Key occasions
Protesters introduced down the statue of the late father of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a most important sq. in Jermana suburb, practically ten kilometers from the centre of Damascus, a witness and activists advised Reuters.
The protesters within the primarily Druze inhabited suburb, who known as for the downfall of Assad, additionally headed to authorities buildings within the closely policed space of the capital the place a number of safety branches are positioned, they mentioned.
The protesters headed to safety workplaces to demand they evacuate from their space, activist Ryan Marouf, editor of Suwayda 24, a web site that covers the province, advised Reuters.
The authorities have tolerated most protests by the nation’s Druze minority, not like in different government-held areas the place demonstrators are fired on by safety forces.
Bashar al-Assad stays in Damascus – state information company
Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, stays in Damascus and is finishing up his work from the capital, the Syrian state information company mentioned on Saturday.
Anti-government protesters toppled a statue of Assad’s late father, Hafez, within the principally Druze and Christian Damascus suburb of Jaramana earlier on Saturday, witnesses advised Agence France-Presse.
A witness mentioned he he had seen dozens of protesters tearing down the statue in a most important sq. in Jaramana, which bears the previous president’s identify. Another witness mentioned the statue had been damaged up when he went to the sq. later. Video footage circulating on-line and verified by AFP confirmed younger males toppling the statue and chanting anti-Assad slogans.
Around 2,000 Syrian troops have crossed the border into Iraq and sought refuge, Turki Al-Mahlawi, the mayor of Al-Qaim border city, advised Reuters.
Some of the troops had been wounded and are at the moment receiving medical remedy, he added.
Syrian rebels attain Damascus suburbs – insurgent commander
Syrian insurgents have reached the suburbs of Damascus, opposition activists and a insurgent commander mentioned on Saturday, as a quickly transferring offensive during which they’ve taken over a few of Syria’s largest cities continued.
Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition battle monitor, mentioned insurgents had been lively within the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya.
He mentioned opposition fighters had been additionally marching from jap Syria in direction of the Damascus suburb of Harasta.
Hassan Abdul-Ghani, an rebel commander, posted on Telegram that opposition forces had began to encircle Damascus within the “last stage” of their offensive. He mentioned fighters had been heading from southern Syria in direction of Damascus.
We will deliver you reside updates on this growing story.
