Snipers Kill at Least 3 at Syria Funerals: Witnesses

[Turborama]

Source: AFP Via The Jakarta Globe

Snipers shot dead at least three mourners Saturday in Douma, a suburb of the Syrian capital where funerals were underway for several protesters killed the previous day, witnesses said.

The gunmen opened fire from roof-tops as a funeral procession made its way to a cemetery, killing at least three mourners and wounding one, a witness and a human rights activist in Douma told AFP by telephone.

Tens of thousands of mourners marched in the procession, setting off from a mosque in Douma to the cemetery, they said.

More than 80 people were killed when Syrian security forces fired live rounds and tear gas at massive protests nationwide a day after President Bashar al-Assad ended nearly five decades of emergency rule, activists and rights groups have said.


Read more: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/snipers-kill-at-least-3-at-syria-funerals-witnesses/436979

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Today's Regularly Updated Live Blog From Al Jazeera English: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/middle-east/syria-live-blog-april-23

[Turborama]

1. RTE (Ireland): 11 killed at funerals of Syria protesters

Up to 11 people have reportedly been killed during funeral services for pro-democracy protesters in the Syrian capital of Damascus.

Witnesses say pall bearers abandoned coffins and ran for cover after mourners at the mass funeral came under fire.

Yesterday, 88 people were killed by Syrian security forces during anti-government demonstrations.

It is reported that tens of thousands of people have turned out throughout the country for the funerals, and that anti-government chants were heard.

Full article: http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0423/syria.html

[Turborama]

2. The dead include a seven-year-old girl Israa Younes who was shot by a bullet while in the kitchen

The dead include a seven-year-old girl Israa Younes who was shot by a bullet while in the kitchen of her parent’s home.

From AJE's live blog: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/middle-east/syria-live-blog-april-23

I've seen footage of a father carrying his 4 year old son who'd been shot in the head. I'm not sure whether posting it here would be appropriate.

[Turborama]

3. AP: Syria death toll hits 120 over 2 days, group says

By BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press – 1 hr 49 mins ago

BEIRUT – The death toll from two days of violence in Syria reached 120 Saturday as security forces fired on tens of thousands of mourners who shouted for the regime's downfall during funeral processions, a human rights group said.

=snip=


Ammar Qurabi, the head of Syria's National Organization for Human Rights, said 112 people were killed Friday and at least eight on Saturday. Friday was by far the deadliest day of the uprising.

But the bloodshed so far has only served to invigorate protesters whose demands have snowballed from modest reforms to the downfall of Assad. Each Friday, growing numbers of people in multiple cities have taken to the streets despite the near certainty that they would come under swift attack from security forces and shadowy pro-government gunmen known as "shabiha."

The heavy security crackdown on Friday and Saturday came after Assad warned a week ago that any further unrest would be considered "sabotage" after he made the gesture of lifting long-hated emergency laws, a step he ratified on Thursday.

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110423/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_syria

[al bupp]

4. Taking a lesson from the Gaddafi playbook

Bashar has decided to do whatever it takes to scare people off the streets it seems.

[joshcryer]

5. +1, going to get messy, especially if it escalates and the citizens fight back...

...and Iran gets involved. And to think just a few days ago I said Assad was showing restraint. I am an idiot for saying that.

[al bupp]

6. I think Bashar had many of us hoping he would be different

He seemed too unlike his father and cosmopolitan enough to resort to such measures. Unfortunately, as I think you pointed out in another thread, forces and interests largely beyond his control have put him in this spot. This is not to deflect and blame or criticism of his or the actions of the security forces he at least nominally controls. I simply realize that in Syria the security state is very strong and probably functions, as does the Baath party in large parts outside his ability to reign them in, even if inclined to do so.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. Gang tactics on a national level.

Interesting.