Monday, April 18, 2011

Protesters in Syrian city hold sit-in

Tens of thousands of Syrians have gathered in the main square in the central city of Homs, a day after activists said at least 25 people were killed there.
A protester who gave his name as Rami told Al Jazeera that about 50,000 people were staging a sit-in on Monday and would "continue to protest until the regime is overthrown".

There were reports of warnings that security forces were about to disperse the crowds.
Earlier in the day, thousands attended the funerals for protesters killed.

Homs violence

A protester in Homs told Al Jazeera that protesters were killed after evening prayers on Sunday when a group of around 40 demonstrators gathered outside the Bab al-Sibaa mosque chanting "freedom".

The protester, who gave his name as Abu Haider, said seven cars pulled up to the protesters and men in civilian clothes jumped out and opened fire on the crowd without warning.

"First we were calling for reforms, now we're calling for regime change," he said. "No one will accept the death of the martyrs."

Al Jazeera's correspondent Rula Amin, reporting from Damascus on Monday, reported that the situation in Homs was very tense.

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