Syria unrest spreads
Protests erupt in Damascus, Homs, Latakia and Banias as critics dismiss Al Assad's limited steps towards reform
- Agencies
- Published: 09:28 April 2, 2011
- Image Credit: AP
- Syrians anti and pro-Assad protesters clash after Friday prayers in Damascus, Syria on Friday. Thousands of Syrians took to the streets Friday demanding reforms and mourning dozens of protesters who were killed during a violent, week long crackdown that has brought extraordinary pressure on the country's autocratic regime, activists and witnesses said. (AP Photo/Muzaffar Salman)
Damascus: Thousands turned out in pro-democracy marches in Syria despite a reform gesture by President Bassar Al Assad, witnesses said.
Activists said Syrians took to the streets after Friday prayers in the capital Damascus, Homs to the north of the capital, Banias on the coast, Latakia port and the southern city of Deraa, where the unprecedented protests challenging Assad's 11 years in power began in March.
At least nine people were killed in violence, a witness and a human rights activist said. In Douma, three people killed were among at least 2,000 people who chanted "Freedom. Freedom. One, one, one. The Syrian people are one," when police opened fire to disperse them from Municipality Square.
An official source said via state news agency Sana "armed groups" had positioned themselves on rooftops and opened fire on citizens and security forces gathered in Douma, killing and wounding dozens.
Sana said a group had also opened fire on a gathering in the Bayyada district of the western city of Homs, killing a girl, adding soldiers had also come under fire in Deraa.
In his first public appearance since the demonstrations began, Al Assad declined on Wednesday to spell out any reforms, especially the lifting of a 48-year-old emergency law that has been used to stifle opposition and justify arbitrary arrests.
"There is no confidence. President Assad talks about reform and does nothing," said Montaha Al Atrash, board member of the independent Syrian human rights organisation Sawasiah.
Syria acknowledges 'gatherings'
In Deraa, thousands of people gathered at Serail Square, chanting slogans denouncing hints by Al Assad's to replace emergency law with anti-terrorism legislation and describing rich relatives of the president as "thieves".
A witness told Reuters security forces and Assad loyalists attacked about 200 worshippers with batons as they marched outside the Refaie mosque in the Kfar Sousseh district of Damascus, chanting slogans in support of the Deraa protesters.
At least six protesters were arrested, the witness said.
Call for freedom
Activists dubbed on Friday a 'Day of Martyrs' and called for mass demonstrations to honour more than 70 people killed since the protests began in mid-March.
Thousands of Syrians shouting 'We want freedom!' took to the streets around the country, defying security agents who tried to beat them back with gunfire, tear gas and batons, witnesses said.
Protests also erupted in neighbourhoods outside Damascus and in the southern city of Daraa, the epicentre of protests.
Eyewitnesses told the Associated Press by telephone that up to 5,000 people were marching in Daraa, shouting 'We want freedom!'
For the first time on Friday, the government acknowledged there were pro-reform gatherings in cities, including Daraa and Latakia, but said there was no friction between security forces and protesters.
Two Associated Press journalists were ordered to leave the country with less than one hour's notice.
The United States on Friday said that the Syrian authorities have freed the two remaining Americans who were arrested in Damascus in recent days. Three American citizens had been arrested but only one was released earlier.
(source:gulfnews.com)
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