Syrian protesters demand (non-military) action to halt killings by Bashar al-Assad regime

[Turborama]

Source: The Guardian

Activists appeal to international community to increase pressure as condemnation mounts over escalating bloodshed

Ian Black, Middle East editor and Peter Walker Monday August 01 2011 19.19 BST

Syrian opposition activists have appealed to the international community to increase pressure on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad as condemnation mounts over escalating bloodshed.

Omar Habal from the central city of Hama, where four more people were reportedly killed by shellfire on Monday, said protestors wanted foreign governments to withdraw their ambassadors from Damascus and expel Syrian diplomats from their capitals in response to a brutal crackdown in which more than 100 people were killed across Syria on Sunday.

"We want action but not military intervention, we don't need that," Habal told the Guardian by telephone. "We need pressure, strong political pressure."

The appeal came as the UN security council was preparing to meet in New York to discuss the crisis after rare condemnation of the violence by Russia, a long-time ally of Syria, as well as unusually harsh words from the leaders of its neighbour Turkey.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/01/syria-demands-action-assad-killings

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An appeal for help is not the same as a "demand" but that's what the Guardian decided to go with so that's what has to be posted.


As I've posted before as a reply, it looks like Italy and France have the most powerful economic weight behind them. If they wanted to they could threaten to pull the pin on their imports from Syria...

The figures below are from a couple of years ago, maybe someone can find a more recent set of stats?

Economy (2010 projected)

GDP*: $59.4 billion.

Real growth rate*: 5.0%.

Per capita GDP*: $2,664.

Natural resources:

petroleum, phosphates, iron, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower.
Agriculture: Products--wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets, and other fruits and vegetables; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, and other dairy products. Arable land--33%.


Industry:

Types--petroleum, textiles, pharmaceuticals, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seed extraction, and car assembly.

Trade:

Exports (2008 est.)--$13.6 billion: crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat. Major markets (2007)--Italy 22%, France 11%, Saudi Arabia 10%, Iraq 5%, Egypt 4%, Jordan 4%.

Imports (2008 est.)--$17.2 billion f.o.b.: machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, food and livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemical products, plastics, yarn, and paper. Major suppliers (2007)--Russia 10%, China 8%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Ukraine 6%, South Korea 5%, Turkey 4%.

*according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) statistics

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3580.htm

[UndertheOcean]

1. k&Rn/t

[David__77]

2. 8 Army, Police and Security Forces Martyrs Laid to Rest

DAMASCUS, HOMS, (SANA) – 8 martyrs from army, police and security forces were escorted on Tuesday to their last resting place from Homs Military Hospital and Police Military Hospital in Damascus.

The martyrs were targeted by the fire of the armed terrorist groups in Deir Ezzor and Hama in the past two days.

Solemn processions were held for the martyrs who were carried on hands and wrapped in the Syrian Flag while the music of "Martyr" and "Farewell" was played.

...

http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/08/02/361835.htm

Are these peaceful protesters, or is this an attempt at seizure of state power? I am aware of few states that would voluntarily allow the destruction of its state institutions.

[Turborama]

3. The Syrian Arab News Agency is a state media organization linked to the Ministry of Information

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) - Arabic: الوكالة العربية السورية للأنباء‎ - is a news agency in Syria. It is a state media organisation linked to the Ministry of Information. It was established in 1965.<2>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Arab_News_Agency

If history has taught us anything... a state media organization run by a dictator's "ministry of information" is not a reliable source of news.

[UndertheOcean]

4. I think David knows that , but is playing dumb. n/t