DAMASCUS, Syria - Syrians gathered in the main squares across the country on Friday in an effort to show solidarity with the government and express opposition to foreign intervention in their own national affairs.

According to the official SANA news agency, massive crowds of citizens, chanting pro-government slogans, took to the streets and gathered in landmark squares in cities such as the capital Damascus, Aleppo, Homs and Tartous.

Some demonstrators told local TV stations that they aimed to show the world their determination to face up to all the pressures imposed by some Western countries and to end the country's months- long crisis in their own way.

Some denounced the biased reports by certain media which were in fact "lies and fabrications", about the real situation in Syria.

The participants hoped the Arab League (AL) observers, who are currently in the country's major cities for ground monitoring, will "be credible and professional in conveying the facts of what the terrorist groups are perpetrating of killing innocents, terrifying people and sabotaging public and private properties," SANA reported.

As the gathering went on, major Syrian cities like Damascus beefed up their security inspections on Friday, with more armed policemen and checkpoints on the roads than usual.

Opposition gatherings

Hundreds of thousands of people also took to the streets in a display of defiance to show the AL observer mission the strength of the opposition movement.

In a further attempt to appeal to the monitors, opposition troops who have broken away from the Syrian army said they have halted attacks on government forces to reinforce the opposition's contention that the uprising against Assad is a peaceful movement.

While opposition activists are deeply skeptical of the observer mission, they said the outpouring of demonstrators across Syria underscores their wish to make their case to the foreign monitors and take advantage of the small measure of safety they feel they brought with them.

The nearly 100 AL monitors are the first that Syria has allowed into the country during the uprising, which began in March. They are supposed to ensure the government complies with terms of AL's plan to end Assad's crackdown. The UN said more than 5,000 people have died as the government has sought to crack down on the revolt.

The observers began their mission on Tuesday in Homs, often referred to by many Syrians as the "Capital of the Revolution". Since then, they have fanned out in small groups across Syrian provinces, including the restive Idlib province in the north, Hama in the center and the southern province of Daraa, where the revolt began.

The orange-jacketed observers have been seen taking pictures of the destruction, visiting families of victims and taking notes.

Associated Press

(China Daily 01/01/2012 page4)