AT LEAST 13 protesters were killed yesterday when troops opened fire on demonstrations following prayers on Eid al-Adha, the feast marking the climax of the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and Mount Arafat.
Most of the deaths took place in the restive Homs region. Mahmoud Merei, head of the Arab Organisation for Human Rights also said five had been wounded in a Damascus suburb.
On Saturday, Syria’s official news agency, Sana, said armed groups had killed 23 soldiers while al-Jazeera satellite channel said army defectors had slain four pro-regime militiamen in the north.
In response to the violence, Arab League secretary general Nabil al-Arabi said there would be “catastrophic consequences for the situation in Syria and region” if the league’s peace plan fails. It calls for a halt to violence by all sides, release of prisoners, and withdrawal of troops from residential areas.
Once progress is made, the league is set to initiate dialogue between the regime and opposition.
Some opposition groups are prepared for talks but the Paris- based head of the Syrian National Council Burhan Ghalioun has said, “We will not negotiate over the blood of the victims and the martyrs. The regime is only trying to win time.”
More than 550 prisoners have been freed and the government has proposed an amnesty for armed elements and army deserters if they turn themselves in by next weekend.
Several opposition factions dubbed the amnesty a trap while Mr Ghalioun urged troops to defect. “There will be no excuse for any soldier saying that he was following orders,” he asserted.
State department spokesman Victoria Nuland said, “I wouldn’t advise anybody to turn themselves in,” prompting Damascus to accuse the US of “blatant interference” in Syria’s internal affairs.
Syrian ambassador to Washington Imad Mustafa declared that the US will spare no effort to harm Syria. He said the US and its allies have been irritated by the league initiative and are working to prevent it from succeeding.
French foreign minister Alain Juppe observed that it was clear the government was not going to implement the league plan and said there was “nothing more to expect from this regime”. Qatari prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani has called for a league meeting on Saturday to discuss the crisis.
Gulf countries previously pressed for Syria to be suspended from the league.
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