Syrian security forces 'fire nail bombs' at unarmed protesters as 500,000 take to streets in biggest ever rally against regime
- At least 19 thought to have been killed by authorities, most at anti-government protests
- Mass rallies take place across the country
- Biggest rallies see 500,000 gather in Idlib and Hama provinces
- Other massive protests in Daraa and Damascus suburb of Douma
- Violence comes as Arab League monitors regime's promise to stop crackdown on political opponents and protest
- Russia, one of Syria's allies, says situation in country is 'reassuring'
By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 9:04 PM on 30th December 2011
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians braved bullets and nail bombs yesterday in their biggest protest for months against the ruling regime.
Invigorated by the presence of independent Arab observers, citizens poured into streets all over the country after prayers.
Police and military forces fired live rounds into crowds to try to quell the demonstrations demanding an end to President Bashar Assad's oppression.
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Standing room only: Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have
taken to the country's streets to demand the end of the current regime
Huge: It is believed to be the biggest ever series of
protests against President Bashar Assad
Anger: Crowds were largest in Idlib and Hama provinces,
with 250,000 people in each, while other protests held in Daraa province and the
Damascus suburb of Douma
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the crowds were largest in northern Idlib province and the central city of Hama, with 250,000 people each.
Activist Abu Hisham in Hama said: 'It is a transformative step. People are eager to reach the monitors and tell them about their suffering.'
Other rallies of tens of thousands were held in the southern Daraa province and the suburb of Douma in the capital Damascus.
The latter crowd was trying to mount a surge into the city centre – the focal point of the regime's power – but was reportedly held back by nail bombs.
In Homs, the city at the centre of nine months of revolt, a crowd of thousands chanted: 'Revolution, revolution Syria.'
The crowds were a display of defiant strength in front of the monitors from the Arab League, who are checking on the government's crackdown against dissent.
But the fact that security forces still unleashed gunfire into huge crowds reinforced the opposition's view that the regime's apparent co-operation with the observers is nothing more than a ploy to buy time against further international sanctions.
Anger: Demonstrators screamed for the downfall of the
regime in a defiant display invigorated by the presence of Arab
observers
Escalating: Anger is growing as tens of thousands continue
to protest against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad
Anger: Clashes have broken out between Syrian security
forces and unarmed protesters as Arab League observers monitor the
country
The United Nations says 5,000 people have been killed so far in the government campaign since March.
Reports indicate a further 130 people have been killed, even after the 100 monitors arrived for their month-long mission on Tuesday.
They are supposed to ensure the regime complies with the terms of a plan, agreed with Syria, under which the government removes security forces and weapons from cities, releases political prisoners, starts talks with the opposition and allows human rights workers and journalists into the country.
All these terms, however, seem far from fruition.
Fury: The killings comes as Arab League monitors continue
their checks on whether Syrian authorities are sticking to a promise that they
end a crackdown on political opponents
Protest: Despite the violence, Russia insisted it was
'reassured' with the situation in the country and that 'clashes have not been
recorded'
Clashes: Violence continues across Syria, evident by this
bullet hole in a hospital window in Homs
The Syrian government claims that its forces are the victims in the conflict, coming under attack from what it calls terrorists.
But the rebel Free Syrian Army said it has stopped its offensive against government targets during the Arab League visits, as it wants to expose how the regime is killing peaceful protesters.
The leader of the FSA, breakaway air force Colonel Riad al-Asaad, said: 'We stopped to show respect to Arab brothers, to prove that there are no armed gangs in Syria, and for the monitors to be able to go wherever they want.
'We only defend ourselves now. This is our right and the right of every human being.'
Fans: Supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad held a
large banner bearing his likeness during a rally in Damascus today
Damaged: An ambulance from the National Hospital in Homs
was hit by a bullet during the protests
Critical: A woman cries as her son, who was injured in
clashes in Homs, lies in a hospital bed
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2080309/Syria-Security-forces-nail-bombs-protesters-500k-streets.html#ixzz1i5QJRBmS
