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Thousands Mourn Protesters Killed in Syria Crackdown

   VOA News  April 23, 2011

   Tens of thousands of people are attending funerals in Syria for those
   killed Friday during the deadliest government crackdown to date against
   opposition protesters.
   Mourners gathered in the southern town of Izraa Saturday to bury at
   least 15 people killed during demonstrations a day earlier.
   Rights groups say more than 75 people were killed across the nation
   Friday after security forces opened fire on protesters calling for
   President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
   U.S. President Barack Obama condemned Syria for what he called an
   "outrageous use of violence" and accused Assad of seeking Iranian
   assistance in the brutal crackdown.
   U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined Obama in calling for an
   immediate stop to the crackdown in Syria.
   Syria's state news agency SANA reports only 10 people were killed
   across the country Friday, attributing the violence to armed criminal
   groups. Syrian authorities have blamed much of the violence over the
   past month on unidentified lawless gangs.
   Friday's rallies against President Assad's government came one day
   after the president signed a decree ending almost 50 years of emergency
   rule. The decree was part of his effort to end anti-government unrest.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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References

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