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By Suleiman al-Khalidi
DERAA, Syria (Reuters) - Syrian security forces killed three protesters in the southern city of Deraa on Friday, residents said, in the most violent response to protests against Syria's ruling elite since revolts swept through...
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By Suleiman al-Khalidi
DERAA, Syria |
Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:00pm EDT
DERAA, Syria (Reuters) - Syrian security forces killed three protesters in the southern city of Deraa on Friday, residents said, in the most violent response to protests against Syria's ruling elite since revolts swept through the Arab world.
The demonstrators were taking part in a peaceful protest demanding political freedoms and an end to corruption in Syria, which has been ruled under emergency laws by President Bashar al-Assad's Baath Party for nearly half a century.
Smaller protests took place in the central city of Homs and the coastal town of Banias, home to one of Syria's two oil refineries, activists said.
A crowd briefly chanted slogans for freedom inside the Umayyad Mosque in Old Damascus before security forces closed in.
Syrian authorities, which stepped up arrests of dissidents since the Arab uprisings began in January, have a history of crushing dissent. In 1982, Assad's father sent troops to put down an rebellion in the city of Hama, killing thousands.
In Deraa on Friday, three to four thousand people leaving the city's Omari mosque after midday prayers chanted "God, Syria, Freedom" and slogans accusing the president's family of corruption, residents said.
Security forces fired water canon at them, and then opened fire with live ammunition. Protesters threw stones in response and set fire to a car and a police kiosk, one witness said.
Hussam Abdel Wali Ayyash, Akram Jawabreh and Ayhem al-Hariri were shot dead by security forces who were reinforced with troops flown in by helicopters. Scores were wounded in the attack in the old quarter of Deraa near the border with Jordan.
An official statement said "infiltrators" tried to take advantage of what it termed as a gathering in Deraa by burning cars and trying to cause chaos, which required intervention by security forces. The statement did not mention any casualties.
The United States, which under President Barack Obama has sought engagement with Assad, condemned the attack on protesters and urged the government to allow people to demonstrate freely.
"Those responsible for today's violence must be held accountable," White House National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said.
"SITUATION IS DANGEROUS"
After two or three hours of clashes, the city was quieter at nightfall, with a heavy security presence. Stones lay on the road where protesters and security forces clashed, and people said they were not allowed to visit the wounded in hospital.
Residents said relatives of the dead had refused to accept condolences, a sign in tribal Arab society they might seek vengeance for their loss.
"The situation is dangerous, the people feel under pressure," said a lawyer and activist who attended part of the protest. "If (authorities) hand over the bodies there will be demonstrations. People will call for revenge."
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