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Syria ceasefire deadline approaches – live coverage Syria ceasefire deadline approaches – live coverage
(40 minutes later)
11.10am: Syrian activist Rima Dali, 33, was arrested Sunday in Damascus after she stood in traffic holding a banner that read "Stop killing! We want to build a nation for all Syrians." A companion, Saffana Baqleh, was arrested with her.
Here's video of Rima's protest, with supporters applauding as she stands in the street, holding the banner.
"Stop killing! We want to build a nation for all Syrians". (Rima Dali, arrested in #Syria for pronouncing these words)
— Leila Nachawati (@leila_na) April 8, 2012
this photo of Rima Dali taking part in a candle lit vigil for #Syrian Martyrs opposite the 4seasons hotel #Damascusyfrog.com/oc8r9fcj
— Alexander Page (@AlexanderPageSY) April 9, 2012
Leila Nachawati Rego tells the story at Global Voices.
10.44am: The failure of the United Nations to intervene in Syria in the last bloody months created a deep skepticism about diplomatic peace initiatives before Kofi Annan's announcement last week of a tentative deal for a pullout of troops from cities by Tuesday morning.10.44am: The failure of the United Nations to intervene in Syria in the last bloody months created a deep skepticism about diplomatic peace initiatives before Kofi Annan's announcement last week of a tentative deal for a pullout of troops from cities by Tuesday morning.
That skepticism was seemingly justified Sunday when President Bashar al-Assad called for a signed "guarantee" from opposition groups of an end to violence – as if the onus were on the opposition to stop the shelling of Syrian cities and towns, and as if all that is standing in the way of Assad's desire to secure a cease-fire were the lack of a piece of signed paper.That skepticism was seemingly justified Sunday when President Bashar al-Assad called for a signed "guarantee" from opposition groups of an end to violence – as if the onus were on the opposition to stop the shelling of Syrian cities and towns, and as if all that is standing in the way of Assad's desire to secure a cease-fire were the lack of a piece of signed paper.
The deadline for the troop withdrawal is not past. A provisional retreat of some troops could yet set the stage for negotiations that could lead to a cease-fire. Meanwhile Syrian activists are mounting their own campaigns – without the United Nations, without the Arab League – to put pressure on Assad.The deadline for the troop withdrawal is not past. A provisional retreat of some troops could yet set the stage for negotiations that could lead to a cease-fire. Meanwhile Syrian activists are mounting their own campaigns – without the United Nations, without the Arab League – to put pressure on Assad.
#SyriaZEROHOUR is our chance to prove our determination. we will all take to the streets at ZERO HOUR we will not be silenced #Syria— Alexander Page (@AlexanderPageSY) April 9, 2012#SyriaZEROHOUR is our chance to prove our determination. we will all take to the streets at ZERO HOUR we will not be silenced #Syria— Alexander Page (@AlexanderPageSY) April 9, 2012
One campaign gaining prominence online is the "zero hour" campaign, in which activists, officials, supporters and even uniformed security forces members record videos calling for a coordinated uprising against the Assad regime. The videos run about one minute long. The subjects make no attempts to cover their faces or conceal their identities. Their real names are apparently used. And they all call for the same thing: A unified uprising across the country against the president, at a "zero hour" yet to be declared.One campaign gaining prominence online is the "zero hour" campaign, in which activists, officials, supporters and even uniformed security forces members record videos calling for a coordinated uprising against the Assad regime. The videos run about one minute long. The subjects make no attempts to cover their faces or conceal their identities. Their real names are apparently used. And they all call for the same thing: A unified uprising across the country against the president, at a "zero hour" yet to be declared.
Track #SyriaZeroHour on Twitter. Videos are here and here and here.Track #SyriaZeroHour on Twitter. Videos are here and here and here.
10.15am: As a key deadline approaches in a prospective cease-fire deal in Syria, new violence threatens to derail negotiations to end the year-long conflict. Under a deal brokered by UN envoy Kofi Annan, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is to withdraw troops from cities by midnight Monday – just hours away local time. We have live coverage as the deadline approaches. Here are major developments of the last day:10.15am: As a key deadline approaches in a prospective cease-fire deal in Syria, new violence threatens to derail negotiations to end the year-long conflict. Under a deal brokered by UN envoy Kofi Annan, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is to withdraw troops from cities by midnight Monday – just hours away local time. We have live coverage as the deadline approaches. Here are major developments of the last day:
• Turkey has accused Syrian troops of firing across the Turkish border to attack fleeing Syrian refugees. Three Syrians, one Turkish translator and one Turkish policeman were wounded, according to Turkish officials. Tens of thousands of Syrians have poured into Turkey in the last year, and the flow has accelerated dramatically in recent months.• Turkey has accused Syrian troops of firing across the Turkish border to attack fleeing Syrian refugees. Three Syrians, one Turkish translator and one Turkish policeman were wounded, according to Turkish officials. Tens of thousands of Syrians have poured into Turkey in the last year, and the flow has accelerated dramatically in recent months.
• A Lebanese cameraman was shot dead inside a vehicle at the Lebanese-Syrian border Monday. A colleague from the Al-Jadeed television station said the journalists heard heavy gunfire around them "falling like rain" before the cameramen, Ali Shaaban, was hit in the chest, according to the Associated Press.• A Lebanese cameraman was shot dead inside a vehicle at the Lebanese-Syrian border Monday. A colleague from the Al-Jadeed television station said the journalists heard heavy gunfire around them "falling like rain" before the cameramen, Ali Shaaban, was hit in the chest, according to the Associated Press.
• China has called on the Syrian government and opposition to comply with the Annan plan for a ceasefire and negotiations. China, along with Russia, blocked a more powerful UN resolution to end the conflict, however.• China has called on the Syrian government and opposition to comply with the Annan plan for a ceasefire and negotiations. China, along with Russia, blocked a more powerful UN resolution to end the conflict, however.
• Turkey's deputy foreign minister, Naci Koru, was quoted on Monday as saying tonight's deadline had essentially become irrelevant. "10 April has become void. After Kofi Annan's visit tomorrow [to Turkey] a new stage will start," he was quoted as saying on the website of the Turkish broadcaster NTV.• Turkey's deputy foreign minister, Naci Koru, was quoted on Monday as saying tonight's deadline had essentially become irrelevant. "10 April has become void. After Kofi Annan's visit tomorrow [to Turkey] a new stage will start," he was quoted as saying on the website of the Turkish broadcaster NTV.