3 killed at Syrian protest after Assad vows reform

By Nader Daoud, AP

Syrian protesters call for President Bashar Assad to step down during a protest in front of the Syrian embassy in Amman, Jordan.

EnlargeCloseBy Nader Daoud, AP

Syrian protesters call for President Bashar Assad to step down during a protest in front of the Syrian embassy in Amman, Jordan.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the shooting at the funeral near Homs, 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the capital, Damascus.

In the past four weeks, Syrian security forces in uniforms and plainclothes have launched a deadly crackdown on demonstrations, killing at least 200 people, according to human rights groups. The government has blamed armed gangs looking to stir up unrest for many of the killings.

One witness said gunmen wearing black clothes opened fire at hundreds of people in the Talbiseh district in central Syria at a funeral for a protester who was killed Saturday. Other witnesses said they saw soldiers and security forces open fire, shooting even at homes and balconies. Dozens were wounded, they said.

A human rights activist in Damascus confirmed the three deaths, but said he had no information on who killed them. He confirmed the deaths through witnesses on the ground who saw the killings and gave him the names of the dead.

The witnesses and the activist requested anonymity for fear of reprisals from the government.

Syria

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