While many Western nations are evacuating their citizens from Syria and the neighbors countries ahead of a potential US strikes, human rights activists are planning to enter the war-torn country and act as "human shields" against a US assault, Britain's The Telegraph reported Saturday.


The 'International Human Shields' movement, started by a group of activists in Britain and the US, plans to bring to Syria civilians from countries around the globe, who will try to deter US strikes on the country by staking out potential military targets.

It is unclear whether the Syrian regime will allow the group to enter the country, but Franklin Lamb, a lawyer recently appointed as the legal adviser for the group said he had been "inundated" with requests from activists including from Canada, France, Italy, the US, and Britain.

Many of those volunteering to go to Syria also took part in the "Human Shields" movement that travelled to Baghdad in 2003, initially to protect hospitals and schools, and later, key government infrastructure sites.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that loyal Assad supporters have bedded down in tents on Mount Qussioun overlooking Damascus where the main transmitter for Syrian TV is located.

They are trying to protect the site from possible US attack, Sky News reported. They wear white T-shirts with the logo, "Over our dead bodies".

One of the organizers is 21-year-old law student Hussain Othman. He says he started the sleep in "to protect Syria".

He said: "We will continue until the end. We are civilians. We are against any military strikes."