Three people were killed yesterday when protests in Syria’s Alawite heartland of Latakia spiralled into gunfire and other violence, according to the province’s media office.
Syria has been rocked by several episodes of sectarian bloodshed since longtime leader Bashar Al Assad, who hails from the Muslim Alawite minority, was ousted by a rebel offensive last year.
Thousands of protesters gathered yesterday in Azhari Square in Latakia city to demand a decentralised political system in Syria and the release of thousands of Alawite prisoners.
About two hours into the protest, gunshots rang out from an unidentified location, according to a Reuters reporter at the scene.
Security forces then fired in the air and the protest descended into chaos, with demonstrators carrying wounded people away on foot.
A written statement from the Latakia province’s media office that was distributed to reporters said three people were killed and more than 40 people wounded.
It did not specify if the casualties were all in Azhari Square or in other towns where protests were also taking place.
Syrian state news agency Sana reported that one member of the security forces was killed by gunfire from “armed remnants of the former regime” in Latakia.
It said civilians and security personnel were wounded in gunfire by unknown assailants near Azhari Square.
Yesterday’s rally had been called for by the head of the Supreme Alawite Islamic Council, Ghazal Ghazal.
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