they want to adopt the sponsors and the syrian regime. that might have serious consequences for peace and security in syria and the whole region. thank you. >> thank you, minster for his briefing. i will give the floor to his excellency. you have the floor, sir. >> thank you, mr. president. allow me, sir to thank you and the members of the security council for your invitation for me to participate in the important meeting. mr. president, the security council convenes today at a time when events in syria are spiraling dangerously. this requires that international efforts be converted with the efforts for a rapid and decisive action. first to ensure immediate cessation of violence in protection of the syrian people and secondly to begin as soon as possible the implementation of the road map for a peaceful political solution of the grinding crisis that realizes the aspirations for change and reform, a move to a peaceful democratic life where the syrian people in all segments enjoys dignity as called upon by every arab country. the situation

syrian patriotism stresses that syrians will stand one rank against descent. rejecting violence and rejecting resorting to arms while calling for reform. homelands are built by their citizens. we, as syrians, have have an tupt to undertake a sincere national dialogue and expedite the pace of reform. so that we can establish a genuine national partnership that preserves the security of the homeland and that of the citizen as the only way out of the crisis. one that responds to the legitimate aspirations of the syrian people without necessarily undermining the homeland. future generation also hold everyone who lost this opportunity accountable. mr. president, the arab people would have very much hoped that the presence of the secretary general of the league of arab states and the current chairman of the minister of councils in the security council we would have hoped that this presence would have been for requesting the council to shoulder its responsibilities in ending israeli occupation of occupied arab territories in putting an end to the israeli settlers. ho

the syrian embassy in washington d.c. has repeatedly refused newshour requests for an on- camera interview with either the ambassador or a top aide on this matter. and whether the syrian government is running agents in the united states. but in a statement they did say there have been concerted efforts recently by individuals and the media to spread lies and distortions regarding the embassy of syria. these proceed post russ allegations claim that the embassy is involved in targeting or intimidating syrian expatriates in the u.s. which is absolutely untrue. the syrian-american community is divided between support for the uprising and for the assad regime. at a syrian orthodox church outside washington, not a single parishioner wanted to talk about their homeland. the congregation's pastor struck a careful middle ground. >> we are with those people who ask rightly for their rights. they want it in the right way going on the streets, demonstrating peacefully but not for those people who.... >> sreenivasan: only 10% of syria

it would staff an exclusive syrian-led political process that would allow the syrian people to determine their future peacefully. and it would lead to a national unity government and elections. syria needs a path out of conflict and misery and with this plan, the arab league has provided one that is credible and viable. and they have done so after three months of engagement described by the secretary general, with all sides in syria. after multiple visits to damascus by ministerial delegations from arab nations on the basis of the work of over 150 arab league monitors inside syria and in the light of their own deep understanding of their own region. the arab world is on and off asking the united nation's council to put its weight and authority behind this plan. this is not the west telling syria what to do. it is not the permanent members of the security council seeking to impose their view. this is the arab nation's calling on the u.n. security council to help address the crisis in syria and the threat that it poses to the stability of their region. and the secretary general has come he

to the aspirations of the syrian people. the resolution called also for necessary contacts with the syrian government and the opposition to start convene an inclosive conference at the league of arab states and to realize the legal aspirations of the syrian people. on october 26th, 2011, the ministerial committee held discussions the president. in a meeting held on 30 october, 2011, the committee agreed on a plan of action that was welcomed in the extraordinary resumed meeting of the league of arab states at the headquarters on 2 november, 2011. this agreement was welcome and then it was annexed to the resolution. the plan confirmed approval of the following. one, to end-all acts of violence committed by all sources. to protect the lives of syrian citizens. two, to free detainees held as a result of the current events. to withdraw all military elements from cities and residential neighborhoods. four, to provide relevant agencies and media and free access in order to have a report on the developments and monitor the situation

the decision must be solely syrian only syrians groups of syrians must gather at the negotiating table and hammer on to deal with if the demand is for him to go and he doesn't then what's next we're calling the air force bombing we've seen that already and the security council will never approve this i guarantee it. as more details become available on this story we will keep our viewers updated. well the debate on syria at the u.n. most powerful body is shuttle to start at seven pm g.m.t. and we'll be bringing you the highlights of the meeting live right here on r.t. syria's opposition have made a chilling pledge to the country's leader they have veld president bashar al assad and his family will be killed like libyan leader colonel gadhafi saying he's lost the chance of a peaceful next it clashes between government forces and rebel fighters a raging on the outskirts of the capital and as a party sarah firth in damascus reports the syrian conflict is beginning to resemble libya mark two. you got a civil conflict on your house is just seeming to ramp up evidence really by the violence h

was created for our main goal is to help the syrian people there present them and their two national community. in order to reach this syrian people freedom although it's been run by paris based exile but hamdani in the absence he has been recognized as the country's lee determined government by the new libyan authorities and supported by some and nato countries which has made some doubt the council's innocent intentions with regards to libya the promise that nato made to the national transitional council perspective leaders was that they be given a major seat at the table in a new libya so there is power broking going on behind the scenes and i absolutely wager that the same thing is happening with syria they've either been bought off financially or they've been promised a major role in a new syrian regime the national congress and there are clear is national transitional council and the syrian national council well it's not just their names they have in common supported and sponsored from abroad i think he likes opposition forces and their major goal is to overthrow the regime but

as also syrian authorities released a top al qaida. and they say in retaliation for washington's has to take a assad government nor can we expect if the situation going to just get more bonus highwood west and pressure i think so when i think that and sacked it you know when you when one one of these dictatorships becomes the target of u.s. regime change it actually can solidify its power by rallying people to it's caused by saying look here we have another instance of a us intervention in our affairs and that's why i say the best thing the u.s. could do which of course it's not going to do but the best thing you can do is just butt out stop being the world's policeman because we all know what the aftermath of this is that the u.s. doesn't care what kind of regime comes into power after that we saw that with the iranian regime change operation in fifty three they oust most attacks from power a democratically elected prime minister they install a brutal dictator called the shah of iran and they support him for the next twenty five years

for the free syrian army from countries like turkey and places like it's going the route. and elsewhere so foreign intervention is very much already taking place there as for a nato intervention and that is something that the opposition is continuing to push for right there if you live from damascus thank you very much for your analysis this hour. well still ahead here on r.g.p. the sharp war tactics finding you at home u.s. find drones that have been used in washington's multiple military operations abroad are now keeping a close eye on american citizens too. but first the battle over scotland sovereignty is heating up in the u.k. with the scans being told they may hold an independence referendum only if london gives its blessing it comes as a fearful british government ridicule heavy rhetoric against the independent spirit but as arches laura smith reports london's grandstanding is ruffling more than just feathers among the scots. britain a three hundred year old union that once ruled the waves and tossed the known world but on. the country's closer than ever to a messy

only syrians groups the syrians must gather at the negotiating table and hammer out a deal if the demand is for him to go and he doesn't show them what's next in the air force bombing we've seen that already and this is your the council will never approve it i guarantee it. i mean it's very unfortunate recently that what we seen is that this moderate middle ground as it was as essentially being trampled on you've now got a very very strong side certainly within the country does this sense that right now you're either for or you're against and really you're seeing the country become increasingly polarized as i said very very disappointing that statements like this being made because it's just going to fuel the fed the genuine fear that a lot of people on both sides have about just where this is going to end because this conflict is just getting bloodier and bloody and more and more violent and you know these calls from the opposition to. fuel the conflict in this way just very very damaging i mean it's very easy for the syrian national council to sit abroad to be inserted here and to call

the opposition or what the so-called syrian free army or these are desert areas from the syrian army have been also using heavy gunfire against civilians they have been using explosives apparently they have been using and the armored. rockets and some you know some weapons that cannot usually be used in civilian areas and against civilians there is president said also enjoys. popular support in the city one cannot deny this not even the institute and qatar denied this when they. did the research last month and they found that fifty five percent of the city and population oppose the downfall and or did a movement of president assad it's time for dialogue a pleasant side has has tried to make somebody form some democratic reforms there is a constitutional council now in syria trying to rewrite the constitution there will be elections in the coming months there are so many forums i think it's time that the opposition shows good faith. shows a positive sign because if these interests you know one of no one's interests that need two steps they would be destruction and they would be chaos

we are syrians. there is no confliction between arab feeling and syrian nationalism. the division between arabism and nationalism is important and for the future f. we divide, if we separate such matters will know that arab image is belonging not a membership, is an identity. arabism is an identity that you have. it's an honor with its arab nations. some people might say that about arab image and especially we talk about arab. if arabism is a -- arabism is a civilization, joy want history, joyant religions between different ethnicities and the last thing is race. the strength of this arab image. arabism wasn't built on arabs and those that came and built this community. its strength in its richness. our strength in being arabs and on our openness towards the -- to the arabism. if somebody is a chauvinist, then arabism doesn't mean the chauvinistic if he no, ma'am maine non. what happens in the past doesn't reflect on what happens in the current events that put so many questions and thoughts to find solutions to the current situation that syria currently undergoes. and

. >> ifill: plus, hari sreenivasan reports on syrian americans who say they are being watched by syrian spies in the u.s. as their families are being harassed at home. >> when they were beating my wife, she was screaming, why are you killing me? why are you hitting me? they said we're doing this to teach you a lesson because your son is demonstrating against us. >> ifill: that's all ahead on tonight's newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: and the william and flora hewlett foundation, working to solve social and environmental problems at home and around the world. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> woodruff: it is countdown to caucus night in iowa, and six republican presidential hopefuls worked right up to the end. they were seeking the first harvest of delegates in the nominating season and all- important momentum going forward. wherever the candidates stood in the po

leadership of bashar assad together with the syrian opposition or at least some elements of the syrian opposition can share power there has been talk for example of you giving the post of prime minister to one of the legitimate opposition figures and on that note i have to tell you was although i have information that the syrian opposition now is currently in iran some of the opposition figures are in iran so there are efforts being made by the allies of bashar assad in russia in iran in order to facilitate i political process which might see i power sharing deal which we have all sides of i can answer your question i think this is the best way in order to to avoid violence now really with respect to the economy how that has a an effect there are of course this is an economic sanctions were very bruising very harmful however measures were taken by some allies of syria or iran for example some economic activity is trying to make up for the syrian losses together with russia as well so i do think that the economic sanctions yes they were quite a painful but i think that there have been m

only syrians all groups of syrians must gather at the negotiating table and hammer out a deal with the girl if the demand is for him to go and he doesn't know what's next we're calling the air force bombing we've seen that already and the security council will never approve this but i guarantee it. hard part certainly this is a kick the can certainly this is a concerning to violence that have been happening as we've seen this this sort of rhetoric coming from the opposition body itself now it's going to be very interesting to see how this develops because watch how the opposition have responded how they feel they have increasing backing from the west as we've said these calls very very aggressive in a very far cry from what was originally the protesters point which is to call for democracy and to call for freedom and certainly things that they and the rhetoric and the. situation is moving very very far away now from thailand that meeting increasingly towards this growing civil conflict. with the sounds of gunfire and artillery. yells a phrase tests from the streets and the increasingly

the syrian embassy in washington d.c. has repeatedly refused newshour requests for an on- camera interview with either the ambassador or a top aide on this matter. and whether the syrian government is running agents in the united states. but in a statement they did say there have been concerted efforts recently by individuals and the media to spread lies and distortions regarding the embassy of syria. these proceed post russ allegations claim that the embassy is involved in targeting or intimidating syrian expatriates in the u.s. which is absolutely untrue. the syrian-american community is divided between support for the uprising and for the assad regime. at a syrian orthodox church outside washington, not a single parishioner wanted to talk about their homeland. the congregation's pastor struck a careful middle ground. >> we are with those people who ask rightly for their rights. they want it in the right way going on the streets, demonstrating peacefully but not for those people who.... >> sreenivasan: only 10% of syria

then it was recorded by a popular syrian singer, ibrahim qashoush.t became the people's anthem. ( singer and crowd singing in arabic ) >> it's kind of a popular song. the lyrics was carefully chosen, and sometimes funny, sometimes humor, sometimes very deep. and it was soon all overhe country. ( singer and crowd singing ) >> narrator: but in july, the singer was silenced. >> eventually, they got hold of him. and they tortured him brutally to a limit that they took off his... his throat. and they ditched him in the river. when he was discovered, his throat was obviously cut out, just to send a message that whoever dares to chant against bashar al-assad wi face a similar destiny. >> narrator: the regime also organized mass rallies of its own. in damascus and aleppo, government workers were called to the streets. ( chanting in arabic ) >> there is a very strong well of support for the regime in those cities. and this is vital for the regime, because the last thing they want to see is a situation that occurred in... in egypt, in tahrir square in... in th

the free syrian army and we support. the former army colonel heads the f.s.a. from the brute he's been steadfast from the start and his schools the foreign military intervention the armed safe are we did partnerships with any other opposition elements he sees the significant inside the country and the national khuda nation council one of the leading opposition groups remains adamant that foreign military intervention would make an already to tear erasing situation even worse a whole lot of security position has caused some areas to get out of control and it seems that there is a war between two groups on the outside the country and it's the syrian national council pitching itself as the main opposition but it too has failed to unify the many different a position factions this lack of unity has hampered the quoting close to direct u.n. involvement question china remain firmly opposed to a resolution that would leave the door open to foreign military intervention and a far cry from previous schools to dialogue and saudi ar

regime labor's national transitional council and the syrian national council and it's not just their names they haven't come and supported and sponsored from abroad i think he likes opposition forces and their major goal is to overthrow the regime but there is a difference to the absences huts courters are not in damascus but here in istanbul we are not talking about democratic regime if i go to syria i know we have. you know we have to be executed there howlett says he spent fifteen years in jail in the one nine hundred seventy s. and eighty's just because his father supported the opposition he claims nothing has changed since then and the oppression has to stop but how is another matter claiming they're only going to rely on political and diplomatic pressure the asson see to it. is now copper age in with the free syrian army fighters who have defected from assad's military in was a clear shift from the essences initial entirely known armed peaceful stance. the council also sees humanitarian corridors and buffer zones as options to protect civilians in syria even though these might

only syrians all groups of syrians must gather at the negotiating table and hammer out a deal with the good if the demand is for him to go and he doesn't then what's next with a call in the air force bombing we've seen that already and the security council will never approve this i guarantee it. that was russian foreign minister sergei lavrov giving russia's position on this issue but of course this meeting will be taking place in the next couple coming hours at the security council bill what it comes down to is the fact that russia is trying to spearhead an effort of getting both sides in syria to come together and engage in dialogue russia does not support any draft resolution that includes coercive or punitive measures the draft resolution that is being discussed today that is written and supported by western countries does include course of and here it is measures so of course as more details become available on this story we will keep our viewers updated. thanks very much indeed that's marina live in new york well the debate syria. the u.n. most powerful bodies should look to star

meanwhile the opposition syrian national council says it plans to press the u.n. security council for intervention in the country ripped apart by an arrest the council believes the arab league observers have been useless in ending the crisis and insists that foreign involvement may be the only way out of arties for murray if an ocean reports there are doubts though about the opposition leader's motives. howlett hold jeff from the syrian national council the country's main official opposition body says making the people's voice louder and bring in an end to the violence is what the essence he was created for our main goal is to help the syrian people there present them and their to national community in order to reach this syrian people freedom although it's been run by paris based exile that hamdani in the absence he has been recognized as the country's legitimate government by the new libyan authorities and supported by some and nato countries which has made some doubt the council's innocent intentions with regards to libya the promise that nato made to the natio

only syrians groups of syrians must gather up to the goose eating table and hammer out a deal with the good if the demand is for him to go and he doesn't then what's next group. call in the air force bombing we've seen that already and the security council will never approve this but i guarantee it. it's very unfortunate recently that what we saying is that this moderate middle ground as it was as essentially being trampled on you've now got very very strong sides certainly within the country does the sense that right now you're right before we were against this conflict is just getting bloodier and bloodier more removed violent. with the sons of gunfire and. yes the face tests from the streets and the increasingly loud and numerous international opinions britain needs to lead the way in making sure we tighten the sanctions the travel bans the asset freezes on syria can be hard to hear the syrian. the syrian case has developed and every side wants to push away the responsibility to another tossing the ball back and forth in the last few days the situation has become so unstable that fi

to twenty five it's believed to have been a suicide bombing with most of the casualties civilians syrian t.v. says the blast happened near a primary school it comes as the leader of the country's biggest opposition group has reportedly called for president assad's regime to be overthrown by military means a former high ranking army official who defected to the opposition has claimed the government was lying when it said the violence was caused by gangs aided from abroad. and get some more analysis on the latest syrian violence author and middle east expert ali has told me that he believes the opposition of the sponsible for the attack and they're laying the ground for a foreign intervention. some of the opposition are saying there are certain regime organized this last themselves but i think it's unlikely the fact is that the national alternation committee in istanbul which is being coordinated itself to a certain extent by nato. is not in control of all the forces on the ground so i think it's quite likely that the suicide bombing was carried out by an opposition force and western gover

of and in the past few days a temporary ceasefire because between the government forces and free syrian army so we've seen enter the city to see all streaming hassling certainly it's an area extremely divided on one side you've got the government in control on the other side the free syrian army but it's actually an actual fight very very difficult to know exactly who is in charge of the people's houses that we were showing in the city center had been absolutely devastated by the fighting with the children who have been showing us some of the bullet casings that they've found around the area all the houses in this part you can see the destruction from the fighting that's been going out. in this area and that's was extremely concerning the people who are still living heard externally dangerous situation it's not really clear who exactly is in charge who think killing hate and that makes the situation very very dangerous and the shame and cost of the conflict in syria has been. devastating and absolutely offensive for everyone right now that i've been trying to residence in the christian.

the syrian president claims he's still in control and will soon what he's branded as a.

recognize the syrian national council as a legitimate representative the syrian people it's not that simple as that but so it's kind of part of the campaign against syria of which that that that now the lead part is now the libyan government is now part elections at various levels are currently on to go in in syria with more had so what do you think will bashar al assad remain in power as a result and we have a very very dangerous situation in syria which could have exploded into a very very nasty. total breakdown inside the country it could lead to regional war so in this context let's see if this you give me a few months and see how the process works for bashar does have. a base of popular support so i don't think you can say that the party would be doomed the moment they call free elections that could do well why do you think human rights watch talks and for media neglects the damage done by militant groups in syria it's somewhat of a mystery to me it's a mystery and the city has made some pretty. provocative claims in with regard to syria one of them is that i think it was milita

army a syrian opposition delegations and we were meeting here in moscow i think at least four syrian opposition delegations were not hiding sources of finance they were saying that finances coming from different sunni states different kompany as individuals what we see in syria today and i really regret to see that we see more and more of a conflict and conflict between the shia and the sunni bashar assad belongs to a family which is an ally we family the shia family the majority of the population in syria are sunni is and unfortunately that is one of the biggest problems of the middle east today we see more and more competition between the shia and the sunni in some cases it is represented by the competition between iran and turkey but in some cases it is represented by the competition between different political and really shows a religious circles within one state how big a says support base at this point well i think that the support is rather substantial but it's not enough to arm all the opposition and to start massive war or mason mess of invasion against the syrian army so yo

authorities for the way the syrian authorities handling the situations and were saying that the syrian army is has been shooting at the old service later on the head of the old servers. who is a. nice officer. gave a statement denying all these alleged leaks and saying that the service commission has not issued its report yet it with the had all to do you observe a group will be back in cairo on saturday and on sunday they would be a meeting now let's hope that there wouldn't be any strong pressure on the americans and let's hope that they will let this commission do its job independently and will make the truth come out and the truth i think to answer your question is that there are. gunmen shooting at the army there are some groups of gunmen. creating chaos in syria they are profiting from the movement the movement of people to protest for basic rights and they have rights and it is true that there are some legitimate demands on the part of the syrian people but it's such a big shame that some western powers and some foreign an intervention in syria in the affairs is using these peop

in damascus reports the syrian conflict is beginning to resemble libya mom too. you've got a civil conflict on your houses just seeming to ramp up evidence really by the violence has broken out for the past couple of days between the two sides now that's not being housed by the statement by one of the members of the main opposition body the syrian national council the mother head said that assad and his family would be killed like gadhafi now certainly does against a few of the fears on both sides really there's going to be retaliation and revenge attacks coming in this teacher and certainly that is a genuine fear amongst the people here you're seeing a very polarized country right now and the dividing lines are really being too on you know here in the neighborhood there's really a sense of the full oh you're against people really that moderate middle ground now is being squeezed all the time and very concerning because the dialogue just seemed to being completely overshadowed by this very very strong aggressive rhetoric this conflict is just getting bloodier mor