Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) LiveBlog: President Assad Makes a Speech

See also Bahrain Feature: #StolenByMOI --- Bahrainis Tell the World "This is What Has Been Taken From Us"
Iraq Feature: How Torture Revelations May Touch the Highest Levels of NATO
Monday's Bahrain, Syria (and Beyond) LiveBlog: An Inconvenient Beating, An Inconclusive Meeting

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2111 GMT: We close tonight with a map, assembled by activists, that shows the full extent of protests, strikes, and violence today in Syria.

View Syria - Tuesday 10/01/2012 in a larger map

Videos and updates from around Syria. Towns with reported protests are marked in blue. Towns on strike are marked in yellow. Towns with updates alone are marked in green. Red markers show places which are under attack or where martyrs fell today.

We're continuing to collect information from nighttime clashes in Deir Ez Zor, so stay tuned tomorrow morning for more.

2204 GMT: This video was reportedly taken of a protest in Deir Ez Zor tonight. Since then, we have reports of a pitched battle between defectors and the regular army (see update below). We've also seen two more graphic videos, the first shows a man, apparently dead or gravely injured, in a hospital in Deir Ez Zor. The second appears to show the same man (but it's hard to tell), and he is clearly deceased.

2141 GMT: It has been another bloody day in Syria, with the Local Coordinating Committees now reporting that 35 have been killed today, including 3 children, according to their most recent tally:

17 In Deir Ezzor, 12 in Homs, 3 in Qamishly, 2 in Idlib and one in Hama.

However, that number already seems outdated. Once again, the LCCS is reporting that the sit-in protest in Saraqeb, Idlib, is under attack:

The regime’s military shot three artillery shells on a protestors’ sit-in which resulted several injured, this is the fourth shelling in the last 11 days since the citizens started their sit-ins, the people are insisting on continuing their sit-in until the regime’s ouster

Even more recently, there are reports of large explosions and heavy gunfire in Idlib city, where tanks have been spotted deploying, and there is now a report of a battle in Deir Ez Zor:

Clashes renewed at the ghassan Abbod roundabout and the Industrial zone between the Free Syrian Army and the regime's army. The latter is using Shilka anti-aircraft shells and heavy machineries. The armored tanks are heavily shelling the Ghassan Abbod roundabout.

Those last two reports are unconfirmed, though the LCCS is really a confirmation engine for the opposition so the reports from them have been highly reliable.

If this last report is true, it would appear that the Free syrian Army may have been trying to respond to today's attacks that left 17 dead, either by deploying in the city or by launching an attack on the regular army under the cover of night.

2132 GMT: We've received more significant videos of protests today. This was reportedlyt taken in the Assali district (approximate location, we believe) of Damascus, earlier today:

And despite the large amount of violence in Homs, this is a large protest in the Khalidiya district this evening:

2106 GMT: This video was reportedly taken tonight in the Al Hajar Al Aswad district of Damascus:

1937 GMT: Back from a quick break.

This video was reportedly taken earlier in Hama, as the protesters show their response to Assad's speech:

1755 GMT: A prominent activist shares a video, and a narrative of a funeral for two men, Hasan Ramadan and Ubada Sabouni, in Douma, an important suburb of Damascus and a stronghold for the opposition:

The martyr & soldier Hasan Yasin Ramadan was born 1992 & was on vacation when he was shot w/ 3 bullets to his body Thursday evening (1-5-2012) and he passed away Sunday 1-8-2012. RIP.

The martyr and boy Muhammad Ubada Muhannad Bassam Sabouni born in 1995 & the only child in his family was wounded Thursday 12-29-2011 by a nail bomb & suffered w/ 70+ pieces of shrapnel & remained in the ICU until he passed away yesterday. Keep in mind that the martyr Sabouni was wounded when he was awaiting the AL observers w/ his family

Obvious, we have no ability to verify this report.

1736 GMT: Bahraini activists held a large protest rally today in front of the UN building in Manama. According to the BBC,

Witnesses said that police allowed the peaceful demonstration to proceed without interference, while a police helicopter hovered overhead.

One activist told the BBC: "Today the police were good. They didn't close off roads, they didn't attack us as they usually do with tear gas and stun grenades."

Observers say the police might have behaved with restraint because of a rare public rebuke by the United States last week over police tactics and the beating of a well-known human rights activist, Nabeel Rajab.

The US state department said the facts of the case were in dispute, but that it was very concerned "about frequent reports of excessive force".

There are a few interesting details here. The first is that witnesses who spoke to the BBC claim that some were holding signs asking for UN intervention. This is something that EA has not yet seen.

It's also important to note, however, that very few of the large daytime rallies, organized by the leading opposition parties AlWefaq and Waad, as this one was, have been attacked in recent months due to the high visibility of the protests. Most violence occurs when smaller groups of protesters carry on into the night and are confronted by police.

According to their official Twitter account, AlWefaq presented the UN with a letter detailing their version of the situation in Bahrain:

1714 GMT: EA Correspondent John Horne makes this update on the latest from Morocco:

Details are emerging from Rabat that a peaceful protest has just been attacked by police, with at least some injuries. The demonstration, by unemployed youth calling for greater job opportunies, follows large protests with similar demands that took place in Taza, Casablanca and Tangier last week, suggesting a resurgance of the February 20th Movement.

Activist and teacher Zineb Belmkaddem stopped to document the protest outside the train station. She posted the following account and images on Twitter:

Unemployed cheering [in] downtown Rabat: "raise the light of revolution".
Buses of police arriving [in] downtown Rabat! Crowd cheering: "Hey regime, let your soldiers out!".

Unemployed blocking two main roads downtown [and cheering]: "yallah ir7al ya makhzen - Down with the system"

Security forces then arrived and surrounded the protesters. Zineb tweeted the following as it happened:

OMG police hammering protesters in rabat around the doWntown train station. Major police repression downtown rabat!!!!!!
Getting tense downtown rabat, protesters cheer: Sidi Bouzid we're getting close! Ambulances r arriving, shit ...
The wounded thrown in empty useless vans called "ambulances"
These are the ones who gave the orders to hit protesters twice.(See image below)
Just heard one of the "coordination"repression agents say: wow, really, we havent seen any protests of this kind in a long long time, damn

Zineb reports that she was subsequently stopped and circled by the security forces she photographed in the above image. They forced her to delete the picture from her camera, unaware that she had already posted it on Twitter. As the men tried to arrest her, protesters then came to her rescue, circling the police and pulling Zineb to safety. She adds, "The solidarity between me and the educated unemployed youth just grew by a billion times."

Rabat was scene to one of the most brutal moments from last years protests in Morocco. Security forces were filmed beating a man to death, in broad daylight, and in full view of hundreds. Such violence remains fresh in the minds of many Moroccans. Seeing todays peaceful rally suppressed in such a way is likely to heighten the antagonism felt by many towards the governments failure to rectify the problem of mass unemployment. That Rabat officials saw the need to bus police in to physically repress todays protest also indicates how keen the State is to silence the voices of unemployed youth, so as to prevent a national movement resuming in earnest.

1701 GMT: While the focus today is on Assad's speech, and the violence across the country, large protests were organized across Syria in order to defy the President's message.

The Coalition of Free Damascenes For Peaceful Change report a large demonstration in the important Midan district of Damascus, which is now a focal point for the opposition.

Anti-government demonstration kicked off in the al-Qaa area of Midan in central Damascus in response to Assad speech; demonstrators called for the toppling of regime and the release of detainees

1645 GMT: Deir Ez Zor and Homs are far from the only places that have seen violence today, however. This graphic video shows the face of a man who was reportedly killed by government forces in the Jabal al Zawiya region around Idlib. Another video purports to show the body of a young man, 16 years old, that appears to show signs of torture. Activists say that his body was discovered today in Idlib province after he was arrested. The most troubling report, however, comes from Rami al Jarrah, that the little girl in this video, only 4 months old, was killed by regime supporters and her parents kidnapped in Homs. There is no way for EA to verify this claim.

1633 GMT: The LCCS has revised today's death toll, and is now reporting that 33 have died, including 3 children:

16 In Deir Ezzor, 11 in Homs,3 in Qamishly,2 in Idlib and one in Hama

1623 GMT: More video from Deir Ez Zor, where 10-16 people have been killed in a single, deadly, incident after the departure of the Arab League observers.

Before the shooting, these women, students, take to the streets to join the protest:

This video was reportedly taken after the shooting already started, near the Nor Hospital:

Activists have also shared another graphic video, reportedly a severely wounded man with a gunshot wound to the head.

1612 GMT: The Guardian posts a dramatic video from Homs:

Video from Homs purports to show the moment when protesters were shot at today.

The clip, from the live streaming site Bambuser, shows a demonstration involving several women and children in the city.

After 13 minutes and 45 seconds a card is placed in front of the camera in an attempt to authenticate the date of the clip. After the card is withdrawn the aftermath of a shooting appears to be revealed. It shows a man laying on the streets as a crowd flees

We suggest skipping to about 13 minutes in or so.

1543 GMT: So far, a few videos have begun to trickle in from Deir Ez Zor. Beyond the chaotic video we've posted below, a bloody video appears to show protesters evacuating a man, and another appears to show a different man put in an ambulance.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is calling the scene a "real massacre" and is reporting that at least 10 have died and 40 have been wounded.

1524 GMT: The LCCS reports that it has been another extremely bloody day in Syria. 28 have died, according to the latest report, "including 2 children. 16 In Deir Ezzor, 10 in Homs, and one in each of Hama and Qamishly."

The amount of deaths in Deir Ez Zor is particularly noteworthy. Beyond the 16 deaths, the LCCS reports that more than 60 are wounded. This is from their earlier report:

18 wounded in the Nour Hospital and their conditions range between regular to severe. The Blood Bank refuses to supply blood and security forces surround the Nour and Saee Hospitals while the shooting continues at protesters in the Sheikh Yaseen Square amd the Hamedieh, Haraka and Jobela neighborhoods.

According to their network of activists, large crowds had gathered to speak to the Arab League observers, and as soon as the observers left the regime's security forces opened fire with heavy machine guns.

1514 GMT: According to Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi, he has confirmed that the observers have been attacked, and he has blamed the Syrian government:

"The Arab League denounces the irresponsible action and acts of violence against the League's observers," Arabi said in a statement issued by his office.

"It considers the Syrian government totally responsible for the protection of the members of the observer mission."

According to Arabi "some members of the mission were victim of violent attacks carried out by pro-regime elements in Latakia and Deir Ezzor, and from elements considered to be members of the opposition in other areas."

"Some of the members of the observers' mission were wounded," the statement said.

1430 GMT: Journalist Ian Black speaks to The Guardian about the speech made by Syrian President Bashar al Assad. Black's reaction is very similar to ours. The speech further entrenches the regime's position, painting the Assad regime as the reformers against the "terrorists" who would undo that reform.

Black's sharpest analysis has to do with the Arab League:

For everything that he said about the Arab League, the Syrian government needs the presence of Arab League monitors. If that mission is deemed a failure, and some people are already saying that it is, this crisis could move to a new situation that is more dangerous for the Syrian government.

Assad didn't really lay out a scenario by which this crisis can be defused. Very specifically the agreement between Syria and the Arab League stipulates the withdrawal of Syrian forces from cities, the release of prisoners, dialogue with the opposition, free access for the media.

Hardly any of that has happened. When it has happened it has been partial ... In the speech there was no sign of meeting any of those fundamental conditions which are the only thing on the table at the moment.

Why did Assad bother to make the speech? Ian Black asks in Damascus from matthew weaver on Vimeo.

1045 GMT: Assad still going --- he is speaking how Syria will defy sanctions and attempts to cut it off with the strength of its agriculture and production, leading to a "brighter future", "weathering this crisis" and not allowing "mongrels" to "destroy its deep-rooted history". He salutes the security forces, the "men of steel resolve" who protects "honest citizens", and the "glorious people who refuse to bow".

And with that, Assad waves and leaves the stage to the applause of the audience at Damascus University.

1028 GMT: Assad calls on the people to side with the Army and the security services against the "brainwashed" who cause disorder. This is a battle of "terrorists" vs. "reformists".

1024 GMT: Assad is talking of "dignity" as Syria defeats "terrorism" and "conspiracy" by listening to "sounds of reason" and returning to "tolerance and love".

1019 GMT: As Assad speaks --- he is now denouncing those who claim to be "revolutionary", while praising "real revolutionaries" such as teachers --- Al Jazeera English splits the screen to show anti-regime protests in Daraa in the south.

A large demonstration in Khan Sheikhoun calling for Assad to step down:

1018 GMT: Assad is still speaking, but I think we can already conclude that our prediction (see 0700 GMT) has been fulfilled: "Assad likely to restate the claims that he is pursuing reforms but is having to protect national security against terrorists and an uncooperative opposition."

Assad, in his rambling address, has stressed the work on changes to the Constitution and mentioned the media law, anti-corruption law, and amnesty for some, but all of this has been put within the priority of dealing with the foreign-backed threat.

Or as Assad phrased it, "We have to work on controlling chaos, we can't lift state of emergency amid this chaos."

1012 GMT: Assad declares, "Some speak of 'New Syria'. I say, 'We don't have New Syria, we have reforming Syria'."

1010 GMT: Assad is in the middle of a lengthy, rambling monologue about reforms he is seeking and the obstacle of an opposition supported from outside. Zeina Khodr of Al Jazeera English offers a concise translation, "We can't deal with domestic reforms unless we deal with facts on the ground....Today we are addressing political reforms and fighting terrorism which has been spreading in Syria....If we implement reforms now, will the foreign plot end?"

0950 GMT: Syrian President Assad has been speaking for more than 45 minutes, declaring, "I will leave the Presidency when everyone in country wants me to do so."

Assad claimed that he has sought reconciliation, for example, through his support of the mission of Arab League observers, but he charged that some Arab powers, as part of the "international plot", have tried to undermine him: "After all their attempts the only thing left is international intervention, and by international I mean Arab....The external conspiracy is clear to everyone."

Assad continued the theme of both Syria's importance and betrayal by others, challenging the League's suspension of Damascus: "Without Syria, the Arab League no longer an Arab organisation."

Journalist Hannah Allam is not impressed, giving this recap, "Protesters are terrorists, media are agents, Arab League w/ no Syria is a body w/ no heart."

Assad added, "The same countries inciting against Syria are the ones who advised to reform. Of course they don't understand democracy."

0905 GMT: People in Homs in Syria chant, "[Arab League Secretary General] Nabil El Araby is a traitor" in front of League observers:

0710 GMT: A coalition of 56 parties and movements have issued a 10-point manifesto re-stating their demand for the continuation of the Revolution and the transfer of power from the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to a civilian-elected government, Parliament, and President.

Among the 56 parties who signed the statement include Al-Wasat Party, the Egyptian Current Party, the Maspero Youth Union, the Democratic Front Party, and Al-Hadara Party.

Significantly, however, the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, the largest vote-winner so far in Parliamentary election, has backed SCAF's stay in power until at least June. Mohamed Saad Katatny, the FJP's Secretary-General said, “Under normal circumstances, a government supported by the parliamentary majority should be formed after parliament is seated. It’s no longer our priority.”

Meanwhile, Amnesty International, in its 2011 Middle East report, has condemned violations of of power by the military rulers: “In its early statements, the SCAF said that the armed forces would continue to protect ‘protesters regardless of their views.’ [However], it also warned against public disorder or attempts to create dissent or disrupt the functioning of Egyptian institutions, a warning that was all too soon translated into assaults on the very human rights that it said it aimed to protect."

0700 GMT: Syrian State media have announced that President Assad will deliver a speech before noon (1000 GMT) today on "domestic issues in Syria".

We do not expect the dramatic, with Assad likely to restate the claims that he is pursuing reforms but is having to protect national security against terrorists and an uncooperative opposition. What is likely to be more significant is reaction to the speech --- the reaction of activists and insurgents can be guessed, but we will watch for any signs from the international community that it has not only given up on Assad but is going to support the challenge against his rule.