Rebels Call On Damascus To Surrender - 27/02/1954

Logansport Pharaos - Tribune (Logansport, Indiana)

Sat, Feb 27, 1954 – Page 1

 

Rebels Call On Damascus To Surrender

Wild Disorders Reported in Syrian Capital as Insurgents Serve Ultimatum

Beirut, Lebanon (UP)

 

Syrian rebels broadcast an ultimatum today threatening to attack the capital of Damascus unless army forces backing ousted President Adib Shishekly join the revolt.

Rebel supreme headquarters in Aleppo gave the Damascus garrison until 6 pm to abandon their support of Shishekly and recognize Hasham El Atassy, whom Shishekly ousted in a coup in 1951.

 

Unless the ultimatum is complied with the rebels said, they will attack the capital.

A howling mob of 5,000 stone-throwing rebel supporters stormed the Parliament Building in Damascus. They forced Parliament to dissolve on the ground that it was elected under Shishekly’s dictatorship, and beat at least one deputy. The mob smashed windows and burstinginto the chamber, tore up seats.

 

Shishekly, who had fled Damascus to this Lebanese Capital, left by plane under heavy guard today for Saudi Arabia.

 

Appeals to Army

 

Lt Col. Feisal El Atassy nephew of former President Atassy, was in command of the rebel forces with headquarters in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city and biggest port.

 

He appealed to army troops in Damascus to support the rebel movement.

 

It was reported that a squadron of Syrian jet Meteor fighter planes, responding to the appeal, flew to Aleppo from the air force base near Damascus to join the rebels.

In Damascus, Dr. Mahmoun El Kuzbari, speaker of the chamber acting presidency in accordance with constitutional procedure after Shishekly fled.

 

The rebels demanded that Kuzbari resign in favor of Hasham El Atassy or face the consequences of bloodshed.

 

A mob marched on Kuzbari’s residence in Damascus shouting” down with Kuzbari” .

Jet air force planes flew over Damascus, showering leaflets demanding that Kuzbari get out.

Rebel headquarters in Aleppo asserted that the army supporters of Shishekly in Damascus had asserted that the army supporters of Shishekly in Damascus had arrested Lt. Col. Shawkat Shuqyar, army chief of staff, and demanded his immediate release.