Protesters return to streets to demand fall of Assad

SYRIAN PROTESTERS braved troops and tanks yesterday to return to the streets to demand the fall of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad as US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said Dr Assad had “lost his legitimacy to govern”.

The occupation of Hama on Thursday and the shelling of some neighbourhoods at dawn did not prevent anti-regime protesters from marching there, although fewer took part than on previous Fridays.

There were also protests in the central Midan district of the capital, Damascus, as well as in Homs, Qamishli in the northeast, Deraa in the southwest and the oil hub of Deir al-Zor in the east near the Iraqi border. Security forces were said to have opened fire, killing 10.

Rami Nakhle, a Beirut-based Syrian activist, said: “Because of the crackdown in Hama, people all over went out into the streets in solidarity. This is what happens when the government tries to stop us.”

Hama, a city with 800,000 inhabitants, had slipped from government control until last weekend when the military launched an operation to retake the city, which was protected by checkpoints and barricades manned by locals.

The military and the security forces launched an all-out assault that killed scores of people and prompted at least 1,000 families to seek refuge in nearby villages.

Opposition sources claimed that 180 people had been killed by government forces this week, most of them in Hama.

State television has broadcast video footage from Hama showing deserted streets blocked by barricades, blackened public buildings, smashed vehicles and debris. The official news agency said the army had re-imposed “security and stability” to Hama following the expulsion of “terrorists”.

Responding to the bloodshed in Hama over the past week, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev warned the regime to halt the carnage or “face a sad fate”.

Russia, a traditional ally of Syria, opposed the adoption this week by the UN Security Council of a strong resolution condemning Damascus. A weaker presidential statement was agreed instead.

“We are watching how the situation is developing. It’s changing and our position is changing as well,” Mr Medvedev said.

Late on Thursday White House spokesman Jay Carney said Dr Assad was “on his way out”.

Mrs Clinton blamed Dr Assad’s government for the deaths of more than 2,000 people since the revolt began in March.

She urged European and Arab governments to exert increasing pressure on Damascus to halt violence against protesters.

The US has imposed sanctions on Muhammad Hamsho, a confidant of Dr Assad, and his firm, Hamsho International Group, freezing assets in the US and barring US citizens from doing business with the group.