| The Daily Star |
JDEIDEH, Lebanon: Some 500 Syrian and Lebanese demonstrators loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad rallied Thursday in the Metn neighborhood of Roueisat.
Fewer than 500 meters from the Kataeb stronghold of Jdeideh, protesters chanted “God, Syria and Bashar” and sang nationalist songs while waving Syrian and Palestinian flags and setting off fireworks.Giant posters of Assad, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah and Speaker Nabih Berri were lifted during the rally on the road between Roueisat and the Justice Palace in Jdeideh.
“We are here to support Assad and tell him, ‘We are with you and your reforms,’” said a Syrian protester, who was one of dozens of Assad supporters helping to carry a giant Syrian flag.
Sadeq Daoud, a resident of the Syrian town of Hasakeh working in Beirut, said the demonstration also targeted the media, which he said was broadcasting false information about developments in Syria.
Human rights organizations have said that more than 3,000 people are missing and more than 1,500 have been killed in Syria since pro-democracy demonstrations began four months ago.
“TV channels like Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya have become a complementary tool that are working with the riot groups in Syria, which have killed more than 160 soldiers in the past three months,” said Daoud.
“All these criminals [demonstrators in Syria] should be punished with a death penalty … anyone creating havoc and [domestic] problems should be punished,” said Daoud, who asked Assad to use his “iron fist” to crack down on demonstrators.
Metn MP Sami Gemayel called on the Internal Security Forces to deploy in the area, fearing a confrontation between residents and protesters.
Fewer than 500 meters from the Kataeb stronghold of Jdeideh, protesters chanted “God, Syria and Bashar” and sang nationalist songs while waving Syrian and Palestinian flags and setting off fireworks.Giant posters of Assad, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah and Speaker Nabih Berri were lifted during the rally on the road between Roueisat and the Justice Palace in Jdeideh.
“We are here to support Assad and tell him, ‘We are with you and your reforms,’” said a Syrian protester, who was one of dozens of Assad supporters helping to carry a giant Syrian flag.
Sadeq Daoud, a resident of the Syrian town of Hasakeh working in Beirut, said the demonstration also targeted the media, which he said was broadcasting false information about developments in Syria.
Human rights organizations have said that more than 3,000 people are missing and more than 1,500 have been killed in Syria since pro-democracy demonstrations began four months ago.
“TV channels like Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya have become a complementary tool that are working with the riot groups in Syria, which have killed more than 160 soldiers in the past three months,” said Daoud.
“All these criminals [demonstrators in Syria] should be punished with a death penalty … anyone creating havoc and [domestic] problems should be punished,” said Daoud, who asked Assad to use his “iron fist” to crack down on demonstrators.
Metn MP Sami Gemayel called on the Internal Security Forces to deploy in the area, fearing a confrontation between residents and protesters.
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