The Syrian town of Dara'a is facing a humanitarian tragedy with many civilians dead and wounded as the Syrian authorities tighten their control on the city. Meanwhile, approximately 200 members of the ruling Baath Party submitted their resignation in protest against the military operations in Dara'a and the surrounding areas.
According to news reports, Dara'a suffers from diminishing supplies of food, water and medicine. One resident was quoted as saying: "We have no electricity, no water, no bread, tragic situation here."
Witnesses said that at least five officers from the Syrian army sided with the protesters. They said that some soldiers who were sent to the city refused to carry out orders to arrest suspects.
Syrian army tanks were also sent to Douma a suburb of Damascus and the coastal city of Banias.
Several areas in Syria witnessed on Wednesday evening demonstrations against the Assad regime, where thousands held a peaceful demonstration in Homs demanding the end of the regime. In the town of Tafas in the province of Dara'a protesters, including children and women held a demonstration in solidarity with the citizens of Dara'a, demanding to break the siege imposed on it by security forces.
In the meantime, more than 230 members of the ruling Baath Party has announced their resignations - 30 are from Banias and 203 from Dara'a and its vicinity in protest against the brutal military operations.
The signatories of the statement from the party in the Banias said: "The practices of the security services against the honest citizens and the isolation of our people in the city of Banias and the surrounding villages, especially in the village of al-Bayda contradict all our values and conventions, and stand against the the slogans of the party."
The statement pointed to "house to house searches and random shooting at people, houses, mosques and churches by members of the security forces."
