Syrians are on the Move (260)

Regions. So far 24 different flash points in Syria are demonstrating. In Damascus alone, there are some 7 regions that have erupted today. This is larger than the April 22, 2011 demonstrations.

Homs. Unconfirmed reports that the army is defending the citizens against the security men in the Bab Duraib region. Extremely heavy fire is heard around the Cairo Circle but Syrians remain defiant and shirtless men are facing snipers and challenging them to shoot. Reuters reported at least 5 dead at the hands of the security men. Tanks are seen everywhere in the city. Soldier Ibrahim Naoos was executed for refusing to fire on civilians.

Damascus. Riad Seif has been detained. Harassta and Zamalka demonstrations join together. Darya demonstrations have joined with the Moadamieyh demonstrators. This is better organized than ever before. After dispersing the crowds in Douma, the demonstrators headed to the Grand Mosque where they started it again. Security men from the nearby Women’s Prison were used to disperse that crowd. A new demonstration in Sheikh Mehiddine area in Damascus just started. In Barzeh, tanks have entered the region.

Hama. The demonstrations have started from 18 different Mosques. The largest so far. All heading towards the Kala’a to meet with each other. Another large demonstration in Silmieyh just started. Unconfirmed reports are coming-in that heavy fire was used against unarmed civilians with many casualties.

Deir el-Zour. Unconfirmed reports of firing live ammunition on demonstrators in front of the Othman Mosque.

Dara’a. An eyewitness named Mushtan Kutaifan on al-Jazeera said it has become a ghost town. Anyone who is under 40 years old has been detained. Kutaifan is on the run (43 years old) and was calling while hiding between olive trees. Snipers are shooting anything that moves. The army did not pull out, he said, it just moved its armaments around.

Aleppo. Demonstrators in Seif al-Dawleh region are gaining strength. Other areas are asked to join them. Several demonstrations have started from the Omna and Bilal Mosque. They were met with violence but the demonstrators dispersed and met with another crowd leaving the Radwan Mosque.

Al-Tal. Snipers are seen on rooftops and security men have started using tear gas to disperse the crowds. The people are refusing to stop even though the elders of the city have asked them to.

al-Rustun. Thousands are demonstrating even though the town is surrounded by tanks.

Live Syrian TV. As it was interviewing an eyewitness in a corner street saying all is calm here, a demonstrator entered the picture and chanted “The people want to topple the regime”. You couldn’t pay for that one.

Latakya. Large demonstrations in the city are underway.

Zabadani. The “shabbeeha” have attacked the demonstrators and even the passers-by not involved in demonstrating. Their stupidity will bring them down.

Banias. All power has been interrupted in Banias.

al-Jazeera. Superb coverage. As Syrians see other cities rising, they are encouraged to start their own. Some of the footage is provided almost immediately from high resolution cameras in the middle of the demonstrations.

New Chants. “We don’t love you Baschar, you and your party leave us”, “We would rather die than be humiliated”,”G*d, G*d, we will remove the Ba’athsyeh”. “Syria my mother, I will sacrifice my blood for you”,”Syria be strong, Baschar will taste woes”.

The EU. The European Body is debating sanctions against 10 people in the Assad regime, including Baschar al-Assad.

Read more at Reform Party of Syria