Protesters Clash With Riot Police

At least two people were shot during protests against plans to build a sewer filtering station, the pro-government DamasPost wesite reported on May 26.



The three days of protests began on May 23 in the towns of Madaya, Zabadani and Baqin, about 45 kilometres from the capital Damascus. The demonstrators were angry that the government had begun building the sewage station despite opposition from local residents. They said the facility could create environmental hazards and damage the region’s famous grapes and also tourism, the primary industry in the area.



Residents set tyres alight and destroyed parts of the sewage station that were already in the initial stages of construction.



Riot police and security forces shot tear gas into the crowd and fired live rounds into the air to disperse the protesters.



One eyewitness said a man and his wife were shot; the woman was in serious condition but could not get to hospital because the authorities had closed roads in the area.