Syrian army storms city where rebellion began

The entry in Dara' seemed a signal a new chapter in a RAID to the more than 350 people, with the single highest toll killed on Friday. As far as hewing, a mixture of the promised concessions and blunt force, indicated Monday that it searches for the latter to crush a wave of dissent in virtually every Syrian province, the once undisputed rule of law has shaken President Bashar al-Assad had chosen Government.

Residents said at least eight tanks entered Dara' (a) in the dawn from four directions, and there were reports used by artillery and mortars. Telephone lines have been to the area, so that first-hand difficult, and in the vicinity crossings with Jordan were border sealed from the Syrian side Jordanian officials said. But a cloud of black smoke rises shown smuggled video out of the city on the horizon with salvos of heavy gunfire echo in the distance.

Protesters said the toll was almost certain to rise. Facilities were in the streets, but snipers on the roofs prevented residents and medical staff to retrieve.

"The armed forces have occupied the city of Dara'a," said a resident breathless as he footage shot Monday morning. "they are heading toward the center of the city."

Other smuggled footage showed heavily armed soldiers parked positions behind walls, a few meters away from a tank in what seem to be a green, main street. Witnesses said some tanks move in the direction of the Omari mosque, it was cited by organizers a landmark, which has served as the headquarters of the art for demonstrators.

"God is great, Bashar," a protestor called on video on the Internet, addressing President Bashar al-Assad with his first name. "Why are you attack?"

The city slung building and about 75,000 inhabitants has become almost synonymous with the revolt, reign of the Assad family has provided the greatest challenge to four decades. Protests it broke in March after security forces arrested a group of high school students Doodle accused anti-Government graffiti on the wall, galvanizing demonstrations that have spread to virtually every province in Syria.

Other activists said Syrian security forces entered two towns on the outskirts of the capital - Duma and Maadamiah - carrying out dozens of arrests. Conflicts have primarily in the poor, troubled cities, which encircle Damascus very and activists said there were reports of shooting during the raids which began Monday morning.

Residents reported that security forces the cities was surrounded on Sunday. Everyone leave or enter, they said, was looking for, in an apparent attempt to stop demonstrators from the March on the capital, a stronghold of the Assad family rule.

Based, a city inhabited by Syria's Sunni Muslim majority and members of the minority Alawite - a heterodox Muslim sect, which the Government support is much - security forces killed at least 12 people in a RAID, which began Sunday and permanent in the night. A resident said demonstrators burned a car army and took a soldier hostage.

"The army is all about the area provided", another resident said who gave his name as Abu Ahmed. "I can not describe how bad the situation was all night." "It is a street war."

He said had strengthened the shooting tension between Sunni and Alawite in the city, a potentially dangerous manifestation in a country with a mosaic of religious and ethnic minorities, of which fear they threaten many collapse of the Government can.

He said "The plate have been dashed," with an Arab expression. "There is dispute between us now, it is planted was and the problem will forever be based are available."

The widening crackdown comes amid reports that many of them of Hims and the surrounding cities of Damascus, have scores of residents in Syria since disappeared Friday, out of the troubled city activists say. In Saqba, one who said the city suburbs, an organizer, 100 people Friday, with no record of their arrest had disappeared.

"It is about much more bloodshed, are," Wissam said fare, head of Insan, a Syrian human rights group, "all signals from my point of view, showing."

Mr price said that his organization all in all had compiled the names of 217 people, which had disappeared since early Friday. At least 70 of them came from the towns near the capital outskirts and 68 others from the third-largest city of Hims, Syria and the particularly protests of last week. Taken together, said he had documented group names of the missing from 17 towns and villages.

He said "It just don't stop". "Names keep pouring."

The crackdown is yet another indication that the decision of the Government draconian emergency lift since 1963, turn out to be more rhetoric than reform. Although the Government Thursday as a radical step has traded his removal, some have the last few days is the bloodiest and most repressive since the uprising began. On Friday alone killed more than 100 people in 14 cities.

"We this regime not more trust,", another protester said in based.

Human rights Watch calls for the United Nations to set up an international inquiry into her death and calls for the United States and Europe, impose sanctions on officials responsible for the shooting and arrests of hundreds of demonstrators.

"After the Friday carnage, it does not have enough condemn the violence", said Joe Stork, the Middle East, Deputy Director of the Organization, based in New York.

Employees of the New York Times contributed to this report from Beirut and Damascus, Syria. Ranya Kadri contributed reporting from Aqaba, Jordan.

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News Analysis: Syrian crisis his tests the courage autocratic ruler

Joseph Eid/Agence France-Presse - Getty ImagesPresident Bashar al-Assad Syria has indicated willingness to implement major reforms, but time seems to out run.

CAIRO - President Bashar al-Assad Syria years has nourished a reputation as a teenager and he inherited from his father, future-oriented leader in a region full of aging autocrat, a man who could reform even the repressive police state given time and opportunity.

His country is worsening the crisis - a bloody battle between police and demonstrators, closely observed all over the world – his father seems a chance, stave off violence with restraint or even reforms, a path never took fat. But as the number of fatalities volumes, and the ominous disappearance of dissidents numbers increase, seems his time run. International pressure is growing, and so is the outrage which has inspired his violent suppression.

Mr Assad could still succeed in quelling the unrest, diplomats and analysts say. But, this to do he would recognize the hopes in him once inserted, as soon as he makes his father before 11 years inherited and confronted with his own family, which controls Syria thuggish security apparatus and seems too hard for a urge continued crackdown are must. At least 120 people were killed since Friday, the bloodiest day of the uprising five weeks old.

Mixed signals were created in the last day or two, of which, he will be the way. On the one hand, Mr Assad has indicated willingness, announced major reforms as the last week, when he officially Syria draconian emergency powers law repealed to enact. But there are dark warnings harder repression as well as. Notoriously opaque in Syria's political environment, it is impossible to say how the President is leaning.

"This is the moment of truth for Bashar al-Assad,", said Jean-Pierre Filiu, a visiting professor at Columbia University, has written in detail about Syria. "He may have the ability, reforms on his own Baath party, but he has the will to do?"

More than seen in one of the other revolts in the Middle East could significantly, maybe the consequences of his decision. In contrast to Egypt and Tunisia, Syria is home to a checkerboard floor of defensive religious and ethnic minorities, and many fear that at the end of the Assad family 40-year-dynasty brutal revenge killings and struggles for power could unleash. Chaos could easily spill over Syria's borders, in the neighbouring Lebanon and beyond.

The Obama administration has already Iran help to support, Mr Assad accused. When Syria fell, it would be a striking blow to the theocratic regime in Tehran and elsewhere has Syria that mark depended for its influence in the Israeli Palestinian conflict. But Iran's nemeses - including Israel, the United States and Saudi Arabia - are also deeply scared by the prospect of a change of regime in Syria that civil conflict could set from a chaotic Iraq style.

Even though Mr Assad survived, the turbulence have a profound impact on that, Middle East policy should some analysts say. "Our entire Syria policy for the last two and a half years is based on always Syria and Israel back on the table for peace,", said Andrew Tabler, analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East policy. "Now that the fuels Bashar Israel and the United States it has accused of this challenge is even more difficult to do it for him."

In a sense, Mr. Assad is now facing, the crisis is the same, which makes his years at the defined has: he has repeatedly hopes, both in the domestic and abroad, only inspired to let them. Western leaders courted him, in the hope he would his country democratizing, support peace with Israel, and more to the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Syrian liberal enjoyed a short "Damascus Spring" the greater openness after his accession, but it soon disappeared. The illusions to promote helped his personal style. Other than his stern father Hafez al-Assad, who in a coup d ' état in the years 1970 took over Bashar al-Assad power quietly and almost meek seemed. He had studied ophthalmology in London, and an elegant British-born wife. He is fluent in English and French and widely read.

Even up to the last few weeks, "it was to see him separately by the regime, he could of his role, step a trend," said a Syria-based analyst, spoke under the condition of anonymity. But the patience seems finished. Calls for reform have transformed some of unheard until now in demands for an end to the Assad Government.

Like other autocrats, Mr Assad can be compensated by the reality of the uprising. Syrian State-run media have described as the work of agents provocateurs from Israel, Saudi Arabia and even Lebanon. Some diplomats, who know him personally say they believe Mr Assad understands what is happening - and what he needs to stop him to do - but is too slow or too shy to perform it.

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Syrian troops open fire at funerals demonstrators

The death toll from the protests on Friday, had increased by one of the bloodiest days in the so-called Arab spring, from Saturday to 109 people, a figure which said activists were likely to rise as more bodies were returned to their families. Another group said 114 people were killed.

The bloodshed on Saturday followed a pattern in the turmoil that has swept the Arab world often seen. Funerals have often in demonstrations, situated where have more security forces bent on crushing dissent against authoritarian leaders have been killed. While on Friday of Saturday's death toll pales in comparison to the number killed, it proposed that the country has a longer turbulence may as demonstrators still the greatest challenge to the Assad family press four decades of rule.

President Bashar al-Assad has remain to fight to cope with the unrest, offers concessions which would have been surprising at a time, while violence against those who exist in demonstrations Government. Although the revolt has drawn large numbers in the streets since the launch on 15 March, it has yet to reach the critical mass of revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. However, organizers say they believe that the bloodshed can pull more people in the uprising of fold.

A possible sign of cracks in the Government put two members of the Syrian Parliament largely powerless facade on Saturday. The two, Khalil al-Rifai and Nasser al-Hariri, both independent legislator from DARA'a, where the uprising began, said Al Jazeera that they protest the killing of demonstrators were withdrawn.

Wissam fare, the Managing Director of Insan, a human rights group, said that security forces fired live ammunition on grieving, after they buried their dead. Mr Assad, who inherited power from his father, Hafez, in the year 2000 was the funeral protests with demands for the case soon. Such claims had been voiced publicly, once unknown, and serve as a marker as outrage is to overcome fear in the repressive State.

11 Killed in cities close to Damascus, where some of the worst bloodshed was reported Friday, said Mr fare: Duma, Barza, Maadamiah and Qabon. Others were reported killed in Azra, activists should confirm their names, but still.

In Barza a witness, said a fear of retaliation wanted to remain anonymous, that at least 1,000 mourners under fire, came as they prepared to four men and two children, 7 years old and the other 14 buried. The witness said security forces to the right the mourners, of which many protection in the nearby mosque Al-Salam was looking for.

He said that shooting lasted at least 10 minutes. Religious leaders within the mosque called on speaker for security forces to stop required on unarmed demonstrators burning and medical help for the wounded.

"she shot directly on people, and all hell broke lose", the witness said. "We could hear voices of children and people scream desperately." "We do not know, how many were killed but we have heard a saying on the phone, that four of his neighbors were killed and many injured."

Duma, another town on the outskirts of Damascus, marched at least 1500 grieving from the main mosque to the cemetery, a witness said. Approached as a government building, police in civilian clothes began to fire you, in barrages, which lasted three hours.

"I saw people I killed," said the witness. "People were injured, and no could help them, help them or to get to you."

His voice turned angry. "How much people can take we know not," he said. "they go not to get every day killed and just keep watch." "If we pay reforms to the President with our lives, then we want not his reforms."

Friday's violence began after the midday asked, if gathered thousands in protest. Their demands have grown since the uprising began: of calls for reform demands, the President Assad step down.

In at least two cities crack demonstrators Mr Assad's image and destroyed statues of the father.

Employees of the New York Times from Beirut in the Lebanon and Damascus contributed.

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Syrian forces RAID pro-democracy activists - voice of America

VOA News April 24, 2011 made in this citizen-journalism-picture on a mobile phone and Saturday April 23, 2011, obtained by the AP, Syrian protesters against the Government carry the coffin of an activist on Friday during his funeral procession in Quaboun near the city of Damascus was killed, Syria, Saturday, April 23, 2011

Permission groups say imprisonment a top pro-democracy activists after a deadly raid against the Protestants Syrian security forces conducted several raids late Saturday in the vicinity of Damascus,.

At least 12 Saturday killed as Syrian security forces and sniper fire on mourning funerals, one day after the RAID of the bloodiest so far in the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad opened.

Also announced Saturday, two Syrian Parliament members resign they are in protest against the killing of civilians.

Permission groups and witnesses say Saturday's shootings in Damascus suburb which took place the Duma and the southern city of Izraa.? Thousands of people had gathered to protest the deaths of at least 75 people on Friday in two locations.

Friday's deadly crackdown came a day after President Assad ends almost 50 years State of emergency decree signed.? The Decree was part of its efforts to stop unrest by some meet the demands of the demonstrators against the Government.

The associated press reports at least 120 people in two days of violence condemned by world leaders, including President Barack Obama have been killed.

[All VOA blogs...]

Going green
Rebecca Ward's report on the oil spill BP Gulf - to see a year later.

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Assad Forces mass as a Test of Syrian lifted emergency rule

April 22, 2011, 4: 54 pm EDT by Benjamin Harvey, Tamara Walid and Massoud a. Derhally

(Updates with deployment of security forces from first paragraph.) See the EXTRA and puts more Middle East turmoil).

April 22 (Bloomberg) - Syrian security deployed across the country today to protests which could be the first test of lifting of President Bashar al-Assad yesterday of a State of emergency 48 years.The city of Latakia, site of violent protests last week, has been blocked with sand bags, Arabiya television reported, while army units encircling the town of the newspaper Al Watan third, Syria, Homs, which is close to the Governmentreported.Assad has issued the Decree yesterday ending rule of emergency, which has suspended most of the constitutional guarantees, prohibited gatherings, restricts the freedom of the media and of arbitrary detention. He abolished the Supreme Court of State security and approved a measure allowing demonstrations, which require concessions more activists planned to challenge today. "" What they try to do is to test that the lifting of the emergency law means in reality, Chris Phillips, an analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit in London, said by telephone late yesterday. "" " "A big question will be be how many people out to Aleppo and Damascus, remarkable for having been relatively calm in the city centres, the previous Friday and if they can get large scale demonstrations to go there."Torture, activists said KillingsSome that orders are yesterday of what is necessary to put an end to protests that spread throughout the country there are almost six weeks. A crackdown on dissent has caused the death, dozens of demonstrators while the Government has blamed the violence on criminals and terrorists who seek to weaken the State.At least 130 people were killed in the unrest, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch. Syrian forces have tortured demonstrators and it is impossible to verify how many remain in detention, said Human Rights Watch. Activists say the number of fatalities exceeds 200. "There are tensions well enough in all cities and presence of heavy security in preparation for the Friday prayer,"Abdul - Karim Rihawi, head of the Syrian human rights League, said yesterday in a telephone interview. "I do not think there is no tolerance for even so peaceful demonstrations" Greatest ChallengeThe protests mark the biggest challenge of rule Assad since he inherited power from his father 11 years ago.Ammar Qurabi, head of the national organization of the Syria for the human rights, said in an interview on the phone that the concessions have been won with blood. "What happened is good, but it is not enough, he said Assad moves yesterday. "The question is not a law, but a dominant environment that characterized the State and its security apparatus, the cancellation"Yassin Al - Haj Saleh, a Syrian writer and activist politics, said in a telephone interview yesterday."moreJosh Landis, a specialist in the Syria, who heads the Centre for studies of the Middle East at the University of Oklahoma at Norman, said that he expected Assad to stifle protests despite the announcement yesterday. "It will crack down hard, as it cannot allow this movement to snowball effect,"said Landis. "He made concessions, but he would not look low."At least 18 demonstrators had been killed in clashes since an address anti-government gatherings April 16 by Assad, Qurabi said this week.Assad accused the conspirators from abroad to take advantage of the unrest to undermine the Syria, mainly because of his anti-Israel groups support. Party Baath of Assad has been in power since 1963.Syria is an ally of the Iran and a power broker in neighbouring countries to the Lebanon, where it supports Hezbollah, a Muslim armed group of Shiites in war against Israel in 2006.

-Editors: Karl Maier, Jeffrey Donovan.

To contact the reporters on this story: Benjamin Harvey in Istanbul to bharvey11@bloomberg.net; Tamara Walid Dubai at twalid@bloomberg.net; Massoud a. Derhally to Beirut to mderhally@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew j. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net.

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Syrian protesters ramp places in the city of Homs

More than 5,000 demonstrators hostile to the Government in Syria resumed the Plaza of the third city in the country, promising to occupy the site until President Bashar al-Assad is ruled out and defy the authorities warn that they will be not forced in reforms.

The Government, however, blamed the weeks of anti-Government unrest in the country on the ultra-conservative Muslims seeking to establish a fundamentalist state and terrorizing the population, in the latest official effort to describe the movement of reform as populated by extremists.

Despite the deadlock of Egypt-style in the Centre of the city of Homs Monday followed by funeral processions more 10,000 lament for some people killed in clashes Sunday that a group of rights said dead left at least 12 people. It also provided an important challenge to the security forces on the appropriateness of bloodshed more risk - and the international reaction - trying to clear the square.

In the month, in uniform and civilian Syrian security forces launched a deadly suppression of the demonstrations, killing at least 200 people, according to human rights groups. Many Syrians also say pro-government thugs - called Shabiha - were terrorizing neighborhoods with tactics such as the opening of fire in the air.

In the past, the Government has awarded "armed bands" that seeks to raise problems for a large number of murders, such as those who have shot dead seven people, including three army officers, Sunday in Homs.

Monday, the Ministry of the Interior identified gang as "Salafi armed groups", referring to a ultra-conservative form of Islam that has its roots in Saudi Arabia and found throughout the region.

The statement made by the news agency said they seek to establish "emirates" and "abusing the freedoms and the reforms launched by President Bashar al-Assad in the full programme with a timetable."

People perform prayers during a protest in the Syrian city of Homs Monday. ReutersAssad played on fears of inter-communal while working to stifle any popular support for the uprising and awarded agitation to a foreign plot to sow sectarian strife - echoing the statements of almost all other assiégée leader in the region.

Earlier in the day, at least six coffins were conducted by the funeral procession in Homs, about 160 kilometres north of Damascus, said two witnesses. Security forces remained far the lament in an apparent to travel avoiding confrontation, said the witnesses, who spoke the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from the Government.

The accounts of the witnesses were not independently confirmed because the Syria has imposed tight restrictions on the media and expelled foreign journalists.

After the funeral, thousands of people marched to main its ' a Jadida Square the Homs, or instead of the new clock, where they chanted "people want to overthrow the regime" and "peaceful, peaceful," witnesses said.

As the protesters gathered, security personnel arrived in the region. Three tanker trucks, typically used by the authorities to spray demonstrators with water, have been also stationed nearby.

"A sit-in until that regime is overthrown", the demonstrators chanted.

Witnesses said demonstrators are planning to set up tents and some residents made gift of water and food.

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International rights group says Syrian authorities detained any demonstrators - the Canadian Press torture

International rights group says Syrian authorities detained under ProtestersBy the associated press - 49 minutes ago torture

BEIRUT, A leading international rights group says Syrian and intelligence services arrested and tortured hundreds of protesters because governmental nature rallies Syria last month have devoured.

Human rights watch demanded Syrian authorities on Friday immediately stop the use of torture and all protesters, activists and journalists in prison.

The New Yorker HRW says hundreds were arbitrarily detained and subjected to "Torture and ill-treatment." Some have it not precisely.

Protests in Syria insisted to authoritarian regime of President Bashar Assad has been continuously increasing, with tens of thousands of far-reaching political reforms. More than 200 people were killed during the RAID of the Government against the Protestants, according to Syria's main pro-democracy group.

Press copyright ? 2011 of the Canadian. All rights reserved.

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Syrian opposition Reuters says killed 200 protests-

A tank is seen in the Syrian port city of Caesarea Philippi 10 April 2011.

Credit: Reuters/HandoutBy Khaled Yacoub Oweis

AMMAN | Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:33 pm EDT

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syria's most important human rights movement said the death toll of less than a month of protests reached 200 and calls of the Arab League, impose sanctions against the ruling hierarchy.

"Screams Syria uprising with 200 martyrs, hundreds of injured and a similar number of arrests," the Group Damascus Declaration said in a letter on Monday, the Secretary General of the Arab League.

"The regime unleashed to besiege his Forcers cities and to terrorize civilians, while demonstrators on Syria thunder with the same chant ' peaceful quiet", "added to it."

"We ask you to impose political, diplomatic and economic sanctions against the Syrian regime, the continue faithful guardian of Hafiz al-Assad's legacy...,", said the letter, referring to the iron fisted rule of President Hafez al-Assad, father of current President Bashar.

Bashar, overlooking never since unprecedented protests against his rule 11-year-old reacted with a mixture of power-his security forces have on the unarmed demonstrators, according to witnesses-raised and vague promises to relax on freedoms, such as replace emergency law with anti terror law prohibits.

The protests, which erupted last month before the distribution in the southern town of Deraa, called for freedom of expression and Assembly, and an end to corruption.

The authorities said armed gangs and "Intruders" were responsible for the violence and the soldiers and police have also been killed.

"President Assad has been give only promise for the last 11 years." Instead he speaks solutions such as the regime generally on an external conspiracy, "said the letter."

The Damascus Declaration called for a document signed in 2005 by prominent civic, Islamist and Liberal leader for the end of 41 Assad family rule and its replacement by a democratic system.

The document called for the lifting of the prohibitions on freedom of expression and Assembly and the abolition of emergency laws, under which Syria determines since 1963, when the ruling Baath Party took power in a coup d ' état and any opposition banned.

Most of its members have long periods of time as political prisoners, opposition RAID al-Turk, more than 17 years in solitary confinement under Hafez al-Assad spent leading figure including spent.

Fayiz Sara, a journalist, was jailed for two - and-a half years with 11 Damascus Declaration members and published in the year 2010, arrested again on Sunday, said rights activists.

"The secret police have until any outstanding figure were rounding that can get them on their hands." They call it either in the for "Interrogation"and keep it, pick it up from the street or break into their homes,"the rights defender said one."

Assad has said the protests are part of a foreign plot to sow sectarian fighting. His father used similar language when he left and killing thousands crushed Islamic challenges to his rule in the 1980s.

Syrian security forces on Monday after pro-democracy protests and killings by irregulars loyal to Assad off the coast city Banias sealed, residents said.

(Editing by Michael Roddy)

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Syrian troops open fire on demonstrators in two cities

In Dara' raised a killed, the security forces to a funeral for some of the 37 people protests disperse throughout the country a day before a human rights group said.

Several people were injured, said Ammar Qurabi runs who Syria's national organisation for human rights. Residents and witnesses in the city the group information is gathered.

More information about the shooting were not immediately available. Phone calls to Dara'a, which has shaken by violence, were not traversed, and the Government severe limitations on reporting in the media of the country.

Earlier, fired security forces to break a sit-in in the port of Latakia, in the heart of the Syrian ruling elite live ammunition. Hearing reported residents hours of heavy gunfire overnight as security forces violently dispersed hundreds of protesters.

"The shooting went for almost two hours;" It was terrifying, "said one resident, speaking under the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals." There was no immediate word on losses.

Latakia is significant, because it is located in a province, which has strong historical ties of the minority of Nusairier sect of President Bashar al-Assad.

As the wave of protests gathered steam, Mr Assad has some concessions, as local officials raise and to consider the committees, replace the country's despised emergency are offered.

On Saturday, he asked a court to examine, the former Governor of the region of Dara'a, Faisal Kalthoum and a former security officer, Atef Najib, for her role in the handling of protests in the city, a security official said. Mr Assad fired Mr Kalthoum last month.

These gestures failed to appease a growing movement, is the increase in their demands for concrete reforms and free elections in a country that is been ruled Mr Assad's family for more than 40 years.

On Friday, witnesses said security forces fire on tens of thousands of demonstrators in Dara'a, 25 people killed and hundreds injured opened. The Government said that 19 police officers and members of the security forces were killed when armed opened fire.

Neither account could be independently verified. But the Government plans for a stronger crackdown could signal claim victims. State television showed, what you say vandals setting fire to the radio and television building in DARA has ' a and shoot armed were random in the central city of Hims.

Also on Saturday, satellite, Al-Jazeera in which she held the security on Friday responsible for the violence in Dara dismissed the editor of the State newspaper Tishrin to give an interview to the station ' a forces.

An official at the newspaper confirmed Saturday that the editor, Samira Masalmeh, was dismissed because of the interview.

Since the protests seriously last month began more than 170 people have been killed, human rights groups say.

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Syrian forces kill 3 such as flare protests: witness - Reuters

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis and Suleiman al-Khalidi

AMMAN | Fri Apr 8, 2011 9: 13 of the EDT

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian security forces as protests against the rule of Bashar al-Assad flared in several cities after Friday prayers at least three pro-democracy demonstrators in the southern city of Deraa killed, said witness.

Thousands demonstrated in the East of ethnic Kurds for reform despite the President this week offer simple rules that bar many Kurds citizenship, activists said.

Security men opened fire on thousands of demonstrators in Deraa, where protests broke out first last month before spreading across the country in the last three weeks. Residents of Reuters contacted said at least three people were killed.

"I saw pools of blood and three bodies in the street is picked up by relatives in the area of Mahatta," said one of the witnesses, who spoke by phone to Reuters.

"Were the snipers on rooftops." Gunfire was difficult. The injured are taken in houses. No one familiar set his relatives in a hospital under these circumstances, "he added." Many demonstrators fear that she would be arrested, if taken hospitals.

Protests broke even in the Western City of Hims, and gunfire was heard in the District of Damascus Harasta. The suburb of Duma, where the protests have held in recent days, was largely reduced from contact due to telephone lines, local activists said. Media are strongly limited in Syria.

Popular demonstrations have rocked the country for the last three weeks calling for greater freedom. Assad responded with a mixture of violence against demonstrators and gestures towards a reform to the most recent ethnic Kurds.

In the northeastern city of Qamishli, Kurdish youths chanted: "no one Syrian Kurds, not Arabs, one." "We salute the martyrs of Deraa." Demonstrations were concerns that fuel pump unrest could ethnic and religious tensions in the country according to.

Friday demonstrations, which online activists this week that "Friday of the steadfastness" mentioned, tends to see the largest protests against Assad's 11 years in power. In recent weeks security forces have fire, kill dozens opened.

In Deraa people demonstrated just last month against the detention of children, the pro-democracy graffiti inspired by the Egyptian and Tunisian riots on school walls all had.

Sunni Muslims tribes there are the wealth and makes of the minority Alawite treasures belonging to offshoot sect of Shi Shi'ite Islam, which Assad. Mobile telephone lines were cut off been or limited in the last two days, said the residents.

Protesters chanted: "The people want the overthrow of the Government," an echo of the slogans from elsewhere in the Arab world.

REFORMS "DONT GO TO THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM"

The Baath party since 1963 has a coup and execution of Assad's father until his death in the year 2000 in power tolerated no dissent and emergency law to justify used arbitrary arrests.

A central demand of the protesters is to pick up the law.

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Syrian chant "Freedom" get wounded in the suburb - Reuters

 

Government anti-trade protesters clash with riot police in Damascus city Duma 1 April 2011.

Credit: Reuters/handout

AMMAN | Sat Apr 2, 2011 7:19 pm EDT

Demonstrators chanted injured "Freedom" as a suburb of Duma AMMAN (Reuters) - hundreds of thousands of Syrians get, when she faced Security said the previous day, a witness it forces gathered up late Saturday in the Damascus.

About 50 cars wounded came in secret police community square, were where at least five people killed on Friday when security forces at protesters demanding political freedom and an end to the corruption, according to human right defenders raised.

Agents of the secret police gave the names of 25 more severe cases in the hospital, said the witness.

"they promised tomorrow make the families give." We expect 15 dead, "said the witness, who lives in the suburb."

A further witness who Saturday toured suburb said shops in at least a main commercial Street in solidarity have been concluded with the demonstrators, who gathered after Friday prayers despite the heavy presence of the regular police and secret police.

The murders in Duma brought to at least 60 deaths in protests against the Baath party rule, in the southern city of Deraa 15 days before and spread to the capital, the coast and in between ausgebrochen.

(Reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis)

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