Damascus / Cairo. .- At least 18 people have died on Monday in the Syrian army assault against the city of Dera, south of the country, as reported by Amar Qurabi known activist. Qurabi has stated that some victims died after being shot and another when the tanks bombed several buildings, and also there are many people injured or missing.
Previously, several eyewitnesses had claimed that the army had deployed eight tanks and two armored vehicles in the old town of Dera and had seen at least two bodies in a major city streets near the mosque El Omari . According to these sources, the snipers in the buildings of government and security forces fired indiscriminately at houses after arrival in the area of tanks, soon after the morning prayer.
"People are protecting the houses," said a witness. "I could see two bodies near the mosque, but nobody can come to take them," he added. For now there is no possibility to independently confirm the casualty figures. The Syrian authorities prohibit the international and Arab press enter Syria.
Damascus says the protests are due to an action of "conspirators." Both telephone lines and electricity supply in the city have been cut, but some activists have used mobile Jordanians. "I can assure you that 3,000 soldiers entered the city and are searching homes in Dara," he told dpa a taxi driver who lives in the city.
"There are many wounded, but the ambulances can not move by strong attacks," he said. "They are the forces of Maher al-Assad (the brother of Syrian President Bahar Assad). They shoot everything that moves from rooftops," he added. Protests continued in other cities. And while rumors circulated about a possible closure of the Syrian-Jordanian border.
The director general of Syrian customs, Mustapha Bukai, denied this and said that all border crossings with the neighbors, including Jordan, are still open and that the movement of automobiles and merchandise trade takes place normally. The Jordanian Minister of Media Affairs, Taher Adwan, had been informed before the closure of the border.
"The closure of the border between Syria and Jordan due to the events taking place in Syria," he said told the official Jordanian news agency Petra. Meanwhile, Syrian writers today released a statement denouncing the repression. The letter was signed by 102 Syrian writers and journalists, among them Syrians in exile.
Urge all Syrian intellectuals "who have not broken the barrier of fear that make clear its stance and condemn the violent repressive practices of the Syrian regime against the demonstrators." There is no known death toll in the prostestas, but according to human rights defenders and over 400 people.
The protest, inspired by the revolution of other Arab countries, began six weeks ago with demonstrations that called for democratic reforms. But after the death of several protesters the slogans have changed and can now be heard in demonstrations the cry "The people want the fall of the regime." On Friday 112 demonstrators were killed.
President Asad, who came to power after the death of his father, Hafiz al-Assad in 2000, announced in recent days several reforms and even launched a few. The lifting of the state of emergency, one of the main demands of the opposition, has not so far had no practical impact, because of the security forces and special units of the scheme continue to act harshly against demonstrators implacable.
Human rights organizations also reported arbitrary arrests and torture in police stations. 
Previously, several eyewitnesses had claimed that the army had deployed eight tanks and two armored vehicles in the old town of Dera and had seen at least two bodies in a major city streets near the mosque El Omari . According to these sources, the snipers in the buildings of government and security forces fired indiscriminately at houses after arrival in the area of tanks, soon after the morning prayer.
"People are protecting the houses," said a witness. "I could see two bodies near the mosque, but nobody can come to take them," he added. For now there is no possibility to independently confirm the casualty figures. The Syrian authorities prohibit the international and Arab press enter Syria.
Damascus says the protests are due to an action of "conspirators." Both telephone lines and electricity supply in the city have been cut, but some activists have used mobile Jordanians. "I can assure you that 3,000 soldiers entered the city and are searching homes in Dara," he told dpa a taxi driver who lives in the city.
"There are many wounded, but the ambulances can not move by strong attacks," he said. "They are the forces of Maher al-Assad (the brother of Syrian President Bahar Assad). They shoot everything that moves from rooftops," he added. Protests continued in other cities. And while rumors circulated about a possible closure of the Syrian-Jordanian border.
The director general of Syrian customs, Mustapha Bukai, denied this and said that all border crossings with the neighbors, including Jordan, are still open and that the movement of automobiles and merchandise trade takes place normally. The Jordanian Minister of Media Affairs, Taher Adwan, had been informed before the closure of the border.
"The closure of the border between Syria and Jordan due to the events taking place in Syria," he said told the official Jordanian news agency Petra. Meanwhile, Syrian writers today released a statement denouncing the repression. The letter was signed by 102 Syrian writers and journalists, among them Syrians in exile.
Urge all Syrian intellectuals "who have not broken the barrier of fear that make clear its stance and condemn the violent repressive practices of the Syrian regime against the demonstrators." There is no known death toll in the prostestas, but according to human rights defenders and over 400 people.
The protest, inspired by the revolution of other Arab countries, began six weeks ago with demonstrations that called for democratic reforms. But after the death of several protesters the slogans have changed and can now be heard in demonstrations the cry "The people want the fall of the regime." On Friday 112 demonstrators were killed.
President Asad, who came to power after the death of his father, Hafiz al-Assad in 2000, announced in recent days several reforms and even launched a few. The lifting of the state of emergency, one of the main demands of the opposition, has not so far had no practical impact, because of the security forces and special units of the scheme continue to act harshly against demonstrators implacable.
Human rights organizations also reported arbitrary arrests and torture in police stations.
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