Syria: no end to the killing (videos)

The videos just keep coming out of Syria. Deir al-Zour is a war zone with the sound of gun fire heard in the streets. Unconfirmed reports say that there are bodies lying in the streets and tanks have been shelling private homes. Since the government has banned foreign media, all the news outlets are having a difficult time verifying stories. Since the government has cut utilities including electricity to certain areas, local people are having a difficult time getting their stories out.

Nevertheless, the videos just keep getting posted on the Internet as tangible proof that the Assad is following in the footsteps of his father determined to suppress all dissent no matter what the cost, no matter how many lives of his own countrymen it takes.

Today, Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council is meeting for further discussion on the situation in Syria. This comes a week after the U.N. issued a strong statement condemning the government crackdown on opposition protesters and calling for the violence to stop. Russia and China, two long-term allies of Syria, had been dragging their heels about signing any statement condemning the country, but the videos showing the crackdown firsthand were making it more and more difficult for anybody to ignore that Assad is brutally going after his own people in an effort to remain in power.

Even in the Arab world, generally silent when it comes to matters in other Arab countries, criticism is growing louder and louder. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain have recalled their ambassadors from Syria. Tuesday, Turkey’s foreign minister met with Assad to express their alarm at the bloodshed in Syria.

Nevertheless, the official message from the Assad government remains the same. Assad defended the crackdown on dissidents by saying it is a national duty to deal with what he called “outlaws” who block roads and, in his words, “terrorize” people. Assad says that his forces will not stop pursuing what he called “armed terrorist groups.” In the past week SANA, the official government news agency has released videos purporting to show groups of armed civilians who it labels as terrorists. However the news coming out of various centres like Hama and Deir al-Zour contradicts this. It is pretty much the might of the state against unarmed protesters.

Uploaded by AlJazeeraEnglish on Aug 9, 2011

Turkish foreign minister visits Syria’s Assad

Turkey demanded that Syria’s leaders stop the killing of civilians and said it would watch events there in the coming days, raising pressure on President Bashar al-Assad, who said his forces would continue to pursue “terrorist groups”. “Developments in the coming days will be critical, for both Syria and Turkey,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference in Ankara after returning from talks in Damascus. “Turkey’s main and first aim is for the bloodshed to be stopped, and (for) an end to civilian deaths.”

Published on Aug 9, 2011 by Euronews

Assad talks as his tanks continue to pound protesters

Syria’s leader Bashar al-Assad has been meeting with the visiting Turkish foreign minister, but while he talked his tanks continued to claim lives as protests against his regime continue. In the east of the country 20 people were reported killed in Deir al-Zur, and another 30 lost their lives in Hama as armour continued to crush resistance there. Ahmet Davutoglu brought a message from Ankara calling on Assad to return his army to its barracks, a message underlined from Washington, but there is no sign of a change in tack from Damascus.

Uploaded by RussiaToday on Aug 9, 2011 (7 minutes)

‘Assad tired, fears Mubarak’s fate’: Pressure piles on Syria

Syria’s neighbours are increasing the pressure on the government to end the ongoing crackdown on protesters. Several Arab nations have recalled their ambassadors from the country. Turkey has also joined the growing chorus against President Assad, demanding an end to the violence. It comes as government forces intensify the assault on opposition strongholds, with tank and artillery fire. More than 300 people have reportedly been killed in Syria over the past week, the bloodiest in the five-month uprising against the regime. Assad earlier pledged democratic and political reforms, which he says will take time to implement. Political analyst Patrick Hayes believes the President is on the verge of stepping down from power.

Uploaded by AlJazeeraEnglish on Aug 9, 2011 (2 minutes)

Protesters in Syria remain defiant

Ongoing assaults across Syria contradicts the military claim that it is leaving the cities. Despite Arab isolation and mounting international anger, President Bashar al-Assad security forces continue to attack protesters across Syria.

Uploaded by ILiveLeak on Aug 9, 2011

Hell breaks out in Syria – extreme firepower on civilian village

August 8th 2011 – All Hell breaks loose when soldiers sadistically fire into a civilian village using automatic weapons, Russian tanks and RPGs, they are smiling and walking around carelessly. No fire is traded back at them because their target is a meagre peasant village. This is the village of Al-Boukamal near Deir Al-Zor on August 8th 2011, apparantly the villagers joined anti-regime protests so the army is getting back at them. Is this a war crime or crime against humanity?

Watch the maniacs between 53s – 1m30s. The videographer is saying “hayak” to a maniac meaning “welcome”, encouraging him to fire for the camera in a very friendly, this looks like they are really enjoying themselves. The video was described by the owner as “Revolution of Boukamal. Leaked video by security and shabihah while they fire indiscriminately on villages and farms to terrorize the owners”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wBEOhHmJKU

Uploaded by ReutersVideo on Aug 9, 2011

Saudi king breaks silence on Syria

Aug. 8 – Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah recalls his ambassador to Damascus but the Arab League chief says no drastic measures will be employed to end Syrian state violence.

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

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