Beirut: Syrian security forces fired on tens of thousands of mourners during funeral processions on Saturday, killing at least six people following the deadliest day of the uprising against authoritarian President Bashar Assad.
The funeral processions for some 75 people killed Friday were highly charged gatherings, with people shouting slogans against the regime as they carried coffins through the streets.
Witnesses said security forces killed four people were killed in Douma, a suburb of the capital, and two in the southern village of Izraa. The witness account could not be independently confirmed because Syria has expelled journalists and restricted access to trouble spots. They spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
“They prevented us from continuing our way to the cemetery,” said the witness in Douma, who said he was among at least 50,000 people taking part in the funerals there.
About 5,000 people were gathering near the Osman Ibin Afan mosque in Izraa, a southern village that was the scene of some of the worst violence Friday, witnesses said.
Syrian security forces fired bullets and tear gas Friday at tens of thousands of protesters across the country, in a clear sign that regime was prepared to escalate an already bloody response to more than five weeks of unrest. Some 300 people have been killed since the uprising began in mid-March.
In Washington, President Barack Obama said the violence was “outrageous” and called on Assad to obey the will of his people by giving them freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and the ability to choose their leaders.
Among those killed Friday were a 70-year-old man and two boys ages 7 and 10, according to Amnesty International.
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