05.05.2011                      01.Ijar, 5771                      Rosch Hodesch 2; Tag 16 des Omer

Analyse – Syrien:

Assad retrenches into Alawite power base

In saying protesters are conspiring to spread sectarian strife, Assad uses language his father used to counter dissent, gain Alawite support.

President Bashar al-Assad is increasingly relying on his Alawite power base to crush pro-democracy protests that have posed the boldest challenge to the Assad family's 41 years of rule over Syria.
Assad, an Alawite, sent army and secret police units dominated by officers from the same minority sect, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam, into mainly Sunni urban centers to crush demonstrations calling for his removal for the last six weeks….