Syria unrest: 'Four protesters killed' in Deraa Skip to main content

Syria unrest: 'Four protesters killed' in Deraa

Protesters gather around the Omari mosque in Deraa, Syria (22 March 2011) The UN has said it is greatly concerned by the killings of protesters in Syria

Related Stories

At least four people have died after security forces fired on protesters outside a mosque in the Syrian city of Deraa, human rights activists say.
Hundreds of people had earlier gathered in the streets outside the Omari mosque to prevent troops from storming it.
"They cut off electricity and the firing started," one activist said.
The mosque has been the focus of anti-government demonstrations since Friday. At least 10 people have now been killed in clashes with police and soldiers.
UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay earlier urged the Syrian government to carry out a transparent investigation into the violence.
"We are greatly concerned by the recent killings of protesters in Syria and reiterate the need to put an immediate halt to the excessive use of force against peaceful protesters, especially the use of live ammunition."
"People have the legitimate right to express their grievances and demands to their government, and we urge the Syrian government to enter into a broad, meaningful dialogue with the protesters."
The EU has also strongly condemned the "unacceptable" crackdown.
The government has accused the protesters of being Israeli agents and infiltrators, and there have been arrests across the country.
On Tuesday, human rights activists said Louai Hussein, a former political prisoner who supported the protesters, was taken from his home in the Damascus suburb of Sahnaya.
Omari mosque in Deraa, Syria (22 March 2011) The Omari mosque, in Deraa's Old City, dates back to the early Islamic Umayyad era
However, reports say the governor of the Deraa region, Faisal Kalthoum, has been sacked - one of the demands of the demonstrators.
The authorities have also released the 15 children whose detention for writing pro-democracy graffiti prompted people to march from the Omari mosque after Friday prayers to demand greater political freedom.
The security forces later opened fire to disperse the demonstration, killing four people. The following day, they fired on mourners at two of the victim's funerals, killing another person. An 11-year-old boy died on Monday after suffering the effects of tear-gas inhalation.
Although the demonstrators have not demanded the resignation of President Assad, the unrest is the most serious challenge to his rule since he succeeded his father, Hafez, 11 years ago.
Syria has been ruled under emergency laws since 1963, and the Baath Party is known for brutally suppressing dissent.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12827542
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chronology of the Press in Burma

1836 – 1846 * During this period the first English-language newspaper was launched under British-ruled Tenasserim, southern  Burma . The first ethnic Karen-language and Burmese-language newspapers also appear in this period.     March 3, 1836 —The first English-language newspaper,  The Maulmain Chronicle , appears in the city of Moulmein in British-ruled Tenasserim. The paper, first published by a British official named E.A. Blundell, continued up until the 1950s. September 1842 —Tavoy’s  Hsa-tu-gaw  (the  Morning Star ), a monthly publication in the Karen-language of  Sgaw ,  is established by the Baptist mission. It is the first ethnic language newspaper. Circulation reached about three hundred until its publication ceased in 1849. January 1843 —The Baptist mission publishes a monthly newspaper, the Christian  Dhamma  Thadinsa  (the  Religious Herald ), in Moulmein. Supposedly the first Burmese-language newspaper, it continued up until the first year of the second Angl
Post a Comment
Read more

Thai penis whitening trend raises eyebrows

Image copyright LELUXHOSPITAL Image caption Authorities warn the procedure could be quite painful A supposed trend of penis whitening has captivated Thailand in recent days and left it asking if the country's beauty industry is taking things too far. Skin whitening is nothing new in many Asian countries, where darker skin is often associated with outdoor labour, therefore, being poorer. But even so, when a clip of a clinic's latest intriguing procedure was posted online, it quickly went viral. Thailand's health ministry has since issued a warning over the procedure. The BBC Thai service spoke to one patient who had undergone the treatment, who told them: "I wanted to feel more confident in my swimming briefs". The 30-year-old said his first session of several was two months ago, and he had since seen a definite change in the shade. 'What for?' The original Facebook post from the clinic offering the treatment, which uses lasers to break do
1 comment
Read more

Is 160 enough? One Indian man's family

By Sumnima Udas , CNN October 31, 2011 -- Updated 0857 GMT (1657 HKT) Ziona, center, with his has 39 wives, 86 children and 35 grandchildren in rural Baktwang village, India. STORY HIGHLIGHTS One man in India is the patriarch of a family of 160 in rural India Ziona, who only goes by his first name, has 39 wives, 86 children and 35 grandchildren. Ziona's father, Chana, founded the Christian sect in Baktwang that promotes polygamy "I never wanted to get married but that's the path God has chosen for me" Mizoram, India (CNN) -- The world's population hits 7 billion this week, but Ziona, the patriarch of what may be the biggest family in the world, is not bothered. "I don't care about overpopulation in India ... I believe God has chosen us to be like this (have big families). Those who are born into this family don't want to leave this tradition so we just keep growing and growing," he says with a smile. Ziona, who only goes by his f
Post a Comment
Read more