Today, thousands of Syrians took to the streets again admist a continued government crackdown. Syrians across the country came out to mark the anniversary of the Hama Massacre, which took the lives of tens of thousands of people in the city of Hama in 1982, and to continue their campaign against the ruling Assad regime.
Security forces clashed with opposition forces leaving dozens dead so far.
Al-jazeera reports:
Under the slogan "Hama, forgive us", government opponents called for demonstrators to dress in black and march in honour of the estimated 10,000 to 40,000 people who died. The massacre was the result of a crackdown by late leader Hafez al-Assad, the father of President Bashar al-Assad, on an armed uprising. [...]
[Today] in Hama's central neighbourhood of Junub al-Malaab, security forces opened fire on demonstrators, killing at least three people, the Local Co-ordination Committees activist network reported.
Protesters emerged from Friday prayers in the port city of Latakia despite a menacing presence of forces who fired gunshots to disperse the crowds, activists reported. A similar demonstration was held in Yabrod, in Damascus province.
Activists are now reporting that at least 28 have died in clashes today.
* * *
Today, Russia rejected, for the second time, attempts for a UN Resolution on Syria, which is calling for joint action for a 'democratic transition'. As the 'warzone' conditions worsen in Syria, complex national interests continue to grapple over resolution in the region.