Syrian TV: An American is behind anti-Assad uprising. He will soon be paraded

In an unexpected turn in the three-week popular revolt against Bashar Assad's rule, Syrian TV alleged Thursday night, April 14 that the man behind the uprisings is an American whom they promised to parade soon. No more information was offered about the man's identity or how or when he was apprehended. debkafile: This is the first time the United States has been accused of involvement in any of the turbulent protests against Arab regimes of the past four months. America is the last in a row of countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel, at which Damascus has already pointed an accusing finger. Observers of the burgeoning unrest in Syria take it as yet another sign of the depth of the authorities' desperation after failing by the most brutal methods to suppress the anti-Assad marches.