Syrian President Bashar Assad replaced the governor of the eastern province of Deir al-Zor on Sunday, two days after the biggest protests against his regime in the area, Reuters reported.
According to the report, the governor, Hussein Arnos, was transferred to govern the small province of Qunaitera west of Damascus. He was replaced by Samir Othman al-Sheikh, an officer in the intelligence apparatus.
The replacement was announced after half a million people took to streets across Deir al-Zor on Friday to demand Assad’s removal. Human rights activists told Reuters that these were the biggest demonstrations since the uprising in the country began in March.
The bloody protests have continued this week throughout Syria. Last Thursday, Assad’s troops stormed several neighborhoods in Homs, firing machines guns and pulling people from their homes in a series of arrests.
Last week the army surrounded the town of Albu Kamal, located on the easternmost edge of, after 30 soldiers defected following the killing of four protesters in the town, residents told Reuters.
This is not the first time Assad has responded to the protests by sacking governors. Since the uprising began, he has fired the governors of Deraa, as well as those of Homs and Hama.
Assad has reportedly been assisted in his bloody crackdown on the protest by Iran, which has provided Assad with security and propaganda assistance. Assad’s troops have shown mercy on no one in their crackdown on the protesters, even killing a 13-year-old boy and a singer who took part in anti-regime protests.