Damascus // Syrian forces killed at least 19 protesters yesterday, activists said, despite Bashar Al Assad's assurance to the UN chief Ban Ki-moon that the security crackdown was over.
The Syrian president spoke to Mr Moon by telephone on Thursday and, according to the UN, said "the military and police operations had stopped".
Most of the deaths yesterday took place in the southern Houran plain, according to human rights groups, near the city of Deraa, where the first mass demonstrations - and first killings by security forces - occurred on March 18.
An 11-year-old and a 72-year-old were among those killed, activists said. Residents and activists reported heavy security throughout the country, with army units still deployed in volatile areas.
Some neighbourhoods were sealed off. Busloads of security agents were stationed near mosques, and blocked public squares.
Despite that, thousands of protesters staged rallies, including demonstrations in Hama, Deir Ezzor and Homs, all areas where there have been military operations during a Ramadan offensive. Protests also took place in Damascus and Aleppo.
Sana, Syria's official news agency, gave a different account of yesterday's events, reporting one civilian death and seven casualties and one death among security officers.
It blamed "armed groups" which it says have killed more than 400 police and soldiers since March.
However, the United Nation's human rights agency said there was "reliable corroborative evidence" of security forces using a shoot-to-kill policy against civilian protesters, and the European Union said new sanctions were being prepared targeting Syria's small but economically critical oil sector.
The continued international pressure followed Thursday's call by the United States and Europe for the Syrian president to step down. A long delayed UN human rights mission is due to begin in Syria tomorrow as officials seek to investigate claims of crimes against humanity, including torture and summary executions by Syrian security forces. At least 1,900 civilians have been killed since the uprising began, a UN human rights report published on Thursday said.
"It was essential for the protests to continue, to show the regime that it has not finished and to again show the true face of this regime to the world," said one anti-government campaigner in Damascus yesterday.
"After promises were given to the UN that the security solution was over, these latest killings are clear evidence that nothing this regime says can be trusted. That message will not be lost on Syrians and it will not be lost on the international community."
However, Syria's allies Russia and Turkey - both increasingly critical of Damascus - declined to join in calls for Mr Al Assad to quit.
Ankara, which has accused the Syrian authorities of "savagery" over their handling of the uprising, said it was too early to make such a demand with Mr Al Assad still commanding significant support from ordinary Syrians.
In the absence of opinion polls, it is impossible to know how many of Syria's 23 million people back the protesters and how many continue to side with the authorities. Anecdotally the silent majority is fearful of the chaos that could engulf the country if the autocratic regime collapses after more than four decades of power.
Moscow also tempered its earlier warnings that the Syrian leader would face a "sad fate" if he failed to implement real reforms by saying he should be given a chance to make those changes.
A Russian foreign ministry statement said Mr Al Assad needed "sufficient time to implement the declared large-scale programme of social, political and economic reforms".
There was speculation in Syria yesterday that Mr Al Assad would appear on television in the coming week, in what would be a fourth address to the nation since the start of the uprising.
He has promised comprehensive political reforms that regime officials say will make Syria a beacon of democracy by the end of the year. Analysts have suggested October as a possible date for parliamentary elections.
The International Committee for the Red Cross also said yesterday it was on the verge of getting permission to visit detention centres in Syria. If that access were granted, it would be the first time independent observers could assess conditions in the country.
More than 10,000 people have been arrested during the uprising, and rights monitors say factories and sports grounds have been turned into holding areas for prisoners.
An independent Syrian political analyst said the regime was struggling to come up with a coherent policy in the face of the stubborn protests and growing international pressure.
"It has been five months of protests and the decision-making system is in chaos. They don't know how to solve this. They have lost their wisdom," he said.
psands@thenational.ae
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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MATCH INFO
Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Price: from Dh498,542
On sale: now
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. 2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
Kill%20
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