FACTIONS IN SYRIA

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28233, 22 March 1957, Page 11

FACTIONS IN SYRIA

“Army Cliques In Control”

tag if totted coLs thr »e Ug \- further attempted With tanks and SeTrei Ce £ r ?’. fi6U^ s are Colonel berraj, Syria s military dictator count a rie? end H Of .>, the Iron Curtain tarv ' Tn, n nd the head of MiliNizam ed and General Sstaff. Dln> Chl6f ot the Gen-

the T f I n e CT lat ? St r .?P° rt s lro m behind hat of , mi lit a ry secrecy are that Colonel Serraj may be displaced and General Nizam ed Din may assume command of the coun. try s forces. i Attempts to maintain the present coalition Government in With . P os «We Cabinet changes, are being made by the P .?; Nasser President, Mr Kuwatlv with the support of Mr Assali, the Prime Minister.

Eut .behind the military movements in streets lies a despairing attempt by the elected representatives. in the Syrian Parliament to take political power out of the hands of the Army cliques. “Since the first military coup in Syria in March, 1949. all real authority has rested in Army distatorships, either 'open or masquerading behind a Parliamentary facade.

‘‘The cause of today’s near-! revolution is the anti-Communist agreement concluded in Beirut between the United States and the Lebanon.

‘‘The pact implies a prospect of American aid and arms for the Lebanon at a time when her neighbour, Syria, is unloading Iron Curtain arms, and is, of al] the Arab States, the most deeply involved with Russia.

‘‘This development has touched off an explosive situation in Syria, where real Parliamentary rule has long ceased. ‘‘Army rank has no longer any meaning and orders are being given to senior officers by junior ranks in favour with cliques. Most of the rebels against Colonel Serraj are senior officers of conservative political views.