Syria's president adds Instagram to his social media blitz

By Ben Brumfield and Saad Abedine, CNN updated 7:25 AM EDT, Wed July 31, 2013 |

A screen grab taken on July 31, 2013 shows the Syrian presidency's official Instagram page.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Viewer comments are mostly positive, but some sling mud
• No ugly images of bloody battle fields taint the feed
• There are photos of him and his wife being caring and being adored

(CNN) -- It's not quite as epic as posing with a tiger a la Vladimir Putin. But Syria's Bashar al-Assad has joined Instagram and the photos are propagandastically fantastic.

No ugly images of bloody battle fields taint the feed of the president caught in the middle of a brutal civil war. Instead, it's photo after photo of him and his wife being caring -- and being loved.

There's al-Assad talking to a little girl by the side of a hospital bed. There's his wife wiping away a little boy's tear. There's al-Assad intently listening to a group of women. There's his wife intently listening to a group of women. And lots of pictures of him being mobbed, greeted, hugged by adoring masses.

The embattled president announced he was adding Instagram to his social media blitz last week via a message posted to his Twitter account. He also has his own Facebook page and a YouTube channel.

And, judging from the comments, fans in Syria, Russia and Turkey.

"God bless you," "We love you," and "We want you to win this war" are common comments posted on the images.

But sensors have apparently not erased some critical remarks.

"This is not the real Syria," one writer posts. "Show as the actual Syria, please."

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/31/tech/syria-assad-instagram/index.html?eref=rss_latest

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