Death toll climbs as security forces in Syria fire on protesters
According to activists inside Syria, the death toll between Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon stood at 23, including 17 killed on Monday.
Reporting from Beirut—
Syrian security forces shot and killed at least six people in the southern city of Daraa and in the central city of Homs by midday Tuesday, in a heavy day of protests against President Bashar Assad on the Muslim Eid al-Fitr, the last day of fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
According to activists inside Syria, the death toll between Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon stood at 23, including 17 killed on Monday.
Protests also broke out in Syria’s commercial city of Aleppo, which has largely remained on the sidelines during the country’s five-month democracy uprising, the greatest challenge to four decades of rule by the Assad family. Hundreds of residents protested in the Aleppo suburbs of Tal Rifaat, al-Baba and al-Atarib.
Activists have intensified protests in the last days of Ramadan, hoping to force an end to Assad’s regime. Demonstrators say security forces have responded with assaults by machine gun, artillery, and other weapons.
“Tanks have taken over our city and security forces have opened fire on us as we left the mosques after morning prayers,” said Omar, a 23-year-old in the Heet neighborhood of Homs.
Reporting from Beirut—
Syrian security forces shot and killed at least six people in the southern city of Daraa and in the central city of Homs by midday Tuesday, in a heavy day of protests against President Bashar Assad on the Muslim Eid al-Fitr, the last day of fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
According to activists inside Syria, the death toll between Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon stood at 23, including 17 killed on Monday.
Protests also broke out in Syria’s commercial city of Aleppo, which has largely remained on the sidelines during the country’s five-month democracy uprising, the greatest challenge to four decades of rule by the Assad family. Hundreds of residents protested in the Aleppo suburbs of Tal Rifaat, al-Baba and al-Atarib.
Activists have intensified protests in the last days of Ramadan, hoping to force an end to Assad’s regime. Demonstrators say security forces have responded with assaults by machine gun, artillery, and other weapons.
“Tanks have taken over our city and security forces have opened fire on us as we left the mosques after morning prayers,” said Omar, a 23-year-old in the Heet neighborhood of Homs.
