Assad appears in public, thousands demonstrate against Syrian government
Syria's president has made his first public appearance since last month's bombing that killed four of his top security officials.
Bashar Assad was seen on state TV praying at a mosque just a few hundred yards from the presidential palace, marking the start of a Muslim holiday.
Residents of Damascus say security forces surrounded several central mosques in the capital, possibly to confuse people about where Assad would attend the traditional holiday prayers.
Elsewhere in Syria, thousands today staged anti-government protests in mosques and cemeteries after special prayers marking the three-day holiday. Amateur video posted by activists on the Internet shows a large group of worshippers in Damascus chanting that "Assad is the enemy of God."
Assad's appearance comes amid speculation on the whereabouts of Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa. He's been said by some members of the opposition to have defected. His office yesterday denied the reports.
Meanwhile, the head of an opposition group is repeating his call for international powers to enforce a no-fly zone that would keep Syrian regime aircraft from being used against rebels.
AP
More News
- Rome Protest Turns Up Heat On New PM Letta
- North Korea Fires Three Short-Range Missiles
- GOP hopes IRS scandal will snag health care law
- Japan Economy on the Road to Recovery
- Assad: Syria transition talks are internal matter
- Suspected US drone in Yemen kills 4 militants
- WHO: Death Toll From New Bird Flu In China Rises To 36
- Former Argentine Dictator Videla Dies In Prison At Age 87
- IMF says Cyprus at risk of even deeper recession
- UN says Syrian refugees top 1.5M
