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Protesters outside the Syrian governor’s office called for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad before demonstrations turned violent on Sunday.Photo courtesy of EPA/SANA HANDOUT
December 4 (United Press International) — Two people were killed and at least seven were injured after pro-democracy protesters clashed with law enforcement officers at a government building in Syria’s Suwayda governorate.
anti-government protest Dozens of citizens gathered outside the governor’s office Sunday to express their displeasure with the country’s economy and the president Bashar al-Assadregime.
Demonstrators demanded the president’s removal before storming the building. The clashes escalated from protesters throwing rocks at buildings to Syrian security forces opening fire with live ammunition.
Security forces opened fire as demonstrators entered the building. At least one demonstrator was killed.according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights A security guard was also killed.
Syrian government officials said some of those who broke into the building were armed. They allegedly began vandalizing furniture, breaking windows and stealing documents. The building was later set on fire and the governor’s office was completely gutted from the inside, according to Rayan Maarouf, an activist and editor for the Syrian media group Suwayda 24.
Syria has been in conflict since protests against Assad began in 2018 year 2011. His regime has been accused of corruption while, in the eyes of his critics, endemic poverty in Syria falls at his feet.
According to the BBC, Assad responded harshly to the protests, promising to crush them with an “iron fist”. This sparked an ongoing civil war. In 2013, government forces were accused of using chemical weapons against rebels. The United States, France and Britain warned they would intervene by force, but ultimately pushed for disarmament that began in 2014.
In 2020, the United States implements sanctions Syria to force Assad to end the violence.
Sweida is located close to Jordan’s southern border. Its population is mainly Druze, a political and religious group that broke away from Islam in the 11th century.
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