Violence at Palestinian camp funerals in Syria leaves 20 dead

[Fozzledick]

By Roula Hajjar, Los Angeles Times

June 7, 2011, 2:52 p.m.
Reporting from Beirut

Funerals in the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp near the Syrian capital of Damascus turned violent late Monday as clashes erupted between camp residents and a Syrian-backed Palestinian faction, leading to the deaths of as many as 20 people, according to Palestinian sources and amateur video posted to the Internet.

Tensions rose during a funeral procession when mourners in the camp denounced the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, General Command, alleging that the faction had persuaded the mourners' relatives to participate in Sunday's deadly demonstrations near the Syrian-Israeli border, said an official of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian news outlets.

Sunday's violence, in which dozens died in the border clash, coincided with the 44th anniversary of Israel's capture of the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Middle East War. The demonstration was the second such protest along the typically quiet border in less than a month. The militant Palestinian faction is backed by Syria and based in Damascus.

Holding the faction responsible for Sunday's deaths, angry demonstrators attacked the group's headquarters and burned two cars, the reports said. In retaliation, the faction's gunmen opened fire on the mourners, killing between 14 and 20 people, the Palestinian sources said. Video footage showed terrified young men scurrying for shelter amid a hail of gunfire.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria-palestinians-20110608,0,3387261.story

[King_David]

1. Syria doin whatever it takes

to silence their on going problems.