Geo World News

3 protesters killed near Syria's Banias: activist

NICOSIA: Syrian security forces killed three women who were demonstrating on a road outside the city of Banias on Saturday calling for the release of people who had been arrested, a human rights activist said. "150 residents of Banias had gathered on the highway between Banias and Latakia to ask for the release of those arrested in Marqab, where the women were from," the activist told AFP. "Members of the security forces asked them to leave and, when they refused to do so, they opened fire killing three of them and wounding five others who were hospitalised," he added. The military confirmed it conducted an operation in Banias. "Army units and security forces today pursued members of terrorist groups in and around Banias and neighbourhoods of (the southern flashpoint town of) Daraa to restore security and stability," said the military official. "They arrested people and seized a quantity of weapons that these groups have used to attack the army and citizens and scare people." (AFP)