Syria triggers further reactions worldwide

The15 civilians killed in the city of Homs by Syrian forces on Wednesday in defiance of international calls for President Bashar al-Assad to end violence against protesters.
The U.S. Treasury Department has enforced new sanctions on Syria, in a drive to weaken the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian leader eventually recognized that several errors have been done by hil loyal forces, but gave no signs of policy change. European members of the Security Council on Wednesday threatened Syria with tougher U.N. action if the bloody crackdown on protesters continued. Russia has also urged Damascus to implement promised reforms as soon as possible. But veto powers Russia and China, backed by India, South Africa and Brazil, have strongly opposed the idea of slapping U.N. sanctions on Damascus, which Western diplomats say would be the logical next step for Syria.

Syria between Turkey and Iran

On 09.08.2011, the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu visited Syria and met Syrian President Bashar al Assad and other senior officials in Damascus. The head of the Turkish diplomacy tried to convince the Syrian government to end use of force that led to over 1,600 people dead since protests broke out in the country five months ago. Ankara intends to monitor the behavior of the Syrian regime in the coming days. Syrian officials commented that while it would never cease to go after groups trying to destabilize the country, Damascus “is open to any help offered by friendly and brotherly states.”, a declaration clearly hinting to Iran.

At the same time, Former Syrian Defense Minister General Ali Habib was found dead in his home a day after Syrian President Bashar al Assad replaced him on health grounds in a reshuffle. Strong suspicions are that Habib may have been assassinated as the Alawite-Baathist regime comes under greater strain.

New initiatives to stop bloodshed in Syria

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah demanded an end to the bloodshed in Syria on Monday and recalled his country's ambassador from Damascus, in a rare case of one of the Arab world's most powerful leaders intervening against another.
State Secretary Hilary Clinton urged the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs to ask Syria to return solders in their barracks.

Arab League and Austria reacted against killings in Syria

President Bachar al-Assad of Syria considers that the Syrian state has the obligation to react against those illegally accusing him of terror against the population. In a meeting with the Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Adnane Mansour, he commented that his country is continuing reforms 

Activists in the region announced that at least 57 Syrian civilians were killed in armoured military assaults by President Bashar al-Assad's forces on Sunday to crush a five-month uprising against his rule.

The Arab League reacted expressing growing concern regarding latest developments in Syria and called on the authorities to immediately stop acts of violence against protesters.

Austria suspended its contract with the government of Syria for deliveries of banknotes printed in a printing house of the National Bank of Austria.

International reactions against escalating violence in Syria

The U.N. chief asked the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday to stop sending the military against demonstrators and expressed his concern regarding the escalating violence in Syria. 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu will visit Syria on 09.08.2011 in an attempt to determine Assad to stop repression against population.

Following international pressure, his Syrian counterpart, Walid al-Mouallem, announced that free and transparent election shall be held in Syria leading to a new Parliament, representing the aspirations of the people.

In the meantime, security forces in Syria have arrested Walid al-Bounni, one of the prominent oposition leaders, and his two sons.

US citizens warned to leave Syria

The US warned its citizens to immediately leave Syria as violences following protests against the regime of Bachar al-Assad are expected to worsen.

Increased pressure to stop Assad killing protesters in Syria

Concerted pressure of the USA, Germany and France to determine Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop killing protesters were announced by President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on 05.08.2011.

A meeting of tribal leaders in the Eastern province of Deir al-Zor, Syria, decided to confront any future government army assault.

First congress of the Syrian opposition

Syrian Democratic Movement Secretary General Muheddin Ladhikani announced first congress of the Syrian opposition movement to be held in the Tunisian capital of Tunis in September. The event is intended to unite Syrians working inside and outside Syria to plan an agenda for the country after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al Assad's regime. Ladhikani said the Arab silence about the situation in Syria needs to be broken. Tunisian political parties, including the Progressive Democratic Party and the main Tunisian Islamist movement Ennahda, are working to create a support committee for the Syrian people.

Russia urges reconciliation in Syria

On 04.08.2011, Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian President,  urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on start reforms and reconcile with his opponents to avoid a "sad fate". On the same date, the EU member states agreed to further extend sanctions on Syria. The oil industry and banks were not targeted by the move.

Germany intends to ask the United Nations to send a special envoy to Syria to increase pressure on Damascus over its crackdown on civilian protesters.

In the mean time killings continued in Syria where government forces shot dead four protesters near Damascus and in Southern Syria.

Multiparty system accepted in Syria

In a stick and carrot policy of the Syrian President Bachar al-Assad, one of the main requests of the protesters in the country was accepted. Officials in Sana announced that a multiparty system was accepted in Syria.
On August 4, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe called the move "almost a provocation" and called for an end to violence against civilians who only seek their rights. Juppe said that should the situation in Syria remain the same, his country may seek further U.N. Security Council action.
At the same time repression that left 30 persons dead during a bombardment on 03.08.2011 in the center of Hama is expected to continue. Communications in Hama are still cut by government forces.

Violence in Syria trigger international condemnation

After heavy shelling of the city of Hama, Syrian tanks occupied Orontes Square on 03.08.2011

Turkey joined the international condemnation of Siria, with Deputy Prime Minister Arinc Bulent declaring that the attack of the Syrian forces on their own citizens in the city of Hama was an atrocity and the government that sanctioned such a brutality can not be called a friend.
The U.N. Security Council also condemned human rights violations and use of force against civilians by Syrian authorities in a statement adopted on 03.08.2011. Syria's neighbor Lebanon, where Damascus' influence is strong, disassociated itself from the statement agreed by the other 14 members of the council.

Syria worries the world

During their third day of assault to silence the largest street protests against President Bashar al-Assad, Syrian tanks bombed the city of Hama after the nightly Ramadan prayers on 02.08,2011,
Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov declared that Rusia would not oppose a United Nations resolution to condemn violence in Syria, but excluded the need of sanctions or other pressure means.
The Syrian opposition urged President Barack Obama for renewed UN sanctions against their regime.