Posted on 03/24/2002 3:51:20 PM PST by TLBSHOW
DAMASCUS (Reuters) -
More than 100,000 Syrians jammed the streets of Damascus on Sunday in an officially backed protest in support of the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation and to warn against any U.S. strike on Iraq.
The demonstration was staged as preparations went ahead for a March 27-28 Arab summit in Beirut where leaders will focus on a Saudi Arabian Middle East peace proposal and oppose any U.S. military action against Baghdad.
Government employees and students filled Damascus's largest square, some waving Syrian and Palestinian flags and others bearing banners reading "Prosecute the war criminal Sharon," a reference to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites).
"As the conspiracy to wipe out the Palestinian cause becomes clearer and preparations are underway to strike Iraq, the Arab masses must...protect the Intifada and support Iraq to keep the United States and Britain from targeting it or any other Arab country," said a statement issued by protest organizers.
Syria has backed a Saudi proposal to trade Arab diplomatic relations with Israel for Israeli withdrawal from land occupied in the 1967 Middle East war, but warns it must not compromise Palestinian demands on the right of refugees to return.
Damascus has also repeatedly voiced opposition to any U.S. military strike on Iraq, a position Arab League head Amr Moussa has said the summit will repeat.
Syrian demonstrators burn a U.S. flag during a demonstration at the Omawin square in Damascus March 24, 2002. More than 300,000 Syrians jammed the streets of Damascus on Sunday in an officially backed protest in support of the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation and to warn the U.S. against any strike on Iraq. The demonstration was staged as preparations went ahead for a March 27-28 Arab summit in Beirut where leaders will focus on a Saudi Arabian Middle East peace proposal and oppose any U.S. military action against Baghdad. Photo by Khaled Al-Hariri/Reuters
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