Syria: Angry Protesters in Homs Demand Protection

Angry protesters have confronted visiting Arab League monitors in Syria’s restive city of Homs, demanding international protection.

The observers are verifying compliance with an Arab League plan to end the government’s violent crackdown.

Tens of thousands protested in Homs as the monitors arrived. The Arab League said the first day was “very good”.

Tanks reportedly withdrew before the monitors arrived but activists say some were simply deployed out of sight.

The UN says more than 5,000 people have been killed in protests against President Bashar al-Assad’s rule since March.

Lisa Mullins talks with an activist inside the Syrian city of Homs, as unrest there continues.

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Lisa Mullins: I’m Lisa Mullins and this is The World. Today, tens of thousands of anti-government protestors thronged the streets in the Syrian city of Homs. Unverified video showed a resident shouting, “We want an Arab army to enter Syria, we demand a no-fly zone.” The demonstrators were sending a message to observers from the Arab League. Those monitors arrived in Homs today. Clashes between government forces and the opposition caused at least 30 deaths in the city on the eve of the visit. We reached an activist in Homs, Abu Rami, although that’s not his real name. The telephone line into the city fell short of broadcast quality, so we’ve provided a voice over. Abu Rami told us that he does not believe that the Arab League observers are independent.

Abu Rami/Voiceover: They visited two or three areas, but they were under the control of the regime. Today, a big demonstration, the number of protestors was around 50,000 people. And more than that, the Arab observers, they didn’t come to this neighborhood and watch themselves. We called them many times, but unfortunately, sometimes there was no responding. Sometimes the line was busy and we didn’t contact them.

Mullins: If you could speak to them, the observers for the Arab League, what would you tell them?

Rami/Voiceover: I would tell them that look at these huge number of protestors. The Syrian media said that there is no crisis in Syria, that there is no protestors. Look with your eyes and see these protestors. I would take them to families who lost their children and tell them our suffering. And we would like to tell them that we need international protection. But to be honest with you, I am not optimistic for that so far from these observers.

Mullins: Abu, is there anything else that you want to mention that you think we should know?

Rami/Voiceover: Yes, I want to add something very important, that the mayor of Homs city threatened the protestors to be calm nowadays and that if we didn’t be calm he is not responsible for what the security forces will do against us. For that reason we are calling many times and request through your media, we are appealing for the international community and United Nations, and the whole humanitarian organization to intervene in Syria and to stop this bloodshed that’s happening every day.

Mullins: Thank you, Abu Rami, in Homs, Syria.

Rami: Thank you.

Mullins: That was a Syrian activist speaking to us from Homs.

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