Massive Syrians rally in Damascus in support of Assad

Hundreds of Syrians held a pro- government rally in the heart of the capital Damascus on Wednesday, in a show of support for the administration of President Bashar al- Assad, whose country has been gripped by a three-year-old deadly conflict. Holding Syrian flags and posters of Assad, hundreds of people sang pro-government songs and danced on their beats at the Fardose street in Damascus, a spectacle that has reemerged again in several Syrian cities following a year of no such activity. "I am so happy because the people have gathered today here again. It's a nice thing to see Syria as it used to be before, full of its people of all sects," Ala'a, a Syrian demonstrator, told Xinhua during her participation in the demonstration. "May God help us to restore our country to what it has used to be and may God protect Syria and the army and help us to see our country as beautiful as it used to be," she hoped. Syrian streets have missed such demonstrations for over a year due to the security situation on ground, and their recent reoccurrence is a stark sign of the Syrian military's gaining of the upper hand in the pro-longed conflict. Similar rallies have recently been taking place almost on daily basis in different parts of the war-torn country. Wednesday's rally has also been marked with the participation of many Syrian soldiers who have joined the upbeat mood and took part in singing and dancing with the civilians. "This demonstration mirrors people's love to their country and we must protect this country and preserve it with our love. We must work to regain the stability and security to our country," Jada'an Sameh, a demonstrator, told Xinhua while holding his little son in the rally. "We, the Syrians, wish to live again in stability and security. I think it's enough, we must live as we used to," he added. The Syrian troops have recently made noticeable advancement on many fronts against the fractured rebels, in tandem with the government's efforts to establish what it called "national reconciliation" with many rebel groups, who have shown readiness to reconcile with the government troops. Syria has repeatedly confirmed that it seeks to make national reconciliation efforts a success and has already made strides in bringing about security and safety to several areas in the capital and its suburbs, enabling displaced families to return home. Agreements have been reached with armed groups in the Damascus suburbs of Barzeh, al-Qaboun, Beit Sahm and Babilla, and the government is now working to deal with two other hot spots in the countryside of Damascus, Jouber and Harasta. The nearly three-year-old crisis has left 9.3 million people within Syria, and more than 2 million others outside the country, in need of humanitarian assistance.