Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: The Futility of the Observers?

The opposition rally last night in Almugsha in Bahrain

See also Syria Video Special: Friday's Protests Beyond the Observers - Set 1 and Set 2

Bahrain 1st-Hand: The Café Where Lattes Have an Extra Shot of Tear Gas
The Real Net Effect: The Strange Cases of The Cyber-Hoaxers in Syria and Uzbekistan
Thursday's Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: Mr Al-Dabi, Can You See the Violence Now?

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2049 GMT: There are impressive videos pouring in, and along with eyewitness reports, they show that protests continue into the night across Syria. So far, one of our favorite videos shows a protest taking place, almost completely in the dark after power was cut, in Khirbat al Ghazalah, Daraa. But perhaps the best-lit video shows a large protest in Irbeen, an important suburb of Damascus, and is posted by the Coalition of Free Damascenes For Peaceful Change:

2044 GMT: Two videos claim to show the moment security forces opened fire on protesters in Daraya, a Damascus suburb:

Meanwhile, this video, reportedly taken today in Hama, shows the body of a protester who was killed in the street:

2021 GMT: Activists have posted this video, reportedly showing a large protest in the central Midan district, very close to the center of the capital:

2004 GMT: The LCCS posts details about a regime siege of Saraqeb, Idlib (we called an earlier report "hyperbolous" as the Facebook page mistakenly said "40,000 tanks, but we're sure 40 is more realistic):

More than 30,000 demonstrators in the city chanting to topple the regime Military forces continue shooting towards the city aiming at the sit-in and the surroundings of the main Clock in order to disperse the protesters.

The regime’s tanks are storming the square where the sit- in is happening

Tanks are shooting at the city which is being surrounded by more than 40 tanks

Meanwhile, the Local Coordinating Committees of Syria are also reporting that 35 people have been killed by regime forces today, "9 in Hama, 6 in Daraa Al-Balad, 4 in Talkalakh, 5 in Homs 6 in Idlib and 1 in each of Daraya and Moaddamieh in Damascus suburbs and 1 each in Bokamal and Hajar Aswad in Damascus."

1947 GMT: The Syrian Revolution Facebook page has posted this interactive Google Map showing videos, tagged with locations, of today's protests and clashes. Obviously, we have no way of verifying every single video, but from what we've seen, this is only a small portion of the videos that have been uploaded today:

View Syria - Friday 30/12/2011 in a larger map

1939 GMT: Bahrain - before the sit-in at the "Al Khawaja Roundabout" and before this evening's violence, the opposition party, AlWefaq, led a large rally:

1929 GMT: This video, reportedly taken in the Hamidiya district of Hama today, shows a man who was reportedly shot while crossing the street. Activists run out into the street to grab him, while gunfire is nearly constant:

1917 GMT: An activist translates this video for us. According to the account, this man is an Arab League observer, apparently in Daraa, who claims that he has seen snipers "with his own eyes" and is extremely angry with the regime:

1907 GMT: This video was reportedly taken today in Douma. As the cameraman videos a crowd that appears to be running from security forces, a flash of fire can be seen as a man in riot police armor runs across the screen, and the cameraman doubles over in pain. It is unclear whether the flash was a gun, or a flash grenade, and it is also uncertain as to his current condition:

1856 GMT: In Syria, the LCCS has posted a series of disconcerting reports about the city of Saraqeb, in Idlib province:

Idlib: Saraqeb: The regime’s tanks are storming the square where the sit- in is happening.

The city is reportedly surrounded (though the number of tanks in the area is likely highly hyperbolous), and there are reports that the city is being shelled. We do not have any further details.

1836 GMT: An EA correspondent in Bahrain reports that Sitra is filled with smoke and teargas tonight, and what sounds like sound grenades can he heard. He also shares this video, reportedly showing teargas in the village of Karzakan.

Earlier, another source provided this video, reportedly showing police jeeps recklessly speeding through Sitra in response to anti-government protests:

However, now we've received a "disturbing" report from one of our correspondents that a group of protesters, sick of the constant attack from police, have responded by striking back:

Nuwaidrat is a small village just near the island of Sitra, it has a large number of detainees, and it has been a target of continued attacks by police mercenaries, plus continuous police checkpoints [have been manned] at the village entrance 24/7.

After the declaration by the 14Feb Coalition of the "Defense phase", some of the supporters of the Coalition, to retaliate against the continuous blocking of the roads to their village by police, performed an operation that they called "Flag of Dignity".

A warning message is displayed in the video, for the police, warning them from attacking the village or they will face more.

The frustration in the people and the zero tolerance the regime is showing has led to such action. It seems some revolutionaries are trying to spread fear in the mercenaries in order to prevent them from attacking the village the way they do.

1725 GMT: A website associated with the Syrian Youth Movement posts a video alongside this description:

Thousands of peaceful protesters chant against the government in the city of Idlib. The Arab League observers can be found in the middle of the demonstration in the yellow vests and white caps surrounded by the protesters.

1658 GMT: Our very busy correspondent in Bahrain reports,

"[Earlier] I had to kick a tear gas cylinder that fell between my legs. Thanks God I managed to get in the mall before they got to me.

I just left Budaya, passing on Karbabad, there's a big fire near the highway..not blocking the road just on the side. Police all around also, and a fire truck is trying to get there."

1645 GMT: Earlier, an activist posted this:

my friend was shot by thugs while filming the HUGE demos in Idlib today,still he told me his uploading his own video on youtube now!

When we asked if his friend was ok, he replied:

@JMiller_EA he is fine, I was just amazed that despite his injury he was uploading his own video on youtube to show the word what happened!

He then sent EA the video. At the end of the clip, several bullets ring out and the cameraman falls backwards, apparently shot. According to the cameraman, the shooting started as soon as the Arab League observers left:

1635 GMT: AN EA correspondent in Bahrain reports that he is now safe, and leaving the mall, outside which protesters were attacked. He has also posted pictures from the roundabout. Earlier, after evening prayers, the protesters gather:

Once the news came that the security forces were coming, the women left and the men formed a "human chain."

This video reportedly shows the police attacking those protesters, though it comes from a different source:

1617 GMT: An activist posts this report, protests in Aleppo yesterday:

This is a video shot from far away for the demo that took place yesterday at Aleppo university.

Knowing the university, this video was shot from almost a kilometer. And yet you can hear the chants clearly.

1608 GMT: This video appears to be taken from a rooftop, but shows blue security vehicles deploying near Assi Square (Freedom Square) in Homs. At the end of the video, gunfire can be heard. Earlier, we posted a video taken from street level that appears to show the vehicles attacking protesters.

1603 GMT: An urgent update from EA's correspondent in Bahrain:

Am inside the mall now, there are a lot of ppl who got in also Some suffocated and being treated.

We got attacked.

1600 GMT: The LCCS clarifies an earlier report, and is now saying that they have confirmed the deaths of 32 people in Syria. However, we'd note that there is no word on casualties in Qamishli, where we have posted video that appears to show injured or killed civilians:

32 were killed today till now by security forces and regime’s army fire, 9 in Hama, 6 in Daraa Al-Balad, 4 in Talkalakh, 5 in Homs 6 in Idlib and 1 in each of Daraya and Moaddamieh in Damascus suburbs.

1551 GMT: An EA correspondent in Bahrain reports a tense standoff between protesters and police:

Protesters are 100 meters away from police who are standing with shields Protesters chanting, "peaceful, peaceful!"

This picture, posted a few minutes ago, shows police jeeps arriving in the area.

1547 GMT: The Guardian posted this video earlier, which we would add appears to have been taken near Assi Square (Freedom Square, or Clocktower Square), in Homs, where clashes occurred earlier this week as protesters tried to reach the Arab League observers and were fired upon:

The footage purported to be from Homs earlier today appears to show security services in blue military trucks facing off against demonstrators. Shots are also fired as the trucks move towards the crowd.

1538 GMT: Activists have been reporting that a heavy security presence moved into Lattakia, Syria today. Videos show truckloads of security, many of whom appear to be plain-clothed "shabiha," unofficial muscle loyal to President Bashar al Assad:

1528 GMT: Activist Rami al-Jarrah has told EA that the soldiers have withdrawn from Baba Amr, Homs:

They were in an area in central Baba Amro, [but] they were not really gaining anything... and they withdrew. It's not a withdrawal really; they are still surrounding the area, but they just moved out of this one area to another.

1524 GMT: This video was reportedly taken in the largely Kurdish town of Qamishli in northeastern Syria, near the border with Turkey, where security forces reportedly opened fire on crowds of protesters:

1520 GMT: An EA correspondent in Bahrain sends an ominous report:

We got news that about 12 jeeps are coming in the way, women left but the men are still occupying.

1516 GMT: This video, posted earlier, reportedly shows police arresting, and beating, a group of young protesters in Daraya, Damascus:

1507 GMT: An activist posts this picture, activist Nabeel Rajab on the shoulders of supporters in Budaiya Roundabout, Bahrain.

Another activist posts a picture of a large amount of women surrounding Nabeel. The most interesting thing about that account - they're calling the roundabout "Al Khawaja Roundabout," after activist Zainab AlKhawaja who was arrested there earlier this months.

Meanwhile, an EA correspondent in Bahrain reports that protesters left the roundabout earlier, for evening prayer, but about 100 have returned. This is the first picture of the new protest that we've seen:

1437 GMT: An activist, we believe citing the Syrian Revolution General Commission, reports that the power has been cut and security forces are attacking protests in Idlib:

6 martyrs ve just fallen in Idlib,among them 2 defected soldiers n Mastooma,the blood bath is continuing with the ArabLeagu committee

1433 GMT: This video was reportedly taken today in Idlib, showing protesters evacuating a wounded man while gunshots or explosions echo in the background:

1429 GMT: On a typical day, EA sees dozens of videos. On a typical Friday, perhaps twice as many. However, we've posted dozens of videos already, and we're almost drowning in great videos that we haven't posted.

It's safe to say that large and impressive demonstrations are more widespread than we've seen in months.

See also Syria Video Special: Friday's Protests Beyond the Observers - Set 1 and Set 2

1417 GMT: The Local Coordinating Committees of Syria are reporting that 38 people have been killed by security forces so far today, including 6 in Douma, but that number could easily rise:

13 martyrs in Damascus Suburbs (6 martyrs in Douma, 4 martyrs in Mouadamyeh, and a martyr in each of Kesweh, Arbeen, and Shifonieh) 11 martyrs in Homs, 7 martyrs in Hama, 5 martyrs in Idlib, and a martyr in both Hama and Daraa.

We just received unconfirmed report about 3 martyrs from Hama we are still waiting for more confirmation

1412 GMT: A new report shows that the situation in Douma may be far more serious than we initially suspected. An extremely graphic video shows a protesters leg completely shredded, perhaps by an explosive (a grenade?) or a very high caliber machine gun round.

1410 GMT: Meanwhile, the violence in Homs shows no sign of slowing. According to the LCCS:

Five people from the same family (Abdel Razzak Al-Masri and his sons Mohamad, Samer, Manhal, and Amer) were martyred after security forces arrested them last night in the Deir Baalba area. Their corpses, previously unidentified, were found behind the Masaab Bin Amir mosque.

1403 GMT: Douma, Damascus, has seen a second day of violence. A source speaking to Al Jazeera via satellite phone (which is banned) reports a high amount of injuries as police reportedly fired live ammunition into the crowd. EA has received video that shows the gates in front of the hospital are barred, halting injured protesters from receiving medical support.

Activists say that this "child," who appears to be in his late teens, was shot in the face "with a grenade launcher," likely a teargas gun:

This violence has rocked the important suburb of Damascus for a second day, as protesters are reportedly trying to reach city hall, where Arab League observers are currently stationed.

1353 GMT: An EA correspondent reports from Bahrain:

"The massive rally by the opposition has just completed, and we are occupying Budaya Highway again. We are centered on the roundabout on which [Zainab] Alkhwaja was arrested, and we are chanting, "DOWN DOWN HAMAD!"

"No police showed up yet but the number off [protesters] is huge. Women have centered inside the roundabout and are surrounded by a chain of men!"

Earlier, these videos were reportedly taken on Budaya Street:

1346 GMT: James Miller takes the liveblog, and Scott Lucas has been busy collecting videos that show an impressive show of defiance by the opposition.

See our separate video entry, Syria Video Special: Friday's Protests Beyond the Observers

1130 GMT: Syrian regime forces moving into Tayyana in the Deir Ez Zor area today:

A day after security forces killed at least four demonstrators, and protesters responded by gathering in the tens of thousands, the Damascus suburb of Douma has seen a rally in front of the Grand Mosque:

1100 GMT: The "Save Our Souls" demonstration in Inkhel in Daraa Province in southern Syria today:

This video has moved to EA's separate video entry, Syria Video Special: Friday's Protests Beyond the Observers

Mourning a slain protester in a Damascus suburb:

This video has moved to EA's separate video entry, Syria Video Special: Friday's Protests Beyond the Observers

Amuda in the northeast:

This video has moved to EA's separate video entry, Syria Video Special: Friday's Protests Beyond the Observers

1025 GMT: The head of the Free Syrian Army, Riad al-Asaad, has said in a phone call that he has ordered an end to all attacks on regime forces during the visit by Arab League observers: "I issued an order to stop all operations from the day the committee entered Syria last Friday. All operations against the regime are to be stopped except in a situation of self defense."

Al-Assad said the insurgents have sought a meeting with the Arab League monitors but have not received a response.

1015 GMT: A statement by 28 Egyptian rights groups has accused the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of using the "repressive tools" of the Mubarak era in an "unprecedented campaign" against pro-democracy organisations.

The statement was issued hours after security forces stormed offices of 10 rights organizations (see 0650 GMT). The Interior Ministry said the raids were part of an investigation into foreign funding of rights groups.

"The military council is using Mubarak's authoritarian and repressive tolls ... in an even more dangerous and uglier way," the statement declared. The raids, trying to "liquidate or take revenge on the political and rights groups that played a significant role in preparing for the revolution, getting involved or shaping the vision to build a new system on the ruins of Mubarak's regime", were "an unprecedented campaign aimed at covering up big failures of the military council in managing the transition period".

An official with the Ministry of Justice's inspection teams said computers and cash were confiscated during the raids, claiming that the groups had received up to $100 million from abroad.

0845 GMT: The Gulf Centre for Human Rights has expressed concern at the decree by the United Arab Emirates withdrawing nationality from six reformists: Sheikh Mohammad Abdul Razak Al-Sediq of the International Union for Muslim Scholars; Dr. Ali Hussain Al-Hammadi, the chairman of the Center for Creative Thinking; Dr. Shahin Abdullah Al-Haosni; Hussein Munif Al-Jabri; Hassan Munif Al-Jabri; and Ibrahim Hassan Al-Marzouqi.

0830 GMT: An EA correspondent in Bahrain sends a report of last night's mass rally (see video at top of entry):

Yesterday's opposition gathering was more interesting than usual, as the Freedom Torch visited. Holding it was Mohamed AlHaiki ---- the first person who broke into Martyrs Square (Pearl Roundabout) after the army closed the place and the same guy who was recently beaten in AlDaih by police force, all the while refusing to drop the Bahrain flag. There was a good speech given by Sheikh.Ali Salman, the General Secretary of Al Wefaq.

0650 GMT: The New York Times summarises Thursday's raids by Egyptian security forces on 10 non-profit organisations, including four US-backed groups.

Two of the US organisations, the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute, had been formally authorised by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to monitor the Parliamentary elections, resuming next week. Freedom House and an American NGO training Egyptian journalists were also shut.

A State Department spokeswoman said, “Suffice it to say we don’t think that this action is justified. We want to see the harassment end." A senior administration official said Washington had privately sent a strong message to Cairo: “This crosses a line.”

0630 GMT: We opened yesterday by noting the criticism of the Arab League observers, notably the Sudanese head General Mohammad Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi, for the apparent detachment of their statements from the violent reality on the ground. At the same time, we said, "Those challenging the Assad regime might find some respite in a lower-than-normal death toll...and it appeared that the presence of the observers did open up some breathing space in some areas."

Even that statement appeared to collapse on Thursday, however. Activists said 38 people died at the hands of security forces, including six in Hama and four in the Damascus suburb of Douma, where 30,000 people later rallied.

Unsurprisingly, activists are questioning if the Arab League's monitors have any value, given the statements of al-Dabi, the co-ordination of the observers' movements with regime officials, and the limitations on contact imposed by security escorts. Even more striking, however, was the declaration of a member of the Arab League's team that, amidst the continued shelling of cities like Homs, the observers' mission was almost certain to fail.