Syria: Assad Names New Governor of Homs, Clinton Condemns Violence Calls for Reform

April 21st, 2011 by Naureen

On Thursday, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad swore in Ghassad Abdul Aal as the new governor of Homs following clashes between demonstrators and security forces which resulted in the death of 17 protesters and scores of arrests. Najati Tayara, an activist in Homs, stated that the city was quite on Thursday but that security forces are stationed on the outskirts of impoverished neighborhoods with the expectation that protests will continue tomorrow.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the ongoing violence  and arbitrary arrest of protesters in Syria and called for a “political process that can respond to the legitimate needs, interests, and aspirations of the people” who are seeking “substantial and lasting reform.”  She also noted the U.S.’s particular concern about the situation in Homs given reports of violence and casualties among both civilians and government personnel.

PGCC urges Yemen's Saleh to quit

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saudi Al-Faisal (C) speaks with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani (L) and his Bahraini counterpart Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmad al-Khalifa in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on April 10, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/174184.html

The member states of the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council ([P]GCC) have presented a united front in calling on embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

During a Sunday meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, foreign ministers from the [P]GCC urged the long-ruling Yemeni president to hand over power to his deputy to pave the way for power transition in the Middle Eastern country, Reuters reported.

The appeal comes as Yemeni protesters continue to demand an end to the decades-long rule of Saleh, who has refused to step down despite the massive popular protests since mid-February.

The [P]GCC states -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- also called for the formation of a coalition government led by the opposition and the drafting of a new constitution in troubled Yemen.

"The formation of a national unity government under the leadership of the opposition which has the right to form committees ... to draw up a constitution and hold elections" is a way out of the current political crisis in Yemen, the Persian Gulf Arab states said.

On Friday, the Yemeni ruler declined an invitation by the six-nation [P]GCC to a mediation session in Saudi Arabia with the Yemeni opposition to end the months-long unrest in the Middle Eastern country.

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in different cities across Yemen on Sunday despite the government's recent brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters.

The Sunday rallies were held in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a, the western city of Hudaydah along with Taiz and Ibb, both in the southwest part of the country.

More than 40 protesters were wounded by live gunfire in clashes in Taiz between security forces and demonstrators Sunday, AFP reported. In Sana'a, security forces shot and wounded 30 people on Saturday, while 80 others suffered injuries from beatings with batons, medics said.

The protesters are calling for corruption and unemployment in the country to be tackled and demanding Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

Some 40 percent of the Yemeni population lives on $2 a day or less and one third of Yemenis face food shortages.

The protests have been met with crackdowns by riot police or supporters of President Saleh who are armed with knives and batons.

Posted byStewarta

Syria: President Assad’s Cabinet Resigns

On Tuesday, President Bashar al-Assad accepted the resignation of his cabinet.  This is the most recent step by the Assad regime in response to protests across the country and rising anger over the killings of civilians by state security forces. Also on Tuesday, thousands of supporters took to the streets in Damascus showing their support for the regime. There are still reports that President Assad is expected to repeal the emergency law, but has yet to announce such a policy.