Protests Against Syrian President Assad's Government Growing

The Guardian: Syrian protests enter second week with calls for Assad to go

Demonstrations have grown steadily throughout the south, centring around the province of Suwayda

A spate of protests and strikes across government-held areas in southern Syria have continued into their second week, with demonstrators increasingly unafraid to call for the removal of the president, Bashar al-Assad.

Protesters gathered in

the southern city of Suwayda on Monday, closing provincial roads. The province of Suwayda has remained under government control since Syria’s 2011 uprising and is home to much of the country’s Druze minority.

Video shared by the activist-led organisation Suwayda24 showed several hundred people gathered in a central square waving Druze flags and chanting “long live Syria, and down with Bashar al-Assad”.

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Update: Protesters demand end to authoritarian rule in Syria (Reuters)

WNU Editor: The protests stem from tough economic times .... Syria: Protests over growing economic hardship spread in south (BBC). More here .... Residents in southern Syria raid ruling party offices, block road as protests over economy intensify (AP).