Region | Syria
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians protest Israel offensive
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians are gathered in downtown Damascus in a government-orchestrated rally to protest Israel's military offensive against the Gaza Strip.
- AP
- Published: 15:12 January 8, 2009
Damascus: Hundreds of thousands of Syrians are gathered in downtown Damascus in a government-orchestrated rally to protest Israel's military offensive against the Gaza Strip.
Thursday's protest is the biggest ever in the Syrian capital since Israel launched the offensive on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip Dec. 27.
Syria's official news agency Sana estimates the number of protesters at about a million. But independent estimates put it at hundreds of thousands.
Demonstrators are carrying pictures of Syria's president and the leader of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah, both of whom support Hamas.
Israel has said that it started its campaign in order to stop Hamas rocket fire. Around 700 Palestinians have been killed since the offensive began.
Share this article
Popular in News
News Editor's choice
-
A year after 173 defenceless people were killed
Mumbai itself is far from safe from another deadly attack, even though the level of security consciousness of the average Mumbaikar has been raised since 26/11
-
Nato supports Obama's plea
European and other allies to send around 6,000 troops to Afghanistan
-
Official confirms mayor is the suspect
Many witnesses have come forward, justice secretary says
-
Into an oasis of values
A place to snuggle in the warmth of old manners away from the bustle of city life
