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| Syria Clashes and Bombing Mar Holiday Cease-Fire | |
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| BEIRUT, Lebanon — Scattered clashes and reports of a deadly bombing near a Damascus children’s playground marred the first day of a four-day cease-fire in the Syria conflict on Friday, but in most parts of the country the level of violence appeared to subside because of the truce, called in deference to the most important Muslim holiday of the year. | |
| With the threat of violence diminished, protesters emerged onto the streets of cities and towns across the country. Syrian state television showed President Bashar al-Assad making a rare public appearance, attending the morning prayers for the start of the holiday, Id al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, in a central Damascus mosque. There was no sound, but Mr. Assad was seen to be chatting amicably with other worshipers. | |
| The most brazen violation appeared to be a car bomb that exploded near what state television said was a children’s playground in southern Damascus. The television broadcast pictures of a fire truck hosing down building wreckage that the broadcast said was devastation from the bomb. There was significant damage and a number of casualties, the official report said, without being more specific. Amateur video uploaded on YouTube showed extensive destruction from the blast. | The most brazen violation appeared to be a car bomb that exploded near what state television said was a children’s playground in southern Damascus. The television broadcast pictures of a fire truck hosing down building wreckage that the broadcast said was devastation from the bomb. There was significant damage and a number of casualties, the official report said, without being more specific. Amateur video uploaded on YouTube showed extensive destruction from the blast. |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the violence from abroad, said the blast killed five people and injured more than 30, including children. The reports said the explosion occurred in Zuhur, a poor, mostly Sunni neighborhood. Previous car bombs, often claimed by extremist organizations, usually targeted security branches. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the violence from abroad, said the blast killed five people and injured more than 30, including children. The reports said the explosion occurred in Zuhur, a poor, mostly Sunni neighborhood. Previous car bombs, often claimed by extremist organizations, usually targeted security branches. |
| The Syrian Army announced late Thursday that it would cease military operations from Friday to Monday in observance of the holiday. The announcement, read out on Syrian state television, made clear that the government reserved the right to respond to any military action or even resupply operation undertaken by rebel forces. | The Syrian Army announced late Thursday that it would cease military operations from Friday to Monday in observance of the holiday. The announcement, read out on Syrian state television, made clear that the government reserved the right to respond to any military action or even resupply operation undertaken by rebel forces. |
| The truce was likely to be tested repeatedly given the splintered nature of fighting across Syria, although the bulk of the opposition seemed to accept respecting it if the government did. The cease-fire was negotiated by Lakhdar Brahimi, the international envoy trying to inaugurate a peace process. | The truce was likely to be tested repeatedly given the splintered nature of fighting across Syria, although the bulk of the opposition seemed to accept respecting it if the government did. The cease-fire was negotiated by Lakhdar Brahimi, the international envoy trying to inaugurate a peace process. |
| Respect for the cease-fire was uneven, with some reports of fighting filtering in before and after the dawn prayers. Since there was no official deadline for the cease-fire to begin, and no monitors or outside enforcement, its start and stop times were somewhat ad hoc. | Respect for the cease-fire was uneven, with some reports of fighting filtering in before and after the dawn prayers. Since there was no official deadline for the cease-fire to begin, and no monitors or outside enforcement, its start and stop times were somewhat ad hoc. |
| Fighters in the northern city of Idlib, for example, said that it was quiet. But there were reports of clashes around a military base in northern Syria, and one neighborhood in the central city of Homs reported that it had been hit by six missiles. | Fighters in the northern city of Idlib, for example, said that it was quiet. But there were reports of clashes around a military base in northern Syria, and one neighborhood in the central city of Homs reported that it had been hit by six missiles. |
| The government, apparently anticipating street demonstrations, had stationed security forces near mosques who tried to break up some of the protests, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the violence from abroad. | The government, apparently anticipating street demonstrations, had stationed security forces near mosques who tried to break up some of the protests, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the violence from abroad. |
| It said three people were wounded by gunfire in a hamlet near Dara’a, but activists reported in other places that the security forces had resorted to tear gas or that Shabiha, the plainclothes militia of government supporters, had been harassing men headed to prayers or to cemeteries to visit graves. | It said three people were wounded by gunfire in a hamlet near Dara’a, but activists reported in other places that the security forces had resorted to tear gas or that Shabiha, the plainclothes militia of government supporters, had been harassing men headed to prayers or to cemeteries to visit graves. |
| Protests long suppressed by wrenching violence emerged onto the streets once again calling for Mr. Assad’s ouster and in some places for his execution. The size of the protests themselves, larger and more widespread than they have been for many weeks, was the strongest indication that the truce had made a difference. Although the uprising started as a peaceful protest movement in March 2011, the escalating carnage that has claimed tens of thousands of lives eventually drove the demonstrators indoors. | |
| Videos broadcast on YouTube showed protesters chanting antigovernment slogans in Hajar al-Aswad, for example, a southern Damascus suburb. The video could not be independently verified as having been made on Friday, but activists described similar scenes from around Aleppo in the north to Deir az-Zour in the east and Dara’a in the south. | Videos broadcast on YouTube showed protesters chanting antigovernment slogans in Hajar al-Aswad, for example, a southern Damascus suburb. The video could not be independently verified as having been made on Friday, but activists described similar scenes from around Aleppo in the north to Deir az-Zour in the east and Dara’a in the south. |
| Some of the chants at Hajar al-Aswad referred to recent reports of a split in the Alawite community, with a shootout apparently taking place on Sept. 29 between presidential relatives and his detractors in Qurdaha, President Assad’s hometown in the Alawite-dominated mountains above Latakia. | Some of the chants at Hajar al-Aswad referred to recent reports of a split in the Alawite community, with a shootout apparently taking place on Sept. 29 between presidential relatives and his detractors in Qurdaha, President Assad’s hometown in the Alawite-dominated mountains above Latakia. |
| As the Syrian protest movement has increasingly degenerated into a fight between the Sunni majority and the Alawite minority, there had been few cracks in the unity among the Alawites until that episode. | As the Syrian protest movement has increasingly degenerated into a fight between the Sunni majority and the Alawite minority, there had been few cracks in the unity among the Alawites until that episode. |
| “Come on Qurdaha, Come on Qurdaha!” protesters in Hajar al-Aswad chanted. | “Come on Qurdaha, Come on Qurdaha!” protesters in Hajar al-Aswad chanted. |
| Should the fighting stop or even slow, it will be the first time since April that the two sides diminished the tempo of the violence. That previous cease-fire, arranged by Mr. Brahimi’s predecessor, Kofi Annan, was not respected by either side, but the casualty toll dipped for several days. | Should the fighting stop or even slow, it will be the first time since April that the two sides diminished the tempo of the violence. That previous cease-fire, arranged by Mr. Brahimi’s predecessor, Kofi Annan, was not respected by either side, but the casualty toll dipped for several days. |
| In announcing the cease-fire plan on Wednesday, Mr. Brahimi said that he hoped it could serve as a building block to something longer and more sustainable. | In announcing the cease-fire plan on Wednesday, Mr. Brahimi said that he hoped it could serve as a building block to something longer and more sustainable. |
| The Syrian Army statement said that it would retaliate if the “terrorist groups” — its blanket description for all the armed opposition — carried out any kind of attack, tried to reinforce their positions or resupply their ammunition or if more foreign fighters infiltrated the country. | The Syrian Army statement said that it would retaliate if the “terrorist groups” — its blanket description for all the armed opposition — carried out any kind of attack, tried to reinforce their positions or resupply their ammunition or if more foreign fighters infiltrated the country. |
| One commander in the north, Arafat Mahmoud, said he suspected the Syrian Army was just trying to regroup after losing many checkpoints in the north, not to mention huge chunks of the city of Aleppo and other urban centers. | One commander in the north, Arafat Mahmoud, said he suspected the Syrian Army was just trying to regroup after losing many checkpoints in the north, not to mention huge chunks of the city of Aleppo and other urban centers. |
| “The regime is looking for an exit to get ammunition and food supplies,” he said via Skype. “All the regime’s tricks have been revealed, they want a cease-fire just to reinforce their bases.” | “The regime is looking for an exit to get ammunition and food supplies,” he said via Skype. “All the regime’s tricks have been revealed, they want a cease-fire just to reinforce their bases.” |
| A Western diplomat assigned to Damascus said that if there is even an attempt at respecting the cease-fire, it could be a sign that both sides are feeling beleaguered, squeezed militarily and looking for a break. | A Western diplomat assigned to Damascus said that if there is even an attempt at respecting the cease-fire, it could be a sign that both sides are feeling beleaguered, squeezed militarily and looking for a break. |
| It was not clear, however, that both are ready to accept the idea of a political settlement or if they just wanted to rearm. Until now, the government of Mr. Assad and the opposition have indicated that they wanted to overpower the other by force of arms rather than to negotiate. | It was not clear, however, that both are ready to accept the idea of a political settlement or if they just wanted to rearm. Until now, the government of Mr. Assad and the opposition have indicated that they wanted to overpower the other by force of arms rather than to negotiate. |
Hwaida Saad contributed reporting from Beirut, and Rick Gladstone from New York. | Hwaida Saad contributed reporting from Beirut, and Rick Gladstone from New York. |