SYRIA: Binnish residents pledge to fight the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Record ID: 280469

  • Title: SYRIA: Binnish residents pledge to fight the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
  • Date: 19th March 2012
  • Summary: BINNISH, SYRIA (MARCH 15, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BINNISH CITY ROAD SIGN INDEPENDENCE FLAG VARIOUS OF CITY GRAFFITI ON STREET IN ARABIC READING: "FREE SYRIA" TWO GRAFFITI SIGNS ON GROUND IN ARABIC READING: "WE WILL ONLY KNEEL TO ALLAH" GRAFFITI IN ARABIC READING: "FREEDOM AND ONLY, GOD WITH US" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED
  • Embargoed: 3rd April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEVH3WN1W3CFFB4XE1WZSN0WFA
  • Story Text: One year into an uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, residents of the northern town of Binnish remain defiant in their efforts to topple his regime.
    The town is reportedly under the control of the Free Syrian Army, with Syria's independence flag hoisted across the town on public display.
    Despite mounting casualties and sever economic hardship, anti-Assad sentiment shows no sign of abating.
    "We will continue with our revolution even if takes one hundred years until we topple al-Assad. For the sake of Homs, Deraa, Hauran, Deir al Zour and Hassaka, we will not retreat," said one unidentified resident on Thursday (March 15).
    With it strong arsenal, the Syrian army has pushed through the neighbouring city of Idlib, flushing out outgunned rebel groups to villages in rural Idlib, including the town of Binnish.
    One of the residents says he wants to support the rebel troops.
    "Our main aim is to quickly arm the Free Syrian Army and the most important thing is that we are determined to topple the regime, we are following God's orders. We will be victorious or die," he said.
    Official media announced government forces had cleared "armed terrorists" from the city of Idlib, suggesting the army was gaining ground against the uprising, which has killed at least 8,000 people, according to the U.N., and crippled the economy.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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