ALEPPO
The convicts in central prison in one of the regions with severest clashes Aleppo, where 4,200 prisoners were under custody, started to be used as hostages by regime forces when the opposition took control of the area. Upon the murders of several convicts, the opposition ceased their operations.
Aleppo, divided between the control of opposition and regime forces, is the province witnessing Syrian civil war in toughest way. The parties are trying to establish their own regions through shelters placed for various regions of the city.
However, the most interesting event of the civil war in Aleppo has been taking place in the largest jail of the city. The control of the region, where the central prison with a capacity of 4,200 people is located, was overtaken by the opposition, and all forces loyal to Assad left.
However, the prison could not be seized at the first sight and remained under the control of Assad's soldiers. Thereupon the opposition laid siege to the prison. During the clash, which occurred between the forces of Assad and the opposition, the former ran out of munitions. At this stage, 150-200 convicts were almost turned into hostages by Assad's forces.
As the opposition conducts operations to seize back the jail, regime forces start killing the convicts, hence opposition ceased the operations.
- Food aid in exchange of saving lives of prisoners -
The siege caused lack of food among convicts and soldiers. Assad forces demanded food from the opposition forces into the jail by threatening to kill the prisoners. The opposition forces with their own relatives inside, allowed limited transfer of food into the prison.
Syrian Red Crescent are carrying out limited food transfer including primarily bread and water to the prison, which Assad soldiers also benefit.
Already tough prison conditions, deteriorated by the siege cause diseases and deaths.
According to the claims, while the opposition is positive about the soldiers' release in exchange of freeing the prisoners, the regime does not accept it and pressurize the soldiers to continue defending the prison. The munitions are thrown into the prison by planes and helicopters. When they fall in the garden of the prison, the opposition open fire on them to prevent soldiers' access.
Islamic Free Damascus Movement undertaking the siege stay around the prison day and night. The opposition, whose needs are brought from outside, are determined to save the prisoners.
Although Qasem Abu Mahmood directing the siege gave the number of prisoners as 4,200 and Assad forces as 150-200, the numbers might most probably be different.
Abu Mahmood said, "We have besieged the central prison for 2.5 months. There are 4, 200 people in the prison including women. We need heat-sensitive Stinger missiles against warcrafts and heavy weapons to get back the prison from Assad regime. Currenly we encircled all around the jail. We allow the transfer of water and several other basic food in."
- AA team under fire -
Aleppo Central Prison is almost unique in the world. The convicts are waiting under siege of Assad forces, who are in turn under siege of the opposition forces.
Sharpshooters of both sides open fire on everything mobile. An Anadolu Agency (AA) team came under fire but nobody was injured.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
