HAULED OFF

Syria Detains Two U.S. Citizens

One jailed for filming demonstrations.

In the midst of a wave of deadly protests in Syria, two American citizens have been detained in the volatile nation—apparently part of a government attempt to pin the uprising on foreign influence. Muhammed Radwan, an Egyptian-American educated in Austin, Texas, was jailed for filming the demonstrations, and his “confession” was broadcast on state TV in order to build the regime’s case. Another American, 21-year-old Pathik Root of Vermont who was studying Arabic in Damascus, had been missing since March 18 but was recently discovered in Syrian custody after participating in a protest. Saturday marked the second day of wide unrest in the nation, and protesters lit several government buildings on fire in the coastal town of Latakia.