Global Arab Network | One killed - Demonstrators in Southern Syrian Facing Live Ammunition

Translate this article to your language:

GANPublications

e-Publications

Add Site to Favorites

Add Page to Favorites

Make Homepage

Share This Page

RSS Feed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |

One killed - Demonstrators in Southern Syrian Facing Live Ammunition

Global Arab Network - - George Haddad

Sunday, 20 March 2011 22:36

Syrian_Demonstrators_in_the_southern_Syrian_city_of_Deraa

Syria (Deraa) - Syrian Security Forces and Secret Police had used tear gas and live ammunition to try to clear demonstrators in the southern Syrian city of Deraa, one protester had been shot dead and dozens of others injured, activists told reporters.
Witnesses said dozens were also taken to be treated for tear gas inhalation at the main Omari mosque.

The protests on Sunday came as a government delegation arrived in Deraa to offer condolences for those killed. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets, calling for an end to corruption and 48 years of emergency law and to protest the killing of five civilians in a similar demonstration two days earlier.

The protesters are said to be in control of the centre of the city and to have turned a mosque into a field hospital.

Demonstrators have set fire to several buildings during a third consecutive day of protests, witnesses say.

One report said the buildings targeted included the headquarters of the ruling Baath Party.

Residents told Reuters news agency that protesters had set fire to symbols of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, including the Baath Party building, a courthouse and two branches of a phone company owned by the president's cousin.

Earlier, protesters in Deraa called for an end to Syria's 48-year-old emergency law, and for the dismissal of officials involved in Friday's crackdown, reports said.

An AFP correspondent said protesters also tried to march on the home of the town's governor, but security forces used warning shots and tear gas to stop them.

"No. No to emergency law. We are a people infatuated with freedom," marchers chanted as a government delegation arrived in the city to offer their condolences for victims killed on Friday.

Syrian authorities have announced that they would establish a commission to investigate the deaths.

Syria's officials news agency blamed any violence on demonstrators and labelled them troublemakers denying any killings in today's incidents, adding procedures will be taken to protect the safety and security of citizens and preserve private and public properties.

Roads into Deraa have been blocked and there have been military helicopters flying over the city, activists said.

The internet, electricity and most communications are now blocked in the city, witnesses told the BBC.

Friday's protest was fuelled by the arrest of 15 schoolchildren detained for writing pro-democracy graffiti inspired by the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

The children were arrested in Daraa earlier this month after graffiti appeared on school walls and on grain silos with phrases such as "the people want the overthrow of the regime".

The government said in a statement on Sunday that the children would be released immediately.

A silent protest in Damascus by 150 people this week demanded the release of thousands of political prisoners. At least one activist from Daraa, Diana al-Jawabra, took part in the protest. She was arrested on charges of weakening national morale, along with 32 other protesters, a lawyer said.

Jawabra was campaigning for the release of the 15 schoolchildren from her home city. Another prominent woman from Daraa, physician Aisha Aba Zeid, was arrested three weeks ago for posting a political opinion on the internet.

Residents say the arrest of the two women deepened feelings of repression and helped fuel the protests in Daraa, close to the border with Jordan.

Demonstrations have also been held in Damascus, central city of Homs, and the coastal city of Banias.

The non-violent protests started last Tuesday after calls on Facebook (with more than 60 thousands fans) demanding greater freedom in the country, which has been under emergency law and one full-control party since 1963. (AFP, Reuters, SANA, Youtube, BBC, Others)

Global Arab Network

Add comment

The opinions of the authors in articles published are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Arab Network
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published comments are the opinions of private individuals and do not reflect the views of Global Arab Network