Bashar al-Assad makes first public appearance since July bombings

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
8/20/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Syria continues to roil with violence during 17-month old uprising

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made his first public appearance since bombings last month. The president was seen sitting cross-legged at a mosque in the Damascus residential district of Muhajirin. The president listened to a sermon in which Syria was described as a victim of "terrorism." The occasion was to mark the start of the Muslim holiday of Eid, state TV showed.

Still cautious after a July 18 bomb attack in Damascus and recent defections, including that of his last prime minister, Assad's recent appearances on state TV had only screened footage of him conducting official business.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The first day of Eid gave Assad's opponents a chance to rally and activists reported protests around Syria. Fighting continued to rage around Syria, killing more than 100 people.

Holding back an uprising against 42 years of rule by his family, Assad was filmed at prayer with his prime minister and foreign minister. His vice president, Farouq al-Shara, was not seen. His reported defection was denied the previous day.

Still cautious after a July 18 bomb attack in Damascus and recent defections, including that of his last prime minister, Assad's recent appearances on state TV had only screened footage of him conducting official business.

Syria's civil war has intensified since the bombing that killed members of Assad's inner circle, including his defence minister and brother-in-law.

Sheikh Mohammad Kheir Ghantous said the plot would not "defeat our Islam, our ideology and our determination."

Assad smiled as he greeted officials including senior members of his Baath Party. Shown were Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem and Prime Minister Wael al-Halki. He is the replacement for Riyad Hijab, a Sunni who has joined the opposition to Assad since his defection was announced on Aug. 6. Hijab remains the highest-level Syrian official to desert the government so far.

Syria is facing the prospect of a prolonged conflict that threatens to destabilise the Middle East.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 100 people had been killed on Sunday, with fighting in Damascus, Deraa and elsewhere.

In the rebel-held village of Saraja, near the Turkish border, the bereaved visited their relatives' graves, in accordance with Eid tradition.

"He had four children, he was my only son," an elderly woman spoke in a video obtained by Reuters said, as she visited the grave of her slain son.

A trench had been dug nearby in anticipation of more bodies.

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Bashar al-Assad, Eid, Muslim, Syria, violence

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1 - 1 of 1 Comments

Wilfred Mathias
9 months ago
May God help syria people out from their trouble!!

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