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Syrians Plan Day of Rage Despite Crackdown

   VOA News  April 29, 2011

   Syrian opposition protesters are planning to take to the streets again
   in defiance of an intense and deadly government crackdown on their
   demonstrations.
   Another day of nationwide protests is planned for Friday, in what has
   become a weekly outpouring of anger and dissent against the government
   of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
   Syria's banned Muslim Brotherhood has for the first time directly
   joined the call for protests. In a statement to the Reuters news
   agency, the group urged citizens to take to the streets and to "chant
   with one voice for freedom and dignity."
   In Geneva, the U.N. Human Rights Council will discuss Syria Friday in
   an emergency session requested by the United States.
   A draft resolution proposed by the U.S. calls for the creation of an
   independent commission to probe allegations of rights abuses in Syria.
   The U.N. Security Council failed earlier this week to agree on a
   statement condemning Syria's violence against protesters following
   resistance to the move by Syria's allies on the council - Russia, China
   and Lebanon.
   Hundreds of people have been killed in Syria since pro-democracy
   demonstrations first erupted six weeks ago. Much of the violence has
   taken place in the southern city of Daraa, which has become the center
   of the protest movement.
   The government has sent soldiers into Daraa in the past week, backed by
   tanks and snipers, keeping residents off the streets.
   There are also reports that Syrian army units have clashed with each
   other in Daraa, because soldiers from one unit refused orders to fire
   on civilians. The military released a statement Wednesday denying any
   splits within its ranks.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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References

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