The Assyrian Democratic Organization
30-June-2011
SYRIA- Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Syria’s second largest city Aleppo on Thursday in a demonstration termed “The Aleppo Volcano.” They swept through the streets shouting anti-regime slogans, prompting official forces to use batons to disperse the crowds, according to activists.
"Hundreds of people took part in several neighbourhoods of Aleppo," Abdel Karim Rihawi, president of the Syrian League for Human Rights told AFP.
He added "Security forces dispersed the protesters who were chanting slogans calling for freedom, using batons."
Rihawi said that two people were reportedly injured and that some pro-regime supporters held counter-demonstrations.
For its part, State Official media said “A mass rally gathered on Thursday in Saadallah al- Jaberi Square in Aleppo to express support to the reform process, rejecting all attempts to sow sedition between the Syrian people.”
State Media said “The participants condemned the fabricated news and lies broadcast by the biased media, stressing rejection of any foreign interference which aims at undermining Syria’s security and stability.”
SANA added “On Wednesday, Thousands of Aleppo inhabitants also arrived in Damascus driving 3,000 cars to express support to the reform process, rejecting all forms of sedition.”
Aleppo has traditionally been the industrial and commercial heart of Syria, and Thursday’s protests did not augur well for Syria`s regime. Protests have been largely muted in Aleppo so far, but a Facebook group that has been a motor of the uprising urged Syrians to march on the city to demand the “Topple of the Regime”.
“The Aleppo Volcano. The people want the fall of the regime,” pro-democracy activists said in a message posted on Facebook.
“Revolutionaries, come to Aleppo and Idleb provinces… and go to central Aleppo… to protest and to light the spark of the Revolution,” said the messages posted online via social media and networks.
Protests have been largely muted in Aleppo but a Facebook group that has been a motor of the uprising has called on Syrians to mobilise across the country and march on the commercial hub of Aleppo to demand the regime’s downfall.
The Syrian Revolution 2011 group also urged people to rally after weekly Muslim prayers on Friday, branding July 1 "the Friday of departure"
On Thursday too, Syrian opposition also turned up the heat on the embattled Syrian regime, announcing the creation of a “national coordination committee” comprising exiled dissidents and opponents at home to push for democratic reforms.
“A national coordination committee has been formed, seeking national and democratic change in Syria,” rights lawyer Hassan Abdel Azim told AFP.
The committee “has drafted a political document that has been sent to political parties and (opposition) figures for discussion and approval,” he said.
The announcement comes days after about 160 dissidents, several of whom have spent years in jail as political prisoners, gathered Monday at a Damascus hotel and vowed to press ahead with a peaceful uprising.
Syrian army forces spread through a restive mountainous area near the Turkish border on Thursday as the death toll from a two-day military siege rose to 11 people, according to activists and a witness who were quoted by foreign media agencies.
The action by Syrian troops appeared to be aimed at preventing residents from fleeing to Turkey, where more than 10,000 Syrians have already taken shelter in refugee camps, activists say. The refugees have been a source of deep embarrassment to Damascus "They fear there will be sympathy for the people who are fleeing, and they are frightened that this will cause international pressure to mount on the regime," said Mustafa Osso, a prominent Syrian-based human rights activist.
Only five Syrians made it across the border Thursday, the lowest number in days, said Turkish officials.
Source: Day Press News
