Turkey wants Assad to fire his brother from military

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A Turkish envoy will travel to Damascus in the coming days to bring a “warning letter” to Syrian President Bashar Assad, telling him to enact reforms and to remove his brother Maher Assad from the command of Syria’s Republican Guard and the Fourth Armored Division, Al-Arabiya reported on Saturday. Maher Assad is largely believed to be behind the three-month old violent crackdown on anti-regime protesters.

The Turkish envoy will ask for Assad to grant Syrians freedom to demonstrate, freedom of expression and to lift the ban on political parties, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood, according to the report.

Turkey is willing to give refuge to Maher Assad or organize refuge for him in a European country and will promise that he will not face criminal prosecution, Al-Arabiya reported.

The report came as Syrian troops and gunmen loyal to Assad stormed a town near the Turkish border, burning houses and arresting 70 people, witnesses said, in a wide-ranging military assault to crush a three month uprising.

Maher Assad, brother of Syrian President Bashar Assad, shooting at unarmed protesters as they chanted for the downfall of his regime in the Barzeh suburb of Damascus, May 7, 2011

“They came at 7 a.m. to Bdama. I counted nine tanks, 10 armoured carriers, 20 jeeps and 10 buses. I saw shabbiha (gunmen) setting fire to two houses,” said Saria Hammouda, a lawyer from the small town of Bdama.

The town lies 2 km from the Turkish border, in Jisr al-Shughour region, from where thousands of people have fled to Turkey following military assaults to quell dissent against 41 years of Assad family rule

19 Syrians died on Friday when Syrian government forces fired at demonstrators demanding the removal of President Bashar Assad in the biggest protest since unrest against Baathist rule erupted in March, activists said.

Reuters

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5 responses to “Turkey wants Assad to fire his brother from military”

  1. Patience2 Avatar
    Patience2

    Don’t be fooled, the one behind ALL the misery currently happening in Syria is: Bashar Assad.  There is a flea in his armpit called Maher.  Ever crush a flea between your fingernails?  It’s easy to do.  In the title of this article, change ‘fire’ to read ‘execute’.  Maher could move right in with the Alevi!  I’ll bet he wouldn’t dare live anywhere else.  But remember, Bashar is the ‘responsible party’.

  2. Patience2 Avatar
    Patience2

    Don’t be fooled, the one behind ALL the misery currently happening in Syria is: Bashar Assad.  There is a flea in his armpit called Maher.  Ever crush a flea between your fingernails?  It’s easy to do.  In the title of this article, change ‘fire’ to read ‘execute’.  Maher could move right in with the Alevi!  I’ll bet he wouldn’t dare live anywhere else.  But remember, Bashar is the ‘responsible party’.

  3.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Don’t be fooled, the one behind ALL the misery currently happening in Syria is: Bashar Assad.  There is a flea in his armpit called Maher.  Ever crush a flea between your fingernails?  It’s easy to do.  In the title of this article, change ‘fire’ to read ‘execute’.  Maher could move right in with the Alevi!  I’ll bet he wouldn’t dare live anywhere else.  But remember, Bashar is the ‘responsible party’.

  4. feorio Avatar

    …”and will promise that he will not face criminal prosecution.” Why? What has happened to justice. Let’s leave the decision to the International Criminal Court. He and Bashar should be sentenced to death for all the mutilation of the innocent syrians. It is not for Turkey to decide who get prosecuted and who does not. If justice is not served, then they are leting all the dictators of the world to go ahead an kill thier people.

  5.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    …”and will promise that he will not face criminal prosecution.” Why? What has happened to justice. Let’s leave the decision to the International Criminal Court. He and Bashar should be sentenced to death for all the mutilation of the innocent syrians. It is not for Turkey to decide who get prosecuted and who does not. If justice is not served, then they are leting all the dictators of the world to go ahead an kill thier people.

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