TURKEY: Supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad clash outside "Friends of Syria" meeting in Istanbul

Record ID: 280526

  • Title: TURKEY: Supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad clash outside "Friends of Syria" meeting in Istanbul
  • Date: 2nd April 2012
  • Summary: MAN FAINTING, HOLDING ASSAD PLAQUE MAN SHOUTING AT CROWD WOMAN BEING CARRIED AWAY
  • Embargoed: 17th April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey, Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA19UF3OJZ2ATOO8AXXYO81ZYWW
  • Story Text: Pro-Assad protesters and anti-Assad protesters clashed outside the Istanbul Congress Center on Sunday (April 1) where the "Friends of Syria" meeting is taking place.
    Police sprayed tear gas, and some protesters were carried away after a small number of President Bashar al-Assad's supporters gathered outside the Istanbul conference centre, where foreign ministers from around 70 countries and leading European Union and Gulf powers are meeting.
    The protesters, who were outnumbered by Turkish police, waved Syria flags and held up pictures of the embattled Syrian leader. Some had Russian and Chinese flags. "One, one, one. Syrian people are one" and "People want Bashar Assad," the crowd chanted.
    The Syrian political opposition is also attending the conference. However, it remains divided and has not yet formally accepted a peace plan brokered by United Nations-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan.
    Prospects of Western-led military intervention are close to zero, although Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal renewed calls on Saturday to arm the Syrian opposition, describing it as a "duty".
    Assad, whose foreign ministry has declared that the year-long revolt has been crushed, said he accepts Annan's plan but insists on keeping security forces in cities to maintain security.
    His opponents say they will not put down their arms until his troops and heavy weapons withdraw.
    The Annan proposal for ending what began in March 2011 as peaceful protests against Assad's rule says the army must stop violence immediately and be the first to withdraw its forces. It does not call on Assad to step down, as the opposition and its Western and Arab supporters have demanded.
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