Syria to Bury Scores of People Killed in Day of Rage Protests

Pro-democracy demonstrators have vowed to stage further protests next week as Syria prepares to bury those killed in Friday's "day of rage" rallies, during which activists say at least 62 people were killed.


By News Wires


Peaceful Demonstrations in Syria
Syrians prepared on Saturday to bury scores of people killed in a "day of rage" against the regime, with activists vowing a week of new protests as the United States and Europe imposed sanctions on Damascus.


At least 62 people were killed in clashes on Friday when tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets, activists said, while authorities said nine members of the security forces were killed by "terrorist groups."
Pro-democracy protests were held against President Bashar al-Assad's regime in most cities and major towns after Muslim weekly prayers, as on past Fridays for a month, witnesses said.

"Your blood has paved the way for our freedom... And we vow that your blood will not have been spilled in vain. The martyrs are eternal, but the criminals will end up in the dustbins of history after being judged and punished by the people," it said.

Demonstrations would take place on Sunday in the southern protest hub town of Daraa, which has been besieged by security forces since Monday along with the Damascus suburb of Douma.

Activists also called for rallies on Monday in Damascus, Tuesday in the northern towns of Banias and Jableh, Wednesday in Homs, Talbisseh and in Tall Kalakh on the border with Lebanon, and night vigils on Thursday.

Friday's deadly "day of rage" protests gripped many Syrian cities and towns, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told AFP in Nicosia, with 33 people reported killed in Daraa alone.

The group said in a statement after the bloodshed that a total of 582 people have been killed since protests erupted on March 15 by security forces firing live rounds and tear gas.

As the violence raged, Washington blocked the assets of the president's brother Maher al-Assad, who commands Syria's feared Fourth Armoured Division, and of several other top officials and its intelligence services.

"The United States strongly condemns the Syrian government's continued use of violence and intimidation against the Syrian people," the White House said in a statement on Friday.

But Assad's embattled regime reiterated its running ban on demonstrations, despite lifting a decades-old law barring them earlier this month, as the Muslim Brotherhood accused it of "genocide."

In Daraa itself, security forces opened fire as "thousands of people" from neighbouring towns tried to "bring aid and food" to the city, besieged by the army since Monday, an activist said.

Water and power have been cut in Daraa as the situation worsened after between 3,000 and 5,000 troops backed by tanks stormed the town.


From CSID (Center for the Study of Islam and Development)
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