'Assad loyalists fire at Sunni Muslims guarding mosque' (title from non-sectarian Reuters!)

FLC

(Reuters) - "Irregular forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fired at a group of people guarding a mosque in Banias on Sunday, witnesses said.... Gunfire could be heard across the city on Sunday. Reuters could not confirm if there were any casualties. An official source said an armed group hiding between trees and buildings had ambushed a military unit patrol on the Latakia-Tartous highway in Banias, killing one soldier and wounding others, according to state news agency, SANA...

A doctor and a university professor said a group was guarding Banias's Sunni Abu Bakr al-Siddiq mosque with sticks during morning prayers when irregulars from Syria's ruling Alawite minority, known as "shabbiha," fired at them with automatic rifles from speeding cars... "The regime is trying to show that this is a Sunni-Alawite issue, but the Sunni people of Banias know that only a minority of thugs are cooperating with them," said the other witness...

Syria has blamed the unprecedented unrest in the tightly-controlled country on "armed groups" firing randomly at citizens and security forces. Earlier, SANA said funerals were held for five policemen who died in the unrest."

Posted by G, M, Z, or B at 4:38 PM

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian