Syria Braces for Protesters' 'Day of Rage' Against Regime

Following the mass demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt, opposition groups in Syria have called for a "day of rage" on Friday and Saturday to protest the regime of President Bashar Assad.

In Yemen today, an estimated 20,000 people turned out for protests also called a "day of rage." Although an equal number of government supporters turned out in Yemen, Syria's Assad is likely taking note as fervor from the so-called "Jasmine Revolution" in Tunisia is spreading.

Organized on Twitter and Facebook pages as "The Syrian Revolution 2011," the demonstrations are expected to begin after Friday prayers in front of the parliament in Damascus. Other demonstrations will be held in the cities of Homs, Aleppo and Qamishli and also in front of Syrian embassies worldwide.

Technically banned, Facebook is accessed relatively easily in Syria through proxy servers. Last year, there were about 30,000 registered Facebook users in the country. As of this morning, more than 13,000 peopled had liked "The Syrian Revolution 2011" page, though it was less clear how many of those people were actually inside the country.

Via Twitter, Syrians have been told: "After prayer, in what will be the first day of anger and civil rebellion by the Syrian people in all Syrian cities."

The Assad family has ruled Syria for more than 40 years. The current president took over at 34 when his father died in 2000. Around Syria, Bashar's beaming photograph is omnipresent, usually shown next to a photo of his father, Hafez. It is speculated that Bashar, a British-trained ophthalmologist who is known for his fondness of the Internet and photography, did not want to assume the presidency originally, but did so only after his older brother, Bassel, was killed in a car accident.

While mass protests in Arab countries have overthrown the long-standing dictator in Tunisia and won concessions from those in Yemen and Egypt to stand down, a similar outcome may not be in store for Syria.

In a rare interview with The Wall Street Journal this past week, Assad presented a calm attitude.

"We have more difficult circumstances than most of the Arab countries, but in spite of that Syria is stable," he said. "Why? Because you have to be very closely linked to the beliefs of the people. This is the core issue. When there is divergence between your policy and the people's beliefs and interests, you will have this vacuum that creates disturbance."

Assad said he was trying to make an orderly transition to democracy, criticizing the West for too quickly beginning democratic reforms before people were ready for them.

By gradually assimilating some private media outlets, the Internet, private universities and foreign banks in the country, he said, he was creating dialogue in Syria and opening up society. He blamed wars in neighboring Iraq and Lebanon for slowing the country's time frame for reform, but said that the sense of desperation in Syria was less than in other Arab countries because he shared people's positions on key issues such as the United States and Israel.

"No one likes to think of themselves as a dictator," Philip Robins, a Middle East expert at St. Antony's College in England, told AOL News. "Most leaders like to think of themselves as somewhat popular. Geopolitically, he has been relatively successful. He has refused to sign a peace treaty with Israel without any real political comeback. He has maintained close relations with Iran with the opposition of the U.S., and he has partially re-established Syria's position in Lebanon."

It's difficult to predict how many people might turn out for the "day of rage," because Syria's communications system is even more controlled than in Egypt and it may be difficult for protesters to organize. But mobilization does appear to be happening inside the country.

"There is dialogue happening between the Kurdish parties and the Sunni Arab parties about taking part in this demonstration," Robins said. "Even though communication may be difficult at an organizational level, you are seeing some important communities getting together and trying to push ahead with this. That's the reason why this has to be taken more seriously."

Citing Syrian media, the Middle East Media Research Institute reported that security forces had warned provincial governors and police commanders to prepare for possible protests.

The protests are scheduled to occur around a date any Syrian will hold in trepidation: the 29th anniversary of the Hama massacre, when Hafez Assad's security forces killed more than 25,000 people in the town of Hama to repress a revolt by the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, which opposes the regime led by members of the Islamic Alawite minority.

The violent background of the regime may be one factor that could prevent Syria from following in the footsteps of Tunisia and Egypt. While poor, Tunisia was relatively peaceful and stable. Egypt had coups, but there was, as Robins put it, "rather less bloodletting."

The resolve of the Syrian regime may be stronger. "In Syria there is a minority regime based on about 20 percent of the population," said Robins, referring to the ruling Alawites. "If they were to lose their pre-eminent position now, it is unlikely they would get it back soon. There is a lot more at stake."

In his Wall Street Journal interview, Assad said, " I want to feel safe in my own country. That is my goal."