JORDAN: Protesters denounce Syria crackdown

Record ID: 279445

  • Title: JORDAN: Protesters denounce Syria crackdown
  • Date: 8th May 2011
  • Summary: PROTESTERS CHANTING
  • Embargoed: 23rd May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVABOUYQ24Q73XANSBWMF9UKJFD3
  • Story Text: Dozens of Syrians and Jordanians held a demonstration near the Syrian embassy in Amman on Saturday (May 7) as security forces across the border in Syria killed at least six civilians in a tank-backed army attack on the coastal city of Banias, according to activists.
    The protesters in Amman restated calls for the toppling of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and voiced support for the residents of the mostly Sunni Muslim Banias, which has been a centre of pro-democracy protests.
    "These regimes must know that people can topple them and only people can keep them in place. The authorities in Syria are hiding behind the names of Bashar al Assad and Maher al Assad. We say one thing to the Syrian people: 'resist.' Words are easy, but there is nothing else we could offer you," Um Abdullah, a Syrian living in Jordan, said.
    Bashar al-Assad, grappling with the most serious challenge to his 11-year rule, has sent in the military to crush demonstrators who have been inspired by anti-government revolts in the Middle East and North Africa. Maher al-Assad, Bashar's brother is head of the country's presidential guard.
    Human rights groups say the army, security forces and gunmen loyal to Assad have killed at least 560 demonstrators since the protests erupted on March 18.
    The attack in Banias came hours after the United States, reacting to the death of 27 protesters on Friday, threatened to take new steps against Syria's rulers, from the Alawite sect, unless they stopped killing and harassing their people.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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