Thousands rally in Syria after 5 killed

THOUSANDS of Syrians rallied yesterday for a third consecutive day in a tense southern city where security forces killed at least five protesters, signalling that unrest in yet another Arab country is taking root, a witness and activists said.

The witness in Daraa told The Associated Press that protesters were angry about the shooting on Friday and mass arrests after the demonstrations calling for political freedoms in one of the region’s most repressive countries.

They demanded officials involved in the violence be fired.

An activist in Damascus who is in close contact with Daraa residents said protesters were particularly incensed at a delegation from President Bashar Assad that came to offer condolences to the families of the dead. Another Damascus activist said police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition, killing one person. He said more than 200 people suffered from gas inhalation and were treated at a nearby mosque that has been transformed into a field hospital.

Neither the witnesses nor the activists would allow their names to be used, for fear of government retaliation. Their accounts could not be immediately confirmed. Syria keeps a tight lid on information, particularly when it comes to security issues.

Syria’s government appeared to try to calm the situation later. An official promised to free 70 people held after Friday’s deadly protests, as well as the teenagers whose detention after scrawling anti-government graffiti kick-started the unrest.

The official acknowledged only two deaths in Friday’s violence and said authorities would bring those responsible to trial, even if an investigation shows that security officers were guilty.