'US seeks Libya scenario in Syria'

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171830.html

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says the US is plotting to topple Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to prepare the ground for looting the resources of the Arab state.

Syria has been hit with a fresh wave of anti-government protests during the past week that left scores of people dead.

"The attack on Syria has begun, there have been some supposed peaceful protests and some deaths (...) and they are accusing the president [Assad] of killing his people," AFP quoted Chavez as saying on Saturday at a political event.

"And then the Yankees come in to bomb the people in order to save them. What cynicism on the empire's part," he noted.

The southern Syrian city of Daraa -- located close to Jordan's border -- has emerged as the center of Syria's unrest and the scene of demonstrations for the past week.

Unrest in the area was reportedly triggered by the arrest of young students for spraying graffiti last week.

Amnesty International reported that at least 55 people have been killed in and around Daraa during the protests in the past two weeks.

Seventeen protesters were shot dead as they attempted to travel to Daraa from the village of Sanamen on Friday. On Wednesday, unknown gunmen opened fire on peaceful demonstrators, killing at least five.

Comparing the Syrian situation with the crisis in Libya, Chavez said, "It's the same model."

A NATO-led coalition is enforcing a UN-approved no-fly zone over troubled Libya by striking forces loyal to Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

"Generate internal conflicts, bloodshed, in a country in order to then step in, seize its natural resources and make it a colony. It is a new model they have come up with," Chavez opined.

The Venezuelan president also said that he had spoken with Assad by phone.

Earlier on Thursday, Syrian authorities publicized a string of reforms in response to the protests, including the possible end to the emergency rule set in place since 1963.

According to Syrian activists, they will continue to push for more civil liberties and an end to corruption.

Assad's government has announced the release of 260 detained activists. The government also said its troops would be withdrawn from Daraa.