Syrians demand 'overthrow of regime' at mass funerals

Tens of thousands gather for funerals in Damascus, Izra'a; human rights groups say death toll increased to 300 after deadliest day of pro-democracy protests; Ban Ki-moon calls for transparent probe into killings.

By REUTERS
syrian flag and protester_311 reuters (photo credit: Muhammad Hamed / Reuters)
syrian flag and protester_311 reuters
(photo credit: Muhammad Hamed / Reuters)

AMMAN - Tens of thousands of chanting

Syrians demanded the "overthrow of the regime" on Saturday at
funerals for scores of people killed by security forces in the
country's bloodiest pro-democracy protests, witnesses said.

Funerals were held in Damascus and at least one of its

suburbs and in the southern village of Izra'a, where mourners
also chanted "Bashar al-Assad, you traitor. Long live Syria,
down with Bashar."

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Ahead of the funerals, a Syrian human rights campaigner warned "The funerals will turn into vehement protests, like past funerals."

"When you have security services who are thugs it is difficult to think that they will not shoot at the crowds. Another cycle of funerals and demonstrations is likely to follow," the rights campaigner said from the Syrian capital.
A group of activists coordinating the demonstrations said regular forces and gunman loyal to Assad shot dead at least 88 civilians on Friday. Rights groups had earlier put the death toll at a minimum of 70.
Friday's violence brings the death toll to about 300, according to rights activists, since the unrest which broke out on March 18 in the southern city of Deraa.
Protests swept the country on Friday, from the Mediterranean city of Banias to the eastern cities of Deir al-Zor and Qamishli. In Damascus, security forces fired teargas to disperse 2,000 protesters in the district of Midan.
Syrian television said eight people were killed and 28 wounded, including army personnel, in attacks by armed groups in Izra'a. It said an armed group had attacked a military base in the Damascus suburb of Muadhamiya.
The Local Coordination Committees activist group sent Reuters a list with names of 88 people classified by region. The group said they were killed in areas stretching from the port city of Latakia to Homs, Hama, Damascus and the southern village of Izra'a.UN, US, France condemn violence against demonstrators
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday condemned violence against Syrian citizens by authorities and called for a "transparent and independent" inquiry into the death of the protesters.
“The secretary general condemns the ongoing violence against peaceful demonstrators in Syria, and calls for it to stop immediately,” said UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.
US President Barack Obama condemned Friday's violence and accused Assad of seeking help from Iran.
"This outrageous use of violence to quell protests must come to an end now," Obama said in a statement. "Instead of listening to their own people, President Assad is blaming outsiders while seeking Iranian assistance in repressing Syria's citizens...."
France's Foreign Ministry said Paris was "deeply concerned".
"Syrian authorities must give up the use of violence against their citizens. We again call on them to commit without delay to an inclusive political dialogue and to achieve the reforms legitimately demanded by the Syrian people."
Those killed were among tens of thousands of people who have taken to the streets of cities and rural areas across Syria calling for the overthrow of the regime, demands which have hardened over recent weeks.
Friday's protests went ahead despite Assad's decision this week to lift the country's hated emergency law, in place since his Baath Party seized power 48 years ago.
A statement by the Local Coordination Committees said the end of emergency law was futile without the release of thousands of political prisoners -- most held without trial -- and the dismantling of the security apparatus.
In their first joint statement since the protests erupted last month, the activists said the abolition of the Baath Party's monopoly on power and the establishment of a democratic political system was central to ending repression in Syria.
Amnesty International said Syrian authorities "have again responded to peaceful calls for change with bullets and batons".
"They must immediately halt their attacks on peaceful protesters and instead allow Syrians to gather freely as international law demands," said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa director.