SYRIAN HELICOPTER gunships fired machine guns to disperse a large pro-democracy protest in the Syrian town of Maarat al-Numaan yesterday, witnesses said, in the first reported use of air power to quell protests in the country’s uprising.
“At least five helicopters flew over Maarat al-Numaan and began firing their machine guns to disperse the tens of thousands who marched in the protest,” one of the witnesses said.
Troops supported by tanks also began operations to “restore security” in the nearly deserted town of Jisr al-Shughour where 120 soldiers and policemen were killed last weekend.
Residents said 15,000 troops and 40 tanks had been deployed.
Opposition groups claimed that 28 people had been shot dead after rallies in various parts of the country.
While the government accuses rebel elements of shooting the soldiers in Jisr al-Shughour, townspeople say that troops and police turned their weapons against one another after some refused to fire on crowds demonstrating against the 38-year reign of the Baath party. Government spokeswoman Reem Haddad rejected reports of a mutiny.
Troops also moved into the village of Sarmaniya, 12km from Jisr al-Shughour, and shut down communications. A witness was quoted as saying: “They began as usual by firing heavy machine guns into the village. But the people had left.” He added that “hundreds of troops and security personnel have defected [to the opposition] in the last few days. They [pro-regime] forces might be thinking that they will find some in Sarmaniya”.
Two protesters were said to have been shot dead during a rally of 1,000 in the village of Busra al-Harir near Deraa, the cradle of the revolt that began in mid-March. Demonstrations took place in the central city of Homs and outside a mosque in Damascus.
While most troops have apparently, so far, obeyed commanders, substantial numbers of defections could change the balance of power in favour of the opposition. Human rights activists have broadcast a video said to come from Lieut Col Hussein Armoush who said he had joined “the ranks of the masses, demanding freedom and democracy”.
Turkish prime minister Recept Tayyip Erdogan accused the government of committing “atrocities”.
He spoke out after more than 3,000 Syrian refugees had crossed the border into southern Turkey where the Red Crescent has established two tent camps to shelter them.
On the Syrian political front, pro-government daily al-Watan said preparations were being made for a national dialogue involving anyone having no “foreign agenda” who wishes to take part. President Bashar al-Assad has appointed vice-president Farouk al-Sharaa, adviser Bouthaina Shaaban and vice-president for cultural affairs Najah al-Attar to participate with the objective of achieving a peaceful resolution of the crisis. The opposition insists all prisoners must be released and freedom of assembly and speech must be guaranteed before talks can begin.
The governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported Syria to the UN Security Council, alleging it had pursued a covert programme in violation of its commitments under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Russia and China opposed the referral, making clear their differences with the US, France and Britain, the security council’s other five permanent members, over how to handle the crisis in Syria. Moscow and Beijing are also likely to veto an EU-sponsored resolution condemning Syria’s actions against protesters.