Sunnis flee town amid sectarian massacre fears
Source: Agencies |
May 5, 2013, Sunday
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THOUSANDS of Sunni Muslims fled a Syrian coastal town yesterday, a day after reports circulated that 10 people, including children, were killed by pro-government gunmen there, activists said.
This shows the sectarian nature of the two-year conflict that has killed an estimated 70,000 people.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said around 4,000 people were fleeing from the predominantly Sunni southern parts of the Mediterranean city of Banias amid fears pro-government gunmen "might commit a massacre." It said at least 10 people, including children, were killed in the city on Friday and the number could be as high at 60.
The Observatory said security forces were checking people's identity cards and asking them to return to Banias. It said those fleeing were mostly heading to the city of Tartus to the south and the town of Jableh just north of Banias.
The reported exodus from Banias came after activists said Friday that troops and gunmen from nearby Alawite areas beat, stabbed and shot at least 50 people in the Sunni Muslim village of Bayda, near Banias.
The Sunni majority forms the backbone of Syria's rebellion, while President Bashar al-Assad's minority Alawite sect anchors the regime's security services.
This shows the sectarian nature of the two-year conflict that has killed an estimated 70,000 people.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said around 4,000 people were fleeing from the predominantly Sunni southern parts of the Mediterranean city of Banias amid fears pro-government gunmen "might commit a massacre." It said at least 10 people, including children, were killed in the city on Friday and the number could be as high at 60.
The Observatory said security forces were checking people's identity cards and asking them to return to Banias. It said those fleeing were mostly heading to the city of Tartus to the south and the town of Jableh just north of Banias.
The reported exodus from Banias came after activists said Friday that troops and gunmen from nearby Alawite areas beat, stabbed and shot at least 50 people in the Sunni Muslim village of Bayda, near Banias.
The Sunni majority forms the backbone of Syria's rebellion, while President Bashar al-Assad's minority Alawite sect anchors the regime's security services.
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