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Subscribe to RSSActivists in embattled cities such as Homs say food is running out and doctors lack medicine to treat the wounded.
Updated 10 p.m. ET: GENEVA -- The International Committee of the Red Cross says it is negotiating with Syrian authorities and opposition fighters to broker a cease-fire in some of the most violence-torn areas.
Meantime, activists say Syrian forces opened fire with live ammunition on demonstrators in Damascus overnight, wounding at least four, Reuters reported.
"We are currently discussing several possibilities with all those concerned, and it includes a cessation of fighting in the most affected areas," Red Cross spokeswoman Carla Haddad told The Associated Press.
She said the talks weren't aimed at resolving entrenched political differences, but to allow the humanitarian agency enough time to deliver aid to civilians hardest hit by the conflict.
"The idea is to be able to facilitate swift access to people in need," Haddad said.
Activists in embattled cities such as Homs say food is running out and doctors lack medicine to treat the wounded.
Violence in capital
Demonstrations and clashes with security forces have hit Damascus in the past week, undermining President Bashar al-Assad's argument that an 11-month uprising has been the work of saboteurs and limited mainly to the provinces.
International diplomacy showed no sign of finding a solution, as Western powers and the Arab League prepared a meeting of "Friends of Syria" Friday to pressure Assad to step down, while Russia and China backed Assad's reform plans, derided by Syria's opposition.
"There were hundreds of demonstrators at the main square of Hajar al-Aswad (neighborhood), and suddenly buses of security police and shabbiha (pro-Assad militia) turned up and started firing into the crowd," activist Abu Abdallah told Reuters by telephone.
He said the four wounded were taken to be treated in homes.
Footage posted on YouTube, purportedly taken before the shooting, showed a crowd marching in Hajar al-Aswad carrying placards in support of the besieged city of Homs and singing "Eyes are shedding tears for the martyrs among Syria's youth."
Earlier, opposition youths unfurled a pre-Assad era national flag over a road bridge at the edge of the capital, YouTube footage showed. That followed a weekend that saw one of the biggest demonstrations yet in the capital as the uprising neared its first anniversary.
‘Cut off from the outside world’
Opposition activists said five people had been killed in government shelling of Homs's Baba Amro district on Monday, adding to a reported death toll of several hundred since the operation began there on February 3.
Activists in the western city of Hama said troops, police and militias had set up dozens of roadblocks, cutting neighborhoods off from each other.
A flood of military reinforcements has been a prelude to previous offensives by Assad's regime, which has tried to use its overwhelming firepower to crush an opposition that has been bolstered by defecting soldiers and hardened by 11 months of street battles.
A Free Syrian Army fighter stands guard in Idlib in northwestern Syria, near the Turkish border, on Sunday.
"Hama is cut off from the outside world. There are no landlines, no mobile phone network and no Internet. House-to-house arrests take place daily and sometimes repeatedly in the same neighborhoods," an opposition statement said.
Rebel fighters have been attacking shabbiha militiamen while avoiding open confrontations with the armored forces that had massed around Hama, a city north of Homs on the Damascus-Aleppo highway.
The government restricts foreign media access in Syria, making it hard to verify the activists' reports independently.
Security forces have killed more than 5,000 people, according to human rights groups, in a campaign to crush the revolt while the Assad government says more than 2,000 soldiers and security agents have been killed.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Think of all the lives that could be saved if the Red Cross with willing doctors could be able to go in there during an agreed upon cease fire.
Too bad the force destroying said lives also has the ability to think of the same thing? I don't really see this agreement happening.... you don't go into something like this expecting to take a break to allow someone to come in and help out the people you're killing.....
I would hope...I don't pay $20 for a gallon of gas because of hubris...and stupid
why? pointless. these people will fight until the sun is blotted out.
msfruhauf - You pretty much hit the nail on the head. The people involved in this civil war, particularly the forces of the government, are interested in style points or world sensibilities. They are interested in winning, and staying in power.
It used to be that certain nations, America included, would be the cool and collected peace maker.
Instead, the Red Cross of all organizations has to broker the ceasefire while American politicians argue about how many MORE GUNS we can ship in.
The last thing the Middle East needs is yet more weapons.
At the rate we are going every friggin country in the region is going to want a nuke.
This looks more like a job for the Red Cresent than the Red Cross!!
then the
red seaThe Red Crescent is part of the International Red Cross therefore that is who would probably be there.
Crescent, Cross, does not really matter, Syria is a progressive dictatorship. Syria, in it's own f***ed up way is not really that much of a muslim country in this world any more than it is a christian country in the world. Syria is a country where both muslims and christians get treated as equally worthless, under Assad and his Alawites. This is why many Christians do not wish Assad to be removed from power, they are afraid of what might happen to them if the majority seizes control of the country. No chance that President Obama is going to come to the aid of a bunch of innocent Christians, he will just let them die because of politics. Every Christian should be praying that Assad keeps his police state for the lives of the Christians that reside in Syria. Look at Iran, this is the lesser of the evils. Why Americans support the worser of the evils I will never understand, but ask the Carter administration why they supported the Ayatolla.
Why is it that "infidels" money and organization such as the Red Cross are helping Muslims? The Muslim Red Crescent should the one to help their own kind. Once the dust settles, the Muslims that the Red Cross helps, will turn around and kill us. Let's them deal with their own problems.
Red Cross should go to poor communities and provide free medical care back home. There are too many poor Americans who cannot afford health care.
Red Cross has no business to be in a Muslim nation unless they want sink our monies and draw sympathies when kidnapped or killed.
In Syria, it should be Saudi or Paki Red Crescent with mullahs around them.
Please see this video. #
this is my take...on the situation...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-2pNCZiNk plain bob 2012...
the chinese have made a big boo boo by taking sides. Now they are as stupid as our gov't
The Chinese could never be as stupid as our government if they tried. Somehow, we will end up on the short end of the stick, no matter what. Watch and see.
The Chinese could never be as stupid as our government if they tried. Somehow, we will end up on the short end of the stick, no matter what. Watch and see.
Critical times hard to deal with, will be here.
and hard to win with too many mad Isalmic religious nuts!
Good luck.
I doubt that will happen though.
What I never could understand about revolution is why NORMAL soldiers would kill their own countrymen.
Imagine if you took aim and killed your own brother or sister.
Assad needs to be taken out and quick.
What you do is take young men and spend a while drilling them to take orders, then give them orders. No mystery.
Yes it is a mystery.
I was in the militay for quite a while.
I would never take up arms against my fellow citizens, even if a gun was put to my head, training or not.
They are normal soldiers who are being told the opposition forces are; bandits, terrorists, 'revoltees' working for organizations 'x', 'y', and 'z' as well as those citizens seeking to overthrow and undermine legitimate authority.
Think of the various riots in different parts of the US. Tanks were utilized, soldiers were dispatched with live ammunition. Martial Law was declared amongst other measures.
During the US Civil War brothers were on both sides of the conflict. It is possible they killed their sibling. Such happened in Ireland as well as other venues of conflict. Current events demonstrate and have demonstrated different sects of the same religion have no compulsion about killing those of other sects.
Fortunately, in the US, the religious demonization is via verbiage-so far. With all the whipped up hatred-which is against all religious teachings-against Obama, who is a Christian, but a member of a different political party label I wouldn't be surprised if firearms would be used. Sectarian demonization no different than elsewhere.
Sadly, just like in the middle east people are attacked via verbiage, fists, weapons, and such for the 'crime' of lack of belief. As well as for the 'crime' of standing up for the secular US Constitution. No matter what the Liars for Jesus scream-the US was not set up to be a theocracy. It is not a 'Christian Nation[tm]', a Islamic Nation, or any other religious faction nation.
Diversity of thought is strength not weakness. The Bill of Rights exists to protect Christians as well as everyone else from the 'Tyranny of the Majority'. For those who wish for a theocracy there are many 'garden spots' in the middle east you can move to. Take your pick.
Stoney,
Your post is the best that I have read in quite a while. While you seem to be misguided by following our current commander in chief, President Obama, into the abyss, but you bring up some great points in your post. When it comes to selecting the President, we are a country that VOTES instead of fighting, this is a great process. Our country is not ran by any religion and will not be no matter who is elected, the people that run for President in this country are not the type that will follow the directions of a religous figure head (JFK did not do everything that the Pope ordered as many crazy Americans thought). I personally know of many muslims that are more American in their beliefs than a lot of Christians that I know. This is a wonderful country and I just hope that the Democrats and Republicans don't screw it up!!!!
Vote Libertarian! Vote for America! Or, just vote Ron Paul, the only person that is TOO AMERICAN TO WIN! LOL
Our system doesn't work either. Obama got elected with barely a majority of actual voters. There are millions of potential voters that don't bother because they don't think it matters who is in the WH. So basically we are split and thus since the democrats control the senate and the executive office the "other" side is strangled. This makes for even more division when one side feels silenced.
We should have a president from both sides with equal weight. A compromise must be required on issues within a certain period of time or else both presidents get booted. So there should be some sort of vote of confidence. Right now we have two sides that refuse to respect each other. Maxine Waters said the other day that republicans were demons. Nobody with any intention of working with those with a different opinion would such a thing. She should be booted for that language. When you resort to name calling all is lost and shows you can't win the debate but want to demean.
Both sides do not want compromise because each party feels that is a sign of weakness. I sure as heck would not want to force our system on others since it hasn't served as well either. We don't even pay attention to the constitution anymore.
Let's say 1 million voters took to the streets day after day asking Obama to step aside. Do you think he would? How about if 2 million took to the streets? NOPE. How long do you think our government would tolerate millions taking to the street? OWS was really low numbers and you can see that between the protesters going over the line, and the police force, that both sides got sick of each other pretty quickly. If half the country to the streets asking Obama to step down, do you think he would? NOPE again. It would get ugly.
We should stay out of struggles within other countries. If the Syrians want a new government let them do what is necessary to bring about change.
One thing is certain. The US can't win here. If we do nothing we will be condemned since we helped Libya. So basically we are hypocrites right now. If we arm the rebels or use military strength to help out, the new government will never thank us and in fact will turn on us just as Egypt and Libya have done. THEY DON'T LIKE US. PERIOD.
Do you mean like the rebels are doing?
Ken is correct about the Red Crescent.
The Red Cross should not be involved in this.
We need the Red Cross in the US, not Syria.
This is beginning to look more and more like Libya.
I wonder when Mr. Obama is going to order the Drones flying over Syria be "armed", then ask the U.N. for armed intervention with NATO troops (most from the U.S.), and then provide the IMF for funding of "reconstruction".
Nah, Mr. Obama is too busy attacking his Presidental opponents. Wait a minute...Wednesday is approaching, time to plan for that next White House party.
Hey, Mr. Obama has stated enough times that he will not get involved in foreign affairs, period. That's why he did not get involved with Libya. No American planes there. That is why he pulled out of Iraq, no Americans left there, that is why he pulled out of Afghanistan, no Americans left there either. I don't even think that there is 28,000 Americans left in South Korea either? I'm sure that President Obama, aka, the holiest of holies, aka the messiah, aka the greatest person to ever step foot on the earth except for the first Jesus, himself. Obama rocks. Re-elect him or be doomed by the hellfire missiles that will be launched by the CIA drones that circle above us right now! Hey, how do you think that so many muslim Americans have been killed in YEMEN?
Then why did it cost us 2 billion dollars?
Obama should have been impeached for his illegal and unprovoked attack on Libya.
Boring...people kill'n each other...lol...they need to get a life...
Even if the rebels win this fight the violence will not stop. Very sad that the children will witness this brutality.
That's what's so terrible. Either way, it will be bad. There are enough bitter Sunni (bitter for many reasons) that when and if they take over, it will be a bloodbath, possibly big enough to call a genocide.
Children aren't just witnessing this brutality... they are dying from it. Indiscriminate killing by their own government. Assad needs to be taken out... quietly and efficiently... sort of like Osama Bin Laden. Screw China and Russia... they didn't support the resolution because this is EXACTLY what they would do to their own people if the revolted like this. They are making a statement to their own people to not even think about it. We don't need an expensive military machine to take out Assad... a well-educated and armed drone and/or a well-educated and armed Seal team! If our reporters were allowed in there and the photos were coming out of that country onto your TV screens, I am sure there would be scenes that would soften many folks stance on this situation. I know, it seems like we would be the "world police" if we did that but somebody needs to do it! These people do not have a prayer with their own well-armed and funded government killing them.
Or the rebels could quit attacking the governmnet
Well great. It's that simple.
The "rebels" are alot of different people. Patriots, Islamic extremists, average Joe's. In some cases, they are standing in the street attempting to have a peaceful protest and getting shot at for it. That's actually how it started and why alot of them have taken up arms and why there have been military defections.
New Englander yes we agree on the continuation of violence even if the rebels win. The tribal and religious affiliations are entrenched in their ideas of loyalty and righteousness. There are differences but the closest western contemporary example of these hostilities would be the Irish and Catholic conflicts. Although Mohamed advocated peace and tolerance he also advocated war and violence. Christians have been violent and aggressive but Christ not in word or deed ever advocated violence against other people or groups. That might be a possible explanation why cognitive dissonance or questioning the righteousness of say suicide bombers is not problematic for this type of Muslim. Killing what they percieve to be their enemy just does not cause them to suffer pangs of guilt.
fight for freedom-
I'm with you. It's not that often that a balanced statement like that gets posted or even spoken. There are alot frustrating things that happen like suicide bombings and people rationalizing why it's okay. I understand that their population even includes people doing straight-up evil things. It's still no reason to blame the general population, making indiscriminate statements like, "We should just nuke the whole country." It also doesn't mean we shouldn't feel compassion for the innocent men, women, and children caught in the middle of this. Unfortunately, alot of people tend to speak in one extreme or the other, when that just doesn't reflect the truth. It's not that simple. It almost never is.
I feel very fortunate to be in this beautiful, free and relatively safe country.
New Englander Yes I would agree that frustration fear and anger often result in extreme behavior but I do think that doctrines have an influence on how groups of people evaluate and act upon situations. Trying to change cultural or religious theocracies is difficult but the desire to be free is I think the best way to encourage people to accept responsibility to think for themselves and respect others. Without compassion and reciprocity being at the forefront of a moral base uncooperative behaviors will always be a problem and unfortunately the teachings in the Quran are rife with Surah's advocating violence against the non believer. The eastern cultures have always stressed most strenuously obedience to authority while western culture has always desired freedom from tyranny or oppressive governing structures. Both have had their fair share of dictatorships and oppressive governments that the innocent suffer under.
I am enjoying this conversation. So many times people are so hostile and only use the Newsvine to vent their anger on other posters.
Red Cross negotiating pause to fighting in Syria? I respect the effort. Good luck, your gonna need it!
U.S needs to call for a cease fire and evacuate those people out and also the border of Turkey.
umm...huh? We've been calling for a cease fire the last 4 months and why is it our responsibility to orchestrate evacuation?
The United States needs to keep it's fanny completely out of it.
Every one that gets killed is one we won't have to zap later
You are so right! We should be orchestrating the extermination of these people, President Obama should have already sentenced them to death for speaking against the government and mandatory health insurance!
Keep asking nicely, they will have to cave eventually!
“GENEVA -- The International Committee of the Red Cross says it is negotiating with Syrian authorities and opposition fighters to broker a cease-fire in some of the most violence-torn areas.”
Since when Red Cross has a say in War violence, it is just a voluntarily organization. Since 2003, Red Cross has seen high level of violation of war crimes committed by American soldiers in Iraq. The Red Cross complained but was dismissed by the military and the White House. By examining the wounds of the deceased and wounded Iraqis coming out of American controlled prisons, Red Cross confirmed that Americans had committed war crimes.
After ABU Graib prison abuse was reported, and some scapegoats were prosecuted, war crimes continued and many American soldiers went AWOL which led to a shortage of new recruits and the extension of “STOP LOSS”. Many questionable and lowly qualified soldiers were recruited subsequently.
The Red Cross has not been able to enforce the Geneva Conventions or help victims of war crimes.
How much can Red Cross help in Syria? Nothing.
Abu Grahib was a cluster fu**. 99% of the ACTIVE MILITARY would not condone such actions. You had a bunch of reservist's MP's from West Virginia and Western Maryland at Abu Grahib. Please, get educated on the subject. Reservists and National Guard are weekend soldiers that are not equipped, menatally or physically, to wage a true war against a legitimate enemy. The National Guard and Reservists should have never been deployed, we should have used Iraqs own Army to take care of the problems there, it was an epic fail.
Have you ever been stop lossed,,,,,,, troop?
Launch another hellfire
guided by laser, not wire
and all I ever wanna' see
is tanks, burning tanks...
lol
1/2 Attack!!!! AH-64D's rule the battlefield! My PNVS hurts. lol
You know, I bet if the opposition agreed to recognize Israel . They would suddenly see medical supplies, small arms, anti tank weapons, etc. Like mana from heaven.
They are in the neighborhood. Just sayin
Not a snowball's chance in hell of that happening!!!
Israel is on the fence. It's great to isolate Iran and all, but Israel is nervous about the Golan Heights. It is recognized by the UN as belonging to Syria, but has been under Israeli control since 1967. It's one of the games they play..."We'll give up the Golan Heights if Syria commits to peace." They frame it in different ways like that, but what do they do if they end up with a different government who agrees to peace? Then they have to give up a huge tourist attraction that also gives them a third of their water supply.
Well our news media says their desperate. Not desperate enough to deal with their neighbor who knows Assad is an enemy, and backed by Iran???
"but has been under Israeli control since 1967"
Since 1973 actually NewEnglander. Israel lost a lot of blood in 73 regaining the heights. Once they did have control, the road to Damascus was open. Only Richard Milhouse called them off...
Interesting talking about the history Aussie. It's still safe to say it has been under Israeli control sin '67. Syria only had presence in the Heights for less than a week, and it's not like they actually had enough control to say they occupied the place. I am from Louisiana. We say Louisiana has been part of the U.S. since it was declared a state. We don't mention that it has been part of the U.S. since the Civil War ended.
I guess it's all semantics anyway. The exact year wasn't that important anyway. The point was that it would be a big financial loss to Israel. They have had the benefit of the Heights for - more or less - 40 years. They are more comfortable that they can keep it under Assad than if his government is overthrown.
...
What about Red Crescent? I prefer not see news about our red cross first aid worker behead by radical terrorist again as it happen before because radical cleric will rally people to do that due to they view first aid worker as crusader with red cross on chest.
I certainly hope that the U.S. stays out of Syria, it is just another Muslim country who will turn on us. Those people have no respect for human life, honor killings, human bombs, no respect for woman...these people are like animals.
A war is a coming........ oh yes it is..........a war is a coming... to the Assads!!!!!!!!!!!!! You can not keep your people down! First Obama will be replaced by a non-communist, then Assad will be replace by some crazy person,,, that the people wanted, go figure? lol
Socialism is really bad when the RICH run out of money and there is no one left to STEAL from. I'm just sayin'. lol
Love you Right Wing fanatics.Too bad you tend to support the LARGEST, MOST POWERFUL COMMUNISTS IN THE WORLD!!! CHina
How do you oppose Communism and build it at the same time??
I agree, The US should stay out of Syria. We have our own problems.
Looking for work: usworksource.com
China and Russia have nothing but scorn for Assad's victims and will demonstrate that to the bitter end.
Even if a truce were to be established, Assad and his military/security forces will never be able to wash away the horrible blood stains that they have caused through their brutality.
You can be sure that any "deal" the Russians or Chinese broker will have Assad coming out the winner....
Time for Mao's "Peoples War" to start....
Bloody hell, I just cannot fathom this nonsense.
First of all, the Arab armies are pretty well armed (I won't say competent) and their bank accounts are pretty much bulging. Why are they asking the UN for help? Why aren't they going in there and stamping this out themselves?
Now we've got the Red Cross getting involved. What the hell is the Red Crescent doing?
Seems to me the Arabs want others to go in and do the dirty work. Just like they get Asians in to do the menial work, all the dirty stuff in their countries that they think is beneath them! Typical Arabs...
Spot on mate. This is why the Arab League just sits around with their thumbs up their bums .
I tried looking for a World Vision Syrian donation page and couldn't find one. I prefer World Vision because they used to give out scholarships to the poor children in my hometown in Mexico. Anyways, I was able to find the ICRC Red Cross donation for the Syrian Arab country and donated what I could. I'm hanging out with 3 little kids right now so I would donated more if I could. I imaged those kids in the pictures being in one of my schools and how we wish to save and preserve such higher and evolved human consciousness with the God-given right to vote. Tried explaining the situation, that the president on Syria wishes to control the population by killing them so he can control them until his dead by force.