Top Stories

• The Arab League announced its rejection to the European Union’s request to forward the Syrian matter to the UN Security Council.

• ABC news network aired an exclusive interview with Bashar Assad in which he said he has no power over his military forces.

• Security forces shut down the Syrian-Turkish border crossing of Qamishli-Nasebin after advising all Turks to leave immediately and advising all Syrians in Turkey to return.

Top Videos

• Jab Jandali, Homs: A civilian severely injured by a nail bomb

• Bab Sebaa, Homs: Three fallen heroes died under torture

Summary of Events

The Arab League announced that it rejected a European Union’s request to defer the Syrian issue to the UN Security Council. Furthermore, the League repeatedly announced its rejection to the internationalization of the Syrian issue. The League added that it is still in deliberations over the proposed amendments to the fact-finding protocol by the Assad regime. The regime continues to propose amendments and ask for clarifications to buy more time in order to completely crush demonstrations.

ABC news network aired an exclusive interview today with Bashar Assad. Assad said that he is not concerned much about the international efforts to impose sanctions against Syria. He further expressed that any violence committed by government forces does represent its declared policies and should be blamed on individuals committing such acts. Assad added: “we do not kill our people; no world government kills its people unless led by a crazy man”. Assad denied issuing orders to crack down demonstrators, and said that most of those killed are from his troops and loyalists. Many media outlets circulated portions of his interview in which he denies responsibility of the killings claiming the lack of full control over his troops and thus cannot be held responsible for all their actions. Syrian Foreign Ministry soon after issued a statement accusing media outlets of forging Assad’s statement.

Assad’s forces killed at least 21 people today. Military crackdown began at the villages between Hama and Idlib after the Seventh Regiment was brought in. Security forces shut down the Syrian-Turkish border crossing of Qamishli-Nasebin after advising all Turks to leave its lands immediately and advising all Syrians in Turkey to return to Syria.

In Homs, security forces shelled and shot heavy machinegun fire in the neighbourhoods of Bab Sebaa, Jab Jandali, Karm Zaytoun, Waar and Deir Baalba. The neighbourhood of Qosur was raided with armoured units and security personnel conducting a house-to-house search and arbitrary arrest campaign. The city of Aqrab was randomly shelled and attacked by dozens of tanks and APCs after electricity and telecommunications were cut off, while Karm Zaytoun has been under constant heavy artillery shelling since the morning. Addounia TV station crew were seen in Homs by Khaled Bin Walid mosque under heavy protection, in what seems like an attempt for a new “story” after they published the news of finding catapults in Homs 10 days ago. Security forces continue to leave the bodies of tortured men in the revolting neighbourhoods as a scare tactic. As usual, night demonstrations broke out in the neighbourhoods of Deir Baalba, Bayada, Inshaat, Baba Amr, Jorat Arayes, Hay Shammas, Jorat Sheyah, Qarabis, Bab Houd, Karm Shami, Qosur, Waar, Ghouta, Hamra, Dablan, and Karm Zaytoun; and the cities and villages of Qasir, Palmyra, Houleh, Talbiseh, and Mahin.

Revolution Statistics

Syrians killed: 5,005

Children killed: 322

Females killed: 212

Missing: +50,000

Protestors killed under torture: 177

Protestors currently incarcerated: +59,000

Syrian refugees since March: +16,577

Refugees in Turkey: 10,227

Refugees in Lebanon: +4,000

Refugees in Jordan: +2,000

International Reactions

Hariri: I openly and proudly support Syria's uprising

US: Syria’s Assad appears ‘utterly disconnected’ in an exclusive interview with ABC’s Barbara Walters

Algeria: Arab League is the only way to Syria’s transition

Arab League Chief condemns the escalating violence in Syria

British Minister: Syria's isolation will intensify

US & France returns envoys to Syria to press Assad

Turkey imposes sanctions on Syria

Arab League examines Syria’s conditions to the proposed protocol

‎‎‎Selected Media Coverage

ABC News Video: Barbara Walters' interview with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad

NPR: Brutal detention, and a defiant Syrian activist

NPR: On the run, under the radar with Syria's rebels

‎Business Recorder: Assad says only 'crazy' leaders kill their own people

Huffington Post: The Arab League's self-serving sanctions‎

Upcoming Events

December 9: Athens, Greece

Demonstration against the crimes committed by the Syrian regime

December 9: Bucharest, Romania

Demonstration against the crimes committed by the Syrian regime

December 10: Paris, France

Demonstration in solidarity with the Syrian revolution

December 10: Manchester, UK

An evening of celebration for Syria

December 10: Capital Tunis, Tunis

An evening of celebration for Syria

December 10: London, UK

Candle vigil for the Syrian revolution

December 10: Canada

Charity dinner to support the Syrian people

Videos

Damascus

Qadam: Students demonstrate in solidarity with Hama’s fallen hero Feras Barshan

Barzeh: Student demonstrators demand the overthrow of the regime

Ruken Al-Din: Student demonstrators chant for freedom and demand the execution of Assad

Damascus Suburbs

Harasta: Evening demonstration in solidarity with Hama’s fallen hero Feras Barshan

Kafarbatna: Evening demonstration demands Assad’s ouster

Zamalka: Evening demonstration calls for a nation-wide strike

Zabadani: Demonstrators sing “where are the millions of Arab supporters?”

Erbin: Evening demonstration in solidarity with detainee Mohammad Wazeir

Qatana: Student demonstrators demand freedom and the overthrow of the regime

Artouz: Student demonstrators demand freedom and the overthrow of the regime

Aleppo Suburbs

Tal Refaat: A young child leads a protest against Assad and chants “Mom, I want freedom”

Homs

Palmyra: Demonstrators chant “we’re victorious”

Qasir: Demonstrators sing for freedom

Khaldiya: Mass demonstration by hero Abdul-Baset Sarout and famous actress Fadwa Suliman

Baba Amr: Demonstrators chant “Assad is the enemy of God”

Sukhneh: Mother of fallen hero Mohammad Alawi mourns her child

Za’faraneh: Funeral procession of eight fallen heroes, all from Shwertani family

Daraa

Central Daraa: Schoolgirls demonstrate in solidarity with the fallen heroes

Masefra: Demonstrators chant against Assad’s crimes

Herak: Mass evening demonstration critique the disappointing stance of the Arab nations

Hama

Morek: Assad’s forces fire indiscriminately at civilian houses

Latmana: Student demonstrators demand international protection and the execution of Assad

Idlib

Taaoum: Demonstrators from various towns join together in a mass protest against Assad’s regime

Saraqeb: Assad’s forces shell the town

Kafarnabel: Assad’s forces destroy civilian properties and kill civilians

Central City: Demonstrators take to the streets in response to the shelling of Saraqeb by Assad’s troops

Jarginaz: Funeral procession of fallen heroes Husam Daghim and Mohammad Dabaan

Sarmin: Demonstration in solidarity with the town of Saraqeb

Deir Azzour

Quriya: Mass evening demonstration condemns the never-ending ultimatum given to Assad’s regime by the Arab League, P2

Hasaka

Amouda: Evening demonstration chants for the revolution of dignity and freedom

Qamishli: A new revolutionary song in Kurdish language

Demonstrations Abroad

Spain: Demonstration by the Syrian community in Madrid in solidarity with the people of Syria