General Affirms: Syrian Security Forces Remain United

Hama, Syria, Oct 20. -Security and order forces in Syria are united in defense of the people and nation, affirmed general Fayz Gazy Mohamed, Police Commander in Hama.The higher official denied the foreign press reports saying that army and police defectors are now members of armed groups that are attacking, although with less frequency now, especially in 14 Syrian provinces.

He considered those propaganda reports as tendentious against Syria.

In declarations to Prensa Latina, Gazy Mohamed admitted that it has been very difficult for the police in the last few months in the province, particularly in July and August and in its capital (Hama), target of attacks and assaults. After the demonstrations that occurred at the beginning, armed extremist groups from the interior encouraged vandalism riots in Hama city and other towns of the interior of that province at the centre-west of Syria and one of the richest from the economic point of view.

The most dramatic events occurred in that province of about 380,000 inhabitants, most of them Sunnite Muslims, from last July 31 to August 8.

Violent attacks by armed individuals destroyed, for example, the officers club of Hama, as well as the Attorney's headquarters and the provincial Court – the same took place in Daraa, south of the country, with the same operational pattern.

Last July 1 the police station in Al Hader town was attacked and burnt in a surprise attack at dawn, killing the 17 police agents that were all asleep, and their corpses were thrown into the Al Assi river nearby.

According to a recent UN tally, 3,000 people have been killed since the eruption of protests in mid-March. However, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem recently put the number of army officers and law-enforcement troops killed by "terrorist groups" since the eruption of protests at more than 1,110. (Prensa Latina)