Army deploys in Homs as activists prepare for the largest protests to date against president Bashar al Assad's rule.
President Bashar al-Assad has ended Syria’s state of emergency, in effect for 48 years, in a bid to placate the demonstrators threatening his rule. But pro-democracy activists say the decision will “change nothing” and vow to go ahead with a planned “Great Friday” protest.
Thousands of Syrians, inspired by uprisings sweeping the Arab world, have demonstrated to demand greater freedom in their police-controlled country, presenting Mr. Assad with the most serious challenge to his 11-year rule.
“We are determined on totally peaceful protests... we rejoice at the downfall of the state of emergency. It was not lifted, it was toppled... With the help of God, we will embark on freedom,” an activist wrote on a Facebook page.
Malath Omran, a prominent cyber activist, said, “Lifting emergency rule will change nothing because the security services are not bound by any law.”
“The Syrian people has no faith whatsoever in the regime,” said Mr. Omran, who under the Internet identity of Rami Nakhle has been a key player behind the unprecedented protests which have shaken Syria since March 15.
On the eve of “Great Friday,” Amnesty International, in a statement obtained by Al Arabiya, urged the Syrian authorities not to respond with violence to the planned mass demonstrations.
“It is imperative that these demonstrations are policed sensibly, sensitively and in accordance with international law to avoid further bloodshed on Syria’s streets,” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“These ‘Great Friday’ protests could be the largest yet. If government security forces resort to the same extremely violent tactics they have used over the past month, the consequences could be exceedingly grave,” Mr. Smart said.
Peaceful protests calling for freedom are expected to take place in cities and towns across the country including Damascus, Deraa, Homs and Banias, where security forces have killed demonstrators in recent weeks.
The death toll has already exceeded 228 as a result of the crackdown on the protests, according to Amnesty.
On Tuesday, eight protesters were shot dead by the security forces while staging a peaceful sit-in protest in the city of Homs.
Authorities have described the unrest as an insurrection by Salafi groups trying to terrorize the population. They have also blamed armed groups and infiltrators supplied with weapons from Lebanon and Iraq.
Source-AL Arabiya
Thousands of Syrians, inspired by uprisings sweeping the Arab world, have demonstrated to demand greater freedom in their police-controlled country, presenting Mr. Assad with the most serious challenge to his 11-year rule.
Malath Omran, a prominent cyber activist, said, “Lifting emergency rule will change nothing because the security services are not bound by any law.”
“The Syrian people has no faith whatsoever in the regime,” said Mr. Omran, who under the Internet identity of Rami Nakhle has been a key player behind the unprecedented protests which have shaken Syria since March 15.
On the eve of “Great Friday,” Amnesty International, in a statement obtained by Al Arabiya, urged the Syrian authorities not to respond with violence to the planned mass demonstrations.
“It is imperative that these demonstrations are policed sensibly, sensitively and in accordance with international law to avoid further bloodshed on Syria’s streets,” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“These ‘Great Friday’ protests could be the largest yet. If government security forces resort to the same extremely violent tactics they have used over the past month, the consequences could be exceedingly grave,” Mr. Smart said.
Peaceful protests calling for freedom are expected to take place in cities and towns across the country including Damascus, Deraa, Homs and Banias, where security forces have killed demonstrators in recent weeks.
The death toll has already exceeded 228 as a result of the crackdown on the protests, according to Amnesty.
On Tuesday, eight protesters were shot dead by the security forces while staging a peaceful sit-in protest in the city of Homs.
Authorities have described the unrest as an insurrection by Salafi groups trying to terrorize the population. They have also blamed armed groups and infiltrators supplied with weapons from Lebanon and Iraq.
Source-AL Arabiya
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