Syrian situation heating up quickly (from Al-Jazeera)

[brooklynite]

live blog

8:53pm

Ten people were killed today in clashes between protesters and security forces in the southern Syrian city of Sanamin, a high-ranking official told AFP news agency.

7:52pm

Some hundred pro-regime protesters are surrounding the Al Jazeera office in Damascus, asking Al Jazeera to air their support for president al-Assad live on TV. If not, they are threatening to storm the office.

7:21pm

Security forces killed three people in the Mouadamieh district of Damascus after a crowd confronted a procession of cars driven by supporters of president Bashar al-Assad, residents said.

5:43pm

First video of dead bodies emerges after Syrian security forces open fire on protesters near Daraa

Hard to believe this is where I was vacationing two weeks ago...

[David__77]

1. Then you saw a relatively peaceful country.

Syria is among the most "Westernized" Arab countries, though it is not Western-oriented politically for various reasons. There is of course a strong Islamist undercurrent that would like an Islamic state.

[brooklynite]

2. I don't know that that's true...

There's plenty of desire for more freedom and the elimination of corruption, but I didn't see any signs of an Islamist movement. The Sunni, the Shia and the Christians all get along with each other.