Thousands protest in Syria due to killings as government announces reforms

2011-03-25 22:28:10 GMT+7 (ICT)

DEMASCUS, SYRIA (BNO NEWS) -- Thousands of people on Friday took the streets in several Syrian cities including its capital Demascus and the southern city of Deraa protesting against the deaths of people shot by security forces during the past week.

Protests reportedly broke out in Hama, Tel, Duma al-Lazikiya, Homs, al-Raqqah, and other cities just hours after Syrian government announced a series of reforms, including a possible end to the country's emergency rule that began in 1963.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has ruled he country for 11 years, also announced salary raise for public workers, as well as increased freedom for the news media and political parties.

However, many protesters consider Syria's announced reforms as insufficient, demanding further measures against those responsible of dozens of protesters who were shot dead.

Last Wednesday, several people were killed in Deraa after clashes between Syrian security forces and anti-government protesters turned violent.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon went on to condemn the violence against peaceful protesters in Deraa, calling for an investigation into the killings and reiterating Syrian authorities to refrain from violence.

On Monday, protesters marched in Deraa after they buried the body of a protester who was killed Sunday in clashes between anti-government demonstrators and security forces. The protests on Sunday coincided with the visit of government officials, who arrived in Deraa to offer condolences to the families of the five protesters who were killed by security forces on Friday.

President al-Assad later sacked the governor of Deraa in a bid to restore calm to the area amidst the ongoing anti-government protests, according to state media.

Syrian security forces have reportedly killed at least 44 people during the past week's unrest, although some reports say as many as 100 have been killed.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-25

2011 Has not been the year of the despot. Israel needs to keep a very low profile while this plays out. Last time there was a major uprising Assad senior crushed it killing tens of thousands.

http://www.debka.com/article/20803/

The protest against Bashar Assad’s regime is swelling. From its first epicenter in the southern town of Deraa it spread Friday, March 25, to new cities, Homs, Aleppo, Latakia and parts of Damascus. It has quickly attained the scale unforeseen by the regime of a popular uprising by the majority Sunni population (74 percent) against Allawite-dominated (15 percent) rule.