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Syria troops 'clash with Damascus activists' Syria troops 'clash with Damascus activists'
(40 minutes later)
Syrian forces and activists have clashed during after-prayer protests in Damascus, as Arab observers continue their mission in the country.Syrian forces and activists have clashed during after-prayer protests in Damascus, as Arab observers continue their mission in the country.
Activists said troops fired nail bombs to disperse protesters who retaliated with stones in the suburb of Douma.Activists said troops fired nail bombs to disperse protesters who retaliated with stones in the suburb of Douma.
Protest organisers had called for mass demonstrations, saying up to 40 people were killed by troops on Thursday while awaiting a visit from the Arab team.Protest organisers had called for mass demonstrations, saying up to 40 people were killed by troops on Thursday while awaiting a visit from the Arab team.
Correspondents say the presence of the monitors has emboldened the protesters.Correspondents say the presence of the monitors has emboldened the protesters.
Syrian opposition groups said the bodies of eight people had been recovered on Friday, although such figures are difficult to verify. At least 5,000 are believed to have died since the revolt against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad began in March.Syrian opposition groups said the bodies of eight people had been recovered on Friday, although such figures are difficult to verify. At least 5,000 are believed to have died since the revolt against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad began in March.
Reassuring?Reassuring?
On Friday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 20 protesters were hurt when troops fired "nail bombs" and tear gas to disperse as many as 70,000 protesters who were marching towards the city hall.
The presence of Arab League observers has not stopped the violence.The presence of Arab League observers has not stopped the violence.
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.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.
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 on Friday will be whether there are large demonstrations in the centre of the capital - something that hasn't happened so far.
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. On Friday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 20 protesters were hurt when troops fired "nail bombs" and tear gas to disperse as many as 70,000 protesters who were marching towards the city hall, where Arab League monitors were believed to be based.
Major protests were also reported in northern Syria around the city of Idlib. Major protests were also reported in Hama, Homs and around the northern city of Idlib, where the group said at least 250,000 people had taken to the streets in 74 separate protests.
Activists had called for massive protests after prayers on Friday - the traditional day of demonstration.Activists had called for massive protests after prayers on Friday - the traditional day of demonstration.
"On Friday we will march to the squares of freedom, bare-chested," said the Syria Revolution 2011 Facebook group."On Friday we will march to the squares of freedom, bare-chested," said the Syria Revolution 2011 Facebook group.
"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."
Reassuring?
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.
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".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.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." "Some places looked a bit of a mess but there was nothing frightening," he told Reuters.
But 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 earlier this week.But 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 earlier this week.
The anti-government Free Syrian Army says it has requested a meeting with the observers but received no response.The anti-government Free Syrian Army says it has requested a meeting with the observers but received no response.
"We haven't been given any of the (phone) numbers for the monitors, which we have requested. No one has contacted us either," said Col Riad al-Asaad, who heads a force claiming to be 10,000-strong, many of whom defected from the Syrian army during the uprising."We haven't been given any of the (phone) numbers for the monitors, which we have requested. No one has contacted us either," said Col Riad al-Asaad, who heads a force claiming to be 10,000-strong, many of whom defected from the Syrian army during the uprising.
The rebel commander told Reuters his forces had been ordered to stop all attacks on government troops since the arrival of the observers in the country.The rebel commander told Reuters his forces had been ordered to stop all attacks on government troops since the arrival of the observers in the country.
'Olive branches''Olive branches'
Rami Abdul-Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the Arab League's initiative was "the only ray of light" for Syrians.Rami Abdul-Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the Arab League's initiative was "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". Despite the presence of the Arab monitors - who are being escorted around the country by state security officials - there has been little let-up in the ferocity of the response to protests, correspondents say.
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. The US State Department and UK foreign office have expressed concern about the continuing violence.
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.
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.
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," said spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.
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.
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.
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.