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Death Toll Rises to 15 in Southern Syria Violence

   VOA News  March 24, 2011
   Anti-Syrian  government protesters flash V sign as they protest in the
   southern city of Daraa, Syria, March 23, 2011

Photo: AP

   Anti-Syrian  government protesters flash V sign as they protest in the
   southern city of Daraa, March 23, 2011

   Human  rights  activists  in  Syria say at least 15 people were killed
   Wednesday  in  the  southern city of Daraa, including at least six who
   died  when  security forces fired on anti-government protesters near a
   mosque.
   Amnesty International condemned the mosque attack Thursday. It said it
   has complied a list of 93 people who have been arrested this month for
   taking  part in anti-government demonstrations or for their activities
   on the Internet.
   The  group's  deputy  director  for  the  Middle East and North Africa
   Philip  Luther  called  on  Syrian  authorities to immediately release
   "those detained for peaceful expression of their beliefs."
   Activists say the security forces killed several more protesters later
   Wednesday.
   Syria's  government  has  a different account of Wednesday's violence.
   The  state-run  news agency says four people were killed in Daraa when
   an  "armed  gang"  attacked a medical team. SANA says the victims were
   three members of a medical team and a security force officer.
   Daraa has been a focal point of anti-government protests over the past
   week.  Syrian  security  forces  killed  four demonstrators on Friday.
   Another demonstrator was killed on Sunday, and an 11-year-old boy died
   Monday after inhaling tear gas.
   Protesters   are   demanding  Syrian  President  Bashar  al-Assad  end
   emergency   law,  curb  Syria's  pervasive  security  apparatus,  free
   thousands of political prisoners and allow freedom of expression.
   Syria has been under emergency law since the Baath Party took power in
   a 1963, banning any opposition to its rule.

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

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