Thaindian News

Damascus, Nov 18 (IANS) Thousands of Syrians thronged a main Syrian square Friday to express support to President Bashar al-Assad and to express discontent with the Arab League’s decision to suspend Syria’s membership.

After Friday’s noon prayers, thousands went out of the Umayyad Mosque in the old city of Damascus on a rally titled “The Mosques Are Ours.” The participants crossed al-Hamidiyeh market toward Saba’ Bahrat Square chanting slogans against foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs, reported Xinhua.

A convoy of cars also set off from Al Hassan Mosque in Al Midan neighbourhood on a rally meant to show solidarity with the process of reforms announced by President Assad.

In the coastal city of Latakia, Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said thousands of citizens voluntarily gathered near Haroun roundabout condemning the AL decision against Syria.

In addition to the pro-regime rallies, opposition protests also erupted in northern and central Syria, according to Sham FM radio.

Friday’s rallies came amid confirmation by Secretary General of the Arab League, Nabil al-Arabi, that he had received a letter from Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem that included amendments to the draft protocol regarding the legal status and the duties of the league’s mission of observers to be sent soon to Syria.

Al-Arabi’s announcement came in a statement Friday in which he said that the proposed amendments are now under study.

Also Friday, Imams and preachers at some mosques in Syria expressed their rejection and condemnation of the Arab League’s halt of Syria’s membership, saying the decision is linked to foreign agendas seeking for interference in the Syrian internal affairs, according to SANA.

Delivering sermons at the Friday prayers, the imams described the decision as “a violation of the principles of the joint Arab action and of the Arab League Charter regarding the non- interference in the internal affairs of the Arab countries and the respect of national sovereignty.”