DAMASCUS: Security forces Saturday killed three demonstrators in northwestern Syria, after more than 100,000 mourners turned out in Hama for the funerals of protesters, rights groups said. In Jisrash Shughur, “security forces opened fire to scatter more than 1,000 demonstrators protesting after the funeral of a civilian killed Friday” in protests at the nearby village of Has in northwestern Idlib province, an activist said on condition of anonymity. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman said more than 100,000 people attended the funerals of at least 53 people killed during anti-regime protests Friday, all but five of them in Hama. The London-based Observatory said security forces Friday shot into a crowd of more than 50,000 people gathered for the central city of Hama's biggest rally since protests erupted in mid-March. In Homs, a city 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Hama, two people were killed Friday and another two were killed in nearby Rastan, Abdel Rahman said. One person was also killed as security forces opened fire in Idlib. Residents of Hama said security forces stayed away from the funerals. One resident said Internet access was still cut off in Hama Saturday, as users elsewhere said online services had been restored after a cut of more than 24 hours. Washington Saturday expressed concern at the Internet shutdown, warning the embattled regime that trying to silence protesters “cannot prevent the transition currently taking place.” “We are deeply concerned by reports that Internet service has been shut down across much of Syria, as have some mobile communication networks,” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement. “We condemn any effort to suppress the Syrian people's exercise of their rights to free expression, assembly, and association.” Syria's official press said 20 people were killed Friday, including police, security agents and civilians “by shots fired by armed groups.” In Hama, police killed three “saboteurs” as they set a government building alight, state television said, adding that 80 security force members were injured. State television said Friday that armed groups, taking advantage of a crowd of “nearly 10,000” in Hama, opened fire on civilians and the security forces. In 1982, the city was the scene of a brutal crackdown that left around 20,000 people dead when the Muslim Brotherhood rose up against the late Hafez Al-Assad, father of current President Bashar Al-Assad. – Agence France
