Syria/Yemen: pro and anti government factions rally

Syria

Thousands of Syrian protesters took to the streets across various locations across the country on Friday demanding regime change. It came just a day after President Bashar al-Assad formed a new government in response to the growing troubles as well as agreeing to release a number of opposition detainees.

Damascus

In a speech President Assad told a large crowd in Damascus that the protesters needed to work alongside his new cabinet to find a resolution. Hundreds carried placards and declared “Our souls, our blood we sacrifice for you Bashar.” Meanwhile, just minutes away in the downtown district of Barzeh, anti-government demonstrators took to the street to voice their anger against the current regime whilst thousands more assembled in nearby Duma to join the nationwide call for “freedom”.

Syrian security forces shot tear gas at anti-government crowds attempting to head to the centre of the Damascus to claim Abbaside Square.

Human Rights groups claim that between 120 and 200 individuals have been killed in the protests.

Daraa

In Daraa, the scene of the biggest crowds, 2,500 people gathered after Friday prayers brandishing yellow cards as a final reminder to the country’s leader that this is their final warning. Further North in Baniyas an estimated 1,500 joined localised protests that stretched across the West of the country and began to break out in the East along the River Euphrates.

Implementing reform should not be a fad. When it is just a reflection of a wave that the region is living, it is destruction. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

President Assad came into power 11 years ago after the death of his father, and the 45 year-old, who still has widespread support as well as opposition, warned his people against being caught up in the revolutionary landslide across the region: “Implementing reform should not be a fad. When it is just a reflection of a wave that the region is living, it is destruction.”

As part of his proposed concillatory measures Assad has agreed to give citizenship to stateless Kurd population and provisionally agreed to replace 50 years of emergency law with anti-terrorism legislation.

Yemen

In Yemen opponents of President Saleh have continued their campaign to remove the leader, despite his rallying calls to supporters in the city of Sanaa. Thousands gathered as he told followers: “We call on the opposition to consult their consciences and come to dialogue and reach an agreement for security and stability of the country.”

However, as in Damascus, just minutes away opposing crowds gathered to voice their demands for regime change. The massive anti-government protest was estimated to involve hundreds of thousands of people. Near the university, preacher Abubakr Obaid told a huge audience: “It’s only a matter of days before this regime is over. This revolution cannot be defeated. Our aim to bring down corrupt family rule.” Seven protesters were injured in Taiz, as thousands were shot at by Saleh loyalists following Friday prayers.

“It’s only a matter of days before this regime is over. This revolution cannot be defeated. Our aim to bring down corrupt family rule.” Opposition preacher Abubakr Obaid

In his speech on Friday, Saleh played on religious sensibilites, urging people to be wary of the “bandits and saboteurs” amongst the protesters and warning against the mixing of “unrelated men and women”as it contravenes Islamic sharia law.

But in opposition, clerics and tribal chiefs working together in a unique alliance, have called for “the dismissal of all his relatives from the military and security apparatus of state.” They have backed a widespread campaign of civil disobedience. So far 116 people have been confirmed dead in the protests.

A Gulf Arab peace initiative declared earlier in the week that Saleh would be granted immunity from arrest if he stepped down.