Over 20 killed in fresh Syria protests
Sarah Drury reported this story on Saturday, April 9, 2011 08:03:00
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ELIZABETH JACKSON: Reports from Syria say more than 20 protesters have been killed in the southern city of Deraa. Over the past month, the city has become a focal point for demonstrators against the president Bashar al-Assad.
With protests sweeping the country, there are also unconfirmed reports of deaths in the central city of Homs and on the outskirts of the capital Damascus.
Saturday AM's Sarah Drury reports.
SARAH DRURY: Defiant in the face of repeated security crackdowns, thousands again took to the streets in the flashpoint town of Deraa chanting slogans against the regime: God, Syria and freedom only.
Witnesses say security forces opened fire on the crowd, killing many. This man told Al Arabiya television that he saw 10 protesters killed.
DERAA WITNESS (translated): More than 10 people have been martyred so far. The security forces attacked Al-Omari mosque and Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abbasid mosque in that station area.
They first dispersed the demonstrators using an internationally prohibited gas. It was not tear gas. They used an internationally prohibited gas in these attacks. The security forces fired live ammunition at the people to disperse them.
SARAH DRURY: But Syrian state television has given its own version of events, claiming that 19 members of the security forces were killed.
As protests swept the country, there are unconfirmed reports of deaths in Harasta, a suburb on the outskirts of Damascus, and in the central city of Homs. Just a month ago, such demonstrations were unthinkable in Syria.
President Bashar al-Assad is facing an unprecedented challenge to his 11-year rule. He's pledged limited reforms to Syria's authoritarian system, but activists say the changes don't go far enough. Tens of thousands have also turned out in pro-government demonstrations in recent weeks.
While the regime may not be the next to fall after Egypt and Tunisia, observers agree that the balance of power in Syria has been irrevocably changed.
ELIZABETH JACKSON: Sarah Drury with that report.
Sarah Drury reported this story on Saturday, April 9, 2011 08:03:00
Listen to MP3 of this story (minutes)
ALTERNATE WMA VERSION | MP3 DOWNLOAD
=================================================
ELIZABETH JACKSON: Reports from Syria say more than 20 protesters have been killed in the southern city of Deraa. Over the past month, the city has become a focal point for demonstrators against the president Bashar al-Assad.
With protests sweeping the country, there are also unconfirmed reports of deaths in the central city of Homs and on the outskirts of the capital Damascus.
Saturday AM's Sarah Drury reports.
SARAH DRURY: Defiant in the face of repeated security crackdowns, thousands again took to the streets in the flashpoint town of Deraa chanting slogans against the regime: God, Syria and freedom only.
Witnesses say security forces opened fire on the crowd, killing many. This man told Al Arabiya television that he saw 10 protesters killed.
DERAA WITNESS (translated): More than 10 people have been martyred so far. The security forces attacked Al-Omari mosque and Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abbasid mosque in that station area.
They first dispersed the demonstrators using an internationally prohibited gas. It was not tear gas. They used an internationally prohibited gas in these attacks. The security forces fired live ammunition at the people to disperse them.
SARAH DRURY: But Syrian state television has given its own version of events, claiming that 19 members of the security forces were killed.
As protests swept the country, there are unconfirmed reports of deaths in Harasta, a suburb on the outskirts of Damascus, and in the central city of Homs. Just a month ago, such demonstrations were unthinkable in Syria.
President Bashar al-Assad is facing an unprecedented challenge to his 11-year rule. He's pledged limited reforms to Syria's authoritarian system, but activists say the changes don't go far enough. Tens of thousands have also turned out in pro-government demonstrations in recent weeks.
While the regime may not be the next to fall after Egypt and Tunisia, observers agree that the balance of power in Syria has been irrevocably changed.
ELIZABETH JACKSON: Sarah Drury with that report.
(source:abc.net.au/am)
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