Syrian military vehicles set alight as violent protests spill over into Jordan
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Syrian army vehicles were set ablaze yesterday as troops battled defectors during clashes that killed at least eight people across the country, according to activists.
For the first time, violent protests against President Bashar Assad's regime spilled across the border into Jordan, where about a dozen Syrians attacked the embassy in the capital, Amman, injuring at least two diplomats and four consulate employees.
The nine-month-old uprising against Syria's authoritarian president has grown increasingly violent in recent months as protesters take up arms and defected soldiers who have joined the uprising fight back against the army.
Fighting between loyalist forces and defectors calling themselves the Free Syrian Army threatens to push the confrontation, which has already claimed 4,000 lives according to the UN, into civil war. In one of yesterday's clashes, which took place in the northwestern town of Kfar Takharim, two of the military's armoured vehicles were set ablaze, said the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Three other vehicles were burned in another clash near the southern village of Busra al-Harir, the group said. Similar battles took place in several other parts of the south, said the Observatory and the Local Coordination Committees (LCC). The Observatory said at least eight people were killed while the LCC put the death toll at 18.
In Jordan, the Syrian embassy said protesters entered claiming they had paperwork to finish and beat up the consul, another diplomat, a security guard and several staff. The embassy said its guards arrested one of the attackers, identified as Syrian refugee Ahmed al-Shureiqi. It said Jordanian police arrested eight others, all Syrians.
The Syrian opposition called for a general strike yesterday, the first working day of the week in Syria, saying it will go on until the regime pulls the army out of cities and releases detainees. The LCC said security forces tried to force shops to open.
Syrians are scheduled to vote in municipal elections today for the country's 14 provinces – the first test of reforms by Assad. It was unclear how many people would actually turn out to vote in tense areas like Idlib, Homs and Hama. AP
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments