“World is Happy for Assad to Continue Killing Syrians”

Syrian protesters carry banners calling for international action against the Assad regime in Kafranbel, Idlib, in northern Syria. Image by Majid Almustafa. Copyright Demotix August 30, 2013

Syrian protesters carry banners calling for international action against the Assad regime in Kafranbel, Idlib, in northern Syria. Image by Majid Almustafa. Copyright Demotix August 30, 2013

This post is part of our special coverage Surviving in Syria

Syria just announced that it was ready to put its chemical weapons stockpile under international control – and then destroy them, under a new deal chalked by Russia. Activists say the tactic will buy Syrian president Bashar Al Assad time to continue killing people with all other types of weapons at his disposal.

The deal aims to avert a US strike against Syria, which is being accused of using chemical weapons against Syrian people. According to figures by the United Nations, at least 100,000 people have been killed and more than 2 million have been forced to flee the country since anti-Assad protests started in March, 2011.

Syrian activist Shakeeb Al-Jabri exclaims:

Mauritanian activist Naser Weddady notes:

And BSyria adds:

While Ghazal says that reigning in Assad's use of chemical warfare means that all other weapons are acceptable [ar]:

And now that they have accepted monitoring chemical weapons, it means that we will go back to airforce, artillery and barrels. It isn't a problem how many people die. They will condemn. The most important is that chemical weapons are not used.

In a series of tweets, BBC News Middle East Bureaux chief Richard Colebourn suggests that Russia and Syria may have – obviously – coordinated their action.

He adds:

The move is also posing many questions. Zeina Khodr, Al Jazeera English correspondent, tweets:

While Syrian blogger Anas Maarawi says:

Where did they come up with handing over chemical weapons? The regime is ready to hand over its mother, father and sister in return for retaining power

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests

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