Syrian security forces search for pro-Assad militants in Homs – State Media
Syrian security forces searched Thursday for former soldiers and pro-Assad militants in the city of Homs who have refused to turn in their weapons, State Media said.
The SANA news agency cited a military official saying the rebels who ousted long-time President Bashar al-Assad had set up centres in Homs for the soldiers and militants to turn in their arms in a process carried out in other parts of Syria.
The report said the new Syrian authorities received reports weeks ago that there were remnants of pro-Assad militias in Homs.
A few dozen protesters gathered in the Syrian city of Douma on Wednesday to demand answers in the disappearance of four prominent activists who were abducted more than a decade ago.
The demonstrators called on Syria’s new rulers — the Islamist-led rebels who seized power last month — to investigate what happened to them.
The activists in question are Razan Zaitouneh, her husband, Wael Hamadeh, Samira Khalil and Nazem Hammadi.
On December 9, 2013, unidentified gunmen stormed the Violations Documentation Centre in Douma, northeast of Damascus, and abducted the four activists. The Centre was set up in 2011 to monitor human rights violations in Syria. At the time, Douma was held by rebels.
There has been no sign of life or proof of death since they were abducted.
Zaitouneh was one of Syria’s most prominent human rights activists, in part because she documented abuses by then-President Assad’s government and rebel groups in equal measure.
Zaitouneh’s work earned her global recognition, including an International Woman of Courage Award presented by then – U.S. first lady Michelle Obama in 2013.
At the Wednesday protest, demonstrators held up photos of the missing activists.
“We are here because we want to know the whole truth about two women and two men who have disappeared from this place 11 years and 22 days ago,” said activist Yassin Al-Haj Saleh, whose wife, Khalil, was among those abducted. VoA
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