BICOM

Protests against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad have spread to Damascus, sparking violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces in recent days. Syrian forces reportedly opened fire with live ammunition on protestors marching in support of the besieged city of Homs in the Syrian capital overnight. Until recently, anti-Assad protests have mainly concentrated in provincial cities. The regime argued that it had full support of capital’s more affluent population, a claim undermined by the latest events.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, the only international organisation deploying aid workers in Syria, said it was in talks with the authorities and opposition fighters for a ceasefire to bring life-saving aid to civilians. Diplomatic sources quoted by Reuters said the Red Cross was seeking a two-hour ceasefire in hotspots including Homs. Residents there say they are running out of food, water and medicine after weeks of bombardment by Assad’s forces.

In defiance of Syria’s growing international isolation, an Iranian war ship and its supply vessel visited Syria after crossing the Suez Canal earlier this week. The visit illustrated Tehran’s unwavering support for the Assad regime.