28 March 2011 VOA News Syrian security forces are attempting to restore order in the Mediterranean port of Latakia after gangs of armed men roamed the streets following two days of unrest that killed at least 12 people in the ethnically mixed city.
Just before sundown Sunday, groups of young men began closing streets with metal barricades and large rocks. Few cars or people were out and shops were closed. Soldiers patrolled in heavy numbers, stopping pedestrians and vehicles for identification checks.
President Bashar al-Assad deployed the army and security services to Latakia late Saturday after witnesses and human rights groups said government forces opened fire on protesters.
Dozens have died in more than a week of anti-government protests in Syria that expanded Friday from the southern city of Deraa to several other locations including Latakia and the capital, Damascus.
Some of the worst violence appears to have taken place in Latakia, with its potentially volatile mix of Sunnis and members of Mr. Assad's minority Alawite sect. The Associated Press reported that protests in the city have been religiously mixed. Crowds have expressed sympathy with demonstrators in Daraa, demanding greater freedoms and an end to official corruption.
The government has tried to calm the situation with concessions. Mr. Assad's chief spokeswoman said Sunday the emergency law in place since the Baath Party came to power in 1963 would soon be lifted. Authorities are also reportedly moving to annul other harsh restrictions on civil liberties and political freedoms.
Syria is the latest Arab nation to be wracked by violence against a long-established government. On Saturday thousands of protesters rallied after funerals for several people killed in Daraa the day before.
In a broadcast interview, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States has no intention of getting involved in Syria in the same way as it has in Libya. She said the Syrian government's response to the protests has yet to reach the level seen in Libya.
At the same time Clinton expressed concern over the use of force by security forces in Syria.
Also Sunday, the Reuters news agency said two of its journalists have been missing in Syria since late Saturday. Reuters said television producer Ayat Basma and cameraman Ezzat Baltaji, both Lebanese nationals, failed to meet a taxi sent to pick them up from the border.
Meanwhile, Lebanese security officials said a gunman in a car fired on a group of Syrians demonstrating Sunday in Beirut in support of their government. One protester was wounded.
Pro-regime Syrians held several demonstrations in favor of Mr. Assad's embattled government on Sunday. One of the groups clashed with anti-Syrian Lebanese in West Beirut but no injuries were reported.
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