Seven killed as Syrian forces seize Daraa mosque
Syria: Troops and snipers killed six civilians on Saturday in the
flashpoint Syrian city of Daraa, activists said, as people buried scores
of people killed in a “day of rage” on Friday. As protesters buried
scores of people killed Friday in a “day of rage,” activists vowed to
keep up the pressure on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad,
promising a new week of pro-democracy rallies.
And 138 more members of Assad’s ruling Baath Party quit in protest at
the deadly crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, according to
collective resignation lists received by AFP in Nicosia.
At least 66 people were killed on Friday when tens of thousands of
people demonstrated across Syria, activists said, while authorities said
nine members of the security forces were shot dead by “terrorist
groups.” The activists said countrywide protests from Sunday would kick
off a “week of breaking the siege” — a reference to the besieged
southern city of Daraa and the Damascus suburb of Douma, which the army
has controlled since Monday.
Demonstrations would take place on Sunday in the southern protest hub
town of Daraa and around Damascus on Monday.
Rallies are planned Tuesday in the northern towns of Banias and
Jableh, Wednesday in Homs, Talbisseh and in Tall Kalakh on the border
with Lebanon and nationwide night vigils on Thursday.
On Saturday six more civilians were killed when the army began
pounding Daraa at dawn while snipers opened fire from rooftops on anyone
venturing on the streets, activists said.
Damascus, Sunday, AFP |