JORDAN: Hundreds of Syrians in Jordan protest against the Syrian government in a show of solidarity with compatriots at home who have been demonstrating against Bashar al-Assad's rule on a day of scattered violence

Record ID: 280474

  • Title: JORDAN: Hundreds of Syrians in Jordan protest against the Syrian government in a show of solidarity with compatriots at home who have been demonstrating against Bashar al-Assad's rule on a day of scattered violence
  • Date: 21st January 2012
  • Summary: AMMAN, JORDAN (JANUARY 20, 2012) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS STANDING NEAR EMBASSY FLAG OF SYRIA NEAR EMBASSY VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAIVING SYRIAN FLAGS VARIOUS PROTESTERS CHANTING AND DANCING PROTESTERS WAVING HUGE SYRIAN FLAG PROTESTERS AT DEMONSTRATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN SUPPORTING THE OPPOSITION TO THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT, RIMA FLYIHAN, SAYING: "Syrians outside Syri
  • Embargoed: 5th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jordan, Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8AYET62TJHJK98TZ66XV7D388
  • Story Text: Syrians living in Jordan demonstrated their support after Friday prayers (January 20, 2012) for protesters in Syria engaged in a 10-month crackdown by security forces trying to quell their demand for the President, Bashar al Assad, to step down.
    Hundreds of people have been killed since Arab League monitors arrived in Syria. Armed insurgency has grown there in recent months, contesting Assad's grip on several parts of the country.
    Violence is said to have broken out in different parts of Syria on Friday, after the weekly Muslim prayers.
    French President Nicolas Sarkozy said "ferocious repression" of Assad's opponents by the authorities was dragging Syria towards chaos and would only benefit extremists.
    He urged the Arab League to intensify its monitoring efforts and called on the U.N. Security Council, so far paralysed by divisions over Syria, to act.
    Many Syrians living in neighbouring countries say they are insenced by what they say are reports of state-sponsored repression and by videos posted on social media showing violence in several Syrian towns. They have staged repeated protests in Amman.
    "Syrians outside Syria are supporting the revolution, through a peaceful protest, in front of the Syrian embassy, in order to put more pressure on the Syrian regime and to expose it and to affect Public opinion, to express their solidarity with the Syrian inside," said one Syrian opposition supporter, Rima Flyihan.
    Arab foreign ministers meet in Cairo on Sunday to decide whether to prolong or end the observer mission. Some critics say their presence has provided a diplomatic conduit for talks, others that it has provided a diplomatic cover for Assad to continue his crackdown.
    EU governments are expected on Monday to expand a Syria sanctions list against individuals, companies and institutions.
    The state news agency SANA quoted Oil Minister Sufian Alao as said that a Western embargo on Syrian oil exports has cost the country 2 billion US dollars since September.
    Alao also said attacks on oil and gas pipelines and other energy installations had killed 21 workers, disrupted supplies and caused damage estimated at 2 billion pounds (34 million US dollars).
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