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Syrian activists urge mass rally amid observer visit Syrian activists urge mass rally amid observer visit
(40 minutes later)
Syrian activists have called for massive street demonstrations on Friday against President Bashar al-Assad, as Arab observers continue their mission.Syrian activists have called for massive street demonstrations on Friday against President Bashar al-Assad, as Arab observers continue their mission.
Correspondents say the presence of the monitors has emboldened the protesters, despite further killings.Correspondents say the presence of the monitors has emboldened the protesters, despite further killings.
Up to 40 died on Thursday, activists said, mostly after security forces shot at crowds gathered in areas expecting a visit from the Arab team.Up to 40 died on Thursday, activists said, mostly after security forces shot at crowds gathered in areas expecting a visit from the Arab team.
At least 5,000 are believed to have died since the revolt began in March.At least 5,000 are believed to have died since the revolt began in March.
And the Local Coordination Committees, a Syrian activist group that documents and organises protests, said that 130 people had been killed since the Arab League monitors arrived in the country.
Reasusuring?
The Arab League peace plan calls for a complete halt to the violence, the withdrawal of all armed forces and the release of all detainees.The Arab League peace plan calls for a complete halt to the violence, the withdrawal of all armed forces and the release of all detainees.
In many places the observers have found themselves surrounded by large crowds of demonstrators calling for the regime to go and for President Assad to be executed. The presence of Arab League observers has not stopped the violence.
The presence of the monitors has encouraged protesters to come out on to the streets in big numbers, and it has also emboldened them to take risks they might have shied away from before. If anything it may in fact have increased the violence. Although some protestors have criticised the mission for being too small, biased and ineffective, many demonstarators seem emboldened and keen to be out on the streets to show the strength of their movement.
Shootings and deaths were reported from all the areas which the observers were visiting on their third day. The casualty figures put out by various activist coordination groups may be open to debate and cannot be independently confirmed, but they all suggest that the violence has got worse since the Arab observers began their mission on Tuesday. Opposition groups say up to 40 people were killed by government security forces on Thursday, and have called for mass demonstrations after midday prayers. Their lives will be at risk.
A big test will be whether there are large opposition demonstrations in the centre of the capital Damascus - something that hasn't happened so far.
The Arab mission has faced criticism for being led by Sudan's Gen Mustafa al-Dabi, who Amnesty International has accused of carrying out human rights violations in his own country.The Arab mission has faced criticism for being led by Sudan's Gen Mustafa al-Dabi, who Amnesty International has accused of carrying out human rights violations in his own country.
But the League says Gen Dabi has full support, and the US has urged detractors to allow the team to finish its work.But the League says Gen Dabi has full support, and the US has urged detractors to allow the team to finish its work.
Russia's foreign ministry says the first comments from the observers showed the situation in Syria was "reassuring".
The comments came in an interview Gen Dabi gave on Thursday after a visit to Homs.
"Some places looked a bit of a mess but there was nothing frightening," he told Reuters. "The situation seemed reassuring so far."
'Olive branches''Olive branches'
Activists have called for massive protests on Friday - the traditional day of demonstration.Activists have called for massive protests on Friday - the traditional day of demonstration.
"On Friday we will march to the squares of freedom, bare-chested," the Syria Revolution 2011 Facebook group said, according to the Associated Press."On Friday we will march to the squares of freedom, bare-chested," the Syria Revolution 2011 Facebook group said, according to the Associated Press.
"We will march as we did in Homs and Hama where we carried olive branches only to be confronted by [President Bashar al-Assad's] gangs who struck us with artillery and machinegun fire.""We will march as we did in Homs and Hama where we carried olive branches only to be confronted by [President Bashar al-Assad's] gangs who struck us with artillery and machinegun fire."
Rami Abdul-Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the Arab League's initiative is "the only ray of light" there is for Syrians. Rami Abdul-Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the Arab League's initiative is "the only ray of light" for Syrians.
"The presence of the observers in Homs broke the barrier of fear," he told AFP."The presence of the observers in Homs broke the barrier of fear," he told AFP.
One activist in Hama told Reuters: "We know that just because they are here, it doesn't mean the bloodshed will stop. But at least they will see it".One activist in Hama told Reuters: "We know that just because they are here, it doesn't mean the bloodshed will stop. But at least they will see it".
Correspondents say that despite the presence of the Arab monitors - who are being escorted by state security officials - there has been little let-up in the ferocity of the response to protests. Despite the presence of the Arab monitors - who are being escorted by state security officials - there has been little let-up in the ferocity of the response to protests, correspondents say.
At least 120 people have died since observers arrived in the country on Monday, according to activists.
The monitors have travelled to the central province of Homs, Idlib in the north, Deraa in the south, Hama and then the capital, Damascus.The monitors have travelled to the central province of Homs, Idlib in the north, Deraa in the south, Hama and then the capital, Damascus.
On Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least four people were killed when security forces opened fire outside a mosque in Douma, a suburb of Damascus.On Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least four people were killed when security forces opened fire outside a mosque in Douma, a suburb of Damascus.
Monitors were arriving at the city hall there when security forces fired on "tens of thousands" of protesters outside the Grand Mosque, the UK-based group said.Monitors were arriving at the city hall there when security forces fired on "tens of thousands" of protesters outside the Grand Mosque, the UK-based group said.
It reported further deaths in other suburbs of the capital - Aarbin and Kiswah - as well as in Idlib and Hama.It reported further deaths in other suburbs of the capital - Aarbin and Kiswah - as well as in Idlib and Hama.
The US State Department said it was concerned by the continuing violence.The US State Department said it was concerned by the continuing violence.
"We are concerned that even though we have monitors on the ground, and they are playing a role in some places, we also have the continuation of the violence," spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said."We are concerned that even though we have monitors on the ground, and they are playing a role in some places, we also have the continuation of the violence," spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
Casualty figures and other information are hard to verify as most foreign media are barred from Syria.Casualty figures and other information are hard to verify as most foreign media are barred from Syria.
The Arab mission is headed by Gen Dabi, whose appointment has roused controversy due to his role as military intelligence chief in Sudan in the 1990s. As military intelligence chief in Sudan in the 1990s, Gen Dabi worked for Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his actions over Darfur.
Gen Dabi worked for Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his actions over Darfur.
One Arab League official in Cairo told AP that Gen Dabi had the support of all its members, saying: "The mission and its final report will decide the future of Syria and this is not a small matter."One Arab League official in Cairo told AP that Gen Dabi had the support of all its members, saying: "The mission and its final report will decide the future of Syria and this is not a small matter."
Are you in Syria? Do you have friends or family in Syria? What do you think of the visit by the Arab League monitors? Send us your comments and experiences.Are you in Syria? Do you have friends or family in Syria? What do you think of the visit by the Arab League monitors? Send us your comments and experiences.