No taxi to Midan as Syria war comes to capital: No taxi driver was willing to risk the drive to Al-Midan, a popu... http://yhoo.it/NNyIam
No taxi driver was willing to risk the drive to Al-Midan, a popular venue for stocking up on goodies for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, as war came to the historic district of the Syrian capitalon Monday.
"Everything is burning," said Nazih, a driver who agreed to go as far as the Bab Msala district near Al-Midan. "Since the morning there's been shooting and we haven't been going into Al-Midan."
"The army and security forces have been deployed in large numbers. We mustn't go there unless it's absolutely essential," said another taxi driver.
On the road to Bab Msala, shops in the Bab Jabiyeh district were closed and traffic was much lighter than usual.
Tanks and troop carriers took up positions in Al-Midan on Monday for the first time since the anti-regime revolt in Syria began in March 2011.
"This fighting in Damascus is a turning point," said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman. "When there is fighting in the capital for several hours, even days ... that proves the regime's weakness."
