SYRIA: Syrian youths organise candlelight vigil in Damascus in solidarity with Gaza

Record ID: 279300

  • Title: SYRIA: Syrian youths organise candlelight vigil in Damascus in solidarity with Gaza
  • Date: 1st January 2009
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN ACTOR, ABED FAHED, SAYING: "I hope to see very quick and practical action. There is no time. I hope the dawn of this new day a ceasefire will be reached."
  • Embargoed: 16th January 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA46T6L7NPRYW7PW7DAP0YU9DMV
  • Story Text: Syrian actors, red crescent volunteers, artists and journalists among participants of a candlelight vigil organised by syrian youths through on-line networking sites to remember hundreds killed in Gaza.
    Syrian actors, red crescent volunteers, artists and journalists joined hundreds of Syrians on Tuesday (December 30) during a candlelight vigil in front of Omayyades Mosque in the Syrian capital, Damascus, to show solidarity with Gaza's citizens as Israeli warplanes pressed on for the fourth day in a row with attacks on Hamas targets.
    Medical officials put Palestinian casualties since Saturday (December 27) at 348 dead with more than 800 wounded.
    The vigil's organisers, a group of students, sent e-mails inviting people to join them to show solidarity with Gazans.

    "At least to get our voice heard. We do not have hope it will reach the United Nations because the United Nations is Israel and its is America, but we hope it will strike a chord with the conscience of the people who see us," said Syrian actor, Qais Sheikh Najib.
    The vigil came as many demonstrations and protests were also being held around the world, calling for a ceasefire to save civilian lives in Gaza.

    "I hope to see very quick and practical action. There is no time.
    I hope the dawn of this new day a ceasefire will be reached," Syrian actor, Abed Fahed, said.
    Meanwhile, a group of Syrians held a demonstration nearby the candlelight vigil where they carried Hezbollah and Palestinian flags and called on Egypt to open the Rafah crossing and insulted the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak.
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