Protests today in the town of Soura, north-east of Daraa, Syria
2227 GMT: While we continue to look for more details on the explosion in Barzeh, it is worth noting how important the Barzeh district is. While we only know the general area of the explosion, it is only a little over a mile away from Tishreen Palace, the home of the President, and is within short distance of many other important buildings in Damascus.
2150 GMT: The explosion appears to have happened somewhere in the Barzeh district of Damascus, but as you can see from the reports below, the area where the explosion occurred is extremely large:
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2135 GMT: The Coalition of Free Damascenes for Peaceful Change
"A loud explosion has been heard this evening in the Barzeh, Rukneldin, Qaboun and Jobar areas of Damascus; the road to the residential area of Barzeh has been closed and there are several ambulances."
However, another activist with connections to Damascus and the CFDPC says that it appears to be one very large explosion heard in many areas. She also is certain that the CFDPC report is NOT citing the SRGC, the original source we posted below.
Again, we are hunting more details, so stay tuned.
2127 GMT: While we have no more confirmation yet about explosions in Damascus, in another district, Midan, the LCCS reports that there have been clashes between protesters and soldiers:
The road down Southern Mutahallek was closed by putting tires on fire. This caused traffic and heading of some security reinforcements and fire fight vehicles to the area.
2120 GMT: Many Syrian activists are cheering the harsh words of US Senior Senator John McCain today, calling for a no-fly zone in Syria:
"The ultimate goal of air strikes should be to establish and defend safe havens in Syria, especially in the north, in which opposition forces can organize and plan their political and military activities against Assad.
"The time has come for a new policy," said McCain, who lost the race for the White House to Democrat Barack Obama in 2008. "Assad needs to know that he will not win."
"These safe havens could serve as platforms for the delivery of humanitarian and military assistance - including weapons and ammunition, body armor and other personal protective equipment, tactical intelligence, secure communications equipment, food and water and medical supplies," said McCain, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
2103 GMT: Breaking news - though it is unconfirmed, several Twitter accounts, including the Syrian Revolution General Commission, are reporting large explosions in multiple districts in Damascus. Maisa Akbik translates, adding other details she's heard:
More news about #Damascus explosions via activists: Areas of Qaboun, Barzeh & Masaken (east) were shaken by it
— Maisa Akbik (@M_akbik) March 5, 2012
2028 GMT: This video was uploaded today by several Youtube accounts associated with the Free Syrian Army in Homs. We can't vouch for the date or exact location, though an activist on Twitter suggests that it's taken in Baba Amr, Homs. This is the first time we've seen it, and the accounts that have posted it uploaded it today:
2010 GMT: The LCCS reports that several villages, Hayaleen, Al-Sheikh Hadid and Al-Jamleh, are being shelled. We're not sure where Al-Jamleh are, but the other two are approximately 25 miles west and northwest of Hama (MAP):
1934 GMT: The violence has not left the city of Homs. Today, the Jub al Jandali district was shelled by pro-Assad forces:
The cameraman in the Rifai district of Homs looks northwest towards Karm al Zaytoun and Baba al Dreib in the center of the city (map - approximate):
1918 GMT: There have been several videos released by units of the Free Syrian Army today. However, the claim of the formation of a brigade made up entirely of Alawite fighters is a significant development:
The first Alawite battalion of the Free Syrian Army in Idlib: youtube.com/watch?v=g5Ew2d…
— abuhatem (@abuhatem) March 5, 2012
1910 GMT: Another video from today's protest march on the campus of Aleppo University:
Meanwhile, soldiers patrol the streets of Syria's second largest city, deterring protest. These vehicles filled with soldiers and "shabiha" were reportedly outside a hospital in Aleppo:
1853 GMT: Back from a lunch/meeting break...
According to Bloomberg, another oil pipeline has exploded in Syria:
The blast that hit the pipeline in al-Quriye in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor was the latest in at least seven attacks on pipelines and refineries this year. The opposition Shaam News Facebook page blamed it on government forces, while SANA said it was carried out by “terrorist groups.”
Syrian (OLPDSYRI) crude production dropped to about 260,000 barrels a day, Oil Minister Sufian Alao said on Dec. 24. Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA), Total SA and other European companies have ceased operations in the country because of sanctions, Alao said.
This is a substantial drop. As recently as 2009, Syria's oil production was more than 400,000 barrels per day.
1707 GMT: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London based activist group, reports that at least 8 people have been killed so far, including several children:
The death of people killed today has risen to 8 martyrs for whom the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has records.
- In Idlib district, a 14-year-old child from the village of Kefer Bateekh was killed by a sniper bullet in the city of Saraqeb and a man died in Khan Sheikhon from injuries sustained in gunfire on 28/02/2012.
- One person was killed in the town of Atareb, in Aleppo, during random gunfire by the Syrian regular forces.
- A 13-year-old child was killed in by a sniper’s bullet in Homs. And the body of person, who was killed under torture at the basements of one of the security centres in Damascus, was handed to his parents in Al-Qusaire, Homs.
- A civilian was killed in the city of Yabrude, in Rif Dimashq Governorate, where the regular forces stormed into it this morning.
- In Daraa district, one person from the village of Western Maleeha was killed as he was hit and tortured by the Syrian security forces in Daraa district. Also, a civilian was killed yesterday, after midnight, in Daraa city in gunfire during the clashes between the regular forces and a defected group.
NPR's Ahmed al Omran has discovered video of the 14 year old killed in Kafer Bateekh, matching the Observatory's report.
Also, in Yabroud, north east of Damascus, and activist network with contacts in Damascus reported heavy raids and arrest campaigns, and they also share a video showing a reconnaissance helicopter flying about the city while gunfire and explosions ring out below.
1642 GMT: Aleppo, Syria's second largest city and arguably the last Assad stronghold, has reportedly had a busy day. There are multiple reports of protests on Aleppo University's campus today. Zilal, who is familiar with the campus, provides this video:
#Aleppo Univ,Faculty of Electricity:student protest chant "Freedom forever,whether you want it or not,Assad" 5-3youtube.com/watch?v=SjnHrE…#Syria
— zilal (@zilal1) March 5, 2012
The LCCS also posts a video, "Solicitors' sit-in inside the Court of Justice this morning."
For several weeks the violence and protests have been increasing exponentially inside Aleppo, though the city has seen a steadily-growing protest movement for several months.
Outside the city, however, the countryside of Aleppo is host to large amounts of military forces to counter the strong anti-Assad sentiment in the suburbs and the countryside. NPR's Ahmed al Omran shares this video, reportedly taken in Al-Bab, 20 miles northeast of Aleppo:
Video reportedly shows an army vehicles that was attacked by the rebels in al-Bab, Aleppo today youtube.com/watch?v=gKdnCk… #SYRIA
— Ahmed Al Omran (@ahmed) March 5, 2012
1630 GMT: Another prominent Syrian activist shows another version of the previous video, confirming that it was taken in Al Rastan. However, as we noted that the video is undated, it appears to be several months old, as the other video is dated December 14th.
1613 GMT: A prominent Syrian expatriate shares this video:
GRAPHIC: Video reportedly leaked by an Assad soldier shows corpses in Rastan after the massacre | youtu.be/B3ctaiQ4LfE #Syria
— Shakeeb Al-Jabri (@LeShaque) March 5, 2012
A few things to note. First, the wallets and personal belongings of the victims appear to be strewn all over the scene, perhaps indicated that the bodies were looted. Also, the video is not dated, and there is no definitive link between the video and a specific date or location. Of course, we also don't see who actually committed this crime.
Al Rastan, north of Homs, has paid a heavy price in recent weeks, as it has been the subject of many raids, a large amount of shelling, and a few reported "massacres" like the one shown here.
1602 GMT: The Local Coordinating Committees of Syria, a network of activists inside the country, report that a prominent political dissident, Solomon Semmer, has been "abducted" by security forces in Damascus:
The abduction of the political activist and the member of the Secretariat of the Damascus Declaration for National Democratic Change in front of his house on Saturday by one of the security forces, to be noted that Mr.Semmer has been detained several times previously.
According to the DNDC website, Semmer's wife does not know his whereabouts.
1531 GMT: Bahrain is set to establish an "independent" high media council to monitor media for infractions, investigate media complaints, and provide advice on possible laws that govern the media. The regime says that this is part of their reform process:
"The establishment of the council, the first of its kind in the region, is in line with the recommendations made by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) on relaxing control," said Nawaf Al Muawda, the head of publications at the Bahrain Information Authority (IAA).
"The council will oversee private and government print, audio and visual media and will serve as a consultant to the government and other parties," he said. "It will be responsible for everything that is published or broadcast, will ensure that there is no incitement to hatred or violence in the media and that all media are committed to pluralism in their views and programmes and to the code of ethics."
1509 GMT: Bahraini expatriates are upset over new Visa policies which threaten to keep out journalists, activists, anyone critical of the Bahraini regime, or perhaps anyone at all. Trade Arabia reports on the latest problems facing travelers visiting Bahrain:
It follows an Interior Ministry announcement on February 13, which said people from countries that require Bahrainis to obtain visas before travel would face the same requirement when coming here.
The decision was apparently prompted by foreign activists sneaking into Bahrain on visit visas issued at the airport and then taking part in anti-government protests.
1454 GMT: A reliable source provides this video. We'd note that only a little more than half of the men in this video are wearing a uniform, indicating the shifting demographics of the armed wing of the opposition in Syria:
Another large #FSA battalion is formed in #Idleb: youtube.com/watch?v=DwCAF9… #Syria #Mar15
— Fadi Mqayed ★★★ (@DSyrer) March 5, 2012
1449 GMT: Activist "Sami" shares this video reportedly taken on Saturday in the Inshaat district of Homs, just north of Baba Amr. The scale of the damage is apparent, and yet it fails to compare to reports from Baba Amr:
1432 GMT: According to Bahraini activists, a newborn baby was killed by teargas inhalation over the weekend, another reported victim of reckless teargas attacks in residential neighborhoods in the villages of the tiny Gulf nation:
The infant martyr Yahya Yosif from Ras Rumman village , victim of tear gas again . Down with HAMAD #bahrain twitter.com/AalaaAs/status…
— Free Alkhawaja (@AalaaAs) March 5, 2012
1422 GMT: An interesting development on the international front. The UN and the Arab League are reporting that Kofi Annan, who has been appointed as the UN special envoy to Syria, will be traveling to Syria on March 10.
"Kofi Annan told me that Syria will receive him on March 10 and that he would arrive in Cairo on March 7," Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby told reporters at the group's Cairo headquarters.
Annan was appointed last month as joint special envoy on the Syria crisis.
According to the report, Nasser al-Kidwa, Palestinian diplomat and nephew of Yasser Arafat, will be accompanying Annan.
1401 GMT: At the close of the conflict in Libya, the Associated Press reports that weapons are arriving on the black market in Egypt:
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, tell the AP 576 weapons including modern sniper rifles have been seizedby police in the last three months in the Egyptian oasis of Siwa near the border with Libya.
The number of weapons that reached buyers undetected is believed to be five times the number seized.
Residents of southern Egypt are said to be the main buyers of the Libyan weapons, according to the officials.
1355 GMT: A Syrian activist network reports that there are protests in the Midan district of Damascus surrounding the funeral for a man who was killed over the weekend. This video was reportedly taken, showing the crowd chanting around the casket just inside the mosque in Midan. According to the report, the martyr was a conscript in the Syrian army, but refused to fire on his "family," the residents of Damascus, and so he was shot by his own soldiers:
A little further outside the city, in Hameh, another activist network shares this video, with links to more, of a funeral for a woman killed yesterday:
"Videos of the funeral procession of Intisar al-Mosaher which took place this morning in the al-Hamme area of Damascus; she was hit by 5 bullets in her home due to the random gunfire from Assad forces on houses yesterday night and she left 4 children."
James Miller takes over today's live coverage, with thanks to Scott Lucas for taking us through the morning.
1315 GMT: In Bahrain, a candle-lit march from AlDaih village to the main roads leading to Freedom Square and the oppoistion's open sit-in protest --- the process was in the memory of the first victim of the 14 February uprising, Ali Mushaima:
1310 GMT: Opposition activists claim an explosion has hit an oil pipeline near Quraiya in eastern Syria.
1250 GMT: Back from an academic break to find a troubling video report from the BBC:
People fleeing the central Syrian city of Homs have told the BBC that security forces are committing atrocities there.
One woman told the BBC's Paul Wood on the outskirts of Homs that soldiers had slit the throat of her 12-year-old son on Friday - a day after rebel fighters withdrew from the Baba Amr district.
She said 35 other men and boys from her area had also been detained and killed.
Meanwhile, an anti-regime rally today in Idlib Province:
And a demonstration at Aleppo University:
0750 GMT: In Iraq, gunmen have killed at least 25 policemen in pre-dawn attacks on checkpoints in Haditha, northwest of Baghdad.
The attackers, some of them wearing army uniforms, also kidnapped two senior officers from their homes.
0540 GMT: A straightforward start to Monday's coverage, as we note the claim of the Local Co-ordination Committees of Syria that at least 58 people died in violence on Sunday. The bodies of another four people, killed on Wednesday, were also recovered.
Within that number are glimpses of disturbing, if unconfirmed, developments. The LCCS claims that six men were executed in the Baba Amr section of Homs, largely cut off since regime forces took over the area last week. The activists also say 13 labourers were "massacred" in Hama.
A protest march on Sunday night in Idlib Province: