Global General

Militants kill five military personnel in Syria's Homs

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-07 12:19

DAMASCUS - A military source said Friday "an armed group" attacked a military checkpoint in the central province of Homs in Syria, killing one officer and four policemen.

A large number of people protested in some Damascus suburbs and various Syrian cities after Muslim Friday's prayers calling for freedom, Syria's official news agency Sana said.

Protests erupted in the southern province of Daraa in mid March and extended to other Syrian cities demanding sweeping reforms.

Syrian President Bashar Assad has made reform initiatives to quell protesters including a major cabinet reshuffle, the cancellation of the decades-old emergency law, and granting the Syrian nationality to Kurds.

Many other reforms are imminent amid promises to combat rampant corruption and handle unemployment.