Latakia, western Syria – Demonstrations took place on Tuesday across several provinces in western Syria – including Latakia, Tartus, Homs and Hama – as protesters demanded an end to killings and abductions and called for the release of detainees.
The protests followed a call issued by Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, head of the Alawite Islamic Council in Syria and the diaspora, urging the community to demonstrate against what he described as the recent wave of killings affecting members of the Alawite community.
According to our correspondent, hundreds of people gathered in Latakia, Tartus, Jableh and al-Qardaha to demand that the authorities halt the violence and free those held in detention.
Further protests were reported in rural areas around al-Qardaha and Jableh, in villages and towns across the al-Ghab Plain in western Hama, as well as in districts of Homs including al-Zahra and Akrama.
Our correspondent reported that Internal Security forces under the Interim Syrian Government opened fire during a protest at the Agricultural Roundabout in Latakia. A similar attack was carried out reportedly during demonstrations in the al-Zahra neighbourhood of Homs, though no casualties were confirmed.
The protests come after several days of unrest in Homs, including arson attacks against homes and property in predominantly Alawite neighbourhoods.
Related: Sectarian Fears Rise Across Central Syria
On Sunday, districts including al-Muhajirin, al-Armen, al-Zahra, al-Abbasiya, al-Nozha, Akrama, al-Nazihin and Ashira witnessed property damage and arson. Local reports attributed these incidents to armed men from the Bani Khalid tribe, following the killing of a man and his wife from the tribe by unidentified assailants in the town of Zaidal.
The Health Directorate in Homs Province stated that 18 people had been admitted to hospitals in connection with the recent unrest. The Director of Health, Abdel-Karim Ghali, said in a statement posted on Facebook that the injuries resulted from stray gunfire and several unrelated traffic incidents.
