Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


    July 29, 2011

Syria Braces for More Planned Protests

   VOA News
   A handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows
   hundreds of Syrians waving their national flag during a rally, July 28,
   2011
   Photo: AFP
   A handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows
   hundreds of Syrians waving their national flag during a rally, July 28,
   2011

   Syrians are taking to the streets Friday in another day of
   anti-government protests, as activists accuse security forces of
   killing more demonstrators.
   Activists said security forces shot and killed at least two civilians
   Thursday night in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour, while the
   Reuters news agency reported more firing at demonstrators Friday in the
   southern city of Daraa.
   Syrians across the country have been rallying for months for the
   resignation of President Bashar al-Assad. The government has been
   cracking down on the demonstrations, with global activist group Avaaz
   reporting nearly 3,000 people have "disappeared" since the political
   uprising began in March.
   Rights groups say Syrian forces have killed at least 1,600 civilians
   during the past four months. Activists have been reporting daily on
   security sweeps in various cities, documenting killings and arrests in
   the hundreds.
   Separately Friday, Syrian state media said "saboteurs" bombed an oil
   pipeline in the country near the central city of Homs.

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

   Follow our Middle East reports on [1]Twitter
   and discuss them on our [2]Facebook page.

References

   1. http://twitter.com/VOAMiddleEast
   2. http://www.facebook.com/pages/VOAMiddleEastVoices/124360240958667?%20%20%20%20v=wall

.