Opposition demonstrations in Syria are part of a mass protest movement in Arab countries - the "Arab Spring". Since 1963, the country has been ruled by the Arab Socialist Renaissance Party (Baath). Bashir Assad replaced his father, Hafez Assad, as president. The elections were held in the form of a referendum, during which it was proposed to answer the question of whether citizens approve of the only candidate - B. Assad - as president.
In January 2011, mass anti-government protests began, dissatisfied with the irremovability of the ruling party and the de facto dictatorship of the Assad family. Along with peaceful forms of protest (processions and hunger strikes), the protesters used fights with the police, arson of government offices and other illegal acts.
The government used troops to quell the riots. There were cases of execution of soldiers who refused to shoot at civilians. Soldiers of the regular army went over to the side of the "Free Syrian Army" (the armed formations of the rebels). Militarized groups of Islamists have also joined it.
As the struggle intensified, bitterness grew on both sides. As a result of the hostilities, civilians died, and both sides tried to use their death for propaganda purposes. On May 25, 2012, the world media reported on the deaths of over 90 civilians in the Syrian village of El-Houla, including over 30 children. Subsequently, it turned out that 108 people died.
From the outset, the UN Human Rights Committee blamed Bashir Assad for the death, claiming that the people were the victims of shelling by government forces. However, the investigation showed that only 20 people were killed by shrapnel wounds. The rest were either killed by shots at close range or stabbed to death.
The Syrian government said it had nothing to do with the deaths of civilians, since its army did not occupy the village, and accused of killing the Islamists. Further investigation of the tragedy by UN observers gives reason to believe that in this case the government is telling the truth. Islamists may be interested in disrupting peace talks between both sides of the conflict under the leadership of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
