Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Syrian government gives in to protests

The Syrian president relented. Due to the protests that have killed at least 60 dead in several cities, Bashar al-Assad yesterday accepted the resignation of his Government. The leader with 11 years in office also said it would announce the repeal of emergency law is in force in the country for almost half a century, when the Baath Party took power in a coup in 1963, that would allow opposition parties have more freedoms.

Syria protests began nearly two weeks. Initially, the protesters to limit their demands for greater freedoms, but because of government repression that has dozens of deaths, especially in the southern city of Deer, "now call the" fall of the regime. " To counter the opposition, Al-Assad took to the streets of thousands of Syrians in a bid to show its muscle.

Syrian state television showed hundreds of people in Damascus and other cities such as Aleppo, Hama and Hasaka, waving the national flag, proto photos of Al-Assad and chanting "God, Syria, Bashar." "The plot failed!" Read one banner, echoing the government's allegations that armed gangs and foreign elements behind the riots.

However, some employees and union members controlled by the Baath Party, said they were ordered to attend rallies, where there was a heavy police presence. In Syria, meetings and demonstrations sponsored by the State are prohibited. Besides the press operates under restrictions, were recently expelled three correspondents to cover the repreión in Dena.

Opponents see the resignation of the government is seen as a superficial change, as the prime minister has little authority in Syria, as the power is concentrated in the hands of Assad, who controls the Parliament and is also the head of the Armed Forces. In its editorial, the French newspaper "Le Monde" stressed the importance of Syria in the strategic development of the region, and considered the best choice for president is to choose the path of reform.

On the other hand, the spokesman for the Department of State, Mark Torner, found that Bashar is at a crossroads and should announce reforms. "We believe that President Assad is at a crossroads. For over 10 years says he is a reformer, but has not made any significant progress on political reforms.

" Bashar al-Assad took power in 2000 after the death of his father Hafez, who spent three decades in power. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of U.S. Syrian opponents divided into two groups: those recognized legally and illegally. In the former are, among others, the Communist Action Party (PAC), the Arab Socialist Movement, the Popular Democratic Party and the Revolutionary Workers Party.

As for illegals, the CIA states that they are of Kurdish origin. Among them, the Kurdish Democratic Alliance, which focuses on four opposition parties and the Kurdish Democratic Front. Notably, in Syria 74% of the population is Sunni Muslim. However, most officials who until yesterday had key positions in government are Alawi, including the president, who represent 10% of the population.

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