Thousands Protest in Syria Where Clashes Killed Five
- Posted on March 20, 2011 at 12:26pm by
Scott Baker
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BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of Syrians protested Sunday in a tense southern city where security forces killed at least five protesters, a witness and activists said.
The witness in Daraa told The Associated Press by telephone that protesters were angry about the shooting Friday and mass arrests in the wake of the demonstrations calling for political freedoms, and called for officials involved in the violence to be fired. The witness spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of government retaliation.
The protesters were also demanding the release of 20 young men who were detained this month after writing pro-democracy graffitti on walls in Daraa, the witness said. Three activists in Damascus who are in contact with other Daraa residents confirmed that account.
One activist said police fired tear gas and bullets in the air to disperse the protesters, but the report could not be immediately confirmed.
Syrian police sealed off Daraa after security forces killed at least five people participating in demonstrations that were the first manifestation of the Arab world’s pro-democracy push seeping into one of the region’s most repressive countries. The activists said residents of Daraa were being allowed to leave but not enter the city.
A Syrian official said Saturday that President Bashar Assad was sending a delegation to Daraa to offer his condolences to families of the victims.
One of the activists in Damascus said Daraa residents were angered when the delegation went to offer condolences, and took to the streets in massive numbers.
He said thousands of people were chanting “Those who kill their people are traitors!”
The human rights group said that Syrian authorities have randomly arrested tens of people who participated in Friday’s protests in at least five cities, including the coastal town of Banyas, Homs and the capital Damascus.
Ammar Qurabi, who heads the National Organization for Human Rights, said those arrested were charged with writing anti-government slogans. He called on the government to immediately release the arrested and fire the interior minister.
A Syrian official had acknowledged only two deaths in Friday’s violence and said that authorities would bring those responsible to trial. The official said that even if an investigation shows security officers were guilty, they will be put on trial “no matter how high their rank is.”
The violence was the worst since 2004 when clashes that began in the northeastern city of Qamishli between Syrian Kurds and security forces left at least 25 people dead and some 100 injured.
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Verum Ad Potentia
Posted on March 22, 2011 at 5:53pmMr President,
Will you now also impose a no-fly zone over Syria? Are the Syrian protesters lives somehow less worthy of protection than those of the Lybian protesters? How soon can we expect a no-fly zone over Iran, or are the Iranian protesters lives also less worthy of protection than the Lybian protesters? How about a little consistancy Mr. President?
…Oh, and as an asside, do you have a plan to replace the hundred+ Cruse Missles you launched against Lybia at between $500,000 and 1,500,000 (depending on who’s reporting you care to accept)? Or are you just going to leave that to your replacement when you are thrown out or the Whitehouse on your ear next year?
Report Post »gb2
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:11ami think a lot of people should educate themselves on Syria and Bashar, before making their comments. Syria has great potential if the US can woe them away from Iran. and removing Bashar would be one of the biggest mistakes you could make. Unless of course you want to Middle East to fall to the Muslim Brotherhood, and actually help form the caliphate. If we were to attack every country where five people were killed in protests, we would have to attack every country including our own. Please dont believe everything you read unless you check it out. And am I the only one whom thinks the blood of these peoples deaths in the protests all throughout the ME partially lies on the hands of Barack and Facebook
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 5:12pmOf course, while the Middle East is on fire, and Japan is reeling from the devastation from the Tsunami and Earthquake there, Obama is off on vacation yet again and playing soccer this time.
2012 can’t come soon enough!
This POTUS is a disgrace to America. He needs to step down.
Report Post »shorthanded12
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 2:28pmLibya, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, Yeman, Eygpt, Somalia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Afghanistan, Pakistan let them all destroy themselves within. Everytime the west intervenes we become the Infadels. Tired of seeing these middle eastern countries plastered on TV.
Watch oil Prices spike $5 to $10 bucks tomorrow WANNA BET??????????????
Report Post »Hisemiester
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 2:03pmPresident Assad better look over his shoulder. There is a cruise missile or a stealth bomber heading his way. It is just a matter of time. This guy is much worse than Gadhafi is.
Report Post »paulusmaximus
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 1:45pmTime to bomb Syria too while the peaceniks don’t mind. Progressives can kill as many as they want because they do it with luv!
Report Post »KickDemOut
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 1:02pmMay as well bomb the snot out of them too while we’re at it. I think we have to blame Bush on this one though. Certainly not Obama our vacationer-in-chief. After all, there might be some connection to those stained fingers in Iraq.
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 12:52pmGeez. Need to pull out the atlas’ and maps again.
Report Post »ComeAndTakeThis
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 12:47pmSharia is freedom, socialism is freedom, communisim is freedom, fascism is freedom, IDIOT PROGRESSIVES, the chains of tyranny, you choose to call feedom, will destroy you in the end.
Report Post »Verum Ad Potentia
Posted on March 22, 2011 at 5:55pmLet‘s just hope they don’t take the rest of us down with ‘em.
Report Post »ISeeDanger.com
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 12:45pmJust when you think things are going to settle down, up we go again. Can’t wait to see how the markets react to this on Monday.
http://www.ISeeDanger.com
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 12:30pmSo, I guess we go into Syria too, huh.
Who’s gonna lend us the $500 billion for that neverending engagement?
Report Post »Strictlybusiness
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 1:53pm@Sinista MACE
STILL talking crazey TRASH that nobody but THE VOICES in your head understand…… GO BACK TO BED Sinista MACE, and DREAM about getting a job, and getting off WELFARE ! ! ! ! Nobody is going into Syria.
Report Post »Czar Casm
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 7:46pmYeah, just like “we” aren’t going in to Libya right? Just our tomahawk”s. “Nobody is going into Syria.”? How do you know Strict Biz? It makes about as much sense as Libya. None.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 8:22pmSyrian regime must go down , that will be a big blow to it’s biggest ally = Iran .
Report Post »Syrian regime harbors all kinds of radical terrorists in the world .
RightPolitically
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 12:30pmAnother mess in the world that got it’s start from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue…….WEAKNESS!
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 12:34pmWeak juice.
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 12:35pmPeople want freedom. Obamas’ fault.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 12:42pmObama wanted change, and true to his style, the instand things took a turn different than what the Self Annointed One wanted and expected, he flees on another vacation to his socialist buddies.
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 1:42pmI am not sure this will ever end.Obama certainly got the CHANGE alright. Please 2012 hurry up and get here.
Report Post »Tony
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 4:20pmAnother “no win” situation for America created by the far left/radical Islamists. Dictator Bashar is no friend of America or Israel but nor is he a friend of a Caliphate. Neither was Mubarak. If Bashar is toppled, the far left moves closer to its goal of world chaos and the radical Islamists move one more country closer to a caliphate. Hmmm, I believe the crazy mad man in Libya was not a friend of a Caliphate either.
Report Post »MinorityRightsAdvocate
Posted on March 20, 2011 at 4:56pmThis is what happens when a new batch of would be tyrants figures out that the Saul Alinsky model of “rubbing raw the sores of discontent” is an effective way to organize the masses and seize power.
This is how you start the cycle of getting rid of one tyrant and installing another tyrant. The more would be tyrants that figure this out the more chaos, and it is impossible to know where this ends, but we can say for sure it is not going to be good. Many will die because of this, and likely all in vain, and that is the tragedy.
Obama’s weakness helps this, but it is also the example of Obama that encourages this – The Saul Alinsky community organizer that seized power in the world’s most powerful nation. Now many others want to do the same in there neck of the woods – Scary.
http://minorityrightsadvocate.wordpress.com/2011/03/17/watch-the-other-hand-as-we-focus-on-japan-we-are-about-to-evacuate-the-us-navy%e2%80%99s-hq-for-the-5th-fleet-in-bahrain-this-is-being-agitated-by-iran-and-saudi-arabia-is-next-what-will-that/
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