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Syrian Government Braces for More Protests

   VOA News  May 13, 2011
   Syrian anti-regime protesters march during a rally in the northeastern
   Syrian Kurdish town of Qamishli, May 13, 2011

Photo: AFP

   Syrian anti-regime protesters march during a rally in the northeastern
   Syrian Kurdish town of Qamishli, May 13, 2011

   Security force officers and soldiers are out in force in Syria in an
   effort to stop anti-government protests planned for later Friday.
   Activists monitoring protest plans say the forces have set up
   checkpoints and closed off areas in towns and villages where previous
   demonstrations have occurred. Opposition groups have again called for
   protesters to take to the streets after Friday prayers, in spite of the
   military crackdown.
   Western news organizations quote activist Louay Hussein as saying
   President Bashar al-Assad has ordered security forces not to open fire
   on protesters. The activist says he was informed about the order during
   a meeting with a presidential adviser.
   Meanwhile, a spokesman for the U.N.'s human rights office says reports
   from activists that the death toll from Syria's unrest is probably in
   the range of 700 to 850 are "quite likely to be genuine." Rupert
   Colville said Friday that his office is urging Syria to exercise
   restraint.
   World leaders have been reacting to reports about the deadly crackdown.
   On Friday, Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd announced his
   government's plans to ramp up sanctions against key figures in Assad's
   regime and impose an embargo on arms and other equipment.
   On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued some of her
   strongest comments yet on the crackdown. She accused President Assad's
   government of engaging in "unlawful detention, torture and denial of
   medical care" to wounded people.
   Opponents of Assad have been rallying for democratic reforms and an end
   to his 11-year autocratic rule. The protests began in southern Syria in
   mid-March and spread nationwide.

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

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