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Subscribe to RSSAs violence turns to war in Syria, the country votes on a referendum that would limit the government's powers. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
At least 31 Syrian civilians and soldiers were killed on Sunday in bloodshed that coincided with a vote on a new constitution that could keep President Bashar al-Assad in power until 2028.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a military bombardment of opposition districts in Homs, now in its fourth week, had killed nine civilians, while rebel fighters had killed four soldiers in clashes in the city.
The British-based Observatory said eight civilians and 10 members of the security forces were killed in violence elsewhere in Syria, scene of what has become an increasingly militarised revolt against four decades of Assad family rule.
Voting was under way in the referendum on a constitution which Assad says will lead to a multi-party parliamentary election in three months, but which his opponents see as a sick joke given the unrest convulsing the country.
"What should we be voting for, whether to die by bombardment or by bullets? This is the only choice we have," said Waleed Fares, an activist in the Khalidiyah district of Homs.
At least 89 were reported killed on Saturday, one day before the referendum. Activists estimate close to 7,500 people have been killed in the 11 months since the Assad regime's brutal crackdown on dissent began.
Read: Is Syria's vote a chance for democracy or trick by Assad?
"The referendum in Syria is nothing more than a farce," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said. "Sham votes cannot be a contribution to a resolution of the crisis. Assad must finally end the violence and clear the way for a political transition."
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called on Syrians in business and the military who still support Assad to turn against him.
"The longer you support the regime's campaign of violence against your brothers and sisters, the more it will stain your honor," she told reporters in Morocco. "If you refuse, however, to prop up the regime or take part in attacks ... your countrymen and women will hail you as heroes."
U.S., European and Arab officials met Friday at a major international conference on the Syrian crisis in Tunisia, trying to forge a unified strategy to push Assad from power. They began planning a civilian peacekeeping mission to deploy after the regime falls.
"It is time for that regime to move on," President Barack Obama said Friday of Assad's rule. On Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Assad's crackdown belied promised reforms.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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Referendum during blood shed to keep him in power? What are these folks smoking.
It's a farce.
SI
Kush of course they cant afford California Buds
So there is no one, I mean no one out here that can & will do the right thing in this situation????
It's not uncommon to have the people vote to support/re-elect a dictator when they are challenged. I bet Jimmy Carter certifies the vote as legitimate.
Jimmy who??
Yes, Mr President...... Your regime, will be Moving On also, in November 2012......
just pure ignorance
Ghost, unfortunately that is not impossible, your America is so stupid that they could be asking for more of King George, and most probably you are part of the 99% voting to be oppressed by the 1%. The world around listen your candidates wondering how is possible so much ignorance and dishonesty. They lied in every pronounced word and make people like you to be happy.
duarte, You talk funny.
Do you feel less oppressed by O'bama duarte?
duartefrancisco62@yahoo.com
this is after all the www so i simply ask. is there any point to your gibberish? or are you here in America without any command of English ? i shall await your reply.
duarte, are you the same guy that keeps emailing me a request to send me funds from a foreign account if I simply give you my personal information?
And yet the world continues to do nothing.
So exactly what would you like the world to do? Guess they could bring the Muslim Brotherhood to power by following Libya's & Egypt's example. Or those so called helpers could assist the Al Qaedas' present.
Shouldn't people know for sure which side they will be helping before interfering?
we could start by hacking the heads off of some US Afgani's in retaliation to the 2 soldiers that were killed. We sit back and say "omg that is so unacceptable" when @!$%# like this goes on but we are so politically stymied by the liberal agenda that NOTHING happens. ( an apology from the Afghanistan government officials?) Give me a f'ing break. Syria and its current events are simply a diversion. The out of control Radical Islamic Agenda MUST be annihilated! Rise up Crusaders and fight! lol This @!$%# beats watching the Oscars.
An old Russian saying: "It isn't the votes that counts. It is who counts the votes."
Good one AL, Very true....
@ normalperson123......WHO CARES....Read OTHER news on the situation FIRST. The USA SHOULD be on the side of Assad. He is an Alawis Muslim, which is a more tolerant sect of Islam as he doesn't believe in fasting, praying 5 times a day, pilgramige, etc...and most important, he is TOLERANT OF CHRISTIANS, as he allows them to build places of worship, and worship peacefully. The USA should be on HIS SIDE. Why else to you think that Al-Qaeda came out and said they support the opposition...b/c the Sunni radical extremist Muslims hate Assad and see him as a "fake" Muslim, and want him out of power while having the "opposition" come to power as they are also mostly Sunni. Right now, JUST REMEMBER that if you are supporting the side of Assad's opposition, you are on the same side that Al-Qaeda is also supporting as well as the Muslim Brotherhood. People are so foolish....they see a few pictures of dead Syrian children and they get all emotional. Just THINK ABOUT IT...WHY is Al-Qaeda and the MB supporting the opposition? Once in power, Syria will become a terrorist state...COUNT ON IT. The Muslim Brotherhood already came out and said once Assad is out, they will kill all the Christians and Alawis'....that is what you people are supporting by taking Assad out of power. Just look at Afghanistan...we save them from the Russian invasion of 79', and now they still hate us and are killing our people. Syria will be the exact same. Muhammed is a very tricky, influential prophet....be careful.
@ AmericanMess: So we should be on the side of the man who is violently oppressing his people...because of his religion? Personally, I believe it's irrelevant whether someone is in "a more tolerant sect of Islam" if they're on a murdering rampage.
I thought that was an ol' Democrat saying?
Emily925,
Well, why don't you get yourself all gussied up and fly over there and tell Assad and the Muslim Brotherhood a thing or two. I personally don't feel like sending one more bullet out of the rifle. Good luck with having a little talk with them.
My fellow Americans I am a Christian from Syria. I came to the USA 36years ago when I was a little kid. You can believe what you want to believe But, what I am going to say to you here is the truth. I been in Syria many times and I have lots of family there everything you are seening on the media is all propaganda. The Syrian President never killed this people. What you are seening is that the Syrian Army Is fighting the terrorist and most of the video's are fabricated by the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim brotherhood is using the USA and the human rights groups as a front. They are beening funded by Qatar Saudi Arabia and UAE. These countries are the biggest funds of terrorism in the world. If you really look at these countries they have the worst human rights in the world no freedom of religion no women rights etc. and in Saudi Arabia and Qatar if you open a Bible they will hang you. In Syria you have freedom of religion women has rights like they have here in the USA. If you think the Syrian people are against the Syrian president you are wrong. Some people are against him but the majority about 90% are with the the Syrian president. Trust me the Muslim brotherhood is the same as AL Qaida. Al Qaida is part of the Muslim Brotherhood. They spilt off in the 80's and they have the same mind. They want the world to be hard core Islam like them and they will stop at nothing to get there way. The only way to stop them is to stop there funds from coming in and We have to stop Qatar Saudi Arabia and UAE.
we don't care - this is not our problem....
And yet you both read the story and replied to it. Very convincing.
I agree-we need to stay out! The moment we get involved, they turn on us and we become the enemy. No thanks!!
What an Ahole Ghost. Got to throw in Obama jab whenever you can. Wishful thinking anyway.
What do you think will happen when Obama actually starts campaigning? None of the 4 idiots left on the other side are even polling above him now and they have been campaigning for a year.
When Obama starts campaigning? He's never stopped campaigning. To bad he didn't take time out to actually do his job.
David,
Easy to much truth in one setting just frazzles the jerryk1.
oh... whats up David-1250323 ...nice.
jerky what say you now huh?
You Obama koolaid drinking welfare recipient hand-out looking baby killing gay love supporting liberal.
(oh that was soo bad)
kids its past your bed time.
Where is the muslim world to stop this blodshed amongst it's brethren? The "religion of peace," strikes again. This is an arab conflict, let them resolve it. They don't want us there, wake up. The US can only hope to help resolve this with diplomacy and not troops or arms. The admin is doing all it can and I pray Obama is re-elected so people with sense stay in office. He is not politically motivated unlike the dweebs trying to get in. Read it again , he is not politcially motivated, only trying to do what is best for the most Americans. And to me, he can live with whatever decision the American public decide in November.
Yep! God knows we have sold the Saudi's enough Jets over the years, Why don't they use them?
They are waitng for Uncle Sucker to take the lead and then blame it on us.
from one Johnny to another, you high brother. "He is not politically motivated"? WTF are you smoking ?
There is no way the military and political powers in Syria will step down voluntarily. They know if they do they will be captured, their wealth taken and they will be inprisonned if luck. Shot or hung most likely.
What will be next ? a rebolve in US soil again the corrupts politicians and others suckers in our own government ? will be ONU, NATO and WalDisney, support this ?
Ummm? What???
I am sure if Turkey and the Saudi's and Jordan wanted to use their Air force to knock out Tanks and other targets they could do so pretty easy. God knows we have sold them enough jets over the last 20 years. But I don't see them doing that, Let's hope they get some guts and take care of their own neighborhood.
At least 31 Syrian civilians and soldiers were killed on Sunday in bloodshed that coincided with a vote on a new constitution that could keep President Bashar al-Assad in power until 2028. ( As per news story)
Ok MsN am I in a quantum's leap. What was the out come of the 2008 vote. And I actually read your article
It says 2028. Don't worry, I saw 2008 the first time too.
President Bashar al-Assad said if it comes down to it, he'll fight until the very end. In the mean time, he is also looking for a good hole to hide in.
One drone strike on his a$$ would fix Syrias problem and dig the hole too!
End the UN! It's a nearly useless, valueless institution set up in large part by Communist spy Alger Hiss, who helped create a formula whereby Joseph Stalin had veto power over all decisions.
End Chinese and Russian tyranny over free countries' diplomacy! We're seeing it again in Syria.
In its place set up The World Democratic League where only free societies get voting rights, and non-representative governments can only get non-voting status. The only diplomatic policies that would pass would be ones that a majority of free nations voted for, and in cases of war 2/3 voted for.
In such a system, Russia might have a vote (no veto), but China would have no vote. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Myanmar, and other authoritarian regimes would have no vote on anything. They can go set up the Dictator's League.
That is a lie and a media propaganda. Perhaps you should read the new Constitution chapter 8 before spreading a lies like that.
Simply put the Syrians need to make sure Bashar al-Assad dies as soon as possible.
The Syrians and everybody else in the cesspool of the Middle East can vote all they want, little will change. They are tribal-driven countries and they are not ready to embrace real democracy.
Democracy is the sh!tt!est form of government. Look what it has gotten us in the U.S. By the way this is a CONTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC.Thatis why we need a constitutional convention to let the REAL people of our country decide which way to proceed. Not chosen by the career crooks in D.C. that have ran this country in the ground.
a what? CONTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC? is that within the US Guberment
The U.N. is the eighth king and they will come to an end. What comes next? Will the hate, violence and war ever end. What about all our problems? We may say it's not our problem, but somehow it will affect us. At least, in the U.S. I have the 1st amendment that many want to change.
All nations of the planet should have convened at the UN to allow foreign intervention in Syria. Syria is for the Syrian people to live in peace and with dignity! But now, they are being slaughtered like pigs and the international community should not allow it! For God´s sake, we live in the 21st century. Especially, in this particular case, the Arab League Nations should act overwhelmingly to cause the fall of those demented murderers Assad, both Bashar and Naher.
Russia and China have demonstrated that they too want to have a free hand in their countries to maim, assassinate and jail their nationals, at will. They have plenty of experience in producing dead and mutilated bodies all over their countryside.
With this background, Assad has now promoted a fake, cynical referendum, on constitutional changes, to make everybody believe that he is the good guy, and that the people of Syria deserve to be slaughtered day after day, with no international reaction in sight.
Of course, all this, also, after recent elections in Yemen where a single candidate, the Vice-president of Saleh, another assassin, ran for reelection; and, of course, won.
And, not a word from the State Department or the majority of chanceries across the world, especially of those countries that consider themselves highly industrialized, super developed, and the world´s guardians of freedom, free democracy, and human rights.
Why doesn´t the International Penal Court seek to investigate and prosecute Assad´s animal behavior, ASP?
Nice, huh, after 40 years of his family being in power, this stupid animal named Bashar Assad -- all he knows is killing his own people with his country´s army. He´s been president for 11 years, but he has reached the point of no return and should be killed, alongside his family. The referendum should be for his ouster from this planet, period! He´ll surely lose. Lest, of course, in the case of Assad, countries like the UK, where his bitchy wife is from, try to give him asylum. At this point, any type of sectarian violence is better than outright killings by this demented moron and his brother Maher. The Sunni Muslims will in the end prevail, while the Alawite, related to Shiite Islam, will probably be massacred in Syria.
The Royal Saudis, and other blue blooded Arabs, including Assad, and other (assassins) “presidents” of the region´s economies, are not reforming anything in the political arena, like redefining their rules for economic growth in democracy, western-type. They´ll all be kicked out eventually! And, when the population realizes that the West did not help, they´ll surely turn to more fanatic means, engulfing both politics and religion, as in Iran!! Eventually, to protect oil sources the West might have to set up a NO-FLY ZONE all over the Middle East, case by case.
Bashar Al Assad is a despot, demented moron, and murderer – an international shame for the 21st century -- and should be executed quickly by Syria´s (shabiha in rebellion), or foreign, armed forces – the Mossad -- even for the sake of saving their skins if not solely to save Arab lives, while at the same time taking over and installing a temporary military government,, that over a period of 2 years could bring things back to normal. Needless to say, in the process, the armed forces there should be purged of any of Assad´s cronies so that these freedom fights continue for the benefit of the Syrian population.
The only political system that will last forever, so to speak, will be a western style-type democracy. Apparently this truth has been realized by a whole new generation of Syrians educated within and outside of that country. The internet has helped bridge the technological gap and to come to full realization that their young lives were meaningless and had no future with corrupt animals like Assad, in power.
However, Syrians will not have freedom and dignity for a long time. They have to work at it, together with their armed forces that must see their role as only temporary -- 2 years -- until the country´s new institutional basis is set up so that political parties can prosper in peace and without fear. Once this is achieved, elections must be convened so that regional-party political representatives can be elected nationwide with a view to integrating a National Assembly to draft a new Constitution for the country. This would be the beginning of a new future for the Syrian population.
Meanwhile, if captured alive, the military government should prosecute Assad so that the death penalty can be brought to bear on this god forsaken animal, and his family. Their own and family assets, in general, should be confiscated in Syria as well as outside of the country. Those monies belong to the people of Syria.
But more than anything, the world must congratulate the Syrian population for acting with great courage, with their hearts and minds, to try to topple a ruthless and corrupt regime from the face of the earth.
Needless to say many more countries will follow, not only in the Middle East – mainly, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iran, etc. -- but also in Latin America, especially in the case of those with presidential lunatics trying to emulate the Cuban political system which under the noses of the USA and the rest of the Americas has failed miserably, i.e., Venezuela and his gorilla Chavez.
In general, the combination of authoritarian rule, high unemployment, poor opportunities for social advancement, demographic youth bulges, low public investment in education and health and other public services, and anger at high levels of corruption, and outright thievery, in the Middle East and North Africa, and in Latin America, will prompt public uprisings that will topple their leaders. Chavez, Assad are definitely in this list after their close friend Gadhafi has moved on to better pastures, in hell! Needless to say, the Cuban government also needs to be overthrown!
Instead, Presidents from these poor, backward economies, that have not even approached the take-off stage in economic development should instead concentrate their public administration efforts in fighting corruption, reducing the size of their inefficient and corrupt public sectors, and increasing public/private investments with the help of the multilateral financial community -- including in the strategic social sectors; i.e., education, health, and basic services – to increase employment.
The UN Security Council should give the OK for NATO to intervene also in Syria, so that these people are not slaughtered like animals by their own army. The intervention at this stage should be humanitarian aid, drones, and light weapons with plenty of ammunition so that these peoples can defend themselves from the butchers of Damascus.
But what can the world do with stupid interventions like the one given NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen stating that the alliance had no intention of intervening in Syria, even if there was a UN mandate for this. He also rejected the idea of providing logistical support for possible ‘humanitarian corridors’ to Syria’s worst-hit cities. Rasmussen said that Syria is too complicated, ethnically, politically, and religiously, adding that Middle Eastern countries should find a solution to the conflict. This very stupid general should resign his post. Rasmussen’s comments are risky, because they could actually give Syrian President Bashar al-Assad even greater confidence to crack down on the opposition, thus making NATO intervention more likely, if Assad uses now even deadlier force, at which point the West would come under rising pressure to intervene.
McCain is right!!
In the final analysis given the severity of the situation, the UN/NATO should propose that Syria, a sovereign country, transfer its right to national self-determination to an overseer. The UN should argue that given the failure and the criminality of the Syrian state, UN and NATO members have the power and moral right to suspend the principle of national self-determination. In other words, Syria should be taken over by the rest of the world to stop the mass assassinations being conducted there by Bashar Assad.
More than TEN THOUSAND SYRIANS HAVE ALREADY DIED in their fight for LIBERTY!
And the rest of the world, especially her neighbors, should not allow it!
We better watch and see which way Egypt, Libya, and Iraq goes first before we meddle any more over there.
Amen Tarzan. We don't need another "hand over" to Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood.
dont you have a limit on your characters? geez German, calm down dude. Keep it to one liners baby, one liners.
give weapons to the rebels so they can start killing the russians and the chinese
Isn't this the proverbial pot calling the kettle black? Ubetcha!
I heard they were also voting to see if was feasible to put in for the next summer olympics?
seriously, I thought they were still working on the whole indoor plumbing thing.
Syrians, ~22,717,417, are not all on the opposition side.
In each election, e.g. presidential election, in U.S.A. not all voters agree to participate the presidential elections. The highest turnout in voting is not more than 60% of the registered voters population.
In U.S.A. we have 310 millions people and assumed that, all are registered voters and the 60% of registered voters are ~164 millions people and not all people from this group agree to each other or not all vote for one candidate. There are still people protested and refuse to vote and that population is assumed about 124 million people.
The 40% not voting for any one during the official election has not picked up guns against the government or to injure the president. They can still like the U.S.A. citizens continue to protest in a non-violent manner with self-control and respect.
In U.S.A. the citizens are still fighting for their rights, such as the universal and affordable health care in which Syria has it and we do not have it. But we never do what the opposition doing. Go to the voting place and vote please.
Go to F%*cking Syria if you dont like AMERICA! We dont need your ilk here.
What if my choice is between a douche and a turd sandwich? Why can I not pencil some one in? I have not had a good choice in elected officials in my entire lifetime, they have all sucked. Where do you find these politicians? There has to be better candidates.
So what is this Putin has convinced Assad to try some of his tricks? Hold an election to make the people feel warm and fuzzy that they have a choice, but in reality Assad wins no matter what, just like Putin. Hey that sounds like what happens here as well, how many poor politicans do we have? So even though we vote, do we really have a say at all? No we do not, we believe that we do, but we are also being lied to. It is when the people realize that they do not have a say so that revolts happen, they have nothing to lose.
Oh to feel warm and fuzzy, it is like I have insurance and everything will be ok no matter what. Good thing I have faith in God/Jesus, all the warm and fuzzy I need.
In 2010 37.8% of Americans registered to vote,voted.Those registered to vote are less than half the total population.I guess if Syria beats that,their good.
Syria referendum goes ahead amid military onslaught
"Referendum"? What a fraud. After the thousands and thousands of slaughtered unarmed innocents, how long will it take the world to stop the wholesale, calculated mass murder of Syrians solely because they are Syrians?
What the hell were they voting for,who gets slaughtered next?
They estimate close to 7,500 deaths in 11 months over this leader?
Hell the US took out 2 cities in 2 days and an estimate of 90,000 dead.
This is nothing.
The US, Russia,China,North Korea,The Mexican Drug cartels,and many others have done much more.
These people are voting at gun point, and if there ballot reads anyone but there present leader they just take them out back and shoot them.
What a wonderful democracy they have so wonderful and free yes?
F---k it.