SYRIA-DAMASCUS-RALLY

(111221) — DAMASCUS, Dec. 21, 2011 (Xinhua) — A man waves a Syrian national flag during a rally at the Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 21, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians flocked the Umayyad Square in the capital of Damascus Wednesday to renew their support for President Bashar al-Assad who is facing mounting calls from the West to step down. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) (zw)