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Syria's oppressors will not survive: Turkey

War is only option to topple Syrian leader, colonel says


07 October 2011, Friday / REUTERS, ANTAKYA

The most senior officer to defect from Syria's armed forces has said there is no option but to topple President Bashar al-Assad by force and he was directing a military uprising against the Syrian leader from within Turkey.

Colonel Riad al-As'aad, who is now living under Turkish government protection in Hatay province on the Syrian border, said some 15,000 soldiers, including officers, had already deserted, and he was waiting to move his command inside Syria.

As'aad, A slim, softly-spoken man dressed in civilian clothes and open-collared shirt, said rebel soldiers were forming brigades around the country who were setting up ambushes against government forces to prevent them entering villages.

Morale in the Syrian army, he said, was low.

"Without a war, he will not fall. Whoever leads with force, cannot be removed except by force," As'aad told Reuters in a Syrian refugee camp in Hatay.

"The regime used a lot of oppressive and murderous tactics so I left, so that I will be the face outside for the command inside, because we have to be in a secure area and right now there is no safety in all of Syria," he said.

As'aad sat in the shade of a tree as Syrian refugee children laughed and played in the background. Music rang out from a nearby tent that served as a makeshift school.

Like most of the military, al-As'aad is Sunni Muslim; but the command is in the hands of officers from Assad's Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam that also dominates the security apparatus and the ruling elite in the majority Sunni country.

As'aad, who has been in Turkey for more than two months, is under constant guard by Turkey's gendarmerie and his exact location is kept secret for his own security.

"We're in contact with defectors on a daily basis. We coordinate on a daily basis with officers. Our plan is to move to Syria. We're waiting to find a safe place which we can turn into a leadership base in Syria," he said.

Damascus portrays the rebel soldiers as traitors serving the enemies of Syria.

Some of the fighting has come close to the Turkish border and there has been speculation in Turkish media that if the flow of refugees became too great, Ankara could impose a 'buffer zone' on the Syrian side of the frontier -- something it did in northern Iraq in the 1990s. Turkey denies any such plans.

Turkey's open harbouring of As'aad marks a further sharpening of its attitude towards President Bashar al-Assad, whom it had long seen as an ally.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan has called for Assad to go and is drawing up sanctions that could hit the Syrian economy hard. He is expected to fly down to the Syrian border soon to make a speech at a refugee camp for Syrians fleeing fighting.

"One army"

Greying and clean-shaven, except for a moustache, As'aad reflected on the situation inside Syria, painting a picture of movement to and fro across the border.

"The army officer comes here only if he's reached the stage of death or if he's in very serious danger, so he is forced to enter Turkey . sometimes they don't stay for too long and then re-enter Syria, depending on the security situation."

"Today there was an attack on Jabal al-Zawi and the Ghab region and military jets bombarded civilians who had escaped to the mountains. Until now three have been martyred, and 27 are missing. I have the names of the martyrs," he said, pulling out a folded piece of paper with three names scribbled in Arabic.

The 50-year-old colonel, who served as an engineer in Syria's air force for 31 years, said the Syrian government had started to harass him and other officers when pro-democracy protests first started in Tunisia.

"During the revolution in Tunisia, the regime started getting ready. It felt there will be a revolution in Syria. So it (stepped up security), hired spies to harass us. We were always under surveillance," he said.

As'aad said he was summoned to the air force intelligence department in Aleppo where he was coerced into confessing there were armed groups among his relatives because there were demonstrations in his village. It was after this that he deserted.

As'aad says he commands the Syrian Free Army, which he helped form after his defection and that they had joined forces with another rebel force, the Free Officers movement, which activists have said is led by Lieutenant Abdelrahman Sheikh inside Syria.

"We're all one group, we're all one army. We're all waiting, the defecting brothers are working inside," he said.

As'aad said 10-15,000 soldiers, out of the roughly 200,000-strong military, had defected all over the country and that desertions were continuing every day.

"The Syrian army's morale is tired. Defections are happening daily . there are several units that have lost their function because of the defections," he said.

"The regime is weakening and the biggest proof, is that they're using air support in addition to tanks and artillery, that proves their weakness."

Some opponents of Assad argue resistance should remain peaceful and that armed action could only worsen the situation.

"We will fight with our nails"

There are fears, including in Turkey, that an escalation of violence in Syria, particularly with an armed opposition, may lead to a sectarian civil war. But As'aad said while Assad's rule was discriminatory, it would not lead to sectarian war.

"The regime depends on a sect ... and it is a sectarian and discriminatory regime. But our people are wiser than that. All Syrians are one people, whether Alawite, Druze or Christian or even the Kurds. We respect them we consider them our family," he said.

There had so far been no defections from Syria's political elite as happened in Libya, As'aad said, because they were tied too closely through economic interests or positions.

As'aad said he did not want to see any foreign soldiers in Syria but that the international community should provide the rebels with weapons and enforce a no-fly zone.

"If they don't give it to us, we will fight with our nails until the regime is toppled. I tell Bashar al-Assad, the people are stronger than you.



War is only option to topple Syrian leader, colonel says
 
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Syrian army shoots dead man inside Lebanon


07 October 2011, Friday / REUTERS, BEIRUT



Syrian forces crossed into Lebanon and shot dead a Syrian man in the eastern Bekaa Valley, security sources said on Friday.








They said the shooting occurred on Thursday as the Syrian soldiers were pursuing Ali al-Khatib near the village of Arslan, where Syrian forces made a similar incursion two days earlier.

The frontier between the two countries is poorly delineated in some of the remote border areas, which are havens for smugglers bringing subsidised Syrian goods into Lebanon or arms across into Syria.

Lebanon's army did not comment on the incident.

Syrian security forces have been cracking down on six months of protests against President Bashar al-Assad. The United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed and at least 3,800 Syrians have taken refuge in Lebanon.

Syrian authorities blame armed groups backed by foreign powers for the violence, and say they have caught large quantities of weapons being smuggled into the country.


Syrian army shoots dead man inside Lebanon
 
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Syrian forces kill seven protesters, activists say

07 October 2011, Friday / REUTERS, BEIRUT



Syrian forces killed at least seven people when they opened fire to disperse protests against President Bashar al-Assad after Friday prayers in Damascus and Homs, activists said.








Rami Abdel-Rahman, head of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said three people were killed in the Damascus suburb of Douma and four in Bab Sbaa, a district in the central city of Homs where Syrian troops fought army deserters and gunmen last week.

Activists said protesters also came under fire in the tribal region of Deir al-Zor on the border with Iraq and in the city of Hama.

Video footage showed protesters holding banners urging the international community to protect civilians

Some chanted "Syria, Assad is a germ here" and "We do not love you (Assad), leave you and your party."

An activist told Al Jazeera television channel that Syrian protesters had burned the flags of Russia and China for blocking a European-drafted UN Security Council resolution urging Syria to end its six-month crackdown on protesters.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday the Syrian leadership should leave power if it is unable to implement promised reforms, the state-run RIA news agency reported.

"We are using our channels and are actively working with the Syrian leadership, we are demanding that the Syrian leadership implement the necessary reforms," Medvedev said.

"If the Syrian leadership is incapable of conducting such reforms, it will have to go, but this decision should be taken not in NATO or certain European countries, it should be taken by the Syrian people and the Syrian leadership."

While Assad has sent troops and tanks to crush protests, he has also promised reforms. He has ended a state of emergency and given citizenship to tens of thousands of Syrian Kurds. He has also promised a parliamentary election in February.

Many of Assad's opponents say his reform promises are hollow and that his government has forfeited all legitimacy after killing at least 2,900 civilians, by a UN count.



Syrian forces kill seven protesters, activists say
 
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Syrian President: "Turkey Supplies Weapons to Rebels"


Friday, 7 October 2011


Turkey is supplying weapons to rebels, said the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, within the framework of the meeting with Republican People's Party CHP's deputy chairman Faruk Logoglu, Cumhuriyyet newspaper reported.

President Assad added that the U.S. opposes partnership between Turkey and Syria, and Turkey has represented the interests of Washington . According to Assad, it is incorrect that Turkey, which has not made amendments in the Constitution for thirty years, requires Syria to conduct wide-ranging reforms in three months' time. "Turkey defends Muslim Brothers of Syria, which is a threat to the secular rule of the country," said Assad.

Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is preparing a package of sanctions against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad despite the UN Security Council did not accept a resolution on Syria. The Turkish armed forces are holding exercises in the Hatay area bordering Syria. The Syrian authorities have repeatedly concentrated the security forces in regions bordering Turkey due to exodus of the Syrians back after the riots. Syrian units, including tanks, were approaching the boundary line at a distance of 500 meters.

Some in Turkey argue that the Syrian troops conducted an operation in the border area to capture soldiers and deserters, trying to break in Turkey. The Turkish Foreign Ministry earlier expressed concern in connection with Syria's military operations near the border and warned Syria about the dangers of such actions. Meanwhile, the total number of Syrian nationals who fled to Turkey reached 7,605. They are housed in five camps under the administration of the Turkish Red Crescent.


Syrian President: "Turkey Supplies Weapons to Rebels", 7 October 2011 Friday 12:48
 
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‘Terrorists have killed 1,100,’ Syrian government says


Syrian government will shortly present the United Nations with a list of more than 1,100 people it says have been killed by “terrorists” in ongoing unrest in the country, its deputy foreign minister said Friday.

terrorists-killed-1.100-syrian-government-says-2011-10-07_l.jpg
A handout picture from the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (front-C), Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Dawood Rajha (R), and Chief of the General Staff, General Fahid al-Jasim al-Freij (L), attending a ceremony. AFP Photo.


“Syria is grappling with terrorist threats,” Faysal Mekdad said in a speech to the 47-state UN Human Rights Council at it reviewed the situation in Syria.

“In the next few days we will give the High Commission for Human Rights a list of martyrs…..civil servants, police…..more than 1,100 people who have been killed by the terrorists,” he said.

“My country has suffered numerous threats of war over the last seven months: media war, disinformation, lies of all kinds and deception.”

The UN announced on Thursday that more than 2,900 people have been killed in Syria’s crackdown on anti-regime protests since March 15.

Mekdad underlined recent reforms announced by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, and municipal elections to be held on December 12.

“We have welcomed our humanitarian partners and the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross)….which proves that we have nothing to hide,” he said.

He also rejected criticism contained in draft UN Security Council resolutions that called for an international commission of inquiry into human rights violations in the country.

The committee of experts is due to submit its report to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the end of November.


Friday, October 7, 2011

GENEVA – Agence France-Presse

‘Terrorists have killed 1,100,’ Syrian government says | TR Defence
 
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let syrians resolve there issues, turkey is just acting on NATO's behalf, we have already seen what NATO did in Libya, i really dont know whats been claimed in western media is all true, i mean there wasnt a humanitarian crisis before the attack and before NTC was made and strengthened,

even now the libyan city of Sirte can be claimed by the rebel forces, and the NATO bombs there homes every night

best option for a clever mind in turkey is to leave all international issues and concentrate on themselves, otherwise the NATO will succeed in middle east opinion against turkey in future
 
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That's not how it works! If we dont involve than others will for sure! If we dont do something FRANCE, UK etc will come in.. right next to our 550km border! And will install there a goverment who probably will be hostile to Turkey! And that's something we cannot afford besides Muslim brothers will ask again for the 1000th time: ''where are the muslim countries?'' etc etc..
 
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If Turkey takes military action against Syria, it will definitely bring USA and Russia into confrontation.

This is the perfect time for China and Russia to coordinate -- China makes its move against USA interests in Asia and Russia makes its move against USA interests in the Middle East.

Together with growing domestic rebellions in the USA, the American Empire is finished -- long live the Republic(s) of America.
 
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Top Syria cleric threatens attacks on US and EU


10 October 2011, Monday / AP, BEIRUT


Syria's top Sunni Muslim cleric has warned Western countries against military intervention in Syria and threatened to retaliate with suicide bombings in the United States and Europe if his country comes under attack.

Western countries have shown no willingness to open a Libyan-style military campaign against the regime of President Bashar Assad, who has launched a bloody crackdown on the seven-month uprising against his rule, and NATO's chief said last week the alliance has "no intention whatsoever" of intervening in Syria.

Still, the prospect of such an intervention seems to have rattled the Assad regime, although publicly, officials say they are confident there would be no such thing because no one wants to foot the bill.

In a speech late Sunday, Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun, a state-appointed cleric and Assad loyalist, issued a clear warning to the West.

"I say to all of Europe, I say to America, we will set up suicide bombers who are now in your countries, if you bomb Syria or Lebanon," Hassoun said in a speech late Sunday. "From now on an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."

Hassoun spoke to a delegation of Lebanese women who came to offer their condolences for his son's death by unknown gunmen earlier this month. "Don't come near our country, I beg you," Hassoun said.

The international community's unwillingness to get directly involved stems from a mix of international political complications, worries over unleashing a civil war and plausible risks of touching off a wider Middle East conflict with archfoes Israel and Iran in the mix.

Hassoun's comments follow another warning by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, who told the international community Sunday not to recognize a new umbrella council formed by the opposition, threatening "tough measures" against any country that does so.

Moallem did not specify what measures Damascus might take. But he went on to say that countries that do not protect Syrian missions could find their own embassies treated in the same way.

The Syrian National Council, announced last week in Turkey, is a broad-based group which includes most major opposition factions. No country or international body has recognized it so far as a legal representative of the Syrian people, but the European Union is intensifying its contacts with the nascent Syrian opposition.

EU officials said Monday the were also moving to widen sanctions against Assad's regime, whose ongoing crackdown on civilian protesters has killed nearly 3,000 people.

"I believe we have to get to know them better and get to know their intentions," French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said in Luxembourg of the council.

Earlier in the day, the members of the council said they agreed on a democratic framework for a future nation and that they want international observers to be allowed into Syria to gauge the situation.

Ghied Al Hashmy, a political scientist who participated in a conference of Syrian opposition members in Sweden, said the council opposes military intervention but wants more political pressure on Syria, such as the targeted economic sanctions the EU has been applying.

Despite the mounting international pressure on Assad, his regime has been unrelenting in its crackdown.

On Monday, Syrian troops clashed with opponents in the flashpoint city of Homs, a hotbed of dissent where hundreds of army deserters are believed to be active. The renewed fighting in the central city illustrates the difficulty regime forces face in stamping out anti-government protests that have been bolstered by army deserters fighting back soldiers.

The trend toward militarization of the uprising has raised fears that Syria may be sliding toward civil war.

Meanwhile, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said clashes over the weekend between Syrian soldiers and army defectors and a shooting at a funeral killed at least 17 members of the military and 14 civilians.

In addition to the violence in Homs on Sunday, activists said there was fighting in the northwestern province of Idlib and the southern village of Dael.

The LCC reported heavy machine gun and anti-aircraft fire in the Homs neighborhoods of Bayada and Qsour, and loud explosions in Khaldiyeh. Both groups said the fighting resulted in the destruction of homes and damaged shops and cars in several districts.

"The situation has been terrible since yesterday," said a Homs resident where the Observatory reported at least seven civilians were killed on Sunday. "The clashes were very intense yesterday and I heard shooting this morning as well."

The man, who asked that his name not be used for fear of government reprisals, said he saw troops in armored personnel carriers around tense areas of Homs, such as Khaldiyeh and Baba Amr. "The army is isolating some areas," he said, reporting bouts of gunfire throughout the Sunday and Monday.

The Observatory said five soldiers and three civilians were killed in Dael, while the rest were killed in the Jabal al-Zawiyah areas in Idlib. Also Sunday, a shooting at a funeral in the Damascus suburb of Dumair left three dead, it said.


Top Syria cleric threatens attacks on US and EU
 
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Assalam alaikum

don't call this hassoun a sunni cleric he turned shia and abused sahaba and he is the worse person in syria along with boti

TARIQ
 
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I am against interventionism by the US/NATO/any other power. A country has every right to clean its own mess itself without external military intervention and without being bombed back to the stone age. What happened in Lybia can not be allowed to happen in Syria. I agree with the Turkish PM, the days of the tyrants are over. The People call the shots now. Let the Syrian people decide their own future themselves. It may take time but if the Syrians do not want Bashar Assad as their leader, he will have to eventually go. The same applies to Bahrain. The popular uprising in Bahrain is being brutally suppressed by an unpopular monarchy. Yet no one talks about Bahrain because Saudi Arabia and the USA have a stake in maintaining a status quo. As far as India is concerned, Turkey and Iran are both friends. We would hate two friends fight it out and allow the jackals to pick up the pieces.
 
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Didn't know that bro.. but ofcourse u can guess that because no sunni will support Assad nowadays
 
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let syrians resolve there issues, turkey is just acting on NATO's behalf, we have already seen what NATO did in Libya, i really dont know whats been claimed in western media is all true, i mean there wasnt a humanitarian crisis before the attack and before NTC was made and strengthened,

even now the libyan city of Sirte can be claimed by the rebel forces, and the NATO bombs there homes every night

best option for a clever mind in turkey is to leave all international issues and concentrate on themselves, otherwise the NATO will succeed in middle east opinion against turkey in future

the issue is Assad is killing his people!
the issue is a minority group is ruling the country!
the issue is since the end of WW I no one seems solving any problem!
the issue is Syria has always been under the influence of foreign powers since its creation!
the issue is even if we ignore the problems they are not disappearing!
the issue is their problems are effecting us!
the issue is at the moment we have no other choose!
 
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the issue is Assad is killing his people!
the issue is a minority group is ruling the country!
the issue is since the end of WW I no one seems solving any problem!
the issue is Syria has always been under the influence of foreign powers since its creation!
the issue is even if we ignore the problems they are not disappearing!
the issue is their problems are effecting us!
the issue is at the moment we have no other choose!

You are right, the opposition in Syria is being supported and armed by vested interests even as we speak and I am not referring to Turkey.
 
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Didn't know that bro.. but ofcourse u can guess that because no sunni will support Assad nowadays

Assalam alaikum

Brother my info is from our syrian brothers.

pmukherjee, there is no comparison between bahrain and syria, in bahrain anybody can goto elections and elect their representatives shia's have their own party ( wefaaq etc ). no one is prohibitted but in syria only one party system and if u can be hanged if they prove u r part of brotherhood.

TARIQ
 
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