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Friday, December 9, 2011

Syrian protests trigger new deadly clashes

Video purportedly showing anti-government protest in Dail, near Deraa (9 December 2011) Activists posted videos of protests across Syria, including in Dail, near Deraa
At least 14 people have been killed in renewed anti-government protests across Syria, activists says.
Nine of those killed were in the flashpoint city of Homs and two in Deraa, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Another activist group, the Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), put the death toll at more than 30.
The UN estimates more than 4,000 people have died in the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad since March.
A number of pro-government demonstrations have also been reported across the country, including in the capital Damascus.
Demonstrators regularly take to the streets following Friday prayers.
The Syrian observatory said nine civilians were killed in or around Homs, two in Deraa and one each in Idlib, Hama and Douma near Damascus.
It said two of those killed in Homs were boys, aged 10 and twelve. Homs has emerged as the epicentre of the uprising.
The LCC said 18 had died in Homs, five in Idlib, four in Hama, two in Deraa and three in the suburbs of Damascus.
Activists in Deraa said telephone and internet lines had been cut.
Pro-government rally in Damascus. 9 Dec 2011 Supporters of Syrian President Assad have also taken to the streets
Syria severely restricts access to foreign media so reports of unrest cannot be verified.
Pipeline attacked
The violence comes a day after a major oil pipeline serving the Homs region was blown up.
Activists accused Mr Assad's government of deliberately destroying the pipeline, while state-run media blamed "an armed terrorist group".
Opposition groups accuse the government of stoking up fears of religious extremism and terrorism to rally support behind Mr Assad.
In a rare interview on Wednesday, Mr Assad told ABC News he had never ordered the brutal suppression of anti-government protesters.
However, he faces growing international pressure to curb the bloodshed, with Turkey, the Arab League and the EU imposing sanctions on Syria.
The Arab League is pressing for Syria to allow in foreign observers or face more sanctions.

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