Syrian Revolution News Round-up - part 1

Syrian Revolution News Round-up                  ملخص أحداث الثورة السورية Day 379: Tuesday, 27 Mar 2012                        اليوم ۳٧۹: الثلاثاء، ٢٧ مارس/آذار ٢٠١٢

Demonstrations Sprout in the Capital, a UN Delegate Investigator Resigns   Top Stories A UN Investigator charged with documenting the regime’s crimes against humanity announced her resignation in protest to the regime’s refusal of her entry to Syria. Regime forces executed 23 civilians and burnt 52 houses in the province of Idlib. Norway shut its Embassy in Damascus due to the continued deteriorating security conditions. Top Videos Damascus: Several anti-Assad rallies took place at the heart of the capital to demand his ouster, P2 Khaldiya, Homs: Assad’s forces shell civilians’ houses killing many, P2, P3, P4, P5 Kafrouma, Idlib: Assad’s forces commit horrible crimes against civilians, P2, P3 Summary of Events Demonstrations are now going out daily in the major neighbourhoods of the capital Damascus, including Muhajrin where the Presidential Palace is located, and Mazeh where most of the embassies are based. Despite the regime’s violence, peaceful demonstrators still take to the streets daily everywhere, except for the areas where civilians were forced to pick up arms to protect themselves. In Damascus, regime forces conducted a massive arrest and sweep campaign in the neighbourhood of Asali because of the night demonstrations that was broadcast live from its streets. In Qadam, regime forces opened heavy machinegun fire in residential areas to warn the residents against demonstrating. Meanwhile, regime forces continued to shell the Damascus suburb of Harasta, while Hamouriya witnessed heavy presence of airplanes, the removal of many checkpoints, and the withdrawal of many heavy armoured units in preparation for the UN Delegation’s visit. A UN investigator charged with documenting the regime’s crimes against humanity announced her resignation in protest to the regime’s refusal of her entry to Syria. The investigator said that there is no purpose in continuing the investigations as they cannot be comprehensive due to the lack of access. In Hama, the heavy shelling continued in the towns of Qalat Madiq, Kafarnabouda, and Karnaz. Meanwhile, the town of Kafar Zaita is undergoing arbitrary sweep and arrest campaign for the third day in a row, amid a communication blackout. Regime forces continued its arbitrary sweep and arrest campaigns in the cities of Mayadin and Boukamal, in the province of Deir Azzour, and in the town of Ezaz in Aleppo. Assad’s forces killed at least 71 today, most fell in Homs which is still under heavy bombardment, and Idlib where regime forces executed 23 civilians in the town of Saraqeb which is still under heavy shelling. Regime forces also burnt 52 houses in Jabal Zawiya and many commercial establishments after looting them. Many soldiers defected in the Damascus suburb of Madaya, which is still undergoing heavy shelling, in addition to a few in the town Hara in Daraa. Meanwhile, heavy clashes took place between revolutionaries and regime forces in the towns of Dabbousiya in Homs and Jiza in Daraa, and the city of Deir Azzour. On another note, Norway announced it has shut its Embassy in Damascus due to the continued deteriorating security conditions.