As the monitors monitor and opposition groups oppose, even themselves, in Syria, the Assads and their loyalists keep killing and the protesters keep protesting, and this remains the real story.
Tuesday 3, 2012
Today’s death toll: 23. The Breakdown: 11 in Hama City, 1 in Qamhaneh (Hama Province), 4 in Homs City, 3 in Idlib Province, 2 in Rural Damascus, and 1 in Deraa/Hauran Province.
18 loyalists have reportedly been killed in overnight clashes between loyalists and defectors on the highway connecting the towns of Jassem and Ankhel in the Deraa/Hauran Province. Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Riyad Al-Ass’aad gave Arab League monitors days to bring the violence against civilians and protesters under control, else he promised to unleash major new resistance operations against loyalists.
The Executive Office of the Syrian National Council officially voted to reject the proposed unity agreement with the National Coordinative Body for Democratic Change, following the popular backlash against it by protesters.
A previously unknown group calling itself “The Movement to Counter the Shia Expansion in Syria” took responsibility for the kidnapping of 5 Iranian engineers in Homs City back in December 21, saying that the move comes a warning to both Iran and Hezbollah to refrain from supporting the Assad regime. The announcement was made through a fax sent toAgence France Press offices in Nicosia. There is no independent confirmation of the existence of the group, the kidnapping itself has only been reported in Iranian press. However, claims that the engineers will be tortured to admit that they are members of the IRCG seem meant as preemptive move. Protesters have always have always asserted that the Iranian advisers were working closely with loyalist Assad militias in orchestrating the crackdown.
Monday’s death toll was raised to 24.
The General Strike continues to be observed by protest communities throughout the country.
Links
Ammar Abdulhamid, a U.S.-based Syrian dissident who has been closely following events in his homeland through a vast network of sources, puts the figure much higher at 315.
HOMS CITY: Baba Amr: handing over an armored vehicle that was captured by local FSA members during the loyalist invasion of Bab Amr to the AL monitors as per their request http://youtu.be/3J-YyXV7kmI But these armored vehicles are still controlled and operated by loyalist troops http://youtu.be/8H3RTVCIyUY
A victim of sniper’s attack http://youtu.be/d2TTRV7MsJE Khalidyeh a victim of torturehttp://youtu.be/Ef28a6EnQBw Preparing the body for him for burialhttp://youtu.be/D1fV048QKlw The funeral http://youtu.be/TeXS7l4CsGg A funeral inWadi Arab http://youtu.be/OoomHg4wpyA
A tank in Bab Dreib despite the assertion by Arab League Secretary General, Nabil Al-Arabi, that tanks have been pull out to the outskirts of the cityhttp://youtu.be/EWJ99wFrOdE
Rallies Shammas http://youtu.be/9jW-JUPzmjY Bab Houdhttp://youtu.be/GWfmibiReC0 Bab Al-Sibaa http://youtu.be/yHdcjv0H_7U Wa’erhttp://youtu.be/uAAPmJtUz8M Bab Dreib http://youtu.be/1GIvAEZG3dI
Nighttime Deir Baalbah http://youtu.be/v7JYXYedg6Y Baba Amrhttp://youtu.be/Kp2l-S9jSGc Khaldiyeh http://youtu.be/6WoOBYFa8sI Ghoutahhttp://youtu.be/9URSm26okxc Karm Al-Zeitun http://youtu.be/Gku1PKk7xkUSafsafeh http://youtu.be/q72TFqhMkzc Insha’aat http://youtu.be/FjRKxtbMYlEQarabees http://youtu.be/AGe1iZt3jPw Qoussour http://youtu.be/8rHZAtonmh8Wa’er http://youtu.be/weO_WyIyHyc Malaab http://youtu.be/yLBkAoO3aw8 Karm Al-Shami http://youtu.be/P5Kwx5Chbbw Bab Dreib http://youtu.be/1uKJW5Fivgo
HOMS PROVINCE: Rastan People wait for AL monitors http://youtu.be/Hur7oEQ4rNsWhen they arrive, locals show them samples of the artillery shells used by loyalistshttp://youtu.be/u62jsAKW5i4 A local complain that loyalist troops have confiscated his house http://youtu.be/ZvgQcAiBYKU Another asks if the visiting monitor agrees with the Nabil al-Arabi about tanks and troops being pulled out of citieshttp://youtu.be/NV2UQdpvC7Y
Near Rastan, the local gas pipeline comes under renewed attackhttp://youtu.be/W6c2_pKOQu0 , http://youtu.be/W4bj6jsi5sA Locals talk to the monitors and disavow responsibility for the attack, saying their town is completely under siege and no one can wiggle out to mount such an operation http://youtu.be/EkkjEY4aL9I
Funeral in Tal Kalakh http://youtu.be/gpTJCPfcy-k
Rallies Dar Al-Kabireh http://youtu.be/JdH8_Vi2wDg Qseirhttp://youtu.be/9tswsbMXPRo Houleh http://youtu.be/vlCfXYULtjs Talbissehhttp://youtu.be/KErZWBCxyGg Tadmor http://youtu.be/IZ95mPh6lmI Tal Al-Shurhttp://youtu.be/2revyAaG9D0 Ghanto http://youtu.be/oJKWKB2ElwI
HAMA CITY: People say goodbye to AL monitors http://youtu.be/F_jkHokjK00 Earlier, they locals told the delegates where they could find snipers http://youtu.be/d6l-mvrsizEwhere they could find the wounded http://youtu.be/3xHm3J0x0WE where they could find mass graves http://youtu.be/dAVj3RPyeI4 An activist tells one of the monitors to contact them using Skype http://youtu.be/UmUAQd_NSMM Other show them the impact of pounding on their neighborhoods http://youtu.be/DTS-xDAXoJA they show them the bullet holes on buildings http://youtu.be/omDiygShiTs
Protesters in Jisr Al-Mizrab come under fire even as AL monitors tour another part of town (Hamidiyeh) http://youtu.be/aIc5OVCk8p8
Rallies Aleppo Road http://youtu.be/z7Gv74eoR-8 Hamidiyehhttp://youtu.be/Jw0iNTj65sw , http://youtu.be/e5QzrWASJ4E Bab Qiblihttp://youtu.be/q1T4xacII8A Sheikh Anbar http://youtu.be/SeAzTeMm21s Frayehhttp://youtu.be/1wZNIlf7GUs
HAMA PROVINCE: Rallies Hilfaya http://youtu.be/TYGT2LVNu8Y Karnazhttp://youtu.be/gBu6QZq9evI Taybat Al-Imam http://youtu.be/k-BqaAHlvMcKafrenboudeh http://youtu.be/DhYG9bEj7pM Madeeqhttp://youtu.be/KO6lz1RaWwk Kafar Zeiteh http://youtu.be/gZbM8VEa8yw
IDLIB: Idlib City a funeral in the morning http://youtu.be/InkTfr4nV8Q a funeral in the evening http://youtu.be/DUp09GDOAoc for this defector http://youtu.be/XkwXZjp-fdc
Rallies Zardana Banner “We are free inasmuch as we have power, and powerful in as much as we have freedom” http://youtu.be/TfxtvrJeWjs Kafroumahhttp://youtu.be/IvLt7dp9kDo Ariha http://youtu.be/c4gAhV-QNGk Saraqibhttp://youtu.be/IL5ZVjT0XjY Young revolutionaries look onhttp://youtu.be/mXBKHmlYLdA Kafar Yahmoul http://youtu.be/zwalkGAid18 Jabal Al-Zawiyeh http://youtu.be/_gxWJvmvPPA Sarmeen http://youtu.be/n_TXipkZvTUBinnish http://youtu.be/csHXYnE19Tw , http://youtu.be/Ym7E3eZ8vSg Taftanazhttp://youtu.be/LnmS4cr2D8o
DAMASCUS CITY: Daraya People hold their daily rally http://youtu.be/BEMSm7JjD_cHoisting independence flags all over the suburb http://youtu.be/W-cuCQ9-Jkg ,http://youtu.be/xCZFX4wkJrE Banner “You will fall” http://youtu.be/TLb4WZYuVd4 At night, locals organize a larger rally http://youtu.be/rrTRir4WOoY
A martyr from Qaboun http://youtu.be/uYHz1xxZ-xQ A nighttime funeral in Jobarhttp://youtu.be/kE0EJ9lbWQM , http://youtu.be/jzO-lZDjjYc
Rallies Moadamiyeh http://youtu.be/5eFmcFwrQF8 , http://youtu.be/8tmjsKad25o Al-Hajar Al-Aswad http://youtu.be/qd4SD5w-Ku0 Barzeh http://youtu.be/09f1PRKfSqU, http://youtu.be/fLxyXP1E-CM Midan http://youtu.be/XpwfgkJxXoc Kafar Soussehhttp://youtu.be/qKNQrP8nBL4 Qadam http://youtu.be/0X0FEzWmWDc
DAMASCUS – NORTH: Rallies Qarrah http://youtu.be/u9GLAgb4pR4 Yabroudhttp://youtu.be/ZuXrcfUa4Zo Dmeir http://youtu.be/p9KsCt55GGk
DAMASCUS – EAST: A funeral for this martyr http://youtu.be/pn-XltiHDXA led to a huge rally in Kafar Batna http://youtu.be/RO4VUhd4p0M IN Douma, locals staged an impromptu rally top protest the arrest of woman activist Fatin Rajabhttp://youtu.be/dUv82KaOS6o a martyr from Madeerah http://youtu.be/uFRpNieHLM8
Rallies Zamalka http://youtu.be/JBd56cWizs0 , http://youtu.be/7qawWDk5nsU Saqbahttp://youtu.be/eNmSGCIpmTQ Harasta http://youtu.be/KncrsWGplu4 ,http://youtu.be/Gx_Gcpb0o7c Harran Al-Awameed http://youtu.be/2-n2LRPneWADouma http://youtu.be/qjFNSxalxso Assal http://youtu.be/5yU5je7BYgE
DAMASCUS – SOUTH: An all-women rally in Artouz http://youtu.be/4-a-GpT4Mek ,http://youtu.be/xmErTulHaqg
DAMASCUS – WEST: Rallies Madaya protesters destroy a bust of Hafiz Al-Assad and put up banner calling on opposition groups to unite http://youtu.be/ihutPiaSKHo Zabadanihttp://youtu.be/GfCCqSE_-8c Hameh http://youtu.be/T6F-JDUnruE
DERAA CITY: Al-Sabeel Neighborhood Local informs AL monitor that loyalists are sending fake delegations to identity and arrest local activistshttp://youtu.be/F1CzcR8nCgM Activists from Damascus have made similar claims as well. Another Al-Sabeel resident complain against the brutal treatment that locals receive from loyalist troops http://youtu.be/buTNRcE4BpU Other locals show monitors the empty tear gas canisters used against them http://youtu.be/s09Kw_3BI-0
Rallies Al-Balad http://youtu.be/yl9OjIwdWQE Mahata http://youtu.be/Dn6o01nvFBkDahiyeh http://youtu.be/jB3qU895sSw
DERAA/HAURAN: AL monitors arrive to meet locals in Tafas http://youtu.be/h1-pYvjfJu8 An activist repeatedly asks one of the monitor if he thinks the gathered crowd represent an armed gang, but he gets no response http://youtu.be/gC6AuT04Mng People stage a celebratory rally after the AL monitors leave town http://youtu.be/xwCzJ4a8kxk
In Ankhel, and following a fierce night of combat on the road connecting the towns of Ankhel and Jassem, locals stage a small rally of defiance using a model of the famous Clock-Tower of Homs City by way of showing support http://youtu.be/9lFpeqK4H_o
Rallies Da’el http://youtu.be/ljzzRbiduNM Hraak http://youtu.be/eD-S6mFN-IkSourah http://youtu.be/r255WOMGdNw Jizah http://youtu.be/jqfqCtD1ch0 Tseelhttp://youtu.be/s9-rELnb6Nc Bosra Al-Sham http://youtu.be/uD2Au2PsiBU Khirbet Ghazaleh http://youtu.be/bZ6TlR_tNcQ
ALEPPO CITY: Salaheddine http://youtu.be/wAE9SoER2nc ,http://youtu.be/kPJRqx0fW6c Sakhour http://youtu.be/TJAmRXSpUG8 ,http://youtu.be/xGtm5ggSIYM Ashrafiyeh http://youtu.be/C4Md5i0z0_4
ALEPPO: Anadan http://youtu.be/s_oIh1I5yqA Atareb http://youtu.be/gFSTtfS7P5sJineh http://youtu.be/LvM637WmBbA Deir Jamal http://youtu.be/ZG_XrzmQXfo
DEIR EZZOR: Qouriyeh candlelight vigil http://youtu.be/ZIqBXUy3VKk
HASSAKEH: Qamishly: “Burhan Ghalioun, can’t you hear? The people want a no-fly zone” http://youtu.be/Xz6IKbXKHSo Amoudeh http://youtu.be/2DeeWBDPDqY
TARTOUS: Banyas displaying the independence flag on the hill near the Marqb Citadelhttp://youtu.be/bjRx_U5ixIo
QUNEITRAH: a funeral for an activist http://youtu.be/cgRlIBmjEvY Sahem Al-Golanhttp://youtu.be/bZCdnX1tEH8
