CAIRO: During a visit to Egypt, the Syrian opposition movement delegation called on the Egyptian government to remove all support to Syria and to withdraw its ambassador from Damascus and expel the Syrian ambassador to Egypt. The delegation, in Egypt on Sunday, comes as Syria's government continues to violently crackdown on protesters in the country. According to reports from activists and human rights organizations, at least 25 people have been killed in the country since Saturday. Protesters have begun to call for international intervention to prevent further bloodshed and protect Syrian lives. The delegation is looking for the regional and international community to increase pressure to end President Bashar al-Assad's “massacres” against peaceful demonstrators in the country, who have been on the streets since March 15 calling for Assad's government to step down. The delegation also warned the Egyptian people of Iranian attempts to restore relations with Egypt. “The Syrian people demand international intervention under the auspices of the UN to protect the Syrian people from regime atrocities,” said Monzer Makhoos, a March 15 Movement opposition leader. He also criticized the resounding “Arab silence” in the face of Syrian regime brutality. The leader also condemned what he said were “soft” sanctions against the Syrian government – the freezing of assets – and instead suggested that sanctions “should start with the expulsion of ambassadors and the severing of diplomatic ties with the Syrian regime.” “The delegation came to Egypt to form a bloc and pressure the Syrian regime,” said political activist Fares al-Shofy, while urging Egyptians to organize demonstrations to support Syrian people. “Egypt is the heart of the Arab nation and it can put international pressure on Syria,” he added. The activist also demanded that Egyptian people participate in the demonstrations scheduled for next Friday to support Syrians. “People who can overthrow a tyrannical regime in 18 days can support the Syrians and overthrow Assad and his Iranian allies,” he added. BM
