Witnesses: Syria clamps down on restive city

Syrian security forces have been accused of launching a violent crackdown in the city of Daraa.NEW: Muslim Brotherhood offers support for the protesters"The laws in force in Syria will be implemented," government warnsDaraa is the scene of tanks, helicopters, and mass arrests, witnesses sayResidents are afraid to go out to collect the dead, a witness says

(CNN) -- The Syrian government on Thursday warned its citizens not to participate in unlicensed protests, saying that "the laws in force in Syria will be implemented for serving the security of the citizens and the stability of the homeland."

The announcement came late in a day during which Syrian tanks and security forces swooped down hard on the restive city of Daraa, witnesses said.

Helicopters hovered as security forces fanned out across the besieged city, breaking into homes and making arrests. Streets were littered with dead bodies and dwellings had no water or electricity.

A city near the Jordanian border, Daraa is where the anti-government protests began and took hold last month. Now it is a test for police and soldiers attempting to quell protests and a government trying to cope with angry unrest.

Also Thursday, the Muslim Brotherhood entered the fray by offering support for the protesters.

"Hereby, we announce that we will be part of this national project led by the spectacular vision and the great spirit of the Syrian youth and we call upon all Syrians of all backgrounds to join in establishing a national project in which all Syrians achieve what they have dreamt of -- liberty, freedom and progress," the Islamic political group said in a statement.

Human Rights Watch said army troops and other security forces have killed more than 300 protesters since March 16. Other sources have cited higher numbers, and the government reports security personnel have also been killed.

Many of the deaths have occurred in and around Daraa, where heavy firing could be heard Thursday and smoke was seen rising from homes, mosques and schools.

Hundreds of snipers were stationed on the roofs of several buildings and security forces were shelling the city with mortars and anti-aircraft weapons, a witness said.

One witness said dozens of tanks rumbled across a bridge and fired shells, as people hurled rocks at the tanks and tried to stop them from moving into the old part of the city. Another witness said security forces making mass arrests detained a large number of young men.

A resident said people were too scared to take the wounded to hospitals since the streets were filled with security forces.

Residents have gone without electricity, milk and medicine for four days, said the witness, who asked not to be named for security reasons.

CNN was not able to independently confirm the accounts.

The unrest began in Daraa in March after teens were arrested for scribbling anti-government graffiti. People protested the arrests, security forces greeted the demonstrators harshly, and that emboldened more rallies.

Protests spread to other parts of Syria, where the same dynamic played out, despite promises and gestures of reform by the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

There's been an outcry in many international quarters due to the use of force against the peaceful gatherings. Human Rights Watch Wednesday urged Arab countries to "join international efforts to establish an independent international inquiry" into the issue.

"In recent days President Bashar al-Assad's government cut off access and communications with several cities, sending in tanks and troops in an effort to crush widespread public dissent," the group said.

The U.N. Security Council debated Syria on Wednesday but failed to agree on a response to the crisis.

The situation has even made its way into the planning for Friday's royal wedding in Britain of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The entire Syrian diplomatic corps was invited to the event as a matter of protocol, but the British Foreign Office said Thursday that Syria's ambassador to the United Kingdom is now not welcome "in the light of this week's attacks against civilians by the Syrian security forces, which we have condemned."

CNN's Raja Razek and Nada Husseini contributed to this report

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Assad: Syria state of emergency to end

Bashar al-Assad addresses the new Syrian cabinet Saturday as reform protests continue on the streets.NEW: The president expresses sadness for protesters' deathsNEW: Residents rally in Daraa for more reformsNEW: Al-Assad addresses government corruption and unemploymentA new Cabinet was sworn in Saturday

(CNN) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Saturday that the country's state of emergency, in effect since 1963, should be lifted by next week at the latest -- but that the final decision is up to the newly sworn-in Cabinet.

Al-Assad made the announcement Saturday hours after the Cabinet was sworn in, and two days after he announced the formation of a new government.

Opposition forces have been demanding the repeal of the emergency law, which allows the government to make preventive arrests and override constitutional and penal code statutes. the law also bars detainees who haven't been charged from filing court complaints or from having a lawyer present during interrogations.

"We (will) lift the state of emergency contrary to the opinion of many others who think this might lead to imbalance in the state of security," al-Assad said as he chaired a meeting of the new government. "I disagree with this, and I think this will consolidate the security of the country."

The president indicated he wants a new law allowing demonstrations to take place while protecting the public from "any chaos or damage to properties" and allowing Syrian security forces to enforce the law.

"We have to distinguish between reform and chaos," he said. "The Syrian people are civilized people. They don't like chaos, they don't like instability."

The new Cabinet includes a new prime minister -- Adel Safar, a Baath Party member who was the agricultural minister in the previous Cabinet, which resigned last month.

Syria retained its foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, and defense minister, Ali Habib, but there are new heads in other positions, including the key posts of interior, finance, and media affairs, Syrian television said.

The announcement of the new Cabinet came amid continued anti-regime protests and clashes between demonstrators and security forces, a conflict that has caused scores of deaths.

Al-Assad expressed sadness over the deaths and sent his condolences to the families of everyone who has died in the unrest.

"This period we pass through, the blood that has been shed in Syria, has been painful for all Syrians," he said. "We are saddened by the death of any person who has been sacrificed."

He said an investigation committee is looking into the deaths.

Saturday afternoon, residents in Daraa rallied in the southern town's central square, according to a doctor there who declined to be named out of fear for his security. The thousands who gathered there chanted for the reform of the regime, trials for officials responsible for protesters' deaths, and solidarity with protesters in other cities.

The doctor said no security forces or police were present and there were no injuries.

Daraa was one of several cities where anti-government demonstrations happened Friday. Witnesses also reported demonstrations in Baniyas, Dair Elzour, Douma, Zabadani, the outskirts of Damascus and other cities where protesters called for political, economic and social changes.

In most locales, the day seemed peaceful compared with previous Fridays, when bloody clashes left many dead and injured. Still, the Syrian Arab News Agency, the official government news service, said a police sergeant was "martyred" after being assaulted by protesters in Homs.

Among the opposition demands is the end of one-party rule in Syria.

Al-Assad had already said he was studying whether to end the 48-year-old state of emergency and provide citizenship for stateless people in the Kurdish region as a way to placate the demonstrators.

Activists, however, say the government has cracked down violently on peaceful protesters. That claim is disputed by the Syrian government, which blames armed groups for attacking security forces and citizens.

Human Rights Watch, a prominent humanitarian watchdog group, issued a report Friday detailing "torture and ill-treatment" of protesters over the past month, and U.N. human rights experts released a statement deploring the crackdown on peaceful demonstrations.

In his address Saturday, al-Assad said the new government must "narrow the gap between officials and the public" and expand government transparency.

He also discussed the need to address government corruption, the high cost of living, and the high rate of youth unemployment.

CNN's Salma Abdelaziz contributed to this report.

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Assad: Syria state of emergency to end

Bashar al-Assad addresses the new Syrian cabinet Saturday as reform protests continue on the streets.NEW: The president expresses sadness for protesters' deathsNEW: Residents rally in Daraa for more reformsNEW: Al-Assad addresses government corruption and unemploymentA new Cabinet was sworn in Saturday

(CNN) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Saturday that the country's state of emergency, in effect since 1963, should be lifted by next week at the latest -- but that the final decision is up to the newly sworn-in Cabinet.

Al-Assad made the announcement Saturday hours after the Cabinet was sworn in, and two days after he announced the formation of a new government.

Opposition forces have been demanding the repeal of the emergency law, which allows the government to make preventive arrests and override constitutional and penal code statutes. the law also bars detainees who haven't been charged from filing court complaints or from having a lawyer present during interrogations.

"We (will) lift the state of emergency contrary to the opinion of many others who think this might lead to imbalance in the state of security," al-Assad said as he chaired a meeting of the new government. "I disagree with this, and I think this will consolidate the security of the country."

The president indicated he wants a new law allowing demonstrations to take place while protecting the public from "any chaos or damage to properties" and allowing Syrian security forces to enforce the law.

"We have to distinguish between reform and chaos," he said. "The Syrian people are civilized people. They don't like chaos, they don't like instability."

The new Cabinet includes a new prime minister -- Adel Safar, a Baath Party member who was the agricultural minister in the previous Cabinet, which resigned last month.

Syria retained its foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, and defense minister, Ali Habib, but there are new heads in other positions, including the key posts of interior, finance, and media affairs, Syrian television said.

The announcement of the new Cabinet came amid continued anti-regime protests and clashes between demonstrators and security forces, a conflict that has caused scores of deaths.

Al-Assad expressed sadness over the deaths and sent his condolences to the families of everyone who has died in the unrest.

"This period we pass through, the blood that has been shed in Syria, has been painful for all Syrians," he said. "We are saddened by the death of any person who has been sacrificed."

He said an investigation committee is looking into the deaths.

Saturday afternoon, residents in Daraa rallied in the southern town's central square, according to a doctor there who declined to be named out of fear for his security. The thousands who gathered there chanted for the reform of the regime, trials for officials responsible for protesters' deaths, and solidarity with protesters in other cities.

The doctor said no security forces or police were present and there were no injuries.

Daraa was one of several cities where anti-government demonstrations happened Friday. Witnesses also reported demonstrations in Baniyas, Dair Elzour, Douma, Zabadani, the outskirts of Damascus and other cities where protesters called for political, economic and social changes.

In most locales, the day seemed peaceful compared with previous Fridays, when bloody clashes left many dead and injured. Still, the Syrian Arab News Agency, the official government news service, said a police sergeant was "martyred" after being assaulted by protesters in Homs.

Among the opposition demands is the end of one-party rule in Syria.

Al-Assad had already said he was studying whether to end the 48-year-old state of emergency and provide citizenship for stateless people in the Kurdish region as a way to placate the demonstrators.

Activists, however, say the government has cracked down violently on peaceful protesters. That claim is disputed by the Syrian government, which blames armed groups for attacking security forces and citizens.

Human Rights Watch, a prominent humanitarian watchdog group, issued a report Friday detailing "torture and ill-treatment" of protesters over the past month, and U.N. human rights experts released a statement deploring the crackdown on peaceful demonstrations.

In his address Saturday, al-Assad said the new government must "narrow the gap between officials and the public" and expand government transparency.

He also discussed the need to address government corruption, the high cost of living, and the high rate of youth unemployment.

CNN's Salma Abdelaziz contributed to this report.

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Assad: Syria state of emergency to end

Bashar al-Assad addresses the new Syrian cabinet Saturday as reform protests continue on the streets.NEW: The president expresses sadness for protesters' deathsNEW: Residents rally in Daraa for more reformsNEW: Al-Assad addresses government corruption and unemploymentA new Cabinet was sworn in Saturday

(CNN) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Saturday that the country's state of emergency, in effect since 1963, should be lifted by next week at the latest -- but that the final decision is up to the newly sworn-in Cabinet.

Al-Assad made the announcement Saturday hours after the Cabinet was sworn in, and two days after he announced the formation of a new government.

Opposition forces have been demanding the repeal of the emergency law, which allows the government to make preventive arrests and override constitutional and penal code statutes. the law also bars detainees who haven't been charged from filing court complaints or from having a lawyer present during interrogations.

"We (will) lift the state of emergency contrary to the opinion of many others who think this might lead to imbalance in the state of security," al-Assad said as he chaired a meeting of the new government. "I disagree with this, and I think this will consolidate the security of the country."

The president indicated he wants a new law allowing demonstrations to take place while protecting the public from "any chaos or damage to properties" and allowing Syrian security forces to enforce the law.

"We have to distinguish between reform and chaos," he said. "The Syrian people are civilized people. They don't like chaos, they don't like instability."

The new Cabinet includes a new prime minister -- Adel Safar, a Baath Party member who was the agricultural minister in the previous Cabinet, which resigned last month.

Syria retained its foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, and defense minister, Ali Habib, but there are new heads in other positions, including the key posts of interior, finance, and media affairs, Syrian television said.

The announcement of the new Cabinet came amid continued anti-regime protests and clashes between demonstrators and security forces, a conflict that has caused scores of deaths.

Al-Assad expressed sadness over the deaths and sent his condolences to the families of everyone who has died in the unrest.

"This period we pass through, the blood that has been shed in Syria, has been painful for all Syrians," he said. "We are saddened by the death of any person who has been sacrificed."

He said an investigation committee is looking into the deaths.

Saturday afternoon, residents in Daraa rallied in the southern town's central square, according to a doctor there who declined to be named out of fear for his security. The thousands who gathered there chanted for the reform of the regime, trials for officials responsible for protesters' deaths, and solidarity with protesters in other cities.

The doctor said no security forces or police were present and there were no injuries.

Daraa was one of several cities where anti-government demonstrations happened Friday. Witnesses also reported demonstrations in Baniyas, Dair Elzour, Douma, Zabadani, the outskirts of Damascus and other cities where protesters called for political, economic and social changes.

In most locales, the day seemed peaceful compared with previous Fridays, when bloody clashes left many dead and injured. Still, the Syrian Arab News Agency, the official government news service, said a police sergeant was "martyred" after being assaulted by protesters in Homs.

Among the opposition demands is the end of one-party rule in Syria.

Al-Assad had already said he was studying whether to end the 48-year-old state of emergency and provide citizenship for stateless people in the Kurdish region as a way to placate the demonstrators.

Activists, however, say the government has cracked down violently on peaceful protesters. That claim is disputed by the Syrian government, which blames armed groups for attacking security forces and citizens.

Human Rights Watch, a prominent humanitarian watchdog group, issued a report Friday detailing "torture and ill-treatment" of protesters over the past month, and U.N. human rights experts released a statement deploring the crackdown on peaceful demonstrations.

In his address Saturday, al-Assad said the new government must "narrow the gap between officials and the public" and expand government transparency.

He also discussed the need to address government corruption, the high cost of living, and the high rate of youth unemployment.

CNN's Salma Abdelaziz contributed to this report.

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Assad: Syria state of emergency to end

Bashar al-Assad addresses the new Syrian cabinet Saturday as reform protests continue on the streets.NEW: The president expresses sadness for protesters' deathsNEW: Residents rally in Daraa for more reformsNEW: Al-Assad addresses government corruption and unemploymentA new Cabinet was sworn in Saturday

(CNN) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Saturday that the country's state of emergency, in effect since 1963, should be lifted by next week at the latest -- but that the final decision is up to the newly sworn-in Cabinet.

Al-Assad made the announcement Saturday hours after the Cabinet was sworn in, and two days after he announced the formation of a new government.

Opposition forces have been demanding the repeal of the emergency law, which allows the government to make preventive arrests and override constitutional and penal code statutes. the law also bars detainees who haven't been charged from filing court complaints or from having a lawyer present during interrogations.

"We (will) lift the state of emergency contrary to the opinion of many others who think this might lead to imbalance in the state of security," al-Assad said as he chaired a meeting of the new government. "I disagree with this, and I think this will consolidate the security of the country."

The president indicated he wants a new law allowing demonstrations to take place while protecting the public from "any chaos or damage to properties" and allowing Syrian security forces to enforce the law.

"We have to distinguish between reform and chaos," he said. "The Syrian people are civilized people. They don't like chaos, they don't like instability."

The new Cabinet includes a new prime minister -- Adel Safar, a Baath Party member who was the agricultural minister in the previous Cabinet, which resigned last month.

Syria retained its foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, and defense minister, Ali Habib, but there are new heads in other positions, including the key posts of interior, finance, and media affairs, Syrian television said.

The announcement of the new Cabinet came amid continued anti-regime protests and clashes between demonstrators and security forces, a conflict that has caused scores of deaths.

Al-Assad expressed sadness over the deaths and sent his condolences to the families of everyone who has died in the unrest.

"This period we pass through, the blood that has been shed in Syria, has been painful for all Syrians," he said. "We are saddened by the death of any person who has been sacrificed."

He said an investigation committee is looking into the deaths.

Saturday afternoon, residents in Daraa rallied in the southern town's central square, according to a doctor there who declined to be named out of fear for his security. The thousands who gathered there chanted for the reform of the regime, trials for officials responsible for protesters' deaths, and solidarity with protesters in other cities.

The doctor said no security forces or police were present and there were no injuries.

Daraa was one of several cities where anti-government demonstrations happened Friday. Witnesses also reported demonstrations in Baniyas, Dair Elzour, Douma, Zabadani, the outskirts of Damascus and other cities where protesters called for political, economic and social changes.

In most locales, the day seemed peaceful compared with previous Fridays, when bloody clashes left many dead and injured. Still, the Syrian Arab News Agency, the official government news service, said a police sergeant was "martyred" after being assaulted by protesters in Homs.

Among the opposition demands is the end of one-party rule in Syria.

Al-Assad had already said he was studying whether to end the 48-year-old state of emergency and provide citizenship for stateless people in the Kurdish region as a way to placate the demonstrators.

Activists, however, say the government has cracked down violently on peaceful protesters. That claim is disputed by the Syrian government, which blames armed groups for attacking security forces and citizens.

Human Rights Watch, a prominent humanitarian watchdog group, issued a report Friday detailing "torture and ill-treatment" of protesters over the past month, and U.N. human rights experts released a statement deploring the crackdown on peaceful demonstrations.

In his address Saturday, al-Assad said the new government must "narrow the gap between officials and the public" and expand government transparency.

He also discussed the need to address government corruption, the high cost of living, and the high rate of youth unemployment.

CNN's Salma Abdelaziz contributed to this report.

View the original article here

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