Syrian army defectors hit intel complex - activists

[Bosonic]

Source: Reuters

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian army defectors attacked an intelligence complex on the edge of Damascus early on Wednesday, in the first reported assault on a major security facility in the eight-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, activists said.

Members of the Free Syrian Army fired shoulder-mounted rockets and machineguns at a large Air Force Intelligence complex situated on the northern edge of the capital on the Damascus-Aleppo highway at about 2:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m. British time).

A gunfight ensued and helicopters circled the area, the sources said.

"I heard several explosions, the sound of machinegun fire being exchanged," said a resident of the suburb of Harasta, who declined to be named.

Read more: http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE7AF09G20111116

[tcaudilllg]

1. Looks like Assad's days are numbered.

I fully expect him to be assassinated before the end of next year.

[bemildred]

4. Yep. nt

[UnrepentantLiberal]

2. Can we root for the civilians?

What would Hugo do?

[pampango]

3. BBC: Syria defectors 'attack military base in Harasta'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15752058

Syrian army defectors have attacked a major military base near Damascus, Syrian opposition groups say. Parts of the notorious Air Force Intelligence building in Harasta were reported to have been destroyed, but there were no reports of casualties.

It would be the Free Syrian Army's (FSA) most high-profile attack since Syria's anti-government protests began. Such an attack would be significant because Syria's Air Force Intelligence is one of the most feared state agencies and has been involved in the suppression of protests. Activists said the defectors attacked the building from three sides.

The attack came ahead of an Arab League emergency meeting in Morocco to discuss ways of ending the bloodshed. The meeting is expected to ratify last week's vote to suspend Syria and also debate possible further measures against Damascus.

Mr Assad is coming under increasing international pressure to end the bloodshed, after failing to honour an Arab League peace plan which would have seen him step down in exchange for amnesty. As Arab League foreign ministers gathered in Rabat on Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Syria had failed to deliver on its promises.