- BEIRUT: Syria’s president says the military operation in a southern city at the heart of the country’s uprising will end “very soon.” The city of Daraa has been under military siege since April 25 as protests that started out as demands for reforms seven weeks ago mushroomed into calls for Bashar Assad’s ouster.
Rights groups say at least 545 Syrians have been killed in the uprising.
Assad’s remarks were reported in the private Al Watan daily on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, activists say security forces fired tear gas late Tuesday in the northern city of Aleppo to disperse hundreds of students rallying and calling for an end to Daraa’s siege.
The activists spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing government reprisals. They say many protesters were later detained.