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| Clashes in Syria as Arab monitors embolden protesters | Clashes in Syria as Arab monitors embolden protesters |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Syrian security forces have reportedly clashed with protesters, leaving at least 10 dead, as tens of thousands took to the streets across the country. | Syrian security forces have reportedly clashed with protesters, leaving at least 10 dead, as tens of thousands took to the streets across the country. |
| Activists said the largest rallies took place in the north-western province of Idlib, and in the central city of Hama, where five people were shot dead. | Activists said the largest rallies took place in the north-western province of Idlib, and in the central city of Hama, where five people were shot dead. |
| Five others were killed by troops in the southern city of Deraa, they added. | Five others were killed by troops in the southern city of Deraa, they added. |
| The opposition called on people to join rallies to show Arab League monitors the scale of anti-government anger. | The opposition called on people to join rallies to show Arab League monitors the scale of anti-government anger. |
| The monitors are visiting the country to verify the government's implementation of a peace initiative, which demands an end to all violence, troops pulled off the streets and political prisoners freed. | The monitors are visiting the country to verify the government's implementation of a peace initiative, which demands an end to all violence, troops pulled off the streets and political prisoners freed. |
| Continued violence and the rising death toll in Syria risk eclipsing the Arab League monitors' mission, before they have even built up to their full strength. Despite unease in many Western capitals nobody wants to pre-judge the outcome of the monitors' work. They are due to report towards the end of January and there is a clear hope that their conclusions will provide ammunition to take to the UN Security Council. | Continued violence and the rising death toll in Syria risk eclipsing the Arab League monitors' mission, before they have even built up to their full strength. Despite unease in many Western capitals nobody wants to pre-judge the outcome of the monitors' work. They are due to report towards the end of January and there is a clear hope that their conclusions will provide ammunition to take to the UN Security Council. |
| Meanwhile, amidst signs that the Syrian economy is faltering, European Union governments are set to consider even tougher sanctions - the 11th round of economic measures to pressure the Syrian authorities. And in Washington there are reports that the Obama administration is considering increased diplomatic and practical support for the Syrian opposition; though the supply of arms or any kind of outside military intervention are - for now - out of the question. | Meanwhile, amidst signs that the Syrian economy is faltering, European Union governments are set to consider even tougher sanctions - the 11th round of economic measures to pressure the Syrian authorities. And in Washington there are reports that the Obama administration is considering increased diplomatic and practical support for the Syrian opposition; though the supply of arms or any kind of outside military intervention are - for now - out of the question. |
| Up to 40 protesters were reportedly killed on Thursday while awaiting visits from monitors, who were deployed across the country for the first time. | Up to 40 protesters were reportedly killed on Thursday while awaiting visits from monitors, who were deployed across the country for the first time. |
| The UN says more than 5,000 have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March. The government says it is fighting "terrorist gangs" and 2,000 security forces personnel have died. | The UN says more than 5,000 have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March. The government says it is fighting "terrorist gangs" and 2,000 security forces personnel have died. |
| Casualty figures and other information are hard to verify as most foreign media are barred from reporting freely in Syria. | Casualty figures and other information are hard to verify as most foreign media are barred from reporting freely in Syria. |
| 'Nail bombs' | 'Nail bombs' |
| Correspondents say the presence of the monitors has emboldened the protesters. | Correspondents say the presence of the monitors has emboldened the protesters. |
| Following Friday prayers, there were mass rallies in Hama, the nearby city of Homs, Deraa and several suburbs of Damascus. | |
| The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said as many as 250,000 people had taken to the streets in the north-western province of Idlib. One report later said security forces had opened fire on a protest in the city of Idlib, killing several people. | The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said as many as 250,000 people had taken to the streets in the north-western province of Idlib. One report later said security forces had opened fire on a protest in the city of Idlib, killing several people. |
| "This Friday is different from any other. It is a transformative step. People are eager to reach the monitors and tell them about their suffering," Abu Hisham, an activist in Hama, told the Reuters news agency. | "This Friday is different from any other. It is a transformative step. People are eager to reach the monitors and tell them about their suffering," Abu Hisham, an activist in Hama, told the Reuters news agency. |
| Footage of Homs broadcast by al-Jazeera TV showed a huge crowd dancing and shouting: "Revolution, revolution Syria, revolution of glory and freedom Syria." | Footage of Homs broadcast by al-Jazeera TV showed a huge crowd dancing and shouting: "Revolution, revolution Syria, revolution of glory and freedom Syria." |
| But a resident of central Damascus, Ram, told the BBC that heavily-armed security forces had been deployed outside his local mosque to intimidate protesters. | But a resident of central Damascus, Ram, told the BBC that heavily-armed security forces had been deployed outside his local mosque to intimidate protesters. |
| "They were daring people. It's the first time that they were showing their weapons outside," he said. "So they were telling people: 'Once you just say the word, we will shoot you.'" | "They were daring people. It's the first time that they were showing their weapons outside," he said. "So they were telling people: 'Once you just say the word, we will shoot you.'" |
| In Douma, a north-western suburb of the capital, a protest by an estimated 70,000 people was broken up by troops, who fired live rounds and tear gas, activists said. | In Douma, a north-western suburb of the capital, a protest by an estimated 70,000 people was broken up by troops, who fired live rounds and tear gas, activists said. |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 20 protesters were hurt when "nail bombs" were detonated when they approached the town hall, where Arab League monitors were believed to be based. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 20 protesters were hurt when "nail bombs" were detonated when they approached the town hall, where Arab League monitors were believed to be based. |
| The Observatory also said security forces opened fire on demonstrations in Hama and Deraa, killing at least five people in each city. | The Observatory also said security forces opened fire on demonstrations in Hama and Deraa, killing at least five people in each city. |
| Another activist group, the Local Co-ordination Committees, said the nationwide death toll on Friday was 32, with nine killed in Hama, six in Deraa, six in Idlib, and four in Tal Kalakh, near the border with Lebanon. | Another activist group, the Local Co-ordination Committees, said the nationwide death toll on Friday was 32, with nine killed in Hama, six in Deraa, six in Idlib, and four in Tal Kalakh, near the border with Lebanon. |
| The bodies of five members of the same family were found in the Deir Baalbah area of Homs, a day after they were arrested, it added. | The bodies of five members of the same family were found in the Deir Baalbah area of Homs, a day after they were arrested, it added. |
| 'Barrier of fear broken' | 'Barrier of fear broken' |
| The Arab League observer 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 League observer 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 its 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. | "Some places looked a bit of a mess but there was nothing frightening," he told Reuters. |
| But the Local Co-ordination Committees, a Syrian activist group that documents and organises protests, said that 130 people had been killed since the 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 [telephone] 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 [telephone] 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 around the country 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 US State Department and UK foreign office have expressed concern about the continuing violence. |
| 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. |