“Fresh violence in a southern Syrian city has left nine people dead today.”
“That made it the deadliest single day since anti-government protests inspired by uprisings across the Arab world reached Syria last week.”
“At least six were killed in an early morning attack on the al-Omari mosque in the southern agricultural city of Daraa, where protesters have taken to the streets in calls for reforms and political freedoms, witnesses said.”
“Police shot another three people protesting in the centre of Daraa after dusk.”
Syria’s state-run TV “showed footage of guns, AK47s, hand grenades and other ammunition as well as stashes of Syrian money which it said was seized from inside al-Omari mosque.”
“The TV said security forces were able ‘to kill and wound’ some of the attackers in today’s incident and are chasing those who were able to flee.”
“Syria, a predominantly Sunni country ruled by minority Alawites, has been spared the wave of uprisings in the Middle East until now. Part of the reason is that the protesters know there will be a swift crackdown.”
“Like many Syrian cities, Daraa is home to ultra-orthodox Sunni Muslims.”
“In 2006, security agents arrested 16 Syrians during a three-day sweep in Daraa province, accusing them of membership to the banned Muslim Brotherhood.”
Read more: Nine protesters killed after security forces open fire by Syrian mosque
2021-week16
