Syrian forces opened fire to disperse hundreds of protesters calling for the city of Dera to emergency laws, killing several. Within 10 days of government repression killed 61 people, according to Amnesty International. Deraa residents, located near the Jordanian border, said there were snipers on rooftops national forces.
President Bashar al-Assad has not spoken publicly about the demonstrations, which have spread to the port city of Latakia and Hama, but Vice President Faruq al-Shara said yesterday that the Executive would announce important decisions in the next 48 hours, amid speculation that it could lift the emergency law.
The Syrians have taken to the streets emulating the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Libya, to demand the lifting of emergency laws, which Al-Assad implemented in 1963 to quell the opposition parties and maintain power. The protesters also want the release of political prisoners and to clarify the fate of the tens of thousands of dissidents disappeared in the early 80's.
Deraa residents said that the army and police reinforcements had been received yesterday. "They (security forces) are pointing their guns against any group gathered in the area near the mosque," said one trader, referring to the Omari mosque, which has been a focal point of demonstrations in the city. 
President Bashar al-Assad has not spoken publicly about the demonstrations, which have spread to the port city of Latakia and Hama, but Vice President Faruq al-Shara said yesterday that the Executive would announce important decisions in the next 48 hours, amid speculation that it could lift the emergency law.
The Syrians have taken to the streets emulating the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Libya, to demand the lifting of emergency laws, which Al-Assad implemented in 1963 to quell the opposition parties and maintain power. The protesters also want the release of political prisoners and to clarify the fate of the tens of thousands of dissidents disappeared in the early 80's.
Deraa residents said that the army and police reinforcements had been received yesterday. "They (security forces) are pointing their guns against any group gathered in the area near the mosque," said one trader, referring to the Omari mosque, which has been a focal point of demonstrations in the city.
No comments:
Post a Comment