Syria, Iran join hand to beat West's war designs

World

Syria, Iran join hand to beat West's war designs

Close

Syrian troops massed around Homs and Iranian warships docked at port of Tartus in a show of force.

20 February,2012 09:08 pm

After the reported buildup, top US military officer, General Martin Dempsey, said any intervention in Syria would be very difficult and that it was premature to arm the unrest-swept countrys opposition movement.And Chinas influential Peoples Daily warned any Western support for Syrias rebels would lead a large-scale civil war.Two warships from Iran, a key backer of the Syrian regime, docked at the port of Tartus, Tehrans state television reported on Monday, adding that their crew would train Syrian sailors.Irans navy chief, Admiral Habibollah Sayari, said on Saturday that the ships, a destroyer and supply vessel, had passed through the Suez Canal to show the Islamic republics military might.In Damascus, regime forces remained on alert after two days of large and unexpected protests, and after a call for a day of defiance was observed in restive neighbourhoods, according to activists.Meanwhile, the Syrian authorities freed blogger Razan Ghazzawi, symbol of an 11-month uprising, and six other female activists arrested last week, human rights lawyer Anwar Buni said.The women were released on Saturday, but were ordered to report to police daily in order to continue their questioning, he said.They were part of a group of 14 activists people arrested Thursday in a raid on the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression, a group headed by rights activist Mazen Darwish.--Agencies