Syria: Protests Break Out Following Assad Speech  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.
Syrian president Bashar Al Assad gave a speech today outlining reform plans, which include forming a committee to form a committee to study reforms and the need for national dialogue. On Twitter, reactions continued to flow as Assad spoke. Assad's promises were met with more protests across the country, calling for him to leave power.
From the United Arab Emirates, Sultan Al Qassemi tweets:
Over 1,400 Syrians were killed by security forces & Bashar's reaction is to form three month long committees to study forming committees.
Syrian Malath Aumran quips:
today it is more clear than ever – assad cannot stay in power and will not reform #assadspeech
And continues:
A national dialogue cannot happen when one side refuses to talk about the REAL issues and REAL situation
Dima Khatib remarks:
#AssadSpeech —> another Arab leader in denial #syria
And Yemeni NoonArabia says:
#Assadspeech, another speech by another president whose time is up. I hope it is the magical third and last! #Syria
A map showing protests across Syria following Assad's speech
After the speech, Aumran tweets:
Our response #assadspeech: 12+ protests already reported in our #syria: http://www.lccsyria.org/1128
SeekerSk adds:
Over 1000 regime forces on university campus of #Aleppo-Over 50 students arrested after protests in response to #AssadSpeech #Syria
Razaniyat notes:
Darayya (Damascus Suburbs) now joining the protests in Homs,Hama,Latakya and Aleppo condemning #AssadSpeech & calling 4 toppling the regime!
And UgaritNews shares this video of protests in Hama following the speech in which protesters chant “The people want to overthrow the regime” and “Our Dear Nation! Go away Bashar!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXGNeIVf4hg
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.