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    July 15, 2011

Syrian Forces Fire on Protesters

   VOA News
   Syrian government loyalists hold up pictures of Syria's President
   Bashar al-Assad while on their way to protest in front of the French
   embassy in Damascus. The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday condemned "in
   the strongest terms" this week's attacks by demo
   Photo: Reuters
   Syrian government loyalists hold up pictures of Syria's President
   Bashar al-Assad while on their way to protest in front of the French
   embassy in Damascus. The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday condemned "in
   the strongest terms" this week's attacks by demonstrators against the
   U.S. and French embassies in Damascus, July 11, 2011

   Activists and witnesses in Syria say security forces have used live
   ammunition and tear gas against protesters in several cities.
   Thousands of anti-government demonstrators poured into the streets
   following Friday prayers, and there are reports of at least three
   deaths.
   Activists had urged citizens to protest against the imprisonment of
   hundreds of people in the government's crackdown on pro-democracy
   protesters.
   Previous crackdown
   The call to protest comes a day after Syrian rights activists said
   government forces had killed six people and arrested more than 20
   others across the nation since Wednesday.
   There was no independent confirmation of the casualties. Syria does not
   allow foreign media into flashpoint areas.
   Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been trying to crush a four-month
   old opposition uprising against his 11-year autocratic rule.
   He also has made promises of political reforms, but opposition groups
   have dismissed the offers and demanded an end to the deadly crackdown
   on their movement.

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

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References

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