Syrian Forces Fire on Demonstrators During Rallies, Group Says

Syrian security forces fired on anti-government protesters in several cities, wounding several, as they broke up rallies, a human rights group said.

Security forces shot at protesters in Deir-Al Azour, Homs and the city of Zabadani, near the border with Lebanon, while “violently” dispersing a rally in the Rukn al-Din neighborhood of Damascus, said Mahmoud Merhi, head of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, in a phone interview from Syria. At least five people were injured in Zabadani and there were also casualties in Deir Al-Zour, he said. Demonstrations were also under way in Qamishli and the province of Idlib.