SECURITY FORCES shot dead at least three protesters in the city of Homs yesterday and opened fire in other cities as protesters turned out for the 10th Friday of Syria’s uprising.
A doctor in Homs who has been treating the wounded in makeshift hospitals in houses told the Guardian three people died in the neighbourhood of Bab Sbah from shots to the head and neck.
Gunfire could be heard and smoke seen rising from the neighbourhood of Waa, on the outskirts of the town. Cars were turning back on the road and residents said army and security forces were inside the area.
Earlier, at least 1,000 protesters gathered in Baba Amr neighbourhood. They held wooden crosses in reference to the bond between Muslims and Christians and directed chants at President Bashar al-Assad: “Do not defy us, do not defy us, Homs is bigger than you.” The neighbourhood, a poor area of the third largest city in Syria, was shelled by tanks two weeks ago.
Tanks have moved out although eight were still stationed at a security checkpoint on the outskirts of the area on Thursday.
Pro-Assad graffiti, which locals said was daubed by military security, has been painted out and, apart from the shattered windows at the local shopping centre, the area has returned to normal. Even as protests were going on, the city centre remained quiet.
Protesters said they remain resolved to keep up the pressure on Assad’s regime, but they have found it hard to gather in large groups. Yesterday morning, roadblocks cut off routes into the central New Clock square, the site of a sit-in violently dispersed on March 18th, leaving protesters spread out in small areas around the suburbs.
"We are unhappy about the increasing control of the security forces, the lack of opportunities and the blatant favouritism of those connected to the regime," said one protester. – ( Guardianservice)