Syrian forces kill 3 protesters in south
AMMAN, May 27 — Syrian security forces shot dead three demonstrators in the town of Dael near the city of Deraa during protests that erupted in several towns across southern Syria last night, residents said today.
Thousands of people in Dael, across the south and in cities across Syria went on rooftops and balconies until dawn today chanting the Muslim rallying cry “Allahu Akbar!” (“God is Greatest!”) in a show of defiance against a military crackdown on protests against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, activists and witnesses said.
Security forces in Dael and Deraa fired live ammunition in residential areas yesterday to try and silence the noise echoing all over the city, two residents said. Deraa is the cradle of the 10-week-old uprising.
“The chants mixed with the sound of bullets,” said one of the residents, who gave his name as Abu Hamed.
He added that the three demonstrators who had been killed were from the Al-Jamous family, and they had been buried this morning, with mourners chanting “Downfall of the regime!”.
Demonstrations have been erupting most nights in Deraa and other Syrian cities and towns across Syria to circumvent the heavy daytime security presence.
Foreign correspondents are barred from Syria and witness reports are hard to verify independently. — Reuters
