More Protests Planned in Syria

Posted July 29th, 2011 at 5:40 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

Syria is bracing for another day of anti-government protests Friday, as activists accuse security forces of killing more demonstrators.

Activists said security forces shot and killed at least two civilians Thursday night in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour.

Syrians across the country have been rallying for months for the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad. The government has been cracking down on the demonstrations, with global activist group Avaaz reporting nearly 3,000 people have “disappeared” since the political uprising began in March.

Rights groups say Syrian forces have killed at least 1,600 civilians during the past four months. Activists have been reporting daily on security sweeps in various cities, documenting killings and arrests in the hundreds.

Separately Friday, Syrian state media say “saboteurs” have targeted an oil pipeline in the country near the central city of Homs. The Associated Press news agency quotes Syrian state television as saying the alleged attack was a bombing.