At Least 3 Dead in Anti-Government Protests Across Syria
At least three people were killed as fresh protests erupted Friday in Syria, where opposition against President Bashar al-Assad and his ruling Baath Party has been escalating for weeks.
Foreign media access in the country has been restricted. But the Associated Press reported that Syrian security forces fired tear gas and bullets at thousands of demonstrators in the southern city of Daraa, a flashpoint for recent violence.
The Reuters news agency reported protests in Kurdish regions of eastern Syria, one day after Assad offered Syrian citizenship to some Kurds.
Demonstrators are demanding freedom for thousands of political prisoners, many of whom are Kurds.
Kurds have complained of discrimination from the government, and the lack of citizenship has sometimes hindered ethnic minorities from getting jobs.
The granting of citizenship to Kurds on Thursday came after Syria made an overture to conservative Muslims by shutting down the country's only casino and overturning a decision that banned teachers from wearing the Islamic veil.
President Assad has put forth a series of planned reforms recently, including changing leadership positions and studying the lifting of the country's emergency law banning gatherings.
But the offers have failed to stop opposition demands.
Anti-government activists have called on crowds to commemorate the more than 70 people reported killed in recent protests against Syria's rulers. The government has blamed the deaths and the unrest on "armed groups."
fuente: http://www.voanews.com/
Foreign media access in the country has been restricted. But the Associated Press reported that Syrian security forces fired tear gas and bullets at thousands of demonstrators in the southern city of Daraa, a flashpoint for recent violence.
The Reuters news agency reported protests in Kurdish regions of eastern Syria, one day after Assad offered Syrian citizenship to some Kurds.
Demonstrators are demanding freedom for thousands of political prisoners, many of whom are Kurds.
Kurds have complained of discrimination from the government, and the lack of citizenship has sometimes hindered ethnic minorities from getting jobs.
The granting of citizenship to Kurds on Thursday came after Syria made an overture to conservative Muslims by shutting down the country's only casino and overturning a decision that banned teachers from wearing the Islamic veil.
President Assad has put forth a series of planned reforms recently, including changing leadership positions and studying the lifting of the country's emergency law banning gatherings.
But the offers have failed to stop opposition demands.
Anti-government activists have called on crowds to commemorate the more than 70 people reported killed in recent protests against Syria's rulers. The government has blamed the deaths and the unrest on "armed groups."
fuente: http://www.voanews.com/
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