Protests in Syria, Yemen and Jordan Intensify

Protesters in Syria, Yemen and Jordan went to the streets yesterday to demand social and political reforms and end corruption.

In Syria, thousands of people protested in several cities Friday against the government and in support of the inhabitants of Deraa. According to reports from the opposition, the Syrian authorities opened fire on civilians who were going to support the protests in Deraa and caused 23 deaths and 140 injured. Amnesty International reported yesterday that about 55 people have died in Syria since the beginning of the demonstrations against the government of Bashar Al Assad, who has spent 10 years in power.

In Yemen, Army units were deployed in Sanaa and had to fire into the air to prevent protesters from approaching supporters of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the regime’s opponents gathered in University Square, where a permanent protest has been held since more than a month to end the mandate of Saleh, who has 32 ​​years in command.

In Jordan, one person died and another 130 were injured in clashes yesterday in Amman, after the police arrested 300 protesters who wanted to camp in a square in the capital to demand the resignation of Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit, a constitutional reform and the dissolution of Parliament to call new elections. This is the first time that police attacked protesters–even using hit squads–since protests in the cost of living and to demand reforms began.

Source: Reuters