Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS3578
2006-07-21 11:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
TFLE01: SYRIA DAILY SITREP 06 FOR FRIDAY, JULY
how-toVZCZCXRO7457 OO RUEHAG DE RUEHDM #3578 2021102 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 211102Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0478 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0135 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0128 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 003578
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL SY
SUBJECT: TFLE01: SYRIA DAILY SITREP 06 FOR FRIDAY, JULY
21, 2006
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche, per 1.4 b,d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 003578
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL SY
SUBJECT: TFLE01: SYRIA DAILY SITREP 06 FOR FRIDAY, JULY
21, 2006
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche, per 1.4 b,d.
1. (C) Summary:
2. (C) A demonstration in support of Hizballah began at 1900
hours July 20 at Ommayyad Circle, located about four blocks
from the Embassy. Emboffs reported that the 1200-2000
demonstrators, mostly teenage males, waved Hizballah flags
and shouted anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans. Around
2100 hours some 200-400 of the demonstrators began making
their way towards the Embassy. The SARG mobilized some 100
riot police to guard the embassy during the demonstration,
with half of them in front of the Embassy and the rest in a
forward position, using parked vehicles to block the
demonstrators approach about two blocks distant. Emboffs who
observed the demonstration described it as most overtly
anti-American protest since the Israeli conflict with
Hizballah began.
3. (C) According to RSO personnel, demonstrators probed in
several different directions to approach the Embassy, but
none was able to get closer than the outer perimeter, two
blocks away. Riot police managed to push the largest mass of
demonstrators back towards Ommayyed Circle, where the
demonstration broke up completely shortly afterwards. There
was no damage to the Embassy or injury to personnel. RSO
reported excellent response and and pre-demonstration
information sharing by Syrian police. The demonstrations
caused massive traffic jams in several directions for hours
because of the closing of Ommayyad Circle, a major
intersection connecting Damascus to outlying suburbs.
4. (C) Otherwise, Damascus is calm July 21. The Embassy is
closed for the beginning of the Muslim weekend.
SECHE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL SY
SUBJECT: TFLE01: SYRIA DAILY SITREP 06 FOR FRIDAY, JULY
21, 2006
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche, per 1.4 b,d.
1. (C) Summary:
2. (C) A demonstration in support of Hizballah began at 1900
hours July 20 at Ommayyad Circle, located about four blocks
from the Embassy. Emboffs reported that the 1200-2000
demonstrators, mostly teenage males, waved Hizballah flags
and shouted anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans. Around
2100 hours some 200-400 of the demonstrators began making
their way towards the Embassy. The SARG mobilized some 100
riot police to guard the embassy during the demonstration,
with half of them in front of the Embassy and the rest in a
forward position, using parked vehicles to block the
demonstrators approach about two blocks distant. Emboffs who
observed the demonstration described it as most overtly
anti-American protest since the Israeli conflict with
Hizballah began.
3. (C) According to RSO personnel, demonstrators probed in
several different directions to approach the Embassy, but
none was able to get closer than the outer perimeter, two
blocks away. Riot police managed to push the largest mass of
demonstrators back towards Ommayyed Circle, where the
demonstration broke up completely shortly afterwards. There
was no damage to the Embassy or injury to personnel. RSO
reported excellent response and and pre-demonstration
information sharing by Syrian police. The demonstrations
caused massive traffic jams in several directions for hours
because of the closing of Ommayyad Circle, a major
intersection connecting Damascus to outlying suburbs.
4. (C) Otherwise, Damascus is calm July 21. The Embassy is
closed for the beginning of the Muslim weekend.
SECHE