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Syrian protests trigger new deadly clashes | Syrian protests trigger new deadly clashes |
(40 minutes later) | |
At least 14 people have been killed in renewed anti-government protests across Syria, activists says. | |
Nine of those killed were in the flashpoint city of Homs and two in Deraa, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. | |
Another activist group, the Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC), put the death toll at more than 30. | |
The UN estimates more than 4,000 people have died in the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad since March. | The UN estimates more than 4,000 people have died in the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad since March. |
A number of pro-government demonstrations have also been reported across the country, including in the capital Damascus. | A number of pro-government demonstrations have also been reported across the country, including in the capital Damascus. |
Demonstrators regularly take to the streets following Friday prayers. | Demonstrators regularly take to the streets following Friday prayers. |
The Syrian observatory said nine civilians were killed in or around Homs, two in Deraa and one each in Idlib, Hama and Douma near Damascus. | |
It said two of those killed in Homs were boys, aged 10 and twelve. Homs has emerged as the epicentre of the uprising. | It said two of those killed in Homs were boys, aged 10 and twelve. Homs has emerged as the epicentre of the uprising. |
The LCC said 18 had died in Homs, five in Idlib, four in Hama, two in Deraa and three in the suburbs of Damascus. | |
Activists in Deraa said telephone and internet lines had been cut. | Activists in Deraa said telephone and internet lines had been cut. |
Syria severely restricts access to foreign media so reports of unrest cannot be verified. | Syria severely restricts access to foreign media so reports of unrest cannot be verified. |
Pipeline attacked | Pipeline attacked |
The violence comes a day after a major oil pipeline serving the Homs region was blown up. | The violence comes a day after a major oil pipeline serving the Homs region was blown up. |
Activists accused Mr Assad's government of deliberately destroying the pipeline, while state-run media blamed "an armed terrorist group". | Activists accused Mr Assad's government of deliberately destroying the pipeline, while state-run media blamed "an armed terrorist group". |
Opposition groups accuse the government of stoking up fears of religious extremism and terrorism to rally support behind Mr Assad. | Opposition groups accuse the government of stoking up fears of religious extremism and terrorism to rally support behind Mr Assad. |
In a rare interview on Wednesday, Mr Assad told ABC News he had never ordered the brutal suppression of anti-government protesters. | In a rare interview on Wednesday, Mr Assad told ABC News he had never ordered the brutal suppression of anti-government protesters. |
However, he faces growing international pressure to curb the bloodshed, with Turkey, the Arab League and the EU imposing sanctions on Syria. | However, he faces growing international pressure to curb the bloodshed, with Turkey, the Arab League and the EU imposing sanctions on Syria. |
The Arab League is pressing for Syria to allow in foreign observers or face more sanctions. | The Arab League is pressing for Syria to allow in foreign observers or face more sanctions. |