AFP. An image grab taken from a video uploaded on YouTube shows a Syrian tank taking position on Al-Ramussa highway in the northern city of Aleppo on August 6. AFP is using images from alternative sources. Syria says its troops have seized a rebel-held Aleppo district after storming it and “annihilating” most of the insurgents, as a long-threatened ground assault on the key city was launched.<

08/08/2012

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31/07/2012

Syria’s 16-month revolt has finally erupted in the country’s commercial hub

By Michael Weiss

What’s the point of diplomacy no one believes in? The Emir of Qatar has given Kofi Annan’s six-point plan for bringing peace to Syria and opening political “dialogue” a three per cent chance of success, which is several points higher than I’d give it. Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the UN, sounds fed up with the regime of Bashar al-Assad: “They have lied to the international community, lied to their own people. And the biggest fabricator of the facts is Assad himself.” The Kremlin counters that this pessimism is the real catalyst for ongoing violence; this as opposed to, say, the regular consignments of Russian armaments dispatched to Assad for killing people. “There are countries – there are outside forces – that are not interested in the success of current UN Security Council efforts,” complained Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, subtly echoing the regime’s propaganda narrative of a “conspiracy” against Syria. Many have been begging the United States and Britain and France to make this conspiracy real for some time now, lest the slow-motion creation of a failed state bordering Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan succeeds. Instead, six unarmed UN observers have just arrived in the country, and stand a fair chance of being shot themselves if they venture into Homs or Idleb, where helicopter gunships and artillery shells are still being used against civilian populations.

I spoke this morning to Saif al-Arabe, an activist based in Homs affiliated with the Syrian Revolution General Commission (SRGC). He told me that he woke up to spy planes flying overhead and a barrage of shelling, particularly of the Khalidiya and Bayada neighbourhoods. “There are three sources of the mortar fire,” Saif said. “The military factor in Al-Wah-ir, the ancient castle near the Old City and Wadi al-Dahab, a pro-regime neighbourhood.” Saif sent along a few videos, too. This one shows 14 mortars falling on Homs within the span of four minutes:

I asked Saif which party started the violence after the brief lull last Thursday when the ceasefire euphemistically described as ‘fragile’ or ‘tenuous’ was said to have taken effect. Were Free Syrian Army units attacking regime forces or did the regime fire first? He replied that the FSA had abided by the ceasefire: “I can emphasize to you that they did not start any attack on Assad’s forces, which are shelling all the neighbourhoods randomly. But FSA elements are now trying to stop any storming of the city by Assad’s gangs.” The notorious shabbiha, which the regime has employed as death-and-rape squads since the start of the uprising, are manning military checkpoints alongside army personnel, as displayed in this video:

So why is the regime bombarding Homs again? Saif said the reason was simple: residents who fled Baba Amr after the month-long siege there last February mainly wound up in other Homs neighbourhoods such as al-Qarabees and al-Kusr. And so these, too, must be now pummelled. “There are no cool districts in Homs,” Saif said. “All areas are hot.”

And as in Baba Amr months ago, food and water is scarce and electricity is cut for most of the day. Field hospitals are suffering severe shortages of medicine and equipment. They’re staffed by civilian volunteers, not doctors.

Only a sadist or a fool would call this a truce.

Syrian president’s wife and mother among latest figures to be targeted by European Union assets freeze and travel bans.

Activists say a government assault on Homs’ al-Khaldiyeh district is continuing [Reuters]

Last Modified: 23 Mar 2012 10:33

European Union states have imposed sanctions on Asma al-Assad, the wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as officials seek to increase pressure on Damascus to end its violent assault on anti-government strongholds.

Foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Friday also imposed asset freezes and bans on travel to the EU on several other family members including the Syrian leader’s mother, and banned European companies from doing business with two additional Syrian entities, EU officials said.

A full list of sanctions targets will be made public on Saturday when the decision comes into force. EU diplomats said
the list included the Syrian president’s wife Asma and family.

“She is on the list. It’s the whole clan,” one EU diplomat said.

Asma al-Assad, a former investment banker, has become a recent focus of media attention following publication of a purported trove of private emails between her and her husband, obtained by UK-based Guardian newspaper, which appeared to show them shopping for pop music and luxury items while Syria descended into bloodshed.

The Syrian first lady is a British national and in London officials said an EU travel ban could not prevent her from entering Britain.

“British citizens subject to EU travel bans cannot be refused entry to the UK,” a UK Border Agency spokesperson said.

The ban would stop her from travelling to the other 26 EU nations, an EU diplomat said.

Oil embargo

The EU had already responded to Assad’s crackdown on the uprising with a broad range of sanctions, which include a ban on Syrian oil imports to Europe and measures against the the country’s central bank and other companies and state institutions.

Assad himself has been a target since May last year, although violence in the country has continued to escalate, with Syrian forces bombarding towns and cities held by lightly armed anti-government forces.

Activists reported that more than 40 people died across the country on Thursday, mainly in the provinces of Idlib and Homs.

In Idlib’s northern town of Sarmeen, 10 civilians, including three children and two women, died when their small bus was shot up as they tried to flee to Turkey, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The Observatory, which depends on a network of local contacts for its information, said it was not clear who was behind the killings. Other activists blamed the Syrian army, which has been trying to stamp out opposition fighters in the area.

In Homs, the Syrian Revolution General Commission activist network said government forces continued their military assault on al-Khaldiyeh district and the neighbourhoods of Old Homs.

Activists also reported heavy bombardment by government forces in al-Qusair, a town close to the Lebanese border.

UN statement

The continuing violence appeared to defy a UN Security Council statement, adopted on Wednesday, urging Assad and the opposition to implement “fully and immediately” a peace plan drawn up by joint UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.

The Syrian National Council, one of the main opposition blocs, said the UN statement would simply give the government more time to continue killing its own people.

Annan’s plan calls for those detained during the government crackdown on protests to be released, for restrictions on the freedom of movement of foreign journalists and aid agencies to be removed, and for a “daily two-hour humanitarian pause” in the fighting.

However, Valerie Amos, the UN humanitarian chief, complained on Thursday that aid agencies had “limited access” to needy people in Syrian towns.

“The situation in Syria continues to worsen with fighting and violence ongoing in cities around the country, including in Damascus,” Amos said in a statement. ”I remain extremely concerned for the people who are caught up in this,” she said.

Syrian opposition group, rebel army join forces #Syria

By the CNN Wire Staff
January 13, 2012 — Updated 1028 GMT (1828 HKT)

(CNN) — A Syrian opposition group demanding the end of President Bashar al-Assad’s reign announced Friday that it has begun coordinating with the rebel Free Syria Army, while thousands of anti-government protesters were set to take to the streets to support the breakaway army.

The announcement by the Syrian National Council and the planned protests across the country in support of the rebel army appears to signal a shift in the anti-government movement, an effort to solidify coordination between the groups who say have been the target of a brutal crackdown by al-Assad’s forces.

The move coincides with reports of increased violence against demonstrators by security forces despite the ongoing efforts of an Arab League fact-finding mission to determine whether the Syrian government is abiding by an agreement to end the crackdown.

Al-Assad, who has characterized the anti-government protesters as “armed gangs,” has insisted his security forces are battling terrorists intent on targeting civilians and fomenting unrest. The United States, the European Union and a number of Arab countries have called on al-Assad to end the violence and step down.

The Syrian National Council — an umbrella organization for a number of opposition groups — plans to establish a liaison office with the Free Syria Army “to maintain direct communications around the clock,” the group said in a statement.

The council also is opening a direct channel of communication with the rebel force to ensure effective communication between the two groups “in order to achieve optimal service to the Syrian revolution,” the statement said.

Additionally, the Syrian National Council and the Free Syria Army — composed of military defectors — agreed to reorganize the rebel military units and create a plan to accommodate additional soldiers, according to the statement.

The plan was hammered out Thursday during a meeting between members of the council and the rebel army, the statement said.

It was unclear where the liaison office would be situated.

Meanwhile, Syrian activists and opposition groups used Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to urge thousands to take to the streets Friday in support of the rebel army.

More than 5,000 people have died since mid-March, when al-Assad began the crackdown on anti-government protesters calling for his ouster, the United Nations has said. But opposition groups put the toll at more than 6,000.

CNN can not confirm the claims by opposition groups of violence and deaths as Syria’s government has limited access to foreign journalists, though a number of journalists have been allowed in to the country in recent weeks to travel with Arab League monitors.

The body of France 2 TV journalist Gilles Jacquier was returned to Paris on Friday, just days after his network said he was killed when a mortar shell struck the pro-government rally he was attending as part of a government-authorized tour of the flashpoint city of Homs. Eight Syrians also died in the attack.

A plane carrying Jacquier’s body landed at Le Bourget airport near Paris where it was met by French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterand, according to a France 2 report.

The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said Jacquier was among a delegation of international journalists visiting the city to document the damage by “terrorists.”

But the Syrian Revolution General Commission, an opposition force, disputed that description of events. It said security forces fired two shells at journalists from an infantry vehicle.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has demanded Syrian authorities divulge details surrounding the killing of Jacquier, saying the government should have ensured the safety of journalists invited to carry out the visit.

The Arab League has called on Damascus to stop violence against civilians, free political detainees, remove tanks and weapons from cities and allow outsiders, including members of the international news media, to travel freely around Syria.

The fact-finding mission, which began December 26, will continue until January 19, said Ambassador Adnan Al Khudeir, head of the operations room to which the Arab monitors report. He put the number of monitors at 163 in 16 teams. One has left because of sickness and another because of personal reasons, he said.

Meanwhile, the Local Coordination Committees of Syria — an opposition group that organizes and documents anti-government demonstrations — said a 13-year-old girl from a village in Aleppo was shot and killed by government security forces Friday. The girl was traveling with her family when their vehicle was fired upon at a checkpoint, and she was hit three times, the LCC said.

Security forces forbade the family from taking the girl to a nearby hospital, and she died at the scene, the group said.

The LCC said earlier that 25 people in five provinces were killed Thursday: 10 in Homs, nine in Idlib, four in Deir Ezzor, and one each in Hama and the Damascus suburb of Douma. Two of those killed were military recruits who had defected, the group said.

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
In response to the statement of the Arab Ministerial Committee
Your Excellency Nabil Al-Arabi, the Secretary General of the Arab League
Your excellencies members of the Arab League

Our people have counted on your good intentions and on your delegation to stop the bloodshed which the criminal regime is committing in Syria on a daily basis.
Thereafter came the Arab Committee’s statement today which did not meet the Syrian people’s expectations and did not include testimonies of many honorable Arab observers which they had shared through the media.
Having not observed a decrease in the number of martyrs nor in the level of violence practiced by the regime since the beginning of your delegation’s mission in Syria, we, the General Commission of the Syrian Revolution, would like to call the Arab League initiative dead. For the Arab delegation was unable to set things right and call things their real names. We would also like to remind you that any initiative calling for dialogue with the criminal, terrorist regime which lingers oppressively on Syrian people’s chests and leeches on their blood or one which does not explicitly recognize the illegitimacy of the regime fails to meet the demands of the Syrian people or to do them justice. This comes particularly in response to the final statement of the Ministerial Committee in which the victim and victimizer are regarded on equal footing. Thousands of videos and thousands of testimonies from those who have been displaced due to the regime’s violence as well as the reports of human rights organizations, the latest of which is a report by Human Rights Watch, prove that killing is one-sided and committed by the Assad gangs.
Hence, we demand the Arab League to stand up to its responsibilities towards our people and demand the following:

- Declaring the failure of the Arab initiative as the Arab League does not have the adequate means to stop the killing in Syria
- Referring the Syrian issue to the Security Council so that International Law would be enacted to protect civilians and so that we claim our right to protection as member in the UN system.

Long live Syria free and dignified.
The Syrian Revolution General Commission 08-01-2012

20 December 2011 BEIRUT - Syria has agreed to an Arab League plan to send foreign monitors, bowing to growing international pressure to end its bloody crackdown on a nine-month uprising. However the opposition saw the deal as a stalling tactic, especially given reports by activists that more than 100 people were killed on the same day.

Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby said Monday in Cairo that an initial mission headed by one of his assistants will go to Syria within a day or two to discuss plans for 500 observers to eventually deploy around the country. He said they will be in small groups of at least 10 and each team will go to a different location.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Moallem rejected accusations the regime was trying to stall, even though it delayed the monitoring agreement for weeks.

‘The signing of the protocol is the beginning of cooperation between us and the Arab League, and we will welcome the Arab League observers,’ he told reporters in Damascus.

He said the observers will have a one-month mandate that can be extended by another month if both sides agree. The observers will be ‘free’ in their movements and ‘under the protection of the Syrian government,’ he said. But they will not be allowed to visit sensitive military sites.

The Arab League plan calls for removing Syrian forces and heavy weapons from city streets, starting talks with opposition leaders and allowing human rights workers and journalists into the country, along with observers from member countries.

President Bashar Assad’s regime accepted the monitors after Arab leaders warned they would turn to the UN Security Council to try to end the crackdown that the UN says has killed at least 5,000 people since March.

Pressure from Syria’s longtime ally Russia clearly played a role in the decision to allow observers.

Al-Moallem suggested that Damascus had agreed to sign on the advice of Russia, a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council. Two months ago, Russia and China vetoed a Western-backed Security Council resolution condemning the bloodshed in Syria. But Moscow said last week it would work on a draft resolution at the UN that criticises Syria for using disproportionate force against protesters.

The UN General Assembly on Monday condemned human rights violations by Assad’s government, calling for an immediate end to violence and implementation of the Arab League plan ‘without further delay.’

Violence has escalated in recent weeks in Syria with more frequent armed clashes between military defectors and security forces. The increasing militarization of the conflict has raised fears the country is sliding toward civil war.

Activists said security forces killed up to 70 army defectors Monday as they were deserting their military posts near the Turkish border. At least 30 other people died in other violence across the country, the activists said. If accurate, it would be one of the heaviest daily tolls of the entire revolt.

Security forces shot and killed at least 20 people in the southern province of Daraa, in central Syria’s Homs region and in the country’s north. One person was killed when security forces opened fire on thousands of mourners in Damascus’ central neighborhood of Midan. The mourners were attending the funeral of a child who was gunned down by security forces a day earlier.

Syria has placed severe restrictions on journalists, and the reports by the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Syrian Revolution General Commission activist group could not be independently confirmed.

By signing onto the Arab League plan, the Syrian regime stands to gain more time and to avert — for now at least — the possibility of wider international involvement in the crisis. But critics are skeptical that the regime will allow full, unrestricted access to trouble spots and said it was likely just a delaying tactic.

Burhan Ghalioun, the leader of Syria’s main opposition group, the Syrian National Council, accused the Assad regime of lying and said the signing was ‘worthless’ in light of the brutal crackdown daily.

‘The Syrian regime is maneuvering and wants to buy time,’ he said in Tunisia, where the group has been holding a three-day conference aimed at unifying Syria’s fragmented opposition.

Ghalioun called for Arab military intervention to protect civilians and the creation of humanitarian corridors to deliver aid.

A Syrian-based anti-regime activist who identifies himself as Abu Hamza said the Syrian regime ‘has signed something it cannot implement.’ He said if the government withdraws the military from the streets, mass demonstrations will take pace throughout the country.

‘This will automatically lead to the downfall of the regime,’ Abu Hamza said, declining to give his real name for fear of retribution.

The regime claims armed gangs and terrorists are behind the uprising, not protesters seeking more freedoms in one of the most totalitarian regimes in the Middle East.

Dozens of army deserters have been shot dead by Syrian troops as they tried to flee their bases and join anti-government protests, reports say.

Activists say more than 900 people have died while Syria wavered on whether to agree to the Arab plan

Activist groups said more than 70 defectors were gunned down in the north-western Idlib province.

They said Monday’s death toll across the country could exceed 110 - which if true would make it one of the deadliest days of the uprising.

Damascus earlier agreed to an Arab League deal to allow monitors in.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said the Arab League had accepted amendments demanded by Damascus.

The Arab League said an advance team of observers would go to Syria this week.

In a separate development, the UN General Assembly voted by a strong majority to condemn the Syrian authorities for the crackdown, which has left some 5,000 people dead since the protests against President Bashar al-Assad began in March.

The non-binding resolution - passed by a vote of 133 to 11, with 43 abstentions - demanded an immediate end to human rights abuses and called on Damascus to implement the Arab League plan.

Deal ‘amendments’

On Monday, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a soldier who defected had reported the deaths of 60-70 army deserters by machine-gun fire in Idlib province - the main stronghold for army defectors.

“They were killed while trying to run away from their military positions on the way between the villages of Kensafra and Kefer Quaid, in Zawyia Mountain, in Idlib district,” the group said.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem: “We do not seek to waste time. It is us seeking a solution”

The Observatory said another 40 people had died across the country, including three government soldiers were killed in fighting with armed rebels in Idlib.

The Syrian Revolution General Commission - a coalition of 40 opposition grassroots groups - said the number of defecting soldiers who died in Idlib reached 72.

Overall, it said, 114 people had died across the country on Monday, a toll which included nine deaths in Deraa and nine in Homs.

The claims cannot be independently verified as foreign media are banned from reporting in Syria.

The government of President Assad says it is fighting armed gangs, trying to destabilise Syria.

The alleged shooting of the deserters came just hours after Damascus finally put its signature to the Arab League deal to deploy observers in Syria.

After the protocol was signed at the Arab League’s headquarters in Cairo, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Damascus had agreed because it wanted help to find a “political solution”.

“We want to emerge from this crisis and build a safe, modern Syria - a Syria that will be a model of democracy,” he said.

“The signing of the protocol is the beginning of co-operation between us and the Arab League and we will welcome monitors.”

He said Syria’s sovereignty would be protected because the Arab League had agreed to amendments to the deal, which also calls for all violence to be halted, for the withdrawal of troops from the streets and the release of detainees.

The observers would be “free” in their movements and “under the protection of the Syrian government”, he added, but would not be allowed to visit sensitive military sites.

Mr Muallem said he was confident that the observers would support the government’s assertion that “armed terrorist groups” were stirring up trouble, and targeting security personnel and civilians.

Damascus ‘manoeuvring’

The Arab League’s Secretary General, Nabil al-Arabi, told reporters that an advance party led by one of his assistants would travel to Syria in the next two or three days to prepare for the arrival of monitors.

The observers will have a one-month mandate that can be extended by another month if both sides agree.

But the leader of the Syrian National Council, an opposition umbrella group, dismissed the government’s decision as “just a ploy”.

The BBC’s Jim Muir in Beirut says there is much scepticism in activist circles about the government’s willingness to implement a peace plan which could result in large parts of the country falling out of its control.

Since mid-November, Syria wavered on whether to agree to the deployment of observers, prompting the Arab League to impose a range of economic sanctions.

In that time, more than 900 civilians have been killed by Syrian security forces, including 80 children and 29 women, according to the LCC.

Activists detained in Syria have spoken about their experiences and said they were either tortured by security forces or made to confess to crimes they did not commit. (Al Arabiya)

By Mohamed Zeid Mestou
Al Arabiya Beirut

The testimonies of Syrian activists detained by security forces for taking part in anti-regime protests serve to expose another face of the horror that has been unraveling in the country since last March.

In addition to seeing their comrades killed under their very eyes, detainees are either brutally tortured or forced to make fabricated confessions or both. In any case, the result of what they all refer to as “the black times” is irreversible physical and psychological damages.

A university student from the northeastern city of Deir ez-Zor who was arrested for organizing protests in Damascus suffered severed injuries in his vertebral column and subsequent walking difficulties after he was tortured in the Air Fore Intelligence base in the capital. The student, who has been receiving physiotherapy since his release, said that he saw five of the detainees in his cell die.

“They were unable to breathe. Security forces placed 32 people in a cell designed for solitary confinement,” he told Al Arabiya.

Another young man from the governorate of Rif Dimashq in the southwest told a similar story when he said that more than 35 detainees were placed in a small cell.

“We had to take turns to sleep and it was impossible for any of the injured in those cells to get medical treatment.”

A third protestor who is originally from the Golan Heights but moved to Rif Dimashq said he sustained a serious injury in his shoulder.

“My left arm stopped moving and I am currently receiving physiotherapy.”

According to former detainees interviewed by Al Arabiya, the degree of torture differs from one detainee to the other, but many survivors might end up totally paralyzed.

What is striking, they added, is that most of the times security forces are aware that the detainees have no information to give out, but they keep torturing them as if it gives them pleasure to do so.

Marwa al-Ghimian, the first female detainee since the start of the Syrian revolution and who was arrested on March 15 and detained in the Political Security headquarters, was brutally beaten by security forces.

“They hit me on the head with a table and dragged me by the hair. They kicked me and banged my head against the wall. All that while cussing and calling me names.”

After being released, Ghimian was arrested for a second time and placed in solitary confinement in a small cell that she described as a “box” in the Military Security headquarters.

“It was a very cold place and I spent a whole week alone there totally isolated from the outside world.”

Another detainee from the city of Darayya in Rif Dimashq said he suffers from convulsions in the middle of his sleep as a result of the torture to which he was subjected in the Air Force Intelligence base in Damascus.

“The sounds of other people screaming around while being tortured have also been haunting me in my dreams,” said the activist, who was accused of transferring money from officials in Arab countries to protestors in Syria.

An army officer, who was arrested after refusing to shoot at protestors, said he was placed in a small cell with 30 other detainees and all of them listened to the screams of torture all the time.

“They put their shoes in our food and sometimes they spat in it,” he said in earlier statements to Al Arabiya.

He added that security officers would keep knocking on the doors of their cells all the time to make sure they did not get any rest or sleep.

“I was also placed in a suspended iron cage for days and was always given the impression that I was going to be killed any minute.”

Not all those tortured managed to survive, though, for hundreds were tortured to death throughout the past few months based reports issued by the Syrian Revolution General Commission.

According to the commission, 204 people, including one woman and eight children died in Syrian detention centers since the start of the revolution.

The commission’s report stated that security forces use a variety of torture methods, the most common of which is electrocution, breaking bones and teeth, and gouging eyes—the last was specifically done with an activist who used to take pictures of the regime’s brutal practices against civilians. This, the report added, is besides stealing the organs of dead activists.

According to the report, out of the killed activists, 112 come from the city of Homs, 22 from Damascus and Rif Dimashq, 19 from Idlib, 12 from Hama, five from Deir ez-Zor, three from Aleppo, three from Latakia, and one from Jebleh.

The report stated that some of the activists who are still detained are tortured on daily basis and that sometimes the torture would last for 24 hours.

According to activists, most of the charges leveled against detainees are fabricated and have nothing to do with what they really do.

An activist from Rif Dimashq said he was accused of belonging to al-Qaeda and planning a series of bombings in his hometown. Meanwhile, a dissenting officer was charged with infiltrating the Syrian army for the purpose of carrying out terrorist operations.

In the same vein, a telecommunication engineer in Damascus was accused by the Political Security bureau of receiving money from foreign countries to organize a coup in Syria.

“They forced me to make televised statements about receiving money from abroad and coordinating with several media outlets to circulate false news about Syria,” he said.

Several former detainees were similarly forced to do confess to planning terrorist operations and spreading rumors about the Syrian regime.

By Syrian Revolution General Commission and The Union of Horan Coordination Committees
***Includes a Statement from the Salah Adeen Battalion of the Free Syrian Army***
Media Section

***Special Statement from the Salah Adeen Battalion of the Free Syrian Army***
The security forces and Shabiha (regime sponsored gangs) have continually overstepped toward our unarmed families and the protestors, and shot at unarmed protestors. In response to this, in the town of Asanmeen, the Battalion of Khalid Bin Waleed protected our unarmed families from the savage attacks of Assad’s gangs in a protest today, resulting in the death and wounding of some of these gang members today. We are taking this opportunity to warn everyone who spreads their arm toward the blood, honor, and property of our families that they cannot be guaranteed physical safety.

Today’s News:

Today’s protests carried a new line of chants, not only asking for the fall of the regime and Buffer and No-Fly Zones, but also confirming that the residents of Dar’aa will take part in the Strike of Dignity, which is set to begin on Dec 11, 2011. Several protests included thousands of participants, including the towns of Inkhil, Al’harrak, and Da’el. Many of the protests began at the mosques after Friday prayers, and then met as one large protest in the middle of the towns. The protest in Da’el is said to have had more than 20,000 protestors. Massive protests mobilized in the following towns on the Friday which has been labeled Strike of Dignity Until the Fall of the Oppressor: seven protests in Dar’aa; one in Asanmeen; two in Inkhil; one in Almale’ha Asharqiya; one in Ana’eema; one in At-teeba; one in Sa’hm al-Jolan; two in Al’harrak; one in Jassem; one in al-Mata’iyah, one in Asoora; one in al-Mle’ha al-Gharbiya; one in ‘Alma; one in Na’hta; one in al-Maseefra; one in al-Jiza; one in Algharya Asharqiya; one in al-Mazareeb; one in al-Sheikh Miskeen; one in Umm Walad; one in ‘Atman; one in Alkarak Asharqee; one in Tal Shehab; one in Qurfa; one in ‘Adwan; two in Alyaduda; one in Seeda; one in Naseeb; one in Al’harra; one in Taseel; one in Bosra Ashaam; one in Da’el; one in Tafs; one in Bosr Al’hareer; one in Nimr; two in Ateeba; two in Ibti’; one in Khirbet Ghazala; one in Ka’heel; one in Ma’arba; one in Ghabagheb; one in Nawa; one in Asahwa; and one in Samleen. That is a total of 55 reported protests on this Friday.

The security forces and Assad’s gangs committed the following acts of violence in Dar’aa today:
• Protestors in Dar’aa were wounded after the security forces of Assad fired at them during a demonstration in Dar’aa al-Ma’hata.
• The 12 year old girl Iman Fawzi Al’aloosh died today in the town of Asanmeen, and two other women in the town are in critical condition after shots from the security forces. One of the women got shot in the mouth.
• Security forces shut down the town of Asanmeen with their vehicles and by maintaining a heavy presence.
• Heavy gunfire from the security forces and Shabiha (regime sponsored gangs) reported from all directions in the town of Inkhil. Security forces and Assad’s gangs stormed the town of Inkhil and shot at the protestors, resulting in 10 wounded, one of them a woman who is now in critical condition. The wounded were hidden in the homes of the residents, and the security forces and Assad’s gangs then directed their gunfire at the homes.
• The young girl Aminah Hasan Al’abood, only 15 years old, died today from gunshot wounds by the security forces, in addition to the injury of two of her brothers.
• Heavy gunfire and a campaign of arrests were carried out in the town of Jassem today by the security forces and Assad’s gangs.
• Adnan Ahmad ‘Hameed ‘Amyan was arrested this morning in the town of Tal Shehab.
• The protest which went out in Qurfa included chants which held the regime directly responsible for the detainee Dr. Zakariya Alghazali.
• There were heavy clashes between the security forces of Assad and the defected soldiers who are in the Free Syrian Army in Taseel today, which resulted in many wounded in the ranks of the security forces. Two civilians from the residents of Taseel were killed by the security forces, one of them a child.

Video Highlights:
The protestors in Yemen are chanting in solidarity with the residents of Dar’aa to Da’el:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLtjttfmCNE&feature=youtu.be
The presence of security forces and Assad’s gangs in Dar’aa:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcm34-9horw&feature=youtu.be
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qYSr-0VW5M&feature=youtu.be
The sounds and sights of gunfire fired at civilians in Asanmeen by the gangs of Assad:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_qev692eh0&feature=youtu.be
The funeral procession of the 12 year old girl Iman Fawzi al-‘Aloush killed in Asanmeen:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rghvd9AQHu4&feature=youtu.be
In Inkhil it is impossible to treat the wounded in hospitals, so they are treated in the homes:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7u5L_JHHqg&feature=youtu.be
Smoke rising and the wounding of one of the residents of Inkhil:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp4dK1kKXUI&feature=youtu.be
Thousands of protests on the Friday of the Strike of Dignity in the town of Al’harrak:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlEUy_hn9aI
“Shame on the Arab League and the Arab presidents” rally in Al-Maseefra:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4juC1RCwWw
One of the largest rallies in Sheikh Miskeen yet:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgiKrrJzXoE&feature=player_embedded
“We only have God” and “We didn’t forget Hamza” large rally in Umm Walad:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca-MyAJlp-M&list=UU3sxRGh23Vy7bKM2pF1Q-sA&feature=plcp
Large Daytime rally in Alkarak Asharqee:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihm-uUgbQrw&feature=uploademail
The protest of 20,000 residents in Da’el, “Our Syria is a Paradise, and the Free Syrian Army is Dear to our Hearts”:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5txS4G2nEs&feature=youtu.be
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMUuDo963LI&feature=plcp&context=C20411UDOEgsToPDskIC5Om0vP45xJ5Ckn4n0d-Q

By Syrian Revolution General Commission and The Union of Horan Coordination Committees
Media Section

An event which occurred in Dar’aa on December 3, 2011, surely sets a world record. Mr. Qasem Abdul-Rahman Al’hajee, born on March 18, 1900, was arrested in the town of Jassem by security forces and gangs of Assad. Even if the reader has done the math, it is worth mentioning that Mr. Qasem is 111 years old, and likely the oldest political prisoner in the world. This is further evidence of a regime that will arrest anyone and everyone, with or without reason, and with no distinction.

Multiple rallies went out in Dar’aa today, all calling for the fall of the regime and the end of Bashar. Many of the rallies in the towns of Dar’aa province also specifically stated their support for the other besieged cities of Syria, such as Homs and Hama. Rallies are reported to have mobilized in the following towns, many of them student protests: four in Dar’aa, one in Al-Maseefra, two in Asanmeen, two in Ma’haja, two in Inkhil, one in Deir Albakht, one in Mlee’ha Al’atash, two in Naseeb, one in Al’harra, one in Busr Al’hareer, one in Aljeeza, one in Bosra Asham, one in Al’harrak, one in Nimr, one in Ma’arba, one in Tal Shehab, one in Da’el, and one in Tafs. A total of 25 protests were reported in Dar’aa today.

Today in Ibti’ the dignified Colonel Zaidan Anaseerat from the 50th Division of the Special Forces was released after the security forces arrested him under false and fraudulent charges. The Colonel has stood with the Syrian people against the regime.
•
Activities of Assad’s Army, Security Forces and Shabiha (regime sponsored gangs):
• In the town of Sa’hm Aljolan, 3 youths were arrested and one young man from the town was killed:
o Ubada Adnan ‘Ajaj (arrested)
o Ma’an Ridwan ‘Ajaj (arrested)
o Muhammad Jameel Almasri (arrested)
o ‘Awad Alfarghal (killed in Homs)
• A raid was carried out in the town of Ana’eema, which resulted in the arrest of more than 20 people and the destruction of the homes of activists.
• Dr. Khalid Asa’eed was arrested in the town of Taseel at the Taseel-Nawa military checkpoint.
• The home of Abu Karam Mu’hasana, as well as one of his relatives’ homes in Jassem, was raided today by forces using a van and a civilian taxi. In general, the campaign of raids and burning of motorcycles in Jassem has remained ongoing for ten days!
• The Sergeant Hani Abdullah Aljalm from Jassem was arrested from the military barracks and taken to an undisclosed location.
• Five young men were arrested in Al’harrak:
o Luai Alboosh (teacher)
o Muhammad Aturkemani (teacher)
o Abdul ‘Haleem Azu’bi (teacher)
o Ghanem Al’adawi (young man)
o Rami Al’hariri (young man)
• Adham Alfadel, a young man in Al’harrak, was kidnapped from his car at the Azra’ Checkpoint.
• The town of Da’el is being shelled by tanks.

Video Highlights:
• Student Rallies in Dar’aa:
o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl408N-qg8k&feature=youtu.be
• Massive Rally in Inkhil led by a young girl:
o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-XjfBsyl0Q&feature=channel_video_title
• “The Darkest Hour is that Before the Dawn” rally in Busr Al’hareer:
o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaECdxBo4r8
• “Homs will be a thorn in the side of the regime” rally in Al’haraak in solidarity with Homs:
o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XurjfyYd6IQ
• “This regime is an enemy of mosques” rally in Tal Shahab:
o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdTytlebWzI&feature=youtu.be
• “Bashar’s Defection” Rally in Da’el (the protestors using a little humor, poking fun at the Walter’s interview):
o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLls3YHvaUA
• The smoke rising in Da’el from shelling of the regime’s tanks:
o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzYXVHhPfO8&feature=youtu.be

By the Syrian Revolution General Commission – In Occupied Hama and The Revolution in Hama Archive found at http://www.hamafree.com/index.php?name=city

Martyrs:

Anas Mustafa Al-Mustafa Al-Yunes, 25 years old, his body was handed over today to his family. He was from Al-Trimseh town.
The regime is gradually releasing the bodies of victims from Al-Trimseh town; the regime does not want to release them all together so the media won’t pay the required attention.


Events on the ground:

Today in Hama province, all wireless communications were cut off 1st then all landlines were cut off as well. At the same time, Aleppo-Hama international highway was closed by security forces after the regime’s army bombarded the village of Morek. Later on the night some landlines were returned.

- Morek and Kafr Zita towns:
The army with armored vehicles stormed the village of Morek, located north of Hama; the village was bombarded by heavy weaponry and heavy gunfire. Many homes by the international highway in Morek village were targeted by the shelling, while Kafr Zita village was bombarded for 2 consecutive hours. Later in the day were got news that the village of Kafr Zita was being shelled by artillery and that more military reinforcement was heading to it.

2 brothers, Abdul-Razaq Ibrahim Al-Housh, 25 years old, and Khaled Ibrahim Al-Housh, 36 years old, were arrested today when their home was raided.

Heavy firing by security forces at the unarmed civilians in Morek village, Yesterday, 5 Dec 2011
http://youtu.be/eC_-_5dHVDU

A student demonstration by the children of Kafr Zita today, 7 Dec 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n67OVuq-Qfg


- Mehrada town:
Troops were gathering at the western roundabout and other areas of the town.


- Al-Trimseh town:
The funeral procession of Anas Mustafa Al-Yones, whose body was handed over today, turned into a large demonstration. The victim was the son of the town’s Mukhtar [the town leader selected by the people].


-Shriaz and Hayalin towns:
There were some defections from the army today.


- Al-Arayma village
A video showing the effect of a tank’s shell, which demolished a home, 4 Dec 2011
http://youtu.be/mYn1bGI_hL4


- Qalaat Al-Madiaq
A video showing security forces storming the town, yesterday, 6 Dec 2011
http://youtu.be/-LA988_1XXg


- Hama city:
Electricity was cut off in many of Hama city neighborhoods, including the neighborhoods of Bab Qebli, Tariq Halab (Aleppo-Road), and Al-Hamidiya. And for hours today there was no internet, landlines, nor wireless communications. Then all stores were closed. Later some landlines were returned.

2 explosions were heard in each of the northern and eastern areas of the city. There was heavy gunfire in many neighborhoods including the neighborhoods of; Al-Hamidiya, Tariq Halab (Aleppo-Road), Al-Sabouniya, Al-Arbain, Jesr Al-Mazareb, Al-Filat, and Janoub Al-Malaab.

There were raids and arrests in the industrial area where security and Shabiha (regime-sponsored gangs) harassed cars and people in homes and stores.
Arrests were also made in Bab Qebli neighborhood, where security and Shabiha stormed the neighborhood beating up and arresting people from their homes and shops.

Regime forces also targeted schools. 2 schools in Al-Qusour neighborhood were raided for the 2dn time in 2 days. Regime forces came in civilians cloths with an armored vehicles and a number of cars, threatening the teachers that they will be considered conspirers if more demonstrations come out from their schools. And in a third school, the school of Uthman Al-Hourani, students were arrested for opening a Facebook page and raising the independence flag.

Security and Shaibha storming Al-Arbain (40th) neighborhood in Hama city, 6 Dec 2011
http://youtu.be/Gi4Ot4kUcWc


- Demonstrations

Demonstrations held by the Public:

In Hama city, demonstrations were held in Tariq Halab (Aleppo-Road) neighborhood and in Bab Qebli where the protesters changed their gathering area as security forces occupied the square.
In rural Ham, demonstrations were held in Qalaat Al-Madiaq town, Al-Trimseh, and Kernaz
A morning demonstration in Kernaz town
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KpLys-kQ54


Student demonstrations:

Were held in Kafr Zita
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n67OVuq-Qfg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5wzBsTPU0o

In Al-Latamneh town
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_V2GKxMzao

In Khattab town
http://youtu.be/9-mIPJOKjjA


And in Hama city, in Al-Hamidiya, Al-Nasr, and Al-Sabouniya neighborhoods by school and university students

The demonstration in Al-Sabouniya neighborhood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YTdd6Qol3k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq4Y3MLBfbM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnn-4yTcSl0


Al-Nasr neighborhood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVMVDz1FiHA

By the Syrian Revolution General Commission – In Occupied Hama and The Revolution in Hama Archive found at http://www.hamafree.com/index.php?name=city

Martyrs:
1. Safwan Al-Ali Al-Jissi.
2. Abdul-Sattar Al-Jasim.
3. Abdul-Sattar Shbat.
4. Ibrahim Al-Issa.
5. Abdul-Aziz Al-Shayesh.
6. Subhi Al-Satouf Al-Hremlawi.
7. Amin Al-Satouf Al-Hremlawi.
8. Wahid Al-Boulad.
9. Fadi Khaled Al-Uqla, was killed by slitting his throat with a knife.
10. Maweid Khaled Al-Uqla, was killed by slitting his throat with a knife.
11. Muhammed Abdul-Razzaq Darwish.

The above are the 11 martyrs we were able to document out of more than 20 martyrs who were killed today at dawn in Al-Tarmiseh town in rural Hama.

12. Uthman Ibrahim Al-Saloum, from Al-Latamneh town in rural Hama, he lived in Al-Zaka village, and he was killed in the area of Tal Al-Sekkin by 30 bullets of an automatic weapon.

Rural Hama:

Rural Hama, and especially the town of Al-Tarmiseh witnessed a savage campaign by regime forces, resulting in the death of dozens of innocent civilians. Hama province has a general strike under the banner “[Anything] but out free women”

- Al-Tarmiseh:

• At 5 AM, the town was surrounded from 4 directions, that is it was encircled from Khnaizir road, Al-Jadida road, Al-Safsafiya road, and Al-Jelmeh road. The storming of the town by more than 150 army vehicles was carried out at the same time of exiting the mosques after dawn’s prayers, in an insane and indiscriminately, the army, security, and Shabiha (regime-sponsored gangs) started firing directly, and without a warning, on the worshipers and on the homes, causing the death of more than 20 martyrs, 11 of whom we documented at the beginning of this report.

• The army, security, and Shabiha, killed those who ran away from the savage attack, including the wounded and those who were running for their lives at the entrances of the village. The dead bodies were put in army vehicles and taken away with the troops to Mesyaf town; after troops and Shabiha abducted every martyr’s body. The army and security told the people of Al-Tarmiseh to go to Mesyaf town to identify and receive the dead bodies.

• More than 60 persons were lost, it is believed that they are killed, arrested, or displaced. One of those lost is Najdat Khalouf and his son.

• The regime forces withdrew at around 3:30, and then they were re-gathered at the western roundabout of Mehrada.

• The martyrs Muhammad Abdul-Razzaq, 14 years old and young man Safwan Al-Ali Al-Jisi were buried today.

• After this savage campaign on Al-Tarmiseh, new regime forces with more than 80 military vehicles arrived at Al-Majdal village, it is feared that the area close by Al-Majdal village will be attacked again.


- Al-Majdal village:

New regime forces arrived and got stationed in Al-Majdal village on the road to Mehrada, the forces that stormed Al-Tarmeseh withdrew from it and was restationed in Mehrada.

- Hayalin:

The town was stormed for the 7th time in less that 2 weeks, amidst heavy firing, the nearby town of Slaiba was stormed too, also with heavy firing to terrorize the residents.


- Halfaya:

A leaked document from the National Hospital in Halfaya showing that a vehicle owned by the hospital was stolen after security “borrowed” it, when it was delivering medicine to Mehrada town

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=249718798424437&set=a.168684683194516.41981.162428843820100&type=1&theater



- Qalaat Al-Madiaq:

A demonstration by girl students calling upon butcher Bashar to leave

http://youtu.be/UISQJ4Bmzn4

A demonstration by the children after the end of the school day

http://youtu.be/bjTIDmdZZKM


- Al-Latamneh:

Martyr Ibrahim Uthman Al-Saloum, who was killed by regime forces while he was at work delivering bread from Mehrada to Al-Latamneh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPqz-qt_ozg


- Taibat Al-Imam:

A large demonstration by the people of the city

http://youtu.be/J_cmEXnB0Fg


- Kafr Zita:

The funeral procession of martyr Ahmed Khaled Yasin who was killed on Wednesday, 30 Nov 2011 by the bullets of security and Shabiha

http://youtu.be/uuzz68PhR8E
http://youtu.be/6a17R19TLi8


- Hama City:

The city witnessed a general strike under the banner “[Anything] but our free women”, and that is as a result of abducting 3 women from the city by regime forces a little while ago, the women fate is still unknown.

Several explosions were heard in the city, especially in the neighborhoods of Tariq Halab (Aleppo-road), Bab Trablus, and Al-Mazareb bridge area.

There was also heavy firing at the barricade-checkpoint located in the water company in Al-Jub area. And reports of a large number of soldiers defecting from the army.

At 5:00 PM, security told all the patients in the Medical Complex in Al-Manakh neighborhood to leave instantly, telling them to go find another hospital. The hospital is emptied now from all of the patients, note that the hospital is specialized in serving women and children. During the storing of Hama the hospital was turned into barracks for security and Shabiha. And from it many suppressive, murderous, and terrorism campaigns were launched by them. On its rooftops, there are always snipers, who caused the death of many people either those inside their homes which the hospital overlook, or in the nearby streets. Here is a video showing Shabiha inside the complex.



Featured Videos:

The following videos document the general strike in Hama city and the demonstrations held in it today

• A long video clip showing the strike in some areas of the city of Hama (Al-Manakh neighborhood, Al-Shamaliya, Al-Asi square, Abi Al-Fidaa St, and 15 Athar (March) St.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uix8IX3TdHg

• The stike by the students of [educational] centers complex
http://youtu.be/Fso7u92TgM0

• The general strike in St. of Ibn Rushd
http://youtu.be/7CgQSnRA17A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjRC7-fg9gc

• The strike in the neighborhood of Tariq Halab (Aleppo-raod)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Bvb7FZOGA

• The strike in the street of 15 Athar (March 15)
http://youtu.be/mX2akRtkzEY

• The strike in Al-Hader area
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv2ZbfppHS8
http://youtu.be/STjN0JCAytU

• The strike in the area of Al-Debagha
http://youtu.be/x1_criYGSLc

• The strike in Burhan market
http://youtu.be/3ZvIXXVJkEE

Today, the city also witnessed a number of demonstrations in solidarity with rural Hama, which is under a barbaric campaign, and in solidarity with all besieged cities

• A student demonstration from the high school of Uthman Al-Hourani
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU1F_3ZBIfE
http://youtu.be/Aa3rGSSyfU4

• A student demonstration by the free girls of Al-Hamidiya neighborhood.
http://youtu.be/78qSCRt0Hyg

• A student demonstration by the free girls and boys of Al-Karama neighborhood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xQD1J9Etqw

• A student demonstration by the children in Janoub Al-Malaab neighborhood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VOcvMIekUg

• A nighttime demonstration in the neighborhood of Tariq Halab (Aleppo road)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H470OrfgSrU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jONoH_mbzbc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivXtMYG_2jM

• A nighttime demonstration in the neighborhood of Al-Hamidiya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkWOLcTvWyM
http://youtu.be/zz-fwM4Efvc

• A nighttime demonstration in the neighborhood of Al-Qusour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPQ-IRpI7ZU
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dho4vNknzBA


• A video showing security and Shabiha elements deployed in Al-Shamaliya
http://youtu.be/lF2AqxXt-uQ

• A video showing the spread of sand barricades over Qalaat Hama (Hama’s citadel) which overlooks many neighborhoods of the city
http://youtu.be/ZF0l9UOiSLQ

• A video clip which we received today, on the heavy firing, by security and Shabiha, in the neighborhood of Al-Hamidiya 29 Nov 2011- Tuesday night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njfhNPd1res

By the Syrian Revolution General Commission – In Occupied Hama and The Revolution in Hama Archive found at http://www.hamafree.com/index.php?name=city


Martyrs:

1. Emad Abdul-Jawad Darwish, 37 years old

2. Haitham Al-Maowas, 35 years old
Both martyrs are from Ayn Al-Taqa village located near Qalaat Al-Madiaq town. They were killed by the bullets of security and Shabiha (regime-sponsored gangs) while bringing food to their families in the morning. After killing the 2 men, the murderers hanged and disfigure the 2 bodies, as it clearly shows on Haitham’s body which was handed over to his family today, while the 2nd martyr’s body is still unreleased.

3. Muhammad Al-Sabbagh, a taxi driver from Hama city, he was killed while on Tal-Kalkh road.


- Hama city:

Around 9 PM, sounds of several explosions were heard in the city, 2 of them at the roundabout of Bab Trablus- the checkpoint-barricade of the Westside carage (Al-Karaj Al-Garbi).

A demonstration held in Bab Qebli after nighttime prayer was joined by another from Al-Taawoniya neighborhood and Al-Wadi area, the demonstration was podcasted live on Al-Jazeera. Other large demonstrations issued in the neighborhoods of Al-Hamidiya and Al-Qusour.


- Rural Hama:

For days now, security and Shabiha have not stopped their vicious campaign on rural Hama, still many demonstrations were held demanding freedom and the overthrowing of the regime.



- Sahl Al-Ghab:

The army and security forces stormed, today’s morning, the 2 towns of Hayalin and Kernaz. They fired randomly to terrorize locals. Before withdrawing they set up hidden checkpoints-barricades at the entrances of the 2 towns. Note that the internet has been cut off for few days from most of the towns and villages in Sahl Al-Ghab, so we are still unable to get any video clips of the savage crimes committed by regime forces there.



- Qalaat Al-Madiaq:

Regime forces conducted a military campaign on the town, randomly machine-gunning unarmed civilians.



- Hayalin:

The town is turned into a prison as the army and Shabiha encircle the town. Large numbers of weaponry and regime forces’ elements are spread in the agricultural lands surrounding the town. They are making trenches and pits to station military weaponry in them.

Electricity is cut off from the entire town. Checkpoints-barricades are set up at the entrances. And just as if the town is another regime’s prison; very strong illuminating floodlights are installed and directed at the residential homes which have no electricity. The internet and telephone communications are still cut off from the town since the beginning of the campaign several days ago.


- Qamhana:

Shaibha gangs in the town, led by Abu Jafar (Haitham Abdul-Razaq Al-Umar), publically and at gunpoint, abducted young men from the village and handed them over to security, the detainees names are:
Hassan Ahmed Al-Abdul-Rahman (Al-Jadah), note that his father has been detained for 50 days.
Majd Adnan Al-Abdul-Rahman (Al-Jadah)
Yasin Muhammad Al-Abdul-Rahman
Ahmed Al-Umar

Please note that Abu Jafar and his group have been less active in their gang-related activities since a month ago or so, during which he was trying to win the village people over, then around 10 days ago, he went back to being worse than before, with the support of security and given broad powers.


- Khattab:

There was dense flight- activity by military aircraft over the town.

A large demonstration was held during the funeral procession of child and martyr Dima Abdul-Satar Al-Sheikh Bakkour, the 15 years old girl was killed by security and Shabiha.
http://youtu.be/sonoe7rPS9U


- Taibat Al-Imam:

A large demonstration was held, and protesters vowed to stay on the path of the revolution till the regime falls
http://youtu.be/Jr8tXrKbzzE
http://youtu.be/1FlBOJzl_l8


- Kafr Zita:
A nighttime demonstration in solidarity with wounded Homs, on 27 Nov 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzBn3v36RSQ



- Featured Vidoes:

Security checkpoint-barricade in Al-Asi square, at the old building of the Party [Baath Party], 28 Nov 2011
http://youtu.be/U7HpSkg-O_4

A video leaked from State Security Branch in Hama city, showing security elements videotaping a play to fabricate a story about armed elements, the video is taken in the branch and the security element who video-taped the clip is known to be a mean prison guard who greatly mistreat detainees, AlDonia tv channel was recording this play as if the weapons were with protesters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwLdBlFXYvE

A video showing fully armed Shabiha at the mail office which is turned into a military barrack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMVYh7Ggp-g


Military elements present in Al-Asi square and along with Shabiha they are occupying the Cultural Center
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cckRYwgRWeA

A student demonstration in Al-Karama neighborhood in Hama city, 26 Nov 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X7X-eB46qo

A demonstration in Bab Qebli neighborhood in Hama city
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WfpIIeVyzY

A nighttime demonstration in Al-Qusour neighborhood in Hama city, demanding protection for civilians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm96wagUdoA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7XSr357wI0

A nighttime demonstration in Al-Aliliyat neighborhood in Hama city, cursing the soul of Hafez [late president and father of current president] and demanding protection for civilians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTwLvk3G0AA—

The Shabiha bus which was targeted by the Free Syrian Army, 19 Nov 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flpcTccLc9g