Syria Live Blog - May 10

Syria Live Blog - May 10

Thousands continue to take to the streets across Syria, despite reform pledges by President Bashar al-Assad. Activists say hundreds have been killed by security forces. We bring you the latest news from various sources.

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Syria Spotlight - Free Dorothy Parvaz - Timeline: Bashar al-Assad in power

All times given are local (GMT+3)

• Timestamp: 

  11:17pm

  The Flash Syria Network has posted three videos of what it says are demonstrations in Homs today. Homs, in western Syria, has been one of the main flashpoints in the uprising: In April, dozens of people reportedly died there after thousand staged a sit-in at one of the city's main squares.

  In the first video, you can hear protesters chant, "The people want to overthrow the regime!"

   

  The message in this video is clear even to those who don't speak Arabic: "Bye bye Bashar":

   

• Timestamp: 

  10:39pm

  We mentioned in our news story on Syria today that the regime's military activity has reportedly continued unabated across the country, including Baniyas and towns near the embattled city of Deraa. Recent citizen video appears to show that activity.

  This first video purports to show tanks and other military vehicles in the town of Jassem, around 30 kilometres outside of Deraa:

   

  This one, acquired by the activist Shaam News Newtork, shows what the network says is a sniper on a rooftop in Deraa itself:

• Timestamp: 

  8:51pm

  The US state department says it has requested consular access to our journalist Dorothy Parvaz, who hasn't been heard from since she flew to Damascus on April 29, but that the Syrian government has declined let anyone see her, according to Al Jazeera correspondent Rosiland Jordan. Syria has not given the US any news on Parvaz's location or condition, she said.

• Timestamp: 

  8:19pm

  Under pressure from fellow member states, Syria has withdrawn its candidacy for membership on the UN Human Rights Council, diplomats said on Tuesday.

  The council is charged with monitoring compliance with international human rights law.

  "It is not really the time for Syria to become a member of the council of human rights," French UN Ambassador Gerard Araud told reporters on Monday.

• Timestamp: 

  4:39pm

  The non-governmental National Organisation for Human Rights in Syria says 757 civilians have died since the countrywide protests against President Bashir al-Assad began on March 18. 

  Ammar Qurabi told the AP news agency that his group has the names, ages, cause and location of death for all 757 killed. Around 9,000 people are in government custody after being arrested in the unrest, he said. 

• Timestamp: 

  4:07pm

  Syrian troops and tanks entered villages around the southern city of Daraa on Tuesday, said an activist who spoke with the AP news agency. He said heavy gunfire was heard in Inkhil, Dael, Jassem, Sanamein and Nawa when the troops entered sometime shortly after midnight.

• Timestamp: 

  2:55pm

  More footage of last night's protest. This one, also from Sham News, allegedly shows a demonstration in Qatana:
  
  
  

• Timestamp: 

  2:51pm

  More YouTube video, uploaded by Sham News, an opposition outlet, shows last night's protest in Bukamal: 

• Timestamp: 

  2:49pm

  The sound of heavy gunfire was heard on Tuesday in the southwesten Damascus suburb of Mouadhamiya, which had seen intensifying demonstrations against Bashar al-Assad's rule, a witness said.

  "I tried to get in through Mouadhamiya's main entrance but there were scores of soldiers with rifles turning cars back," said the witness, who was in the area at 1000 GMT.

  Unconfirmed reports by activists in the last two days said tanks had entered the large suburb. Mouadhamiya lies on the main road to the occupied Golan Heights, which overlook Damascus.

• Timestamp: 

  12:09pm

  The UK daily The Telegraph speculates on the whereabouts of Asma al-Assad, the president's wife. According to journalist Nabila Ramdani, the Syrian first lady might have fled to London.

  Is Asma Assad in London?

  The wife of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad may have fled to London with the couple’s three young children, it has been claimed.

  Asma Assad, 35, was said to be living in a safe house in or near the capital. British-born Mrs Assad, who is considered to be one of the most glamorous first ladies in the world, has not been seen in public since the start of the Arab Spring.

  As the violence in Syria increases, Mrs Assad is said to have been warned “to get out as soon as you can".

• Timestamp: 

  11:06am

  The European Union listed 13 Syrian officials under the bloc's sanctions list, including influential  businessman Rami Makhlouf, a brother of President Bashar al-Assad and the country's intelligence chief.

  The measures - asset freezes and travel bans - are part of a package of sanctions that also include an arms embargo which went into effect on Tuesday as part of EU efforts to force Syria to end violence against anti-government protesters.

  Makhlouf, a cousin of Assad, owns Syria's largest mobile phone company, Syriatel, and several large firms in the construction and oil sectors. 

  The EU said in its official journal that he "bankrolls (Assad's) regime, allowing violence against demonstrators".

  In 2008, the United States imposed sanctions against him because of corruption allegations. The list includes the president's brother, Maher al-Assad, who commands Syria's Republican Guard and is the second most powerful man in Syria. 

  Also affected is Ali Mamlouk, head of the General Intelligence Service.

• Timestamp: 

  10:33am

  The New York Times interviewed Bouthaina Shaaban, an adviser to president Assad. The reporter was allowed in Syria for only a few hours for this interview.
  
  

  Syria Proclaims It Now Has Upper Hand Over Uprising

  By ANTHONY SHADID

   DAMASCUS, Syria — The Syrian government has gained the upper hand over a seven-week uprising against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, a senior official declared Monday, in the clearest sign yet that the leadership believes its crackdown will crush protests that have begun to falter in the face of hundreds of deaths and mass arrests. 

• Timestamp: 

  9:58am

  Syrian security forces arrested hundreds of activists and anti-government protesters in house-to-house raids across the country Monday. The government's punishing response triggered new international sanctions Monday, as the European Union imposed an arms embargo. 

  The measure, which followed US sanctions, also prohibits 13 Syrian government officials from traveling anywhere in the 27-nation EU and freezes their assets.

  The United Nations said a humanitarian mission had not been allowed access to the southern city of Deraa, which has been cut off for the past two weeks after Syrian forces put down anti-government demonstrations.

• Timestamp: 

  4:57am

  The European Union warned President Bashar al-Assad to end violence against protestors or face punitive action Monday as it officially adopted a wide range of sanctions due to take effect on Tuesday.

  The measures, including an arms embargo and a visa ban and assets freeze on those deemed responsible for repressing protests, "respond to the escalation of the Syrian authorities' violent crackdown," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

  This is clearly inconsistent with the universal principles of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The sanctions aimed to achieve an immediate change of policy by the Syrian leadership, ending violence and swiftly introducing genuine and comprehensive political reform. Failing that, the EU will consider extending the restrictive measures in light of the developments, including at the highest level of leadership.

• Timestamp: 

  3:00am

  Video uploaded on Youtube that purports to show protesters being arrested in in Arnos in Damascus yesterday.

• Timestamp: 

  1:50am

  UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos says a United Nations aid mission to the southern Syrian city of Deraa has been postponed until later this week because the country failed to provide access.

  UN spokesman Farhan Haq said that Bashar al-Assad had indicated a "willingness"' to give the humanitarian mission access to Deraa during a telephone conversation last week with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

  But Haq said as of Monday, no access had been given. Deraa is a key city where armed Syrian forces have put down anti-government demonstrations influenced by the wave of protests in the Arab world. Amos said later Monday that she's trying to find out why the mission was not allowed in Sunday as scheduled.