Frenchman killed in Homs violence as Assad greets supporters in capital

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad took to the streets of Damascus yesterday and vowed to vanquish “foreign conspirators” plotting to end his rule, as a Frenchman became the first foreign journalist to be killed in ten months of unrest that has cost thousands of lives in Syria.

“France 2 television has just learned with a great deal of sorrow the death of reporter Gilles Jacquier in Homs,” France 2 said.

It said Mr Jacquier had been invited to Syria by the government. Witnesses said he had been killed during a grenade attack – Homs is a centre of resistance to the regime.

Earlier, a smiling Mr Assad, in a dark jacket and open-necked shirt, greeted thousands of rapturous supporters in a Damascus square, only a day after breaking a six-month public silence.

The crowd shouted “Shabiha forever, for your eyes, Assad”, a reference to loyalist militiamen, mostly members of Mr Assad’s minority Alawite sect, who have gained a fearsome reputation for their part in suppressing protests against the president.

Mr Assad’s London-born wife, Asma, and their two children joined him for his surprise appearance in the capital’s central Umayyad Square. “I belong to this street,” said Mr Assad, 46.

He added that Syria faced foreign conspirators, saying: “We will make this phase the end for them and their plans. We are going to win.”

His remarks followed a long speech on Tuesday in which he mocked the Arab League, vowed to hit “terrorists” with an iron fist and promised reforms – with no hint that he would relinquish the power he inherited from his father in 2000.

The Arab League, which suspended Syria in November for failing to halt its crackdown on protests, sent an observer mission in December that has not stopped the bloodshed. The League urged Syria this week to protect its observers.

Yesterday one monitor quit and accused Syria of war crimes, saying the mission was a “farce”.

Anwar Malek said he had resigned because the mission was powerless to prevent “scenes of horror” he had seen in the restive city of Homs.

“The mission was a farce and the observers have been fooled,” the Algerian told Al-Jazeera TV.

“The regime orchestrated it and fabricated most of what we saw to stop the Arab League from taking action against the regime. The regime isn’t committing one war crime but a series of crimes against its people.”

Mr Malek also criticised the leader of the Arab League mission, Sudanese general Mohammed al-Dabi, whose suitability for the role had been questioned by human rights groups concerned about his past role in the conflict in Darfur.

“The head of the mission wanted to steer a middle course in order not to anger the [Syrian] authorities or any other side,” said Mr Malek.

Meanwhile, a ship reportedly carrying ammunition from Russia to Syria was allowed to leave Cyprus yesterday, where it had been inspected after docking to avoid rough seas, after giving assurances it would change its destination to Turkey.

The cargo ship, which left St Petersburg on 9 December, was carrying up to 60 tonnes of ammunition and had been heading to the Syrian port city of Latakia.