(Scotsman-UK) Ben Lynfield - The unrest sweeping the Arab world has arrived in Syria in the last few days. Thousands of Syrians protested for the third straight day Sunday, demanding an end to 48 years of emergency law imposed when Assad's Baath party took power in a 1963 coup and banned all opposition. Analysts say the protests are for similar reasons as those in Egypt. "Everyone follows Al-Jazeera (television) and people say if the Egyptians deserve democracy, why shouldn't we?'' said Eyal Zisser, a Tel Aviv University specialist on Syria. "No doubt the storm has now arrived in Syria." Yet there are significant differences between Syria and Egypt, said analyst Shlomo Brom of the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University. Syria is ruled by a minority regime of Alawites who hold key positions in the security forces. They will have no choice but to stand with the regime and fight if it is endangered. "In Syria, the army will not be neutral... because of the interest of the Alawites to protect their standing."
2011-03-21 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive