Thursday, May 5, 2011

Syrian forces arrest 'scores' in Damascus suburb


(Syrian men hold up pieces of bread as they protest in Banias on 4 May 2011 in solidarity with compatriots in besieged Deraa.)

Soldiers reportedly broke into homes in Saqba, where thousands had demonstrated against Assad regime last Friday

Reuters
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 5 May 2011

"Hundreds of Syrian soldiers in combat gear have broken into houses and made arrests in the Damascus suburb of Saqba, the scene of a mass demonstration against the president last week.

Thousands had joined a demonstration in Saqba last Friday, demanding the removal of President Bashar al-Assad.

"The soldiers did not say who they were. People think they are from Maher's Fourth division," a female resident, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters, referring to the president's brother, Maher al-Assad.

"They cut off communications before they came in. There is no resistance. The demonstrations in Saqba have been peaceful. Scores of people have been arrested," she said.

On Wednesday, army units backed by tanks tightened the siege on two defiant urban centres, a sign that Assad is widening the use of the military to crush demonstrations against his autocratic rule...."

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