Rare protests in Syria today have resulted in clashes that have left at least two people dead. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, hundreds of people took to the streets in the predominantly Druze city of Suweida, in the south of the country, to protest against poor living conditions. When protesters stormed a government building and removed a photo of President Bashar al-Assad from the facade, the police intervened.
“At least one protester and a policeman were killed,” said observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. The protester was shot dead by security forces. The information provided by the non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Great Britain can hardly be verified by an independent party.
“Outlaw Group”
Local news portal Suwayda24 also reported two deaths. Another four people were hospitalized with gunshot wounds. The Interior Ministry said a “group of bandits” had tried to break into the police headquarters, killing one officer. Some protesters were armed. Syrian state television reported that “offenders” broke into the provincial government building and set fire to official documents and archives.
The Suweida region, south of the capital Damascus, is the main settlement area for the Druze, who made up about three percent of Syria’s population before the civil war. So far, they have remained outside the conflict. The provincial capital, Suweida, is under the control of government forces.