Bashar al Assad is marking what he is calling the anniversary of a “year-old conspiracy” against the country by sending thousands of regime supporters into the streets of Damascus. Meanwhile, tanks invaded the city of Daraa, where the protests first began, and shelling continued in Homs for a sixth straight day. Several civilians were shot and killed in Idlib, the rebel stronghold seized by Syrian troops yesterday. The opposition said 82 people died yesterday, including dozens in Idlib. The United Nations estimates 8,000 people have died in the crackdown so far.
