Syria protests sweep into capital, defying Assad

Protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad swept into the capital, Damascus, on Friday for the first time since a growing wave of pro-democracy unrest began to put pressure on his 11-year rule. Thousands of protesters marched elsewhere across the country despite a fierce crackdown and some political concessions announced by Assad in an attempt to quell spreading unrest.
Shouting "God, Syria, Freedom", protesters repeated the same demand for democratic reform and freedoms across many cities. In Damascus, security forces used batons and tear gas to prevent thousands of protesters marching from several suburbs from reaching the main Abbasside Square.
"I counted 15 mukhabarat (secret police) busloads," one eyewitness said. "They went into the alleyways just north of the square chasing protesters and yelling 'you pimps, you infiltrators, you want freedom? we will give it to you'." A witness who accompanied marchers from the suburb of Harasta said thousands chanted "the people want the overthrow of the regime" and tore down posters of Assad along the route.
Assad's use of force, mass arrests and accusations that armed groups have instigated the unrest, mixed with promises for reform and concessions to minority groups and conservative Muslims, have not placated protesters inspired by popular uprisings which toppled the leaders in Tunisia and Egypt. On Thursday, he unveiled a new government, which has little power in the one-party state, and ordered the release of some detainees, a move one human rights lawyer said was a "drop in the ocean" compared to the thousands of political prisoners still held.
Nevertheless, protesters gathered in even larger numbers on the Muslim day of prayer. Rights activists reported protests in the city of Deir al-Zor near the Iraqi border, the restive coastal city of Banias and the southern city of Deraa, where the first demonstrations began against the detention of teenagers who had scrawled revolutionary graffiti on school walls. Protests also broke out in Latakia and Homs. In Deraa, "demonstrations came out from every mosque in the city, including the Omari mosque... The number of people is above 10,000 protesters so far," an activist said by phone. Rights groups say at least 200 people have been killed since the protests started. Authorities blame "infiltrators" for stirring up unrest at the bidding of outside players, including Lebanon and Islamist groups.
Syrian state television reported what it said were relatively small, peaceful demonstrations in several cities. Emergency law in force since the Baath Party swept to power in a coup in 1963 bans public gatherings of more than five people. The protests entered their fifth week following a familiar pattern. The biggest gatherings - and the most bloody - have taken place after Friday prayers, often in defiance of concessions announced by authorities the day before.