- Title: LIBYA: Syrians living in the Libyan capital Tripoli call for Assad to step down
- Date: 21st January 2012
- Summary: VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING
- Embargoed: 5th February 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya, Libya
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVABQMB2ZJ8SISZ8JAK49N5WTDK3
- Story Text: Syrian migrant workers in Tripoli staged a demonstration on Friday (January 20, 2012) demanding the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad.
Carrying a huge Syrian flag, the demonstrators said it was time for Bashar to go.
"Shame on you , you have taken a lot of our money , you have more than 200 billion dollars - take it and leave us alone. We want to live . Go to the other country where you can establish your state - in Africa (for example) , there are many countries that can receive you , please go and leave us alone, it's enough. We paid a lot," said Abu Mohammed.
Syrians are among the thousands of foreign migrant workers employed in Libya's various service and construction sectors.
At least six people were killed in Syria on Friday and the bodies of six others were turned over to their families, activists said, two days before the Arab League decides whether to keep monitors there despite their failure to halt bloodshed.
Security men were out in force in several restive towns and cities to counter protests against Bashar al-Assad that often erupt after weekly Muslim prayers, activists said, while supporters of the Syrian president demonstrated in Damascus.
Hundreds of people have been killed since the monitors arrived in Syria, where an armed insurgency has grown in recent months, contesting Assad's grip on several parts of the country.
Arab foreign ministers meet in Cairo on Sunday to decide whether to prolong the observers' one-month mandate, which expired on Thursday.
Supporters say the mission reduced violence somewhat, but critics say it provided diplomatic cover for Assad to pursue a crackdown that the United Nations says has already killed more than 5,000 people.
The Syrian authorities accuse foreign-backed militants of killing 2,000 members of the security forces since the unrest began in March, inspired by Arab uprisings elsewhere.
It was not possible to verify the latest accounts of unrest in Syria, where tight media restrictions are enforced.
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