Pro-Assad supporters protest sanctions
- 12 years ago
In Damascus -- tens of thousands took to the streets to protest new economic sanctions impose by the Arab league.
Demonstrators waved flags and held portraits of President Bashar al-Assad at the state backed rally.
The show of support for the president broadcast on Syrian TV comes ahead of more sanctions that will likely isolate Assad. The country's economy is already reeling from sanctions imposed by the U.S. and European Union
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem.
SOUNDBITE: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem saying (Arabic):
Brothers, to stop dealing with the central bank is a declaration of economic war in international law. This is an unprecedented move. Freezing the Syrian assets? Let me assure you, 95 or 96 percent of it has already been withdrawn
Meanwile, anti-government sentiment in Homs appears to be greater than ever in these videos uploaded to a social media website. While Reuters cannot independently verify the video, there are reports that 24 civilians were killed in Homs on Sunday. This as a UN commission report charges the government with committing crimes against humanity -- including murder, torture and rape.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.
Demonstrators waved flags and held portraits of President Bashar al-Assad at the state backed rally.
The show of support for the president broadcast on Syrian TV comes ahead of more sanctions that will likely isolate Assad. The country's economy is already reeling from sanctions imposed by the U.S. and European Union
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem.
SOUNDBITE: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem saying (Arabic):
Brothers, to stop dealing with the central bank is a declaration of economic war in international law. This is an unprecedented move. Freezing the Syrian assets? Let me assure you, 95 or 96 percent of it has already been withdrawn
Meanwile, anti-government sentiment in Homs appears to be greater than ever in these videos uploaded to a social media website. While Reuters cannot independently verify the video, there are reports that 24 civilians were killed in Homs on Sunday. This as a UN commission report charges the government with committing crimes against humanity -- including murder, torture and rape.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.