Calm Returns To Syrian Coastal Cities Amid Heavy Security Presence

DAMASCUS, Dec 29 (Bernama-dpa) -- Calm returned to Syrian coastal cities on Monday following protests the day before, with local authorities reporting a significant security presence to prevent further unrest, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

On Sunday, protests had erupted in several provinces, including Latakia, which is largely populated by members of the Alawite religious minority, a Britain-based monitoring group said, citing its network of activists inside Syria.

Similar demonstrations were reported in the provinces of Tartus, Homs and Hama. Dozens of anti-government protesters were injured after coming under gunfire and knife attacks, the group said.

In Latakia, a source in the governorate told dpa that “the city is calm today across all areas, with public security forces and Ministry of Defence units deployed to avoid incidents that could harm civilians or damage property”.

Syrian authorities, however, blamed supporters of the country's now-deposed ruler Bashar al-Assad for attacking security forces and civilians during the unrest in Latakia, resulting in three deaths, according to Syria's state news agency SANA.

The massive protests were in response to a call from prominent Alawite leader Ghazal Ghazal to demand the right to self-determination, the Syrian Observatory said.

Sheikh Mohammad Ali from Latakia blamed Ghazal Ghazal for the unrest in Latakia and other coastal cities, accusing him of endangering Alawite communities, a reference to the sect from which both Ghazal and President Bashar al-Assad hail.

“He wants to send the Alawite youth into fire, as Assad did, killing and injuring hundreds of thousands of Alawites before fleeing with his family,” Ali told dpa.

-- BERNAMA-dpa