refugees& internally displacd
6:50 PM

Um...then maybe you shouldn't have waited all day to explain this ridiculous statement....

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/...r-20-2012-0909

"We don't want to be used as a tool for escalating the situation. So we will avoid going on patrols on Fridays," the head of the team, Colonel Ahmed Himmiche from Morocco, said

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

UN Chf Observer words taken out of context. They work Fridays & tdy were regrouping, dealing w admin & logistics & planning 4 patrol tmrw.
6:33 PM

Thank you Sweden for supporting Annan plan to stop bloodshed & resolve crisis thru political process. Its only plan in town.
7:00 PM

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

BREAKING: Multiple sounds of explosions heard in #Damascus moments ago. More news as it comes.
8:36 PM

BREAKING: Damascus: Barzeh: Defections in the Military Police Branch - explosions heard inside the building moments ago!
8:37 PM

BREAKING: Damascus Suburbs: Arbeen: "Extremely powerful' explosions heard in the city. Source not yet known.
8:38 PM

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

For the last few days, my calls with an activist in al-Khalediyeh end with, "Goodbye. This may be the last time we speak."
10:36 PM

Did you know activists in Khalediyeh collect scarce fuel for small generators to power computers to upload YouTube videos?
10:40 PM

Most days I try to brush off his goodbyes to exhaustion, but today's goodbye was too long & too sad. He is prepared to die.
10:43 PM

He survived Feb, March & now April under shells. He watched as his friends were killed. He filmed his father's broken body.
10:46 PM

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

video from Dara'a yesterday showed chief mil. observer telling family burned out of their home: "I'm not a human rights specialist"
10:48 PM

Protest in Mazzeh, Damascus


Protest in Douma, Damascus suburbs


Protest in Saqba, Damascus surburbs


Protest in Homs, (not sure where).

[visionary]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/21/world/...html?hpt=hp_t3

Snipers in the besieged city of Homs killed at least three people on Saturday, the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, a network of opposition activists, said.

The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency continued blaming "armed terrorist groups" for ongoing violence, saying Saturday that such terrorists detonated a bomb that killed 10 law enforcement members in Daraa province, in the south. It also said terrorists sabotaged an oil pipeline in Deir Ezzor province, in the east.

The Syrian military in Homs is hiding at least 17 tanks in two state-owned buildings, the LCC said. The activists said the government is masking its military presence in the city to show adherence to a key element of the Annan peace plan -- the withdrawal of troops from population centers.

On Saturday, SANA announced it had released 30 detainees whose "hands were not stained with the blood of the Syrians." The state-run agency also said hundreds of detainees had been released in November, December and January.

Keep in mind that there are reported to be hundreds of thousands of detainees.



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

3 hours 27 min ago

Activists say fighting and government shelling has stopped in Syria's central city of Homs in advance of an expected visit by UN observers.

Walid Fares of the Homs Revolutionary Council said the city has been calm for the last four hours but that tanks and artilleries remain in the streets.

"There is no shelling whatsoever," Fares said.

"We believe that the calmness has to do with the arrival of the monitors. We wish they could live with us so that this peace can remain."

3 hours 4 min ago

A team of United Nations ceasefire monitors are in the battered city of Homs and have met with its governor, the Syrian state news agency and a UN spokesman said on Saturday.

"A team of observers have been sent to Homs and met the governor," U.N. spokesman Khaled al-Masri said.

"They are now visiting districts of the city." Syria's state news agency SANA confirmed the statement.

The arrival and visit with the governor have been confirmed, the visiting districts has not yet.
At least one report said that they had left after visiting the governor.


I just saw a link to this on twitter though:
http://www.local10.com/news/U-N-moni...2/-/xb0y28z/-/

International observers also held talks with activists in the city, a hotbed of dissent and the scene of protracted violence, an opposition group's Facebook page said.
The observer team was expected to arrive in two hard-hit neighborhoods -- the old city and Khalidiya, the Homs Revolution page said.

2 hours 31 min ago

The opposition Syrian National Council renewed on Saturday its call for the United Nations to intervene militarily in the country to put a stop to "crimes" by President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"We call anew on the UN Security Council to act with all urgency to intervene militarily to bring an end to the crimes committed by the bloody regime against the unarmed Syrian people," said a statement received in Beirut.

The plea came as the SNC claimed that government forces entered the Homs neighbourhood of Bayyada on Saturday and that the "streets and houses were full of the bodies of martyrs and the destruction terrifying."

The SNC appealed to UN observers who arrived on Sunday to go immediately to Homs "to try to stop the crimes of the regime," claiming that Bayyada and another neighbourhood, Khaldiyeh, "are the target of barbaric shelling and an inhumane embargo."

On Thursday, the rebel Free Syrian Army called for outside military intervention even without UN backing to carry out surgical strikes on key regime installations.

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

It's 13:05 here in Homs there is still no shelling by Assad forces unlike past days with news UN observers on thier way to us
6:13 AM

Also mobile phones have returned work here in Homs with news of UN observers on way after Assad regime down coverage since Feb5th
6:19 AM

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

BRK: AJA / activists: Massive explosion in Mezze [Military] Airport (Damascus) and clouds of smoke rising from premises.
6:32 AM

Massive explosion at Mezze Military Airport in Damascus confirmed by multiple eyewitnesses in direct view of the airport.
7:29 AM

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

Daraa: Kurk Sharqy: Intense and indiscriminate gunfire amid a powerful explosion that shook the town are reported in conjunction with news of defections among the regime's army in the Western Neighbourhood

Daraa: Heit: Raid campaign and burning of five residents' houses
about an hour ago

Deir Ezzor: Bokamal: Security forces stormed the farms in Kataf neighborhood supported by armored vehicles and heavy weapons
About an hour ago

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

Local Coordination Committes in Syria:

The number of martyrs in Syria has risen to 8 thus far, including a woman, 2 martyrs under torture, and a defected soldier; 4 martyrs in Daraa (in Mosaifra, Nawa, Jezeh and Basr Harer), 2 martyrs in Qosair in Homs, and 2 martyrs in Aleppo (in Maree and Madineh)
2 minutes ago

Protest in Jaranjar, Idlib


Protest in Kafar Sanja, Idlib


Protest in Sora, Daraa



Some more random protest videos from today

Baeet, Idlib
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDnBfean3VQ

Ibta, Daraa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiRHQFaqEPU

Maarshorein, Idlib
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGFv5hFdz-Q

Bayad, Hama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeMNRroKyLw

Derek, Hasaka
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUdokgemjjM


Shelling and Destruction in Qusair, Homs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj44JuDLCzs

[visionary]

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

I'm hearing gunshots. The quietness of the day have ended. 2:25 PM.
7:34 AM

I am hearing shooting from at least 2 different areas in Homs. Right now.
7:35 AM

I can still hear gunshots every now and then. Nothing massive. You could hear that in the live stream from Jorat Al Shayyah.
9:28 AM

UN observers are still in Homs. Khaled Abo Salah is with them. He's the man for the job.
9:34 AM

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

I'm tweeting live now from an anti Assad protest in Mala'a area of Homs city
10:03 AM

I missed tweeting live out doors since 2&a half months when Assad regime cut cell phones,at least UN observers did something good
10:26 AM

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

Headed towards UNSC vote on Syria resolution at 11AM. You can watch it live at http://www.unwebcast.org
10:05 AM

If you want to see latest Syria draft reso, @nabilabisaab has it here http://bit.ly/IdHqfk i've got the earlier drafts posed at my blog
10:26 AM

The observers seem to be doing a good job today.
Of course I'm not sure how much they can really do in the long run.
It is nice to see less people dying though for the moment.

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

Homs: a large demonstration started in the disaster-stricken neighborhood of Khaldieh
49 minutes ago

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

Homs: mortar shelling and gunshots were fired from al-Qahira checkpoint in Khaldieh despite the presence of the UN monitoring team. The UN monitors also witnessed gunfire by the regime forces located in Homs police headquarters.
12 minutes ago

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

Aleppo: Atareb: four new tanks have entered the town and started firing at houses from their top-mounted machine guns.
8 minutes ago

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

Daraa: Habet: the regime's Army continues to commit violations in the town. It burned more than 40 houses and 4 shops, destroyed more than 90 motorcycles and looted several private properties
8 minutes ago

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

Local Coordination Committes in Syria:

The number of martyrs in Syria has risen to 16 thus far, including a woman, a female child, 3 martyrs died under torture, and 6 from the Free Syrian Army; 5 martyrs in Daraa, 8 martyrs in Aleppo, and 3 martyrs in Homs, in addition to 2 martyrs in Tebet Al-Imam in Hama, they were martyred yesterday and their names were reported today
33 minutes ago

Funeral in Daf Al-Shouk, Damascus






UN Observers in Khaldiya, Homs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEBBv21yTMM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjVXxvOR7Zo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mae2leBD1vw

gunfire from the checkpoint there halfway through (right before it replays without sound)


More gunfire with observers present
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqmeePKpMSk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oQV18FY17s






Tanks return to Dael, Daraa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URD3CbdgUlI

Another Massive Funeral for another child martyr in Douma, Damascus Suburbs




Odd that with the US supposedly presiding over the UN this month, Russia seems to be calling the shots these days.
https://twitter.com/#!/columlynch

US not cosponsoring the Syria resolution. introduced by Russia. But will suport it.
11:16 AM

The UNSC voted unanimously to establish monitoring mission in Syria
11:16 AM

I guess we'll see what the results are in 3 long months....

[visionary]

2:30 pm: I added some more info and updates to this post


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

Britain's UN envoy: "Mission will fail in its task if the regime continues to violate its comittments and obstructs the work of the mission"
11:46 AM

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

@AmbassadorRice: The U.S. has voted in favor of UNSC Res. 2043, "but we are sober about the risks." VIDEO: http://goo.gl/DiCWT
12:06 PM

@AmbassadorRice: If there is not "rapid, meaningful progress...we must all conclude that this mission has run its course."
12:07 PM

No one should assume that U.S. will agree to renew this Syria mission at the end of 90 days if Syrian regime has not met its commitments.
1:12 PM

We will not wait 90 days to pursue UN sanctions against Syria's govt if it continues to violate its commitments or obstruct monitors.
1:14 PM

We, our allies & others in UNSC are preparing for actions that will be required of us all if Asad persist in the slaughter.
1:17 PM

Some interesting parts of the resolution:
http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/...r-21-2012-1922

--Authorises civilian experts, on politics and public security, to support implementation of the Annan plan

-- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will make the "assessment" on whether it is safe to deploy the mission. This would include the consolidation of the cessation of violence started on April 12

-- Ban must "immediately" report any obstructions to the mission and he must provide a written report every 15 days. Normally the council demands reports every 30 days

-- Resolution calls on President Bashar al-Assad to carry out promises on troop movements and heavy weapons, but adds two new calls to complete the pullback of troops and weapons from population centers. Previous resolution only spoke of beginning the withdrawal

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

Raqa: Security forces fired at an evening demonstration that started near Omar Bin Al-Khattab in the city's farms to demand the toppling of the criminal regime
12 minutes ago

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

Homs: When International monitors visited Baba Amr neighborhood, some residents met and told them what happened in the district of shelling and devastating, they also told the monitors the places where army is, after regime's forces hid in empty houses and military vehicles were put in the consumer Corporation building, the security forces put on civil clothes and police costume.

After the monitors left, Assad's gangsters attacked the residents by beating them with batons and electrical sticks including an elderly woman who's a mother of a martyr, she was arrested with some residents including dentist Khaled Tamim Khalaf and another man whose name is Manaf Rabah 13 minutes ago

Protest in Malaab, Homs


Protest in Waer, Homs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ilek5MkO5rc


Protest in Kashef, Daraa Al-Mahatta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOK5u6JexWA


Security Forces in Kafar Nabbotheh, Hama



UN Observers in Al Bayda, Homs

[visionary]

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

Syrian protestors must support Bahrain protesters with banners and chants. Bahraini protesters must do the same for the Syrians.
7:15 PM

Bahraini & Syrian revolutionaries must stand up for each others that way we defeat both regimes sectarian agenda.
7:20 PM

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

News is that @RedRazan and colleagues from the @SyrianCenter were taken to Adra Prison today after hearing
9:22 PM

(Media activists who were arrested a few months back and eventually released but still had to go in for interrogation every day.)


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

Local Coordination Committees in Syria:

Saturday has ended with the fall of 40 martyrs including children, women, 5 martyrs under torture and 6 members of the Free Syrian Army. In Aleppo, there were 13 martyrs, 15 in Daraa including an entire family who were trying to flee to Jordan, 6 martyrs in Homs, 5 in Damascus suburbs (Douma and Kafar Batna) and 1 martyr in Biqrus, Deir Ezzor
3 hours ago

Protest in Hamidiya, Deir Ezzour


Protest in Zamalkha, Damascus Suburbs



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

Damascus: Qaboon: A powerful explosion was heard and has also been heard in the nearby neighborhoods.
17 minutes ago

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

Damascus Suburbs: Zimlaka: Strong explosion shook the town
16 minutes ago

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

Damascus Suburbs: Douma: Loud explosions are shaking the town
17 minutes ago

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

Homs: Several mortar shells have fallen on Jouret al-Shayah. At least one house has been on fire and smoke clouds are visible in the sky.
5 minutes ago

[visionary]

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

1 hour 13 min ago

Al Jazeera's Anita McNaught, who just returned from the Syrian province of Idlib, says government's military operation in the country's northwest continues.

She says that while some areas in the province have experienced a lull in fighting, Idlib city has not.

Residents there continue to live in fear and the casualties continue to mount, she says.

McNaught sent us this report from the Turkish city of Antakya near the border with Syria.

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

1st timefor weeks in Homs that the sun sets in silence w/o backdrop of shelling; kids are playing in the streets
12:40 PM

Midnight here in Homs . Silence engulfs the city, interrupted only by intermittent gunfire.
4:55 PM

just saw their cars moving i didn't talk or see any of UN observers personally
5:07 PM

Good morning frm central Syria-n city of Homr UN observers r still in hotel inside city while ceasefire is still applied since yesterday
2:21 AM

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

Two UN Monitors have agreed to remain in Homs after the FSA made it clear that if they left, the massacres would continue.
3:08 AM

I have to say, I'm actually really impressed with the observers for staying overnight in Homs.



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

Update on @redrazan: Have been told she and the others had to spend the night in prison; tomorrow they'll go back to the court.
1:23 AM

Destruction in Homs, yesterday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeXDfVjdyX4

[visionary]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...UYT_print.html

Needed: Plan B for Syria
By Editorial Board, Published: April 21

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/22/world/...html?hpt=wo_c2

Syrians in the devastated city of Homs endured another day of heavy shelling Sunday, opposition activists said, a day after the United Nations Security Council voted to send as many as 300 observers to monitor a tenuous cease-fire.

The fresh violence in Homs erupted after a temporary halt in shelling Saturday, when two U.N. monitors were in the city.

"Today is the first day since two months ... Homs (is) without shelling," one man told the monitors Saturday. "When you come, shelling stops."

He begged for the observers to stay in Homs, a bastion of anti-government sentiment that has faced months of deadly attacks by regime forces, opposition activists say.

At least 13 people throughout the country were killed Sunday, including three in Homs, according to the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middle...314515694.html

Syrian troops backed by tanks have stormed a Damascus suburb, activists said as an advance team of UN ceasefire observers continue their tour of flashpoint areas to lay the groundwork for an expanded monitoring mission.

Activists said that explosions shook the town of Douma early on Sunday as soldiers launched an operation there to crush an armed rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad.

"Regime forces backed by tanks stormed Douma under heavy gunfire," Damascus Revolutionary Council, an activist network, said in a statement.

Activist video posted online showed columns of smoke billowing into the sky over Douma, 10km north of Damascus. Three people have reportedly been killed there.

Douma is the place with the largest protests in Syria these days.

The team on Sunday began a new field visit to the town of Rastan in Homs province after visiting the main Homs city a day earlier.

"Yesterday, the UN advance team visited Homs where they met with the local authorities and all the parties," Neeraj Singh said on Sunday.

"The team drove or walked around the city of Homs and stopped at different locations to talk to the people.

"Following the visit, two UN military observers have now been stationed at Homs since yesterday evening."

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Mid...#axzz1selupSm3

In another video of the same meeting, a fighter from the rebel Free Syrian Army, identified as Abdel Razzak Tlass, tells the observers they are under the FSA's protection.

"You entered Syria to stop the killings," Tlass is heard telling Himmiche.

"Here in Homs the FSA is responsible for the protection of the people. We guarantee that if observers remain here they will be protected, there will be no threats to their lives," he added.

But the rebel fighter warned that if the observers "leave now, they (regime) will pursue their military operations."

"They are using tanks, mortars, rocket launchers. With you present here, all that has stopped," he said, pleading for the observers to stay put in Homs.

"We ask you to stay. At least two of you," he said.

Abdullah said the observers would visit other parts of Homs province on Sunday, including Talbisseh, Rastan and Qusayr near the Lebanese border, before heading further north to Hama province and later to Damascus.

Singh said the number of observers in the advance team stands at eight, adding however that "we are expecting at least two more military observers to arrive on Monday."

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

4 hours 43 min ago

This video purports to show UN monitors accompanied by members of the Free Syrian Army walking in the town of Rastan in Homs Province.

The crowd are heard chanting: "The people want to topple the regime" and "the people want to execute the president".

Another video of UN Observers and their FSA entourage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSdyS...ature=youtu.be


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

Hama: Security forces surrounded the demonstrators inside the neighbourhoods to prevent them to reach the observation team members
about an hour ago

Hama: Security forces are raiding Bab Qibli to prevent the protesters from reaching the Asi Square. Security deployment in the Jezdan downhill.
55 minutes ago

Security forces keeping protesters away from meeeting with UN observers in Al-Asi square, Hama by shooting at them.



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

"What should I do?" A mother in Hama pleas to UN monitors about her 23-year-old detained son: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdit3...ature=youtu.be
11:44 AM

"Despite the wounds, we will not kneel." Youth of Atareb celebrate 1st anniversary of their 1st protest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7oCT...ature=youtu.be. Aleppo
11:49 AM

Assad thugs & snipers menacingly gesture to Hama crowds, "Wait until UN monitors leave." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN8JKAqhuWU.
12:06 PM

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

Local Coordination Committees in Syria:

The number of martyrs has risen to 19 by security forces' gunfire including a woman and one under torture. In Idlib, there were 6 martyrs, 5 in Damascus suburbs, 6 in Homs and 2 in Daraa53 minutes ago

Protest in Serjeh Town, Idlib Jabal Zawiya



Protest in Beirut Lebanon yesterday in solidarity with the Syrian Revolution

[visionary]

https://twitter.com/#!/Ahedalhendi/s...567233/photo/1

Syrian protesters mocking the international efforts to isolate Assad http://pic.twitter.com/QDpfDZTq

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

Syria: Actually, six from Tunisia have been killed fighting against Bashar in Homs & Idleb http://bit.ly/JjMwcI
12:03 PM

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialNMS...27314784067500

Military Court issues Arrest Warrants against members of the #Syria'n Center for Media and Freedom of Expression.

Damascus: After being arrested once again by the Air Force Security, members of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) were referred to the Military Court on charges of possession of banned publications and tools and inciting protests.

https://twitter.com/#!/NMSyria/statu...157568/photo/1

Tanks playing Hide-n-Seek with the UN Observers. After entering school, they rebuild wall they entered by breaking. http://pic.twitter.com/kdCbXuF5
1:10 PM

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

ANA: a large number of regime forces stormed the Jobar area of Damascus after the anti government demonstration... http://fb.me/1mvq9fkfU
1:24 PM

BREAKING: Damascus Suburb: Moadamiyeh: Security forces opening indiscriminate fire from the direction of the Al-Zaytoun Mosque.
1:27 PM

BREAKING: Three injured in Tripoli - Lebanon after shots were fired at an Anti-Assad demonstration in the Abee Samra area.
1:30 PM

BREAKING Contacts are confirming it was not Lebanese forces that opened fire on the Anti-Assad protest. It was Pro-Assad thugs in Tripoli
1:32 PM

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

Anti-Bashar demonstration in Tripoli, Lebanon turns deadly after gunmen kill 5 people and injure others - Aljazeera Arabic lebanon
1:52 PM

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

8:30pmin Homs . Silence engulfs city for 2nd night Mobile&DSL connections still working in light of presence of UN observers
1:43 PM

Thoughthe shelling has stopped, snipers continue to shoot at anything that moves in some parts of Homs.
1:54 PM

It's interesting that checkpoints on in Homs are searching people much more thoroughly & even reading their text messages ‏
1:55 PM

Also at checkpnts, youth(esp those leaving the city) being stopped for no reason & taken to security branch for 1-2 days
2:06 PM

Another activist though reports shelling earlier in a different neighborhood of Homs
https://twitter.com/#!/BigAlBrand

Black smoke is coming out of Qusoor right now after I heard shelling sounded. Ceasefire is over so soon?
12:02 PM

The streets are now almost empty, and all stores are closed. Rapid shooting continues and more black smoke is spreading in the sky of Homs
12:11 PM

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

Explosion rocks the southern lebanese city of tyre BREAKING Lebanon
5:20 PM

I just arrived in Beirut from tyre, eye witness just told me that many ambulances rushed to the scene
5:25 PM

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

I met Lebanese activists today who all assured the tension in Lebanon currently, which might lead to a crisis due to Syria's revolution
5:31 PM

Another massive funeral in Douma today, despite the gunfire and raids by security forces.


Protest in Zabadani

Battered Syrian town still defiant against Assad

Despite the onslaught by ground and air, the people of Taftanaz continue to support the uprising.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffmD0...Bqd0v2NJ8XD2k=

[visionary]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...d=pm_world_pop

Fears of extremism taking hold in Syria as violence continues

As Syria’s revolution drags into its second year amid few signs that a U.N.-mandated cease-fire plan will end the violence, evidence is mounting that Islamist extremists are seeking to commandeer what began as a non-ideological uprising aimed at securing greater political freedom.

Activists and rebel soldiers based inside Syria say a small but growing number of Islamist radicals affiliated with global jihadi movements have been arriving in opposition strongholds in recent weeks and attempting to rally support among disaffected residents.

Syrian activists and Western officials say the militants appear to be making little headway in recruiting supporters within the ranks of the still largely secular protest movement, whose unifying goal is the ouster of the regime led by President Bashar al-Assad.

But if the United Nations’ peace plan fails to end the government’s bloody crackdown and promises of Western and Arab help for the rebel Free Syrian Army do not materialize, activists and analysts say, there is a real risk that frustrated members of the opposition will be driven toward extremism, adding a dangerous dimension to a revolt that is threatening to destabilize a wide arc of territory across the Middle East.

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

SafeZone created by FSA in DerAzZor eastern Syria. They will keep to Annan's plan as long as Assad doesn't attack http://y2u.be/eTFd-mmQnOI
10:47 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/IbnOmar2005

The defection of colonel Ahmed Fahad Naema in AlKarak Deraa to the FSA. http://fb.me/1mlWJj0x6
11:05 PM

More defectors joining the FSA in Deir Ezzour



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

Reports that groups in Lebanon targeting Syria'n activists, capturing them, and handing them over to Hezbollah who sends them to Syria.
2:20 AM

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/...r-23-2012-0945

The European Union has agreed to slap new sanctions on the Syrian government, banning luxury goods exports and further restricting the sale of items used to repress dissidents, a diplomat told the AFP news agency.
----
Brussels also decided to expand the blacklist of dual-use goods which can be used for internal repression or for the manufacturing of equipment used for internal repression.

So far (going by the daily death totals) about 393 people have been killed since the UN ceasefire started on the 12th of April.

(22+13+30+19+55+70+46+29+50+40+19)



Protest in Rastan, Homs Sunday (Un observers visited at some point during the day)

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17812919

Syrian security forces 'shell city of Hama'

Shells fired by Syrian security forces have killed at least 18 people in the central city of Hama, activists say.

Dozens have reportedly also been hurt in the district of Mashaa al-Arbaeen.

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

4 hours 15 min ago

Syrian state television and a local activist say a United Nations team monitoring the country's shaky ceasefire is visiting the Damascus suburb of Zabadani.

The UN has sent an advance eight-person observer team to Syria to support a plan by international envoy Kofi Annan to end the country's 13-month crisis. The UN has authorised a mission of 300 observers, though it remains unclear when the full contingent will arrive.

State TV gave no details on the observers' visit on Monday to Zabadani.

Activist Fares Mohammed confirmed the monitors had arrived but had no further information.

The government has controlled Zabadani since taking it back from rebels in February.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middle...942545792.html

Secret medical clinics aid Syrian opposition

Exclusive report on smuggling of entire field hospitals to treat injured fighters and civilians.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middl...er-intervening

Assad's actions in Syria spur US to consider intervening

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

Elie Wiesel: "have we learned anything from Holocaust? If so, why Assad is still in power?"
9:57 AM

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

Local Coordination Committees:

The number of martyrs today rose to 30 including 3 dissident soldiers and 2 martyrs under torture. 26 martyrs in Hama, 2 martyrs in Daraa, 1 martyr in Homs and 1 martyr in Deir Ezzor
41 minutes ago

Actually, I'm seeing reports the the number of people killed today is up to 38 right now.

(Off to submit passport information, more updates likely when I get back.)


Er...ok, one last update first:
https://twitter.com/#!/tweets4peace

The number of martyrs in Hama has just risen to 34. This is horrific. The UN observers were there yesterday, the regime massacres today
10:06 AM

That's just in Hama.

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...83M05Z20120423

President Barack Obama will announce sanctions on Monday on those helping Syria and Iran acquire technology that lets them target dissidents through their cell phone and Internet use.

Social media tools that allowed democracy campaigners to organize rallies across the Middle East and North Africa are being monitored by Tehran and Damascus to "facilitate serious human rights abuses," an administration official said.

Obama was to unveil the executive order, which he signed on Sunday, in a speech at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

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

50 min 55 sec ago

UN leader Ban Ki-moon has decided that the deployment of 300 ceasefire monitors in Syria can start next week, a UN spokesman told AFP on Monday.

No need to rush....
There were supposed to be 30 observers there ahead of the rest.
So far they've almost gotten to 10 now after 12 days.

51 min 40 sec age
Activists say 30 people have been killed in Hama, most of them in shelling of the Mashaa Arbaeen neighbourhood in the city of Hama. The Local Coordination Committees say dozens of homes were burned out in the assault.

One thing that is sort of under-reported is the catastrophic number of people who've been forced out of their homes and had their homes destroyed by shelling, burnt down, or torn apart by security forces across Syria.

26 min 40 sec ago
Eduardo Del Buey, the deputy spokesman for Ban Ki-moon says the rest of the first 30 monitors of the advance mission will be in Syria next week. The UN is still working on the deployment of the 300 observers to follow. Del Buey says the UN feels conditions on the ground are good enough to proceed.

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

what is the message of the protestors to UN observers? It is not a demand for dialogue w/Assad, you can be sure of it http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=0-Lh6HuqkPM.
11:35 AM

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

Local Coordination Committees:
The number of martyrs today rose to 42 including a child, 3 dissident soldiers and 2 martyrs under torture. 35 martyrs in Hama, 3 martyrs in Daraa, 2 martyr in Homs, 1 martyr in Idlib and 1 martyr in Deir Ezzor
about an hour ago

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

Number of Martyrs in Hama Rising to 55 martyrs , with only 36 of them were recognized, and news about children burned among the martyrs!
12:32 PM

Shelling of Arbeen, Hama

[visionary]

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

5697 were killed in Homs since March 15th 2011. How many of them did you know? 7 of them were my friends and at least 11 were my relatives.
12:26 PM

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialNMS...28097703989208

Idlib: Jarjanaz: A new massacre was committed by the regime on civilians, in conjunction with the presence of international observers in Syria.

13 martyrs were killed, including an entire family, and several wounded in the town after a tank shell fell on a home in the eastern neighborhood. The corpses were significantly disfigured and were hard to identify. about an hour ago.

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialNMS...28129433986035

Homs: Summary of Events, Monday, April 23, 2012

Shelling still halted in Homs but the military presence is unchanged

The military presence in the city of Homs has not changed, and aircrafts are still hovering above the city, while snipers and other Assad forces are still targeting people the same.

Today at the Cultural Center checkpoint, a civilian was shot first in the feet and then in the head, and random shootings were reported in Bab Houd and other areas.

Assad forces are still arresting people at checkpoints for no apparent reason. For the most part, these people are getting arrested and set free later to show that Assad forces are complying with the Annan plan and setting prisoners free.
2 minutes ago

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

Hama: Two explosions heard in Janub AlMal'ab neighborhood followed by intensive gunfire.
3:11 PM

BREAKING: Huge explosion rocked Aleppo from an unknown location, several neighborhoods were shaken as a result.
3:12 PM

BREAKING: Damascus Suburb: Douma: Snipers firing at civilians from the Medical Tower.
4:22 PM

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

The Local Coordination Committees in Syria:

The number of martyrs thus far today has risen to 80, including 11 martyrs who were executed, an entire family, 4 defected soldiers, and 2 martyrs who were tortured to death. 50 martyrs were reported in Hama; 21 in Idlib, among them 13 in Jarjanaz alone; 5 in Daraa; 3 in Homs; and 1 in Deir Ezzor
27 seconds ago

Ceasefire....

---------- Post added April-23rd-2012 at 04:38 PM ----------

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/...r-23-2012-2330

An activist in the city told Al Jazeera that he thought the area was targeted in revenge after residents went out to meet the observers.

"UN monitors brought death with them," he said.

The dead were either killed by shelling or by gunfire, he said, adding that women and elderly were among those killed.

"Old men who tried to flee were targeted by snipers."

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

Reports indicate that 9 of the activists, who met UN observers, have been executed near their homes in Hama today.
4:34 PM

3 persons have been slaughtered literally by knives in Hama today.
4:35 PM

Huge protest in Douma (as usual) with UN observers reportedly present.
Will they be able to protest the same tomorrow, or will they share Hama's fate?


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

Military reinforcements arrive to Hama military airport now. Syria via @50u5
4:58 PM

[visionary]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/24/world/...html?hpt=wo_c2

Reports of carnage in Syria only continue to grow despite the U.N. Security Council's agreement to boost the number of monitors there.

At least seven people were killed across the country Tuesday, including four in the beleaguered city of Homs, said the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria.

Regime forces pummeled Homs and Hama with heavy shelling, the LCC said, just days after U.N. observers left those cities. At least 50 of the 80 deaths across Syria on Monday took place in Hama, the group said.

Farther south, tank artillery and mortar rounds rained Tuesday on the city of Douma, said an opposition activist identified as Fateh for safety reasons.

And in the capital of Damascus, an intelligence officer was assassinated Tuesday morning, said the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

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

1 hour 29 min ago

Al Jazeera obtains pictures showing how Syrian army isolated city ahead of massive offensive in March.

The city of Idlib has been a key hub of opposition activity throughout the uprising in Syria.

In March, just before a ceasefire was agreed to, the government launched a massive offensive.

Al Jazeera has obtained satellite images that show how the army choked off the city.

Steve Chao reports on the government's strategy to isolate the people of Idlib:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/art...ai0TrA.twitter

The Luxury We Don't Have in Syria

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/2...els-finds.html

Inside view of Syria's rebels finds a force vowing to fight on

QUSAYR, Syria -- After more than six months of fighting, Syria's largest rebel group appears to have developed into a resilient guerrilla force, unable perhaps to hold large swaths of territory for very long but still capable of inflicting heavy casualties on the Syrian military and operating fluidly within supportive populations.

The story of the Katiba Farouq, or the Farouq Brigade, has been eclipsed over the past year by news coverage that's remained focused on the Syrian government's shelling of urban neighborhoods. But in the months since they took up arms in August, Farouq fighters have discovered the Syrian military's weaknesses, and despite some reversals, still appear capable of inflicting heavy casualties whenever the Syrian army attempts to enter rebel-held areas.

The rebels plan only to gain strength. "Now we are reorganizing ourselves and creating a military council," said Mohamed Idris, who was the leader of Farouq's branch in Baba Amr, the Homs neighborhood that was heavily damaged by Syrian rockets and heavy artillery before the rebels there finally withdrew at the end of February as they ran short of ammunition.

Idris said he and Farouq's overall commander, Abdel Rizaq Tlass, were wounded in the Homs shelling and escaped together by swimming the Orontes River. Tlass stayed in Homs, while Idris moved south with his men to this all but abandoned city that once was home to 35,000 people near the border with Lebanon.

The rebels also have suffered heavy losses. Idris said he had 250 soldiers under his command during the fighting in Baba Amr, and that 114 of those had been killed in the fighting. Many of those survivors decamped with him to Qusayr, where they battled the Syrian military last week, repelling incursions by the military into the rebel-held portion of Qusayr on consecutive days.

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

Lattakia: Security forces raided today morning 3 closed shops in Al-Tojar market near old Samak Square. They took off their doors and took out two boxes, unknown what is inside, and arrested 6 people randomly
53 minutes ago

Lattakia: The students of Suleiman Hatbo School set out to the school yard where they were attacked by security forces immediately. The students fled to the other school yard. Security forces then started searching students and their cell phones
46 minutes ago

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

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

The number of martyrs today has risen to 9, including 2 females and 2 martyrs died under torture; 6 martyrs in Homs, a martyr in Damascus, a martyr in Bokamal, and a martyr in Kafadrbatna in Damascus Suburbs
2 hours ago

UN observers arrive in Arbaeen Hama, a day after the massacre there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVnf3Dgi-Uk

Protesters in Heratan, Aleppo chant for the FSA


Student demonstration in Barzeh, Damascus


Protest in Lattakia yesterday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBer2...ature=youtu.be

[visionary]

After observers visted Douma yesterday it seem to be a center of focus today by regime forces.
The government seems to have resumed attacks on Homs now also.

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

Damascus Suburbs: Douma: Six tanks and military reinforcements are reported to enter the city
35 minutes ago

Shelling and gunfire in Douma today


Snipers on the roof in Douma


Douma countryside livestream
http://bambuser.com/v/2582579
http://bambuser.com/v/2582669
Lots of smoke


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

LIVE NOW: Another video from Douma, Damascus, Syria where the broadcaster is moving around: http://bambuser.com/v/2582691
11:52 AM

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

Damascus Suburbs: Douma: Smoke is covering the city's skyline after the heavy shelling by the regime's army
10 minutes ago

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

Damascus Suburbs: Douma: Several were wounded and nine houses were on fire due to the heavy shelling on the city
5 minutes ago

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

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

The number of martyrs has risen to 17 today, including 2 women and 3 other martyrs who died under torture; 7 martyrs died in Homs, 3 in Damascus, 2 martyrs in Damascus Suburbs (KafarBatna and Douma), 2 in Hama (Halfaya), and one martyr each in Daraa, Aleppo and Bokamal.
34 minutes ago

Al Jazeera English interveiws Kofi Annan's deputy
http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/...r-24-2012-1448


UN Observers in Masaa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ber889WjyI

UN Observers talking to residents while gunfire goes off in the background.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhP66LQR5HY

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...83N0D720120424

Syria's Assad "finished", Tunisian leader says

Bashar al-Assad's international allies must realize the Syrian president is "finished" and persuade him to step down to avoid further bloodshed, Tunisian President Moncef al-Marzouki said in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday.

"The Russians and Chinese, and the Iranians must understand that this man is finished and they cannot defend him. They must persuade him to leave power and hand over to his deputy," Marzouki told the regional Arab newspaper Al-Hayat.

Assad "will go one way or another ... dead or alive," he added.

Wow! Quite the strong statement from Tunisia.



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

Damascus Suburb: Douma: Several homes have been demolished as a result of the severe shelling of the city today.
12:27 PM

Damascus Suburb: Douma: A member of the Red Crescent was wounded during the shelling and was taken to the hospital.
12:28 PM

BREAKING: Damascus: Douma: Four children were wounded, two of them in critical condition, as regime's army shells the city.
12:29 PM

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

Idlib: Saraqeb: Heavy gunfire and more than 3 shells fell in the area Syria LCC
1:38 PM

Damascus Suburbs: Harasta Multiple wounded are reported, some critically, as result of regime army's heavy shelling. Plumes of smoke rising
1:30 PM

Strong explosions heard in the Damascus Suburb Mesraba. Tanks have stormed the city.
1:31 PM

Damascus Suburbs: Douma: Several soldiers have defected from the regime's army, and one of them was wounded by shelling.
2:08 PM

Livefeed of shelling in Douma, Damascus Suburbs
http://bambuser.com/v/2582802


(warning about what will happen with the UN food aid donation program that is being promised)
https://twitter.com/#!/Mou2amara

Head of SARC is a known corrupt bizman yet millions from aid agencies will be funneled to him;sole agency allowed to work on ground.
2:03 PM

Contrary to regime claims Homs & some Idleb branches of SARC have defected & are working independently & they'll never see a cent of aid.
2:13 PM

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

Damascus Suburbs: Douma: 5 martyrs have been reported thus far, along with more than 100 wounded, including critically wounded children.

Multiple homes have been destroyed as a result of the regime army's shelling in the city after military reinforcements, including tanks, arrived.

This occurred one day after the international UN observers visited the city. It is critical to note that the city has been undergoing extreme shelling since the beginning of its residents' activism, and is suffering a humanitarian disaster, along with severe cases of trauma. In addition, it is extremely difficult to treat the wounded and there is a severe shortage of medical supplies
about an hour ago

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

Local Coordination Committees in Syria:

The number of martyrs today has risen to 28, including children and women, and 3 martyrs who died under torture; 10 martyrs in Homs, 7 martyrs in Damascus Suburbs (most of them in Douma as a result of the heavy shelling on the city), 3 martyrs in Damascus, 3 martyrs in Idlib, 2 martyrs in Halfaya in Hama, 1 martyr in Daraa, 1 martyr in Aleppo, and 1 martyr in Bokamal
about an hour ago

Just updated to 30 dead.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310


Protest in Herak, Daraa today


Tank opening fire in Douma, Damascus Suburbs today


---------- Post added April-24th-2012 at 03:12 PM ----------

People of Zabadani aren't too happy with the lack of cooperation from the head observer.
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?no...40762302617578

From People of Zabadany regarding the UN Observers

Distress call from Douma
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

To Mr. Kofi Annan, UN Envoy to Damascus: This is a distress call from the women and children of the city of Douma. The visit of the United Nations monitors, under your direction, has killed us today. We request that you immediately intervene to stop the bombing and killings carried out by the regime's army, which is punishing the entire city because we received your delegation of observers with hospitality and professionalism.

We have given the observers the documents necessary to prove that the regime is in ciminal violation of the cease-fire. What is happening now is that we have a tragic situation and sustained shelling, which has signficantly increased since the morning hours, and which increased in intensity and force as of 4:00 pm, with an average of four shells per minute.

Dozens of wounded and martyrs have been reported during the past 3 hours. A large number of them are still under rubble and most homes in the city have been subjected to shelling and destruction.

More than 30 tanks are now shelling the city. Residents are demanding immediate intervention to protect them, since the Free Syrian Army is under fire and unable to militarily repel this full-scale military assault. We urge you to immediately send in a group of monitors who can offer some sort of protection from the heavy military assault.
55 minutes ago

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

Discussions among some activist groups may result in issuing advise to protesters to cease all cooperation with UN monitors.
2:57 PM

These discussions started as a result of the events in Hamas and Douma over the past two days.
2:58 PM