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Syrian Government Says 12 People Die in Violence in Latakia

   VOA News  March 27, 2011
   A  handout  picture  from  the  Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows a
   burnt  building  in  the port city of Latakia, as the residents of the
   northern  city  of Latakia bury victims of a wave of unrest, March 27,
   2011

Photo: AFP

   A  handout  picture  from  the  Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows a
   burnt  building  in  the port city of Latakia, as the residents of the
   northern city bury victims of a wave of unrest, March 27, 2011

   The  Syrian  government  is reporting  the deaths of 12 people during
   two days of violence in the Mediterranean seaside port of Latakia. Â
   The  deaths  follow  a decision to deploy army units in Latakia in the
   wake  of more than a week of anti-government protests that expanded to
   several cities and towns on Friday.

   Syria  is  the  latest Arab nation to be wracked by violence against a
   long-established government.

   In another development, an advisor to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
   said Sunday that emergency rule that has been in place since the Baath
   Party came to power in 1963 will be lifted.  He did not say when.
   On Saturday thousands of protesters rallied after funerals for several
   people  killed in the southern city of Daraa the day before. Daraa has
   become  the  center  of protests against the Assad government that has
   turned increasingly more violent.
   In a broadcast interview, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said
   the United States has no intention of getting involved in Syria in the
   same way as it has in Libya. She said the Syrian government's response
   to the protests has yet to reach the level seen in Libya.
   At  the  same  time Clinton expressed concern over the use of force by
   security forces in Syria.

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

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