MIDDLE EAST

12 Killed in Syria

Mass protests surge throughout the country.

Demonstrations flared up in Syria on Friday, as hundreds of thousands of protesters poured into Damascus and other cities throughout the country. 12 people were reported dead in clashes, while the protests are believed to be some of the largest to have hit Syria since the first uprisings against President Assad’s regime began three months ago. Assad’s troops refused to take the blame for the death toll, continuing to point fingers at “armed thugs” and other foreign conspirators. Though more than 10,000 refugees have fled Syria to seek shelter in Turkey, Friday’s resurgence proved that Syria’s people are not ready to give up the fight against Assad, who has promised regime change for months. Meanwhile, the Syrian government has forbidden most foreign media access to the country, making it harder to get comprehensive, on-the-ground coverage of events.