The protests spread to the south of Syria, with hundreds of people demonstrating against the government in the city of Jassem, said activists, but the authorities used force to quell the recent demonstrations. Security forces killed four civilians in the protests that emerged last week in the city of Deraa, in the most serious challenge to the government of President Bashar al-Assad since the official 45-year replaced his father 11 years ago.
"This is peaceful, peaceful. God, Syria, freedom," the demonstrators chanted Jassem, a farming town located 30 kilometers west of Dera. The authorities took less harsh tactics and chose not to intervene against the protests demanding freedom and an end to corruption and repression, but not the overthrow of Assad.
The ruling Baath Party banned the opposition and has ruled with emergency laws since 1963. In Deraa, hundreds of members of security forces in black uniform and armed with assault rifles AK-47 lined the streets, but not face to the thousands of people marched to the funeral of Raed al-Kerad, a demonstrator 23 year old killed in Deraa.
"God, Syria, freedom. People want to overthrow the corruption," the protesters chanted. The slogan is a play on words with the slogan "people want to overthrow the regime", which was the symbol of the revolutions that toppled veteran leader in Tunisia and Egypt and spread throughout the Arab world.
Funeral participants then gathered in the al-Omari mosque in the old town of Dera, near the border with Jordan. Soldiers set up checkpoints at the entrances of the city and were asking for documents. Syrian Minister of Justice Mohammad Ahmad Younis, was mayor of the city in an effort to calm things down and open a dialogue with the protesters.
Security forces opened fire on Friday against civilians who were attending a peaceful protest to demand the release Deraa of 15 children arrested for writing graffiti in protest, political freedoms and demand an end to corruption. The authorities released the children on Monday in a sign that they expected to reduce tension in the border city, which saw more protests after Friday's attack. 
"This is peaceful, peaceful. God, Syria, freedom," the demonstrators chanted Jassem, a farming town located 30 kilometers west of Dera. The authorities took less harsh tactics and chose not to intervene against the protests demanding freedom and an end to corruption and repression, but not the overthrow of Assad.
The ruling Baath Party banned the opposition and has ruled with emergency laws since 1963. In Deraa, hundreds of members of security forces in black uniform and armed with assault rifles AK-47 lined the streets, but not face to the thousands of people marched to the funeral of Raed al-Kerad, a demonstrator 23 year old killed in Deraa.
"God, Syria, freedom. People want to overthrow the corruption," the protesters chanted. The slogan is a play on words with the slogan "people want to overthrow the regime", which was the symbol of the revolutions that toppled veteran leader in Tunisia and Egypt and spread throughout the Arab world.
Funeral participants then gathered in the al-Omari mosque in the old town of Dera, near the border with Jordan. Soldiers set up checkpoints at the entrances of the city and were asking for documents. Syrian Minister of Justice Mohammad Ahmad Younis, was mayor of the city in an effort to calm things down and open a dialogue with the protesters.
Security forces opened fire on Friday against civilians who were attending a peaceful protest to demand the release Deraa of 15 children arrested for writing graffiti in protest, political freedoms and demand an end to corruption. The authorities released the children on Monday in a sign that they expected to reduce tension in the border city, which saw more protests after Friday's attack.
No comments:
Post a Comment