THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Syrian security forces killed at least six people during an attack at a mosque in the southern city of Deraa, in the deadliest crackdown yet on recent protests challenging President Bashar al-Assad's rule.
Residents said that before the attack on the Omari mosque in the city's old quarter late on Tuesday, electricity was cut off in the area and telephone services were severed.
Deraa has been the focal point of recent demonstrations against the repressive rule of Assad. Cries of "Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest)" erupted across neighbourhoods in Deraa when the shooting began.
The attack brought to 10 the number of civilians killed by Syrian forces during six days of demonstrations calling for political freedoms and an end to corruption in the country of 20 million people.
The ruling Ba’ath party has banned opposition and enforced emergency laws since 1963.
Assad's government, which is facing the biggest challenge to his rule since succeeding his father Hafez al-Assad in 2000, blamed an "armed gang" for the violence.
Those killed included Ali Ghassab al-Mahamid, a doctor from a prominent Deraa family, who went to the mosque to help victims of the attack. » | Wednesday, March 23, 2011
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