Syria Arrests Opponents, Denounces Conspiracy

Syria Arrests Opponents, Denounces Conspiracy

By Prensa Latina

Damascus, Apr 24 2011 -- (Prensa Latina) Security forces today arrested dozens of government opponents suspected of encouraging disturbances that authorities described as the most dangerous battle ever imposed on Syria, the cause of dozens of deaths in the last two days.

The police action was aimed at capturing alleged gunmen who killed five security agents and injured five in an attack on a checkpoint in the town of Nawa, outside Deraa, in the south.

An Interior Ministry official quoted by the official news agency SANA said that during the attack by the "armed criminal group," the security agents responded to shots fired, killing two of the attackers and injuring 15.

The arrests were aimed at discouraging further street protests, after it was learned that residents of Deraa were preparing to demonstrate during funeral services for five people who were killed on Saturday, including two victims confirmed by the government.

The government again denied accusations that it had unleashed a campaign of repression, and said that in addition to the Deraa incidents, agitators attacked another military checkpoint in the nearby town of Izraa, leaving two soldiers injured and one of the attackers dead.

Since mass protests began on March 15, at least 286 members of the security forces have been injured, including 38 police who were attacked Saturday in several provinces, the Interior Ministry said.

Anti-government forces say more than 220 people have been killed.

The events in this country are not just related to demands for reforms, because the conspiracy against Syria began in 2003 when the U.S. military occupied Iraq and Damascus refused to be part of the occupation, said Rafiq Nasrallah, director of the International Center for Media and Studies, in statements to Al-Dunia television.

As authorities stepped up checkpoints and security, two members of the unicameral parliament and a mufti (Islamic clerical leader) in Deraa resigned to protest what they called brutal government repression.

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Modificado el ( domingo, 24 de abril de 2011 )