Activists reported deaths of at least 28 people as thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets [AFP]
Thousands of protesters across Syria have defied a government crackdown to commemorate the 1982 massacre in the city of Hama that killed tens of thousands.
Activists reported the deaths of at least 28 people across the country on Friday, including three children.
In Hama’s central neighbourhood of Junub al-Malaab, security forces opened fire on demonstrators, killing at least three people, the Local Co-ordination Committees activist network reported.
Protesters emerged from Friday prayers in the port city of Latakia despite a menacing presence of forces who fired gunshots to disperse the crowds, activists reported. A similar demonstration was held in Yabrod, in Damascus province.
Under the slogan “Hama, forgive us”, government opponents called for demonstrators to dress in black and march in honour of the estimated 10,000 to 40,000 people who died. The massacre was the result of a crackdown by late leader Hafez al-Assad, the father of President Bashar al-Assad, on an armed uprising.
Similar rallies were staged on Thursday in memory
Read More from the Article Source: Full Article
