![Yemeni Minister of Legal Affairs Mohammed al-Mekhlafi is working to bring the country's legislative process into line with international conventions. [Faisal Darem/Al-Shorfa]](/shared/images/2013/05/18/yemen-legal-minister-90_58.jpg)
![Iraqi artist Sadik Jaafar's most recent exhibition, 'Harmony of Light', is now showing in Beirut. [Nohad Topalian/Al-Shorfa]](/shared/images/2013/05/18/iraq-artist-sadek-90_58.jpg)
![Lebanese Shia cleric Sayyed Ali al-Amine says religious leaders in Arab countries must speak out and issue fatwas prohibiting involvement in the fighting in Syria. [Photo courtesy of Ali al-Amine]](/shared/images/2013/05/17/lebanon-ali-amine-90_58.jpg)
![Boys at a Pakistan-based training camp fire AK-47's in this undated video released by the al-Qaeda affiliated Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) terror group. [Video frame grab/Liveleak.com]](/shared/images/2013/05/17/cao-pak-children-90_58.jpg)
As violence in Syria on Friday (June 29th) killed at least 25 people, Kofi Annan called for the international community and all parties in Syria to "act positively for peace", AFP reported.
"It is abundantly clear that the violence will not stop without joint, sustained pressure from those with influence, including consequences for noncompliance," the UN-Arab League joint special envoy to Syria wrote in an article published in the Washington Post Friday.
Speaking ahead of a Saturday conference on Syria, which will include several permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Annan outlined a potential road map for a solution to the Syria crisis.
He proposed a national unity government that "could include members of the present government and the opposition and other groups" but exclude "those whose continued presence and participation would undermine the credibility of the transition and jeopardise stability and reconciliation".
After a national dialogue and the writing of a new constitution, multi-party elections would be held, he wrote.
Meanwhile, regime forces on Friday continued their attacks on the Damascus suburb of Douma, according the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Two civilians were killed during "continued bombardment by regime forces attempting to gain control" of the capital's suburb, the Observatory reported.
The killings follow at least 40 deaths reported in Douma on Thursday.
Protestors also staged demonstrations across the country in the face of government crackdowns.
"Regime troops surrounded a number of mosques in the capital to prevent protests after Friday prayers," the Observatory said, adding that four people were arrested as security forces dispersed a demonstration outside a mosque in the Mezze district of Damascus.
Other demonstrations occurred in Aleppo, Deraa, Deir ez-Zor, Homs, Latakia and Idlib provinces, the last of which saw hundreds of people gathered in the town of Kfar Nubul calling for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.
At least 25 people were reportedly killed Friday, the Observatory said. The death toll follows one of the bloodiest days since unrest began nearly 16 months ago, with 183 reported dead on Thursday.
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![A torn poster of Syrian President Bashar Assad hangs in the northern Syrian city of al-Raqa on March 5th following days of fierce fighting. [Mohammad al-Hussein/AFP]](/shared/images/2013/04/19/Syria-assad-raqaa-90_58.jpg)
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ADD A COMMENT (COMMENT POLICY) * DENOTES REQUIRED FIELD
READER COMMENTS
ابو معتصم
2012-7-19
My Lord Allah That there is no god but You, the Alive, the Eternal and the Arrogant, O Allah, I'm requesting by Your Beautiful Names and the highest of Your traits both obvious and hidden to uphold the Syrian people who are worshiping you Almighty Allah. and You have most mercy on them Almighty Allah. Bashar did not scare you on them, thus make him, his wife, sons and all supporters of him a real lesson to the people. I am asking you Almighty Allah with every Name You have Named Yourself Or revealed in Your Book Or taught it to one of Your creatures to demolish Bashar and his supporters from Syria and make the Syrian brothers safe with Your mercy Amen.
الليبي
2012-6-30
My free Syrian brethren, the month of Ramadan is approaching. We ourselves remained patient and defiant against the deceased Gadhafi until we attained victory in this holy month, with the help of prayers, patience and piety. Thus, we advise you to be fearful of God when dealing with women, elderly and children. You should know that God will not grant victory to oppressors. To all Syrian Muslims, I appeal to you all across Syria to fast on the coming Thursday, and I pray to god to grant you victory over the despot; victory comes only from God.
عاصم الشيخ
2012-6-30
It is certain that most residents of neighborhoods bombed by the Alawi terrorist militia have left these neighborhoods to other ones in Homs city or nearby areas. Sometimes, they flee to other provinces or even to outside Syria. 2 - As a matter of fact, Homs and its neighborhoods is a battle field, whereby fighters for freedom are trying to topple the Alawi regime. Even Baba Amr is still witnessing ongoing battles. 3 – It’s god’s will that every citizen from Homs or Syria in general, whose house has been demolished, will receive a new home better than their previous house. This is what will happen when Syria attains freedom against the will of the Alawis. 4 – Despite the ongoing shelling, the Alawis' goal to smash the Syrian Free Army in Homs has dismally failed, while the Syrian Free Army only grew stronger and increased in number.
قاصد
2012-6-30
The Syrian people will continue demonstrating until receiving its freedom and deposing the criminal regime, which betrayed its people and home. The Syrian people are known for generosity and forgiveness, but the only thing that cannot be forgiven is treachery and betrayal. The people will never forgive those who betrayed them. The Syrian people will not withdraw or stand in the middle of the road, because the winds of the freedom started blowing. On the other hand, the regime will not remain silent or withdraw quickly, because the destructive killing machine is still thirsty for the blood of the Syrians and they know that their existence is contingent on the continuity of the bloodbath. The people will demonstrate and the regime will kill.
ثامر ياسين
2012-6-30
Russia, China, and Iran are among the main losers in case of the fall of the regime of Bashar. Syria is one of the major importers of Russian arms and it also represents one of its important allies in the region of Middle East. Russia also has a small military base in Tartus, where its navy lands to support the Syrian regime with arms and expertise. The motivations of China are not different from those of Russia, because the Chinese investments in the sector of power in Syria are immense. As for Iran, it considers the Syrian revolution as an alarm that threatens its project in the region. That is because Russia represents a link between Iran and its arms in the region, particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon and the al-Maliki government in Iraq. This project aims to extend its influence in the area of the Shiite crescent: Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, in the face of the Sunni Gulf States through instigating the Shia in these countries, especially in Bahrain. The striking thing is that Hezbollah supports the revolution in Bahrain and dedicates its mass media to supporting it, while it attacks the Syrian revolution that raises the same demands, accusing the revolutionaries of treachery and serving the US-Zionist plan to hit the castle of resistance in Syria, which is a passage between Iran and Hezbollah. These states reject foreign interference, and their agreement, if any, would be conditional, but we know the west and the USA do not want it.