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DAMASCUS, March 24 (AFP) - 15h32 - Syrian
authorities arrested more than 40 Kurds following
Kurdish New Year celebrations in the northern city
of Aleppo, human rights lawyer Anwar Bunni said
Thursday.
"More than 40 Kurds, seven of them women, were
arrested two days ago (Tuesday) after incidents in
Aleppo during the celebrations for Newroz," said
Bunni, without giving details.
In March 2004, deadly clashes pitted Kurdish
protestors against Syrian security forces and Arab
tribes in northern Syria, in which the Kurds said 40
people died and the Syrian authorities gave a death
toll of 25.
Bunni called for "a neutral investigation into the
events in Aleppo and Qamichli," in northeast Syria,
the scenes of last year's unrest.
He condemned those "who used force, killed innocent
people and beat up demonstrators", and said the only
answer to Kurdish grievances was "a political
solution based on human rights".
Syria is home to some 1.5 million Kurds, around nine
percent of the population. They are fighting to have
their language, culture and political rights
recognised.
Rights groups estimate some 2,000 political
prisoners are being held in Syria, including 200
Kurds.
AFP
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