Damascus and other Syrian cities woke up today with heavy security for the protests called by the opposition to this Friday, a day after President Bashar al-Assad announced the end of the state of emergency. The Syrian capital today with police was deployed in many parts of the city, especially around the plaza Abasin, the main point of political protest in Damascus in recent weeks.
Five to six thousand people began to appear Friday in Qamishli, northeast Syria, and about 10 thousand in Deraa (south), despite the lifting of the state of emergency yesterday, witnesses said. Damascus accesses were sealed and transportation to various areas of the capital was forbidden, according to residents contacted by Efe and opposition sources.
A similar situation prevailed in the central city of Homs and the southern Deraa, localities in which it has the highest number of victims during the violence generated during the protests against the regime of Assad. According to the Qatari television network Al Jazeera, in security checks involving military, police and civil officials.
According to estimates by human rights organizations, nearly 200 people have died since mid-March it was intensified political protests in Syria, which began tentatively in February. The date has been billed as the Good Friday, a name with a political and religious, because it is called among Middle Eastern Christians Good Friday.
The organizers of the protest groups want this date is celebrated with a massive turnout at the demonstrations that are called after noon prayers, the largest weekly religious celebration for Muslims. In fact, the logo used by a Facebook group where they concentrate the information of the activists of the opposition has a cross and a crescent moon together with the Syrian flag colors on the phrase "At the Azimaa Gomaa (Great Friday ) -22 April.
Today's protests take place one day after President Bashar Al signed three decrees abolishing the Emergency Law (in force since 1963), the elimination of the High Court of State Security and new rules for peaceful demonstrations . The repeal of the Emergency Law, in force since 1963, was one of the main demands of opposition groups that also claim political reforms in the system and the release of detainees.
Syrian security forces opened fire with guns and tear gas on crowds protesting in various parts of the country on Friday. Witnesses said at least five people were injured. Shots were reported on the outskirts of Damascus and in the central city of Homs. The protesters chanted outside Damascus: "The people want the fall of the regime," the same slogan raised by the insurgents in Egypt and Tunisia.
It was not possible to confirm these versions because Syria has expelled many journalists and restricted access to the places where riots occur. The witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. The authorities had set up roadblocks near Damascus and strengthened security measures in anticipation of a series of protests by some activists would be the biggest to date against the government of President Bashar Assad.
With information from Reuters, AP and AFP 
Five to six thousand people began to appear Friday in Qamishli, northeast Syria, and about 10 thousand in Deraa (south), despite the lifting of the state of emergency yesterday, witnesses said. Damascus accesses were sealed and transportation to various areas of the capital was forbidden, according to residents contacted by Efe and opposition sources.
A similar situation prevailed in the central city of Homs and the southern Deraa, localities in which it has the highest number of victims during the violence generated during the protests against the regime of Assad. According to the Qatari television network Al Jazeera, in security checks involving military, police and civil officials.
According to estimates by human rights organizations, nearly 200 people have died since mid-March it was intensified political protests in Syria, which began tentatively in February. The date has been billed as the Good Friday, a name with a political and religious, because it is called among Middle Eastern Christians Good Friday.
The organizers of the protest groups want this date is celebrated with a massive turnout at the demonstrations that are called after noon prayers, the largest weekly religious celebration for Muslims. In fact, the logo used by a Facebook group where they concentrate the information of the activists of the opposition has a cross and a crescent moon together with the Syrian flag colors on the phrase "At the Azimaa Gomaa (Great Friday ) -22 April.
Today's protests take place one day after President Bashar Al signed three decrees abolishing the Emergency Law (in force since 1963), the elimination of the High Court of State Security and new rules for peaceful demonstrations . The repeal of the Emergency Law, in force since 1963, was one of the main demands of opposition groups that also claim political reforms in the system and the release of detainees.
Syrian security forces opened fire with guns and tear gas on crowds protesting in various parts of the country on Friday. Witnesses said at least five people were injured. Shots were reported on the outskirts of Damascus and in the central city of Homs. The protesters chanted outside Damascus: "The people want the fall of the regime," the same slogan raised by the insurgents in Egypt and Tunisia.
It was not possible to confirm these versions because Syria has expelled many journalists and restricted access to the places where riots occur. The witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. The authorities had set up roadblocks near Damascus and strengthened security measures in anticipation of a series of protests by some activists would be the biggest to date against the government of President Bashar Assad.
With information from Reuters, AP and AFP
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