Syrian pro-government activists protest 'UN inaction' on rebels attacks

A group activists on Thursday held a sit-in before the UN headquarters in the Syrian capital of Damascus to express discontent to what they called "UN inaction" on the rebels' attacks in some Syrian cities. Hoisting Syria's flags, dozens of activists protest before the UN headquarters in al-Mazzeh district, western Damascus. They said there was "inaction and lack of condemnation" from the UN toward the rebels' attacks, particularly the latest one that targeted Adra Umaliyeh city north of Damascus. "We are here to say that we are fed up with the UN's silence toward the crimes that have been taking place in Syria, especially the ones committed in Adra Umaliyeh. So how long are they going to remain silent and do nothing about the crimes?" Taif Ali, a pro- government activist, said at the sit-in. Rebels from al-Qaida-linked groups stormed Adra Umaliyeh last month and started sectarian-motivated mass killing against the Alawite minority, an offshoot of Shiite Islam to which the ruling elites in Syria belong. People fleeing the city spoke of unimaginable atrocities committed by jihadists. The Syrian army have been besieging the city where the rebels have entrenched in residential areas and taken civilians as human shields, according to state media. Yet, the military forces evacuated about 10,000 people from Adra, a city of 100,000 residents, who are largely government supporters. Syria's Minister of Social Affairs Kinda Shammat said recently that her ministry hasn't been contacted by any international organization regarding the situation in Adra. The silence of the international community has pushed several pro-government activist groups to gather before the UN headquarters to protest. Um Haidar, a participant in the sit-in, said: "We are here to say in one voice to stop the killing, especially the one in Adra Umaliyeh, where residents have suffered unimaginable crimes and massacres by the terrorist."