Syria: U.S, U.N. and Arab League Respond to Continuing Crackdown

State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland condemned the Syrian government’s attack on political cartoonist and activist Ali Farzat, and demanded that “the Assad regime immediately stop its campaign of terror through torture, illegal imprisonment, and murder.” The Arab League will hold an urgent meeting on Saturday, to discuss a timeframe to push for Syrian reforms and issue a call for the violence to end. Russia hinted that it may veto the draft U.N. Security Council resolution circulated this week, designed to strengthen sanctions and impose an arms embargo on Syria. And Russia and China have boycotted Security Council talks on the resolution.

Salwa Ismail argues that President Bashar al-Assad‘s fall is inevitable, given the growing numbers of professionals, including lawyers and doctors, and members of the business class, that are beginning to support the opposition movement. The best outcome for the protest movement would be a sustained expansion of its support and pressure, complemented by international pressure through sanctions, to lead to Assad’s downfall.

And  today, thousands are expected to hold some of the largest demonstrations since protests began, to mark the last Friday of Ramadan. Initial reports indicate that security forces fired on protesters, killing at least two outside Damascus. Activists report that forces loyal to the regime killed eight overnight. In recent days, inspired by events in Libya, protesters have shouted “Bye, bye Gaddafi, Bashar your turn is coming.”