Today, for the first time, there have been signs of real stirrings against the regime in Syria. 

It's worth recalling that just over a month ago, when a "day of rage" was called by opposition members in exile, the only significant presence on the streets was that of the security forces.

Today was different, and I wonder if this might be one of the unintentional consequences of Security Council resolution on Libya. The shadow of the Hama massacre in 1982 still hangs over Syrian opposition politics, but now that the Security Council has shown itself willing to tackle violent repression in Libya, Syrian protesters may be slightly less fearful of the Asad regime.

But whether or not that was a factor today, discontent surfaced on the streets in various parts of the country.

There were mass protests in the southern city of Daraa (Deraa), where five people were reportedly run over by fire engines that the security forces were using to disperse the crowds. Videos here and here. In the first video, demonstrators can be heard chanting that Rami Makhlouf, the president's businessman cousin, is a thief.

There was a protest in Homs in front of the Khaled ibn al-Walid mosque. Video here.

In Damascus, there was a demonstration inside the Umayyad mosque after Friday prayers. Video here.

There was another protest in the coastal town of Banyas. Video here.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 18 March 2011