Thousands of Syrians demonstrated in urban centers yesterday in solidarity with the besieged city of Daraa and to demand political freedoms in defiance of the heavy deployment of army and security forces.
Protests erupted in at least one suburb of the capital Damascus, in the city of Homs in the central region, the coastal town of Baniyas, and also in eastern Syria. Witnesses and opposition leaders, along with a human rights advocacy group, said that two small protests also began in central Damascus.
Syrian authorities had urged citizens to refrain from protesting on “Friday” following calls for a “Day of Rage” nationwide, warning that “enforcement of the emergency laws” would be applied.
“Youth of the Syrian Revolution” on the social media platform Facebook called for demonstrations on the “Friday of Rage” against the regime and in solidarity with Daraa.
Former Syrian Vice President Abdulhaleem Khaddam expressed his hope that President Bashar al-Assad would step down from his position.
Khaddam, residing in Paris, said in statements to the Turkish daily newspaper “Hurriyet” that the situation in Syria has reached dangerous dimensions, and for that reason, he hopes that Assad will step down.
Khaddam pointed out that the Syrian regime relies on intelligence, police, and military institutions, and for this reason, the Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad chooses the path of killing and arresting opponents of the regime. He noted that the Syrian people have chosen the path of disobedience in various Syrian cities against their regime because they live under severe pressure and a difficult economic life.
