Enter May, Update

April showers bring May flowers?
We only hope the bloody showers of March and April will eventually end with the sweet scent of liberty. Unfortunately, recent events still showcase how violent the situation in Syria is.


MORE DEATH, DERAA STILL A WAR ZONE
Since this Friday, it seems around 50-100 more lives have been taken. UN puts total deaths around 450, but others report around 700 now as well as over 2,000 wounded and thousands detained.
Deraa is still like a war zone. Still surrounded, power/communication/water still disrupted. Tanks still surround the city and men are still being detained. Women and children have taken to the rooftops chanting 'God is Greater.' Reuters

WOMEN RISE
In Salhyia, a district of Damascus, 11 women have been arrested by security forces. These brave women were marching in a silent all women protest in support of the residents of Deraa.

"About 50 women managed to briefly raise signs that said "Break the Deraa siege" and "No to the killings" before they were confronted by security forces." Reuters

FLEEING TO TURKEY
Over 200 have fled to the Turkish border in an attempt to escape the ongoing violent situation.

"About 250 people raced across the Syrian border into Turkey, government officials said Saturday, a flight that reflects the fear and violence gripping the Arab nation.

The people hustled to the southern Turkish Yaylidagi district in Hatay province on Friday afternoon, according to local and federal government officials.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal said the government is trying to determine more about the people and how and why they chose to leave Syria."CNN

SUPPORT ACROSS THE U.S. and WORLD
There has been ongoing support across the globe.

Syrians in Moscow take part in a rally holding pictures of victims:

New York:

Chicago:

Turkey Increasing Pressure on Syria

"Turkey on Tuesday increased pressure on Syria to cease its brutal crackdown on pro-reform demonstrators, a day after Syrian troops backed by tanks and snipers stormed a southern city, where the dead reportedly lay unclaimed in the streets.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan phoned Syrian President Bashar Assad to urge restraint while Turkey's ambassador to Damascus met Syrian Prime Minister Adel Safar to express Turkey's deep concern and sorrow over loss of many lives, the prime minister's office and the Turkish media reported.

Erdogan called Assad a day after he and U.S. President Barack Obama voiced their concern in a telephone conversation over what the White House called the Syrian government's unacceptable use of violence against its own people.

The Syrian army launched a deadly raid on the southern Syrian city of Daraa before dawn Monday, killing at least 11 people. Gunfire echoed in Daraa, where the uprising in Syria started more than a month ago, on Tuesday as residents said the dead still lay in the streets.

Turkey shares a long land border with Syria and fears the turmoil could trigger an influx of refugees. However, most of the 877-kilometer border is heavily mined and a mass influx of refugees is not expected.

As a NATO ally, Turkey has cultivated warm relations with countries such as Libya and Syria as part of a regional outreach that included nations with a history of enmity with the West.

Now Turkey is scrambling to preserve economic and other links to Mideast nations while urging their autocrats to meet the demands of protesters who want change."

Article

Mass Protests, Almost 100 Killed

CNN: Violence erupts across Syria; at least 27 dead in protests
Aljazeera: Deaths reported in Friday protests in Syria

"One, One, One, The Syrian People are One"


Alarabiya: At least 68 dead in Syria

"At least 68 people were killed and dozens were injured when Syrian security forces fired live bullets and teargas to disperse “Good Friday” protests in several cities, witnesses reported.

The reported deaths have created a new crisis for the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, raising questions about whether he is fully in control of Syrian security forces. The deaths raise questions about how far Mr. Assad is prepared to go to stay in power, and if the international community will take steps to prevent a humanitarian disaster in this geopolitically strategic Arab country.

The deaths on Friday also bring back memories of large numbers of political opponents who were mowed down by security forces in the city of Hama when Mr. Assad’s late father, President Hafez al-Assad was in office. Mr. Assad’s brother, Rifaat al-Assad, personally conducted a “scorched earth” campaign in February 1982 against Sunni Muslims who protested against the Alawite regime of Hafez al-Assad. Estimates of those killed in Hama range from 10,000 to 40,000..."

Clinton Calls Syria Out

Reuters: Clinton says Syria must stop detention, torture

"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday condemned violence in Syria and said the Syrian government must stop the arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of prisoners.

"We are particularly concerned about the situation in Homs where multiple reports suggest violence and casualties among both civilians and government personnel," she said at a news conference. Independent confirmation was difficult because journalists were not being allowed access, she said.

Activists in the central city of Homs say more than 20 pro-democracy protesters have been shot dead since Monday by soldiers and other forces.

"The Syrian government must allow free movement and free access, it must stop the arbitrary arrest, detentions and torture of prisoners," Clinton said.

She called on the Syrian government to cease violence and respond to "the legitimate issues that have been raised by the Syrian people seeking substantial and lasting reform."

Death Toll Rising, 3 Shot at a Funeral

Reuters: Assad pledge fails to quell Syria anger; troops fire

"Syrian security forces opened fire on protesters at a funeral on Sunday, witnesses said, and an announcement that President Bashar al-Assad would lift 48-years of emergency rule failed to quell fury on the streets.

Two witnesses said security forces killed three mourners when they opened fire on a funeral for a man killed the day before, which turned into a demonstration on a highway outside the town of Talbiseh, north of the central city of Homs.

One resident said he counted five tanks and saw soldiers wearing combat gear deployed around the town.

Chants at protests on Sunday, Syria's Independence Day holiday, more hostile toward Assad than at previous marches held in recent weeks, a sign that a promise to lift the country's hated emergency law had failed to appease the public.

Opposition figures say they believe new laws that will replace the emergency rule are likely to retain severe curbs on political freedoms.

Thousands of demonstrators called for Bashar's overthrow at another funeral, held in Hirak town northeast of the southern city of Deraaa, for soldier Mohammad Ali Radwan al-Qoman, whose relatives believe he was tortured by the security forces.

"Freedom, freedom Syria, Bashar get out," people chanted, their slogans audible in a telephone call with one of the mourners at the funeral."

Security Forces Open Fire, Latakia Protesters Flee

WARNING: VERY GRAPHIC

"Syria: Senator Lieberman speaks from United States Senate about Assad regime violence"

Watch: Sen. Lieberman speak from US senate about Assad regime violence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NevCTmqPIK8&feature=youtube_gdata_player