Regime backers rally after Arab League
suspends Syria
By the CNN Wire Staff
November 13, 2011 -- Updated 2027 GMT (0427 HKT)
Syrians show their support for President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on November 13.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: The Arab League's foreign ministers will discuss protecting Syrian civilians Wednesday
The Syrian government calls for an emergency Arab summit, state media reports
State media shows throngs of demonstrators packing public square in support of al-Assad
Anti-government activists claim citizens are forced to join pro-regime demonstrations
(CNN) -- State media showed throngs of demonstrators rallying in
support of Syria's president Sunday, a day after the Arab League's
decision to suspend the country's membership.
Anti-government activists claimed that many citizens were forced to
join pro-regime demonstrations.
CNN could not independently confirm the reports because Syria has
not granted international media access to the country.
The Syrian government called for an emergency Arab summit as
state television showed thousands of protesters packing public
squares, waving Syrian flags and pictures of President Bashar alAssad.
Syrian officials also invited Arab League ministers to come to Syria
before Wednesday, when the suspension is scheduled to take effect,
the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported.
Despite reports of the Syrian government calling for a summit, Syria
has not made an official request for an emergency meeting, which 15
of the organization's 22 member states would have to approve, a
senior Arab League official said.
The Arab League's foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Rabat,
Morocco, on Wednesday to discuss protecting Syrian civilians,
according to the official, who asked not to be identified because he is
directly involved in negotiations over Syria. The official said it was
unlikely that the Arab League would schedule another meeting to
discuss Syria before then, since member states are also busy dealing
with internal political issues.
The league also plans to meet in the coming days with
representatives of the Syrian opposition to "unify their agenda," the
official said. A date for the meeting has not yet been announced.
Eighteen of the Arab League's members voted to punish Syria in an
emergency session at its headquarters Saturday.
Only two member nations -- Lebanon and Yemen -- voted against the
measure. Iraq abstained and Syria was barred from voting.
The league's decision Saturday dealt a stinging blow to Syria, and
could open the door for broader international sanctions against the
al-Assad regime.
Why did Arab League move on Syria?
The league called for sanctions against the Syrian government, but
did not but did not specify what those may include. The league also
called on member states to withdraw their ambassadors from
Damascus, a decision that will be left up to each nation.
On Sunday, the Syrian government said civil and military observers,
experts and Arab media could accompany Arab League officials on
an inspection trip to the country, SANA reported.
Angry supporters of al-Assad rallied Saturday night at embassies and
consulates of countries that voted to suspend Syria's membership,
anti-government activists said.
Videos posted on YouTube purportedly showed several of the
events. One from Damascus shows a large crowd of people chanting
as they gathered outside Saudi Arabia's embassy in Damascus.
Another, from Aleppo, shows angry backers of al-Assad yelling as
they appear to break through barriers at the Turkish consulate. Some
demonstrators are seen taking a Turkish flag, which previously hung
over the consulate, and burning it. Neither YouTube video showed
any evident violence.
Anti-government activists tell CNN that supporters of the Syrian
regime also attacked the Turkish and French consulates in Latakia.
CNN could not independently confirm the accounts.
The punitive measures come after al-Assad's failure to abide by an
Arab League proposal earlier this month to halt all violence, release
detainees, withdraw armed elements from populated areas and allow
unfettered access to the nation by journalists and Arab League
monitors.
But none of that has happened, according to daily reports streaming
out of Syria.
There have been reports of civilian deaths in the last few days and
Sunday was no exception. The Local Coordination Committees, a
network of opposition groups, reported 23 people dead, including 12
in Hama and six in Homs, the restive city that has emerged as the
epicenter of the uprising.
More than 3,500 people have been killed in the brutal suppression of
dissent since the Syrian uprising began eight months ago, the U.N.
High Commissioner for Human Rights said last week.
With pressure on Syria ratcheted up, some fear an escalation of
violence in the next few days.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported
heavy clashes Sunday afternoon between the Syrian military and
armed groups of suspected defectors.
An Iranian parliament commission discussed the Arab League's
decision at a meeting Sunday and said Syria remains a close ally.
"Members of the national security and foreign policy commission
reiterated support for Syria as a major axis of resistance," said
Kazzem Jalali, the commission's rapporteur, according to Iran's semi
official FARS news agency.
But the Arab League was clear in its condemnation, urging the Syrian
army to stop attacks on civilians and saying that it would hold a
meeting with opposition groups in the next three days to discuss a
transitional phase in Syria's future.
The fact that the Arab League, the formal family of Arab states, took
such a bold step against a nation that prides itself as the beating
heart of Arabism, is a major development, said Fawaz Gerges,
director of the Middle East Centre at the London School of
Economics.
"Syria is now as isolated as ever," Gerges said. "I would call it a
game-changer."
The Syrian National Council, a leading opposition group, welcomed
the Arab League's decision, calling it "a step in the right direction,
and a clear condemnation of the Syrian regime."
"The National Council emphasizes its readiness to participate in
discussions regarding the transitional period within the scope of the
Arab League, to ensure the stepping down of Bashar Al-Assad and
the transition to a democratic government that represents the Syrian
people and does not (include) anyone from the regime whose hands
have been tainted with blood," it said in a statement.
On Saturday, Syria's representative to the league, Yousef Ahmad,
blasted the alliance's decision as illegal.
He said it was "a eulogy for Arab common action and a blatant
announcement that its administration is subordinate to U.S.-Western
agendas," according to SANA.
Earlier Ahmad had reiterated the government's claim that terrorist
gangs were behind the violence and said Syria "made strides" in
quelling the violence "despite armed groups' attempts to foil the plan
since it was announced."
CNN's Ben Wedeman and journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy in Cairo and CNN's
Yasmin Amer in Atlanta contributed to this report.
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LuckyWon
Where there is peace there is productivity and happiness and usefulness..........a nation can thrive on peace.....that
same nation can also see degression if there is no peace. I really wish that ALL nations would leave each other
alone.....that each nation would find peace and progress and happine... more
39 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
Peres66
@Avo the Turk :I know Mongolian committed 1 world Genocide they steal land of Armenians/Assyrian and
Kurds.Now they committing Genocide against Kurds.
Turkey is axes of evil and will join Iran and Syria against west soon.
44 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
avogadro602
peresd ur an ignorant peasant.Go read some books.
36 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
avogadro602
We dont care ur zzionist or any other propaganda.
37 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
avogadro602
All tales.We didnt kill kurds.Pkk killing civilians and we are killing them.If ypu think you are a human care about real
genosides.Btw first learn something about races omg.
38 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
izmir35
If you were smart enough you would know that the Turks and Kurds live together in peace without any problems and
have the same rights. But you support PKK a terrorist organization , you bloody scum ! Move that camel from
infront of your cave and see what's going on around the world !!
39 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
ChrkeePrdeOK
Syria is a regime... Iran is a regime... regime regime regime... what don't people understand about the word???
47 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
LuckyWon
Democratic party is a regime my friend.
45 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
RobbyDog
Demonstrators rallying in support of Syria's president Sunday on civilian deaths. As proof of how Democratic elections
can support a genocidal system.
48 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
LuckyWon
You are trying to start an argument. Your statement is incidental and not important.
44 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
LuckyWon
coco199............Each time you make a comment you seem to want to over reach so you can stir the pot where there
is no problem.....you seem to like to create problems.....in creating problems you create discourse among the
people commenting on these articles. You are more of an instigator than a c... more
48 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
RobbyDog
Turbulent air flow prevents contact between molecules to transfer enough energy to ignite and prevent a chain
reaction of ignition.
41 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
avogadro602
Burning a Turkish flag?Dont mess with Turcos.
49 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
Peres66
I glad that they burned Mongolian Flag.nobody should mess with Mongolia otherwise they will commit a
genocide again that's what they are good for the Barbarians.the Mongolian are savage people.
38 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
KJMU
Why cannot be a democratic Islamic state? The “new” Libya andEgypt are examples of Western illusions as to the
Muslim countries ability tobecome democratic. It's just impossible. You cannot build democracy with Islamiclaws
that suppress women or kill "Heretics" like Jews or Christians.The real probl... more
50 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
VladoDeric
We have functionall and country leading Christian democrats in many european countrys, they are strong in Spain,
Portugal, Italy, Belgium, etc.... without bringing kids who dont follow every order of their paretns to the citys
gate, where the eldery are sypposed to kill him. (Bible.)
44 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
Peres66
And Turks are filthy Mongolian /Barbarians.
52 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
izmir35
hahaha
LOSER !!! Goes to show you know balls about the Turkish people !!
49 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
avogadro602
U r an idiiiiot peasant.U know nothing about Turks.
51 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
canadiansyri
when Assad`s minority sect (11%) demonstrate for him nobody shoot to kill them , when the majority (80%)
demonstrate against him , Assad sends Tanks to blow them up .1 anti assad supporter is = 1000 assad supporter.
54 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
coco199
What impact must have the Arab League decision?------------------------------First, it makes a mockery of Assad's
claims that the uprising is some kind of American/Zionist plot against his regime. He may well try to make out that
the Arab League has been nobbled by Americans and Zionists too but, ev... more
56 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
LuckyWon
I should have added there are a lot of GOOD Atheists also......by destruction I should have said destruction of
religious precept. Sorry......I am not against Atheists per se......I have God and they have whatever they perceive to
have.
56 minutes ago | Like | Report abuse
LuckyWon
izmir35.......I am glad you made that comment....you are correct.......actions speak louder than words....a person
should never be judged by religion or color or politics...they should be judged by their individual actions. There are a
lot of good people out there who are Muslim and Catholic and oth... more
58 minutes ago | Like (1) | Report abuse
canadiansyri
that remind me how Saddam , Gaddafi , Mubarak used to dump all their security and informers in mid town .
1 hour ago | Like | Report abuse
LuckyWon
bobby26........your comment makes no sense....my grandmother is a Jewess but I am a Catholic.............Jew is
simply an abstraction......like African.......Italian.....French....British.......Irish........so what?
1 hour ago | Like | Report abuse
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