CNN.com Grief, anger in Syria after deadly violence
(CNN) -- Anger and grief lingered across Syria on Saturday, a day after deadly protests erupted across the country and Syrians raced over the Turkish border to escape the persistent violence. The deaths occurred after demonstrations erupted after Friday prayers in Syrian cities, as they have for weeks, and Syrian security personnel are bracing for more outpourings in the days ahead. At least 44 people were killed in Friday's protests when Syrian security personnel fired at demonstrators, according to the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria, an activist group. A military source quoted by the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said at least 17 civilians and security personnel were killed by the unidentified "armed groups" the government has been blaming for the discord. For two months, Syria has been torn by street protests against political repression and a fierce security crackdown against demonstrators. The government's fierce actions toward marchers and its thousands of mass arrests have drawn widespread criticism. Around 830 people have been killed in protests, according to the Syrian Human Rights Information Link. That number does not include security personnel, many of whom have been killed in attacks by "armed groups," according to the Syrian government. The United States has imposed sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other senior officials. On Thursday, President Barack Obama singled out Syria for criticism during his speech on the Middle East. The clashes have spurred people to flee to other countries, such as Turkey and Lebanon. Seven injured Syrians and four others people crossed the border into Turkey and were brought to Antakya state hospital Friday night, according to a doctor and the Hatay province governor quoted by Turkey's state-run Anatolian Agency. The doctor at the Antakya State Hospital said the patients were between the ages of 25 and 40 and the injuries stemmed from gunshots. One patient was in intensive care and some of them had injuries on their feet. Another patient who was shot on the eye, was transferred to the university hospital in Hatay. About 250 Syrians fled to Turkey end of April, mostly from Latakia, on the western coast of Syria. They have been living in a tent camp set up by the Turkish Red Crescent for them in the border town of Yayladagi since then. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and al-Assad developed close ties between Turkey and Syria in recent years. Turkey lifted visa restrictions on Syrian visitors last year. But escalating violence in Syria is increasing worries of the Turkish government which has been advocating a "zero problems" foreign policy with its neighbors. The U.N. refugee agency on Friday said it is helping serve the thousands of Syrians who "escaped to the border areas of Wadi Khaled and Tall Bire in northern Lebanon. " "Local leaders say some 1,400 people have crossed into these two regions over the past week from Tall Kalakh in Syria. "This is in addition to those that have crossed since late April. Local authorities estimate that around 4,000 Syrians have crossed to Lebanon recently," the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said. The agency said many have found refuge with host families or relatives and some have taken shelter in a school. The Human Rights Watch on Friday said locally elected officials are estimating that 3,500 Syrians "are currently present" in the Wadi Khaled area. But it criticized Lebanon's security forces for detaining Syrian refugees in some instances. It said nine Syrian men and a child have been detained since Sunday. The relatives and friends of these people said they fled to Lebanon because they were afraid Syrian forces would arrest or shoot them. "Lebanese authorities should instead provide them with at least temporary asylum, and above all refrain from deporting them back to Syria," Human Rights Watch said. "Syria welcomed many Lebanese fleeing war back in 2006," said Nadim Houry, Beirut director at Human Rights Watch. "Now it's time to return the favor. Lebanon should be offering immediate refuge to Syrians fleeing death or torture in their country." CNN's Arwa Damon, Yesim Comert, Hamdi Alkhshali and Joe Sterling contributed to this report Links referenced within this article Find this article at: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/05/21/syria.unrest/index.html?hpt=T1 Click Here to Print SAVE THIS | EMAIL THIS | Close Uncheck the box to remove the list of links referenced in the article. © 2008 Cable News Network. ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! 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