Syria unrest: Palestinian refugees flee camp, says UN

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Thousands of Palestinian refugees are fleeing a camp in Syria's port of Latakia which is being shelled by government troops, a UN agency says.

A spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works agency (Unrwa) told the BBC that more than 5,000 of 10,000 refugees were on the move.

He said at least four people had died, urging immediate access to the site.

Some 30 people have reportedly died in three days of a crackdown on unrest. Syria says it is tackling gangs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14533967

[LeftishBrit]

1. The Syrian government gets worse and worse - if that's possible

Two Avaaz petitions that people can sign (whether or not anyone will take any notice; but we can but try):

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/syrias_disappeared_4/?vc

http://www.avaaz.org/en/no_blood_for_oil/?fp

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2. Not too bright, in my view.

Like the Loon of Libya. They may hang on for a while, but they will never govern again, and this sort of thing just hastens the end.

[aranthus]

3. Don't be too sure.

In 1982, Assad's father had at least 10,000 murdered in Hama, and he continued to rule until his death. Granted, Bashir is not Hafez and the world is not what it was thirty years ago, but this dictatorship could survive even so.

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4. He's toast:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4965184

He may hang on for a while yet, hard to say, but he will never rule Syria again, just like Ghaddaffi. You don't get do-overs in these things.

Isn't it great to realize that Ghaddaffi is finally going to get more time to spend with his family?