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Syrian Government Supporters Killed in Mortar Attack Syrian Government Supporters Killed in Mortar Attack
(about 4 hours later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Islamist rebels in southern Syria killed more than 20 people on Friday when they shelled a tent erected as part of the coming presidential election, anti-government activists said.BEIRUT, Lebanon — Islamist rebels in southern Syria killed more than 20 people on Friday when they shelled a tent erected as part of the coming presidential election, anti-government activists said.
The attack appears to be the first by the foes of President Bashar al-Assad directly targeting the election, slated for June 3, which will almost certainly grant him another seven-year term. The United States and the Syrian opposition have dismissed the vote as political theater, while Mr. Assad’s supporters say it will reflect the popular will. The attack appears to be the first by the opponents of President Bashar al-Assad directly targeting the election, slated for June 3, which will almost certainly grant him another seven-year term. The United States and the Syrian opposition have dismissed the vote as political theater, while Mr. Assad’s supporters say it will reflect the popular will.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition organization that tracks the conflict from Britain through a network of contacts inside Syria, said the mortar attack, in the southern city of Daraa, immediately killed 11 civilians, six members of a pro-government militia and four others who were unidentified. Many others were wounded, the group said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition organization that tracks the conflict from Britain through a network of contacts inside Syria, said the mortar attack, in the southern city of Dara’a, immediately killed 11 civilians, six members of a pro-government militia and four others who were unidentified. Many others were wounded, the group said.
Qaisar Habib, an opposition activist in the area who is close to the Nusra Front, Syria’s Al Qaeda affiliate, confirmed the strike and said the election tent had been erected two weeks before in a part of the city controlled by the government. While he acknowledged that the area contained civilians, Mr. Habib said the tent was a “legitimate target for our fire” because those running the election campaign were mostly pro-government militiamen. Qaisar Habib, an opposition activist in the area who is close to the Nusra Front, Syria’s Al Qaeda affiliate, confirmed the strike and said the election tent had been erected two weeks before in a part of the city controlled by the government. While he acknowledged that there were civilians in the area, Mr. Habib said the tent was a “legitimate target for our fire” because those running the election campaign were mostly pro-government militiamen.