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Syrian authorities get prepared for massive protest actions

The Syrian authorities tightened security all over the country on Friday, expecting massive protest actions of the opposition

BEIRUT, December 2 (Itar-Tass) —— The Syrian authorities tightened security all over the country on Friday, expecting massive protest actions of the opposition. Curfew was imposed on some cities, where unrest is going on. The city of Hama, 220 kilometers north of Damascus, was blocked, Al Jazeera TV channel reports. A number of opponents of the ruling regime were arrested there. Previously special riot police units entered the industrial city of Homs.

The situation in the southern part of the country is not stable either. Demonstrations were held in Daraa and the neighboring cities of Jasem, Enhel and Tufas. The protesters demanded the resignation of President Bashar Assad. According to some reports, 27 people died in clashes with the police over the past 24 hours.

Despite the measures, taken by the authorities, the opposition did not give up the idea of holding demonstrations under the slogan “Security zones are the demand of the Syrian people.” The demonstrators will urge the world community to render humanitarian assistance to the population. The protest actions are timed to coincide with the opening in Geneva of a special session of the U.N. Human Rights Council, which will be devoted to the situation in Syria.

Massive anti-government demonstrations are expected to be held on Friday in Aleppo, the second largest city of the country, situated 340 kilometers north of Damascus, where the opposition is going to move the centre of the protest campaign.

Demonstrations will also be held in the Damascus suburbs. The ring road around the capital is being patrolled by soldiers.

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