Opposition sources said the Assad regime was concerned over a mutiny,
particularly in the military. They said the military has long recruited from
tribes in southern and other parts of Syria.
"It won't be long now that the Syrian tribes have taken a clear position
against the regime," RPS said. "Many of their children are army recruits."
Assad relieved his cousin of a major post. RPS said Zuelhelma Shalish, a
senior commander in Military Intelligence, was transferred from Dera in wake
of the killing and detention of civilians, including children. On March 23,
security forces led by the army, employing live fire, raided a mosque in
Dera in which at
least 15 people were killed.
"The Military Intelligence officer responsible for the Dera region is
none other than Zuelhelma Shalish," RPS said. "After the Dera fiasco
detaining children, our sources told us that he has been relieved of his
duties. Considering he is Assad's cousin, his face and incompetence will
reappear soon."
RPS said the clashes between security forces and thousands of protesters
have alarmed the regime. The Washington-based opposition group, said to be
authoritative, asserted that Assad was reshuffling his security commanders
as the unrest grows.
Hours after the assault on the Dera mosque, Assad dismissed the governor
of Dera, Faisal Kolthoum. The regime asserted that Dera had been infiltrated
by armed gangs responsible for most of the clashes with security forces.
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