Previously rare anti-regime protests in government-controlled areas of southern Syria entered their second week on Monday, with no sign of abating, as demonstrators called for the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
On Monday, protesters again gathered in the major streets of the Druze-majority city of Suwayda, demanding that Assad step down.
Protests had erupted last week in the city in response to the government's decision to cut fuel subsidies, leading to an increase in prices amid already deteriorating living conditions. The protests quickly expanded to Suwayda province, with some demonstrators chanting “Step Down Bashar, We Want to Live in Dignity” and “Long Live Syria, Down with Bashar al-Assad.”
Druze religious leaders have given their blessing to the protest movement, expressing their support for the demands of the people. Last week, protests were also reported in the north.
