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.


            Backlash in Syria Following Deadly Coalition Airstrikes

   by VOA News

   Activists are planning protests across Syria and opposition government
   leaders are calling on Western countries to halt airstrikes after
   dozens of civilians were killed by coalition raids Tuesday.

   Air raids near the Islamic State stronghold of Manbij killed at least
   56 civilians, including children, according to the Syrian Observatory
   for Human Rights.

   By Thursday, activists had taken to social media to organize protests
   and ask people from around the world to take to the streets to call
   attention to the casualties. One Syrian news page on Facebook
   encouraged its followers to demonstrate in opposition to "the massacres
   carried out by coalition warplanes."

   "We ask all Syrians, whatever their affiliations or sects, and all free
   people of the world and especially the people of Manbij to stand in
   solidarity with our devastated city on Sunday, July 24," wrote one page
   that publishes local news about Manbij.

   Several other local news pages from Manbij posted photos from protests
   that took place Wednesday.

   Meanwhile, Syria's main opposition leader has called for the air
   strikes to be halted until a full investigation can be conducted into
   Tuesday's civilian deaths.

   "It is essential that such investigation not only result in revised
   rules of procedure for future operations, but also inform
   accountability for those responsible for such major violations," Syrian
   National Coalition President Anas al-Abdah wrote in a letter to foreign
   leaders.

   The U.N. has also condemned the raids, which it said caused the deaths
   of more than 20 children.

   "Such horrific incidents confront parties to this conflict with their
   shared responsibility to respect international humanitarian laws that
   protect children in war," said UNICEF's Syria representative, Hanaa
   Singer.

   In a statement, the U.S.-led coalition said that it had conducted the
   air strikes and it was gathering information about the reports of
   civilian casualties.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/backlash-in-syria-following-deadly-co
   alition-airstrikes/3428518.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/backlash-in-syria-following-deadly-coalition-airstrikes/3428518.html