Syrians rally in support of president Assad

Thousands of supporters of President Assad lined a highway leading to the posh residential suburb of Mezze in western Damascus on Wednesday.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/184856.html

Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have poured into the streets in the capital, Damascus, to express support for President Bashar Assad.

Unfurling a 2.4 km-long Syrian flag, the demonstrators condemned foreign meddling in their country's internal affairs and called for unity under President Assad's leadership.

"The people want Bashar Assad," the demonstrators chanted.

The demonstrators also observed a moment of silence to honor the civilian and army martyrs.

"Raise with us the Biggest Syrian Flag" youth campaign had organized the rally and according to Syria's official news agency SANA, Syrians from across the country had poured into the capital to attend the rally.

Meanwhile, Damascus has called on the people of Jisr al-Shughour to return to the town, saying security forces have managed to clear the area of armed groups and that the government has restored control there.

Many Syrians fled from Jisr al-Shughour into Turkey after armed groups launched deadly attacks in the area.

At least 120 Syrian soldiers were killed after armed groups attacked police and security stations in the town earlier last week. Some 200 others were also injured in the clashes throughout the town.

Armed groups also took over parts of Jisr al-Shughour and torched a number of private and government properties in the town, prompting many residents to flee.

In another development on Wednesday, a second mass grave containing the bodies of at least 70 Syrian security forces has been found in the city of Jisr al-Shughour.

Authorities say the slain soldiers have been killed by armed gangs, a Press TV report said.

Since the beginning of unrest in Syria in mid-March, hundreds of people, including security forces, have been killed.

The shadowy opposition accuses security forces of being behind the killings. But, the government blames armed gangs for the deadly violence, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to bring those behind the killings to justice.