DAMASCUS, 2 November 2005 — Around 2,000 young Syrians demonstrated in Damascus yesterday against “unjust” American pressure at the United Nations targeting Syria over the murder of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri.
In the biggest demonstration, more than 1,000 people assembled some 50 meters from the US Embassy to denounce “American pressures and threats aimed at Syria”.
“We have nothing to hide”, proclaimed a huge banner, referring to UN demands in a resolution passed on Monday threatening Syria with unspecified action if it fails to cooperate fully with the UN inquiry into Hariri’s February killing. Many Lebanese have blamed Damascus for the murder, a charge Syria denies. Around the banner, carried by two youths in Raodah Square, other demonstrators waved Syrian flags and chanted “America, America, the night will not endure”, and “To attack the ‘ugly American’, is true solidarity”.
Riot police surrounded the US mission and ordered back a dozen young Syrians who tried to get near. The Syrian Civil Society for Public Relations called the demonstration, urging “all those who reject unjust pressure and threats against Syria” to take part.
The protesters erected a tent near the mission and laid out mattresses for what they said would be a permanent “sit-in”.
One demonstrator, Kamel Sadr, told AFP that this would express the “wish of the Syrians also to know the truth about Rafik Hariri’s assassination, for this is not only the privilege of the Security Council or Lebanon, it is also our business.”
Syria has already said it regretted the UN text which it termed “unjust”. Around 200 students mounted another anti-American demonstration outside the Beaux-Arts Institute in the Syrian capital, while around 100 workers and students held another protest in Martyrs’ Square.
UN Security Council voted 15-0 to endorse the resolution, which enjoins Damascus to cooperate with the UN probe led by chief investigator Detlev Mehlis into the murder of Hariri in February.
The text demands that Syria detain suspects and urges a travel ban and a freeze of assets on all individuals designated as suspects in the slaying.
