US urges Syria to show restraint after protests

March 16, 2011

docId=CNG.70c3f329ef91227a0c522797af4aaef2.931

(AFP) – 2 hours ago

WASHINGTON — The United States called on Syria to exercise restraint and to

refrain from violence following reports Wednesday that protesters were injured

by plainclothes police in Damascus.

" We're concerned by today's reports of injured and detained protesters in Syria

and we call on the Syrian government to exercise restraint and to refrain from

violence, " State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

" We call on the Syrian government to live up to its obligations under the

universal declaration on human rights, " he said.

More than two dozen protesters were arrested in the capital Damascus on a second

day of rare protests that are banned under Syria's emergency laws in place since

1963.

Dozens of relatives of political prisoners demonstrated to demand their release

Wednesday, a day after some 200 people took to the streets calling for liberty

and political freedoms.

" Free the prisoners! " the protesters chanted in Marjeh Square in central

Damascus as several human rights activists joined them, AFP correspondents and

witnesses said.

Police and security agents in civilian clothes ringed the protesters and four

young demonstrators were arrested and whisked away by car, the sources said.

Amnesty International said plainclothes security agents beat up some protesters

and arrested at least 30 people.

Women, children and elderly people were among those beaten, according to

Amnesty.

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