Deadly violence in Deraa – a Syrian City

As per the witnesses about 17 demonstrators have been killed during anti-government rallies in the southern Syrian city of Deraa.

Inhabitants nearest to the Al Omari mosque said they had observed more than 13 casualties in that area and more injured, while the official said only one member of security forces and a worker had been died.

Deraa has become a key point of violence since anti-government protestors blown up across Syria from middle of March. The situation has now become a severe challenge for President Bashar al-Assad's who are ruling from the last 11year. Thousands are reported to have arranged rallies following Friday prayers in Deraa.

The Eyewitnesses told that security forces had gun fired on the protestors who were chanting slogans for democracy. Another protestor told over the telephone that the protestors leaving from three mosques had marched to the city's crucial court but were clashed by "security forces they were in civilian cloth, and thrown tear gas shells to scatter them. He said the clashed had blown up after demonstrators had thrown stones.

A resident referred that he has seen "pools of blood and three bodies" in the Mahatta area of Deraa. Also the protestors in Deraa, shattered stones at the statue of Basil al-Assad - President Assad's late brother, quoting a witness. Last month the protestors in Deraa had destroyed the statue of President Assad's father - former President Hafez al-Assad.

A witness told that, an office of the governing Baath Party in the Mahatta area was assaulted on set on flames. State television showed recordings from the demonstration and marked that "the conspirators had opened fire on the citizens and as well as on security forces". New protests have also been reported in different cities like Qamishli, Hasakhe, Idlib, Banyas and Homs.

The internet and mobile phone service have been suspended in the town of Duma and the city has also been closed down. The cities with Kurdish majority’s protestors reportedly chanted "we are demanding freedom and not only for nationality" in reply to the President Assad giving away nationality for Kurds in Syria's eastern Hasaka are on Thursday.

In Harsata, on the remote areas of Damascus, there are reports of shooting and throwing of tear gas shells being fired at demonstrators. In the mid city of Homs, large numbers of people are reported to have started a sit-in.

Syria is one of different countries in the Middle East and North Africa to have been trigger by pro-democracy demonstration following famous uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt that deprived from their long-standing oppressive rulers.