Hundreds protest at Syrian embassy in Cyprus

About 400 protesters called for Syrian President Bashar Assad to quit during a peaceful demonstration in front of the Syrian embassy in the Cypriot capital.

Police in riot gear prevented the crowd from reaching the gates of the embassy in Nicosia, but some people hurled balloons filled with red paint at the four-storey building.

Others held up placards with images of what appeared to be dead men inscribed with “Will not forget you”, and burned photographs of Mr Assad.

One protest organiser, Ahmad Rahban, told the Associated Press that demonstrators condemn the Syrian government’s “policy of oppression” and its “brutal crackdown” against protesters in the country.

The crowd dispersed peacefully after the hour-long rally.